Computer Basics

  What is a Computer?

A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem.

 Basic Parts

       Hardware

            1.  The hardware is the part of the computer you can touch and see. (ex. keyboard, mouse, monitor)

        Software

            1.  The software is a part of the computer you cannot touch but is very important. 

                The software is all the programming that makes the computer run; controlling

                everything that the computer does.

Glossary of Terms

The Monitor is the display screen, similar to a

 television screen.

The Computer, tower or case is the heart of the system. 

This is a box that contains all the parts that make

 the computer work.

The Keyboard is what you type on, similar to 

a typewriter

  

The Mouse is the small hand held device that attaches

 to the computer. It may have two or three buttons.  

The mouse is used to move the 

cursor (pointer) on the 

computer screen.

A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard size sheets of paper. Printers are sometimes sold with computers, but more frequently are purchased separately. Printers vary in size, speed, sophistication, and cost. In general, more expensive printers are used for higher-resolution color printing.

The Scanner similar to a color photocopier 

is a device that captures pictures or documents,so that they can be seen or used on the computer.

The Laptop also known as a notebook computer is a small personal computer designed for mobile use. A laptop integrates all of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (a touchpad, also known as a track pad, or a pointing stick) and a battery into a single portable unit. 

A Hard drive is a device that holds all the information that is stored on a computer.  Unlike a floppy disk the hard disk cannot be removed from the computer but stores much more information

A USB Flash Drive (sometimes just called a “flash drive”)

 looks like a plastic tube that can be put into a slot in the 

front of the modern computer. Older computers 

will require you to insert it in a slot in the back

or you may not be able to use the drive at all

depending on the age of the computer.  

These disks hold information and can be 

used to exchange information between computers

A Floppy Disk (sometimes just called a “disk”) 

looks like a plastic card that can be put into a

 slot in the front of the computer.  These disks 

hold information and can be used to exchange 

information between computers. This type of

 data storage is archaic and obsolete

A CD-ROM is very similar to a stereo’s CD player. 

It not only plays music but can also retrieve

 information stored on CD's. It is also

 available in other formats such as 

DVD-ROM