Reference: http://dfgamestechnologies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/human-computer-interation.html
"Human Computer Interfaces looks directly at what the user will be using and how they are designed to help the user, these would be such things as the controls the user has to use, the design of the button configuration for which the players will have to use, the interface device such as the screen and how it will be displayed to the user, user-centered design so how it works around the player whilst interacting & portability of the console/system."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Without human computer interfaces gaming wouldn't be possible, because this is what we have to do it be able to interact with a game. A good example of how it would be very hard to play a game would be using a controller with both analog sticks on one side, the arrows on the bottom and the other buttons dotted all over the controller, you just would't be able to play a game.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
"The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is one of the most important components in any computer system, and could be described as the brains of a computer. It contains the logic circuitry that performs the instructions of the software you run. The performance of your games and other applications will be directly related to this tiny little microprocessor."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Gaming wouldn't be possible with this either because the CPU is the brains of a computer or console and is the thing that actually plays the game, by running the software and functions for it. The CPU also takes the commands sent from thing like the controller or keyboard and tells the computer or console what to do.
Limitations:
The limitations to a CPU are: They can quickly become outdated then they become obsolete. Another limitation to CPU's is one doesn't fit all, in other words one type of CPU won't work with all motherboards because of there size. The is also the fact that some types of CPU don't let you overclock them.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Reference: http://www.nvidia.com/object/what-is-gpu-computing.html
"GPU-accelerated computing offloads compute-intensive portions of the application to the GPU, while the remainder of the code still runs on the CPU. From a user's perspective, applications simply run much faster"
Why It's Important to Gaming:
The GPU is important of the games of today because without a GPU the games wouldn't run as well as they are meant to. By having a GPU it takes some of the stress of the CPU allowing for the game to run smoother and be able to deal with better graphics.
Limitations:
A limitation of the GPU is it can dramatically slow down your computer because it uses a lot of RAM. Another limitation is GPU's can be very expensive and can be difficult to upgrade, even if you do upgrade it will not allow any extra video memory upgrades.
Memory (RAM)
"Random Access
Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and
retrieved on a computer. RAM is usually associated with DRAM, which is a type
of memory module. Because information is accessed randomly instead of
sequentially like it is on a CD or hard drive, the computer can access the data
much faster. However, unlike ROM or the hard drive, RAM is a volatile memory
and requires power to keep the data accessible. If the computer is turned off,
all data contained in RAM is lost."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Games wouldn't run without RAM because all games use a bit of RAM to be able to process everything. RAM is the thing that lets you run multiple programs at once, whilst storing memory and information, to later be deleted when the computer is turned of. Also RAM is use in almost every electrical product that requires memory now a days and is the most common type of memory.
Limitations:
The biggest limitation to RAM is that as soon as you turn the device using the RAM off it clears all it's memory.
Display
Reference: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/display
"A display is a computer output surface and projecting mechanism that shows text and often graphic images to the computer user"
Why It's Important to Gaming:
The display is defiantly important to gaming because without the display we won't be able to see the game. Although it is not impossible to play a game with no screen it would be extremely hard for most games. There is also the fact they are called "Video games" which means they have a video that needs a display to show it.
Limitations:
The limitations to displays include: The screen can be to old for some games giving them a really bad image quality and possibly won't be able to run the game. Also with PC or TV gaming the screens can be really big and bulky, or if you have multiple for your computer it can take up lots of space. Another limitation is displays can be quite expensive to buy.
Sound
Reference: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/componentprofiles/p/p_sound.htm
"The sound card is an expansion card that allows the computer to send audio information to an audio device, like speakers, a pair of headphones, etc.
Unlike the CPU and RAM, the sound card is not a necessary piece of hardware required
to make a computer work"
Why It's Important to Gaming:
In my opinion sound is very important to any game to, build tension, show how someone in the game is feeling and many other reasons, although games can be played without sound.The sounds of games can set the atmosphere and feel of a game, but this can also be made by other things to like, scenery and text on screen showing what the players are saying.
Limitations:
The limitations to sound in gaming is not all sound cards can fit every machine, another would be you need good speakers otherwise you end up with bad audio output or a buzzing sound in the background.
Game Storage Media (GSM)
Reference: http://hardwareingamingplatforms.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/game-storage-medium.html
"Computers, Games consoles, Mobile Gaming and Phones all require the
feature of being able to save data. Computers usally need a a far greater
amount of memry then games consoles because they dont just concentrate of
gaming however recently Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have brought out high
capacity memory units for there consoles."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Game storage media is a very important part of gaming, because you need to be able to save your games because games have become so big you can't play them in one sit in anymore. Games have always needed storage so they had somewhere to actually put the game.
Limitations:
The biggest limitation of storage is it is always limited, and to get bigger storage space can cost you a lot om money. Storage devises can be easily lost or damaged, for example a pen drive can be left in a computer, a disc could be left on the side out of it's box and scratched and many many other ways.
Interface Devices
Reference: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/19781/human-interface-device-hid
"A human interface device (HID) is a method by which a human interacts with an electronic information system either by inputting data or providing output. A myriad of HID devices exist. The most common are the keyboards, mice, computer speakers, webcams and headsets."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Without human interface devices it would be impossible to play any game, HID is defiantly needed for gaming. It would be impossible to play as game without HID because they are the things sending information to and from your computer to tell the game what to do and show
Limitations:
The limitations to these devices is, if the device has wires they can easily get tangled and become a trip hazard, if the devise is wireless it can run out of battery and needs charging or the battery's changing .
Connectivity
Reference: http://hardwareingamingplatforms.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/connectivity.html
"Computer, Gaming devices and mobile phones require different conenctions to create a effective user experience whether its including internet access connections, headphones jacks, high resolution outputs, usb ports and other wireless connectivity."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
Connectivity is important to gaming because this is how you are able to connect to and play with people over the internet. If this wasn't a part of gaming now a days the gaming industry defiantly wouldn't be as big as it is. Although games are playable without the internet, its a lot more fun with it. Headphone/headset connectivity help the player feel like they are a part of the game and connect with the player themselves.
Limitations:
Connections to the internet has a big limitation, if one players internet is bad it effects their play witch could cause the entire team to fail. another limitation to internet gaming is if you are on a console you normally have to pay a subscription to be able to play online. A limitation to connecting headphones/headsets to a console is you are connected by a wire meaning you might have to sit closer to the TV.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
Reference: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/ps.htm
"Short for power supply and sometimes abbreviated as PSU, which is short for Power Supply Unit. A power supply is an internal hardware component that supplies components in a computer with power."
Why It's Important to Gaming:
The power supply unit is important to gaming because it is the thing that powers the console or PC that you are playing your game on. Without a PSU it is literally impossible to play any game.
Limitations:
There's not many limitations to a PSU but there is defiantly one, some power supply units cant handle the amount of power the console or PC needs to run. Another would be the amount of time it takes to charge something and how long the charge last for.
Extra Videos
I also came across some videos whilst doing all the parts of this task. The videos talk about all the computer parts and the performances over a total of ten videos. Here are the videos:
Computer Parts Explained - Part 1 - Processors
Computer Parts Explained - Part 2 - Motherboards
Computer Parts Explained - Part 3 - Graphics Cards
Computer Parts Explained - Part 4 - RAM Memory
Computer Parts Explained - Part 5 - Hard Drives
Computer Parts Explained - Part 6 - Computer Cases
Computer Parts Explained - Part 7 - Cooling
Computer Parts Explained - Part 8 - Power Supplies
Computer Parts Explained - Part 9 - Sound Cards
Computer Parts Explained - Part 10 - Network Cards
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