HARDWARE and SOFTWARE
Hardware is the
physical pieces of the computer. There are four basic pieces of hardware that you
should be able to recognize when using a computer.
MONITOR: Looks like a TV. It is your window into
the computer.
KEYBOARD: Looks like a typewriter with a couple
of extra keys.
MOUSE: Your pointing device.
CENTRAL
PROCESSING UNIT (CPU): The brain of the computer. It has places to
plug in your monitor, keyboard, mouse and other equipment.
Then there are
piece of hardware that you usually cannot see, such as:
PROCESSOR: You can’t see the Processor because it
is inside of your machine, but it determines how fast your computer will work.
Processor speeds are measured in Megahertz (MHZ), with speeds running somewhere
between 266 and 600 (and up). However, other factors, such as the amount of
memory you have, also affect the speed.
MODEM: The modem is a device that can either
be inside or external to the CPU. It allows your computer to communicate with
other computers. The modem is generally
just a translator - translating analog signals that come through your phone
line into digital signals that your computer can use. If you are buying a home computer buy a 56k modem.
MEMORY: This is also located inside the
computer and Indicates how much storage you have on your machine. Obviously,
the more storage, the more information you can store on your computer.
PERIPHERALS: Peripherals are extras. They are extra pieces of hardware that you
do not have to have to run your computer, but they make running it either
easier or more fun. Like printers, speakers, scanners, joysticks, etc.
SOFTWARE: instructions for the computer. A
computer is only dead pieces of wire and metal until something tells it what to
do.
SKILLS: If you can click and scroll with the
mouse and "hunt and peck" on the keyboard, you have all the necessary
skills to search the Web.