What is Computer?

Computer is the term that was originally given to person who performed numerical calculations using mechanical calculators such as the slide rule and abacus. Nowadays a computer is considered to be an electronic device that allows inputting data and having it stored, processed, or otherwise manipulated quickly and efficiently. Computers help make jobs that used to be complicated much simpler. For example, a user can easily write letters in a word processor and edit any portion of the letter anytime, spell check the letter, and move text from another document into the letter, etc. his is just one of the hundreds of different things a computer is capable of doing. he first computer was called the !N"#C, which was built during $orld $ar "". Computers first utili%ed vacuum tubes and were very large &sometimes

room si%e' and only found in businesses, (niversities, or governments. )ater, computers began utili%ing transistors as well as smaller and cheaper parts that allowed the common person to own their own computer. i) Computer Architecture "t is the overall design and setup of the computer. his includes where each of the connections and parts of the computer are to be placed, how each of components operate with each other, dimensions, etc. oday, most computers are often comprised with some or all of the below components. *ay Case or Chassis C+,-./, C+,-, and0or C+,-$ C1( +2+ Floppy disk drive 3ard disk drive 4eyboard /emory /icrophone /onitor, )C+, or other display device /otherboard /ouse 1rinter 5ound card 5peakers 2ideo card Input devices #n input device is a hardware device that sends information into the C1(. $ithout any input devices a computer would simply be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a 2. 5ome of the computer input devices are as follows

Digital camera +igital camera is a type of camera that records and stores pictures or videos. he main feature of digital camera is the ability to take do%ens, sometimes hundreds of different pictures. Joystick 7oystick is an input which allows an individual to easily navigate an object in a game such as navigating a plane in a flight simulator. Keyboard .ne of the main input devices used on a computer, a 1C8s keyboard looks very similar to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys. Microphone "t is the hardware device that allows computer users to input audio into their computers. Mouse "t is an input device that allows an individual to have the ability to perform various functions on computer such as opening a program or file.

canner "t is a hardware input device that allows a user to take an image and0or text and convert it into a digital file, allowing the computer to read and0or display the scanned object. Web cam "t is a camera which is connected to a computer to allow a person to view other people, places, and even events.

C!" and torage Devices C1(: also known as a processor or microprocessor: is short for Central 1rocessing (nit. "t is responsible for handling all instructions and calculation it receives from other hardware components in the computer and software programs running on the computer.

he first C1( was manufactured by "N !) in ;<=>. he adjacent picture is on of the latest processors.

Motherboard "t is a circuit that is the foundation of a computer and allows the C1(, -#/, and all other other. computer hardware components to function with each

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Modem "t is a device that enables a computer to transmit and receive information over telephone lines.

# storage device is a hardware device designed to store information. here are two types of storage devices used in computers: a 8primary storage8 device and a 8secondary storage8 device. # primary storage device is the storage location that holds memory for short periods of times. For example, computer -#/, etc. # secondary storage device is the medium that holds information until it is deleted or overwritten. For example, hard disks drive, etc. 3ere are few examples of storage devices? #AM "t is short for -andom #ccess /emory which is the main memory of the system within a computer. -#/ requires power: if power is lost, all data is also lost. Diskette "t can record data as magneti%ed spots on tracks on its surface. +iskettes became popular along with the personal computer mainly to transport data. $ard Drive "t is a rigid circular disk located inside a computer. he term hard disk is often used as an abbreviation to hard disk drive.

#emovable hard drive "t is a hard drive that can be placed within a plastic or metal cartridge that enables it to be removed easily and placed into other computers with similar bays. %ip drive "t is a data storage device similar to the 5tandard ;.>>A floppy drive having capability to hold upto ;BB /* or 6@B /* of data. *ecause they were cheap, they became very popular in late ;<<Bs. CD&#' CD&#W C+,- is short for C+,-ecordable and is a type of writable disc capable of having information written on it only once C+,-0$ is a drive and0or media that is capable of being written many times. (utput Devices hese devices display and generate information that has been held or generated within a computer. 5ome examples are shown below. Monitor "t is a video display screen and the hard shell that holds it. "t is used to visually interface with the computer and are similar in appearance to a television.

!rinter "t is an external hardware device responsible for generating a hard copy of data. "t is commonly used to print text, images, photos, etc. peaker "t card is a that hardware outputs device sounds connected to a computer8s sound generated by the card. !ro)ector "t is a device that enables an image, such as a computer screen, to be projected onto a flat surface. commonly hese devices are used for

presentations. !lotter "t is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer using a pen. /ulticolor plotters use different, colored pens to draw different colors.