Definitions of Motherboard
By Mitchel Sharko
September 30, 2015
Introduction:
The following assignment pertains to definitions and the legal, ethical, societal and global importance of them to help readers understand complex and technical issues. The objective of the assignment is to demonstrate the ability to mold a definition based on the traits of a particular audience. The project seeks to integrate varying levels of details of a word of our choice using parenthetical, sentence, and expanded definitions.
Scenario, Target Audience, Intended Use:
Mitchel works for a large electronics manufacturer who is tasked to create readily available component information for those clients who are looking to upgrade computer parts. In creation of the definitions of motherboard, the focus is on “non-technical readers”. Specifically, those adults at home with no knowledge of the hardware found inside computers. The information would be set up on a “Computers 101” website for those parties interested in finding out more.
Parenthetical Definition:
The motherboard (communication hub for electronic components) is found in many devices such as a cell phone.
Sentence Definition:
A motherboard is a circuit board found in computers and other electronic systems which connects other parts of an electronic device, for instance, a CD/DVD drive in a computer.
Expanded Definition:
Motherboard
What Is A Motherboard?
A motherboard is the main circuit board which allows other components of an electronic system to communicate (Christensson, 2008). The board mechanically supports and electrically connects components using tracks, pads and other features from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate (Printed Circuit Board, n.d.). Motherboard (communication relay center) is also known as a mainboard, mobo (abbreviation), MB (abbreviation), system board, and logic board (Fisher, n.d.).
How Did It Develop?
The creation of the motherboard was done out of simple economics. Prior to the motherboard, digital computers consisted of several components connected by a backplane which is a circuit board with a group of electronic connectors set up in parallel to each other (Motherboard, n.d.). Each separate component was connected to the backplane via electrical connectors similar to plugging in VCR or DVD cables to your television but in a much smaller form. Due to size constraints, engineers eventually began integrating all electronic components onto one board. Today, 92.4% of global motherboard production is completed by Taiwanese firms for two large companies: Intel and Asus (Yung & Lai, 2012).
How Is It Used?
The motherboard is the main circuit board in the computer, and it can be extended by plugging other circuit boards onto it (Why Motherboard is Used to Refer to Main Board of Computer, January, 2011). These extensions are called daughter boards. Once these other boards are attached, it acts to relay and combine information from many parts of the computer. Thus it is integral to performance and stability of the computer hardware (Yung & Lai, 2012). For example, when you click on a mouse that information must go through the motherboard in order to communicate the “click” action with the computer. However, a motherboard is not only found in a desktop computer. They are found in multiple other electronic devices. Figure 1. is a motherboard found in an iPhone.
FIGURE 1. Motherboard for a iPhone 4GS.
Source: iPhone 4G – ‘HD’ Antennas Found?, http://www.brianklug.org/2010/04/iphone-4ghd-antennas-found/
What Are It’s Parts?
As stated, motherboards come in all shapes and sizes based on the electronic device which they are used for. As different electronic devices have different tasks the components they contain are not all the same. Generally, motherboards consist of the following components: connectors for peripherals, hard drive slots, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Connectors for peripherals would include for example, a connection for your mouse, keyboard, USB, printer or headphones. A hard drive is a data storage device used to store and retrieve digital information (Hard Disk Drive, n.d.). The central processing unit is the electronic circuitry in a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer (Central Processing Unit, n.d.). Above, Figure 1. showed components in an iPhone where as Figure 2. shows an example of various components integrated on a computer motherboard (see below).
FIGURE 2. Components of A Motherboard
Source: Component/configuration of Computer Part-3, http://aboutpclearner.blogspot.ca/
Works Cited
Central Processing Unit. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 27, 2015 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit.
Christensson, P. (December 6, 2008). Motherboard Definition. Retrieved on September 25, 2015 from http://techterms.com.
Fisher, T. (n.d.). Motherboard. Retrieved on September 25, 2015 from
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/componentprofiles/p/p_mobo.htm.
Hard Disk Drive. (n.d.). Retrieved one September 27, 2015 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk_drive.
Klug, B. (n.d.). Internet Adventures. Retrieved on September 27, 2015 from
http://www.brianklug.org/2010/04/iphone-4ghd-antennas-found/.
Motherboard. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 27, 2015 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherboard.
Printed Circuit Board. (n.d.). Retrieved on Septemmber 27, 2015 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board.
Shahid, A. (July 14, 2014). Component/configuration of Computer Part-3.
http://aboutpclearner.blogspot.ca/
Why Motherboard is Used to Refer to Main Board of Computer. (January 28, 2011).http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/10386/why-motherboard-is-used-to-refer-to-main-board-of-computer.
Yung, I., & Lai, M. (October, 2012). Dynamic capabilities in new product development: the case of Asus in motherboard production. Journal of Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23, 1125 – 1134.
Link:English-301-Mitchel-Sharko-Definitions-of-Motherboard-2