Differentiate between Hardware and Software

In this part explore the following terms.

1. What is Hardware??

2. Why we called hardware wear out with time?? and some other features that differentiate it from software.

3. Examples of hardware

4. What is software??

5. Why we called Software doesn't wears out with time but it does deteriorate??? and some other features that differentiate it from hardware.

6. Examples of software

Hardware:

Computer hardware usually refers to the physical parts of a computer and related devices. The internal hardware are parts of a computer are often referred to as components while external hardware devices are usually called peripherals.

1. Hardware wears out with time

The above figure illustrates the failure rate as a function of time for hardware. The relationship, often called the "bathtub curve". it indicates the following points

• Higher failure rate early in the life cycle. These early failure rates can be attributed to two things

-->> Poor or undefined initial design.

-->> Manufacturing defects i.e defects in the product brought about by poor assembly/materials etc. during production.

•  Both types of failure can be corrected (either by refining the design, or by replacing broken components out in the field), which lead to the failure rate dropping to a steady-state level for some period of time.
• As time passes, however, the failure rate rises again as hardware components suffer from the environmental factors like dust, temperature, pollution and many other environmental maladies. Stated Simply

"....The Hardware Begins To Wear Out."

2. Hardware is a physical unit. its mean it  tangible in nature (we can touch or feel it).

3. The Spare parts of hardware is exists if one of the part get damaged then it can be replace with new one. The hardware parts are independent of each other and changeable.

4. Problem statement is important in case of hardware so, it clearly specified at the beginning of the production process.

5. Requirements are fixed before the hardware manufacturing.

6. Hardware has multiple copies but these are created by using assembly lines etc that its cost is more than copying the software.

Example of Hardware

Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Printer, Motherboard, Scanner, etc.

SOFTWARE:

Software is a set of instructions and its associated documentations that tells a computer what to do or how to perform a task. Software includes all different software programs on a computer, such as Application and Operating system.

1.Software doesn't wear out with time

Software is not susceptible to the same environment problems that cause hardware to wear out.

• In above failure rate curve clearly see undiscovered defects in the first engineered version of the software will cause high failure rates early in the life of a program.
• However, these defects are corrected and the curve flattens as shown.
• The implication is clear "Software doesn't wear out". However, it does deteriorate with maintenance as shown below.

• During its life, software will undergo changes and it likely that new defects will be introduced as a result of this, causing the failure rate curve to spike. Before the curve can return to the original steady-state failure rate (i.e before the new bugs have been removed), another change is requested, causing the curve spike again. Slowly, the minimum failure rate level begins to rise--the software is deteriorating due to change.

2. Software is a logical unit. It mean it is intangible in nature (not touchable).

3. There are no software spare parts because software modules may be dependent on each other.

4. Problem statement may not be completed or clear initially.

5. Requirement may change with time as software is developed.

6. Software has multiple copies and it less costly then hardware.

Examples of Software

Ms-office, Internet browser, operating system, device drivers software, compiler, business software etc