Hardware

Hardware is a physical device or component in a computer which is capable of processing instructions and generating system-defined outputs. A hardware system, has its operations defined using a low-level language such as Assembly Language or Machine Language, and once defined, these low-level operations can typically be called (or invoked) using a high-level language (such as Java or C) which results in software (controller applications for the hardware).

Driver

In computing, a device driver (commonly referred to simply as a driver) is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. For this reason it is often boiled down to the saying "software for using hardware". Drivers provide software-based interfaces to hardware devices, enabling a specific operating system (or target architecture) and other computer programs being used within that operating system to access hardware functions without needing to know precise details of the hardware being used.

• wikipedia: Device driver
• /dev/hello_world -- A Simple Introduction to Device Drivers under Linux: http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/lpt/a/7060
• Writing device drivers in Linux: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/drivers_linux
• Writing device drivers for Windows: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff554811(v=vs.85).aspx

Cables

USB

• wikipedia: USB
• These New USB-C Logos Make Picking Charging Cables Easier: https://www.howtogeek.com/758954/these-new-usb-c-logos-make-picking-charging-cables-easier/

Ethernet

• wikipedia: Ethernet

Quantum Computing

• wikipedia: Quantum Computing
• Curious about quantum computing: https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2022/02/curious-about-quantum-computing.html

Tools

• Clonezilla: https://clonezilla.org (free/OSS software for Disk Imaging & Cloning)
• Win32 Disk Imager - tool for writing images to USB sticks, SD & CF cards: http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
• SD Formatter 4.0 for Windows: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/eula_windows/ (format an SD card from a Windows PC)
• Speedfan: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php (program that monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips)

Resources

• Deal Extreme: http://www.dealextreme.com/ (cheap place to buy Hardware and Accessories for Computers and Mobile Devices)
• MonoPrice: http://monoprice.com/
• Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA): http://www.oshwa.org/
• Open Source Hardware - project logos: http://oshwlogo.com/
• OnSEMI (Semiconductor and Integrated Circuit Devices) - Design ToolsI: http://www.onsemi.com/PowerSolutions/supportDoc.do?type=tools

Tutorials

• What is a PCI slot used for?: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100315065910AAjOpln
• Basic information about memory chips and programming: http://www.batronix.com/shop/electronic/eprom-programming.html
• Should you use an SSD or HDD for server/hosting: https://serverfault.com/questions/986772/ssd-or-hdd-for-server
• How to Make Your Own External Hard Drive (and Why You Should): https://www.howtogeek.com/798756/how-to-make-your-own-external-hard-drive-and-why-you-should/

External Links

• wikipedia: Computer Hardware
• wikipedia: History of computing hardware
• wikipedia: Punch card
• wikipedia: Solid-state (electronics)
• wikipedia: Solid-state drive
• wikipedia: System on a chip (abbreviated SoC)
• wikipedia: Network on a chip (abbreviated NoC)
• wikipedia: Radio-on-a-chip (abbreviated RoC)
• wikipedia: ARM architecture
• wikipedia: Open-source hardware
• wikipedia: Memory Stick
• 100 year data preservation: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/storage/100-year-data-preservation/1093
• Intel -- Moore's Law has been cubed; Welcome to 3-D transistors: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/intel-moores-law-has-been-cubed-welcome-to-3-d-transistors/48216?tag=nl.e589
• PRIMARY .vs. SECONDARY - MASTER/SLAVE: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/110066-30-primary-secondry-master-slave#t586869
• New technology will 'secure the last evidence of civilisation': http://www.theengineer.co.uk/electronics/news/new-technology-will-secure-the-last-evidence-of-civilisation/1016689.article
• Revolutionary "Superman" Memory Crystals Can Store Data Virtually Forever: http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-superman-memory-crystals-can-store-data-virtually-forever/
• IBM claims another step toward quantum computing: http://www.zdnet.com/article/ibm-claims-another-step-toward-quantum-computing/
• Five Ways Embedded Chips Will Affect Average Americans: http://www.imagesourcemag.com/ism-article/five-ways-embedded-chips-will-affect-average-americans
• A Chip In The Head - Brain Implants Will Be Connecting People To The Internet By The Year 2020: http://www.infowars.com/a-chip-in-the-head-brain-implants-will-be-connecting-people-to-the-internet-by-the-year-2020/
• The global chip shortage is starting to have major real-world consequences: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/chip-shortage-is-starting-to-have-major-real-world-consequences.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab
• Google Reportedly Following Apple Into The Chip Business - Why It's Important To Advertisers: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/366450/google-reportedly-following-apple-into-the-chip-bu.html
• Google developing own CPUs for Chromebook laptops: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/Google-developing-own-CPUs-for-Chromebook-laptops (includes timeline for when a number of other Tech companies got into chip manufacturing)
• What Is DirectStorage on Windows 11 and Xbox?: https://www.howtogeek.com/785339/what-is-directstorage-on-windows-11-and-xbox/
• PCIe 6.0 - What’s New, and When Can You Get It?: https://www.howtogeek.com/786991/pcie-6.0-whats-new-and-when-can-you-get-it/

See Also

Software | Moore's Law | Microcontroller | Computer | Mobile Device | Robot | 3D Printing