TOP IC: DESCRIPTION

OF A COMPUTER

M R . E N U E K W E I .

ISRAEL

WE ARE LEARNING TO:•Define a computer.•State the advantages of the computer.•List the different parts of the computer and their uses.

DESCRIPTION OF COMPUTER.

A computer is a man-made electronic machine. It works very fast and accurately.

A computer can help us in our day-to-day tasks like: • writing letters, • doing calculations, • drawings, • gathering information, • playing songs or videos and much more.

FEATURES OF A COMPUTER

A computer has many advantages.• Speed: A computer is an electronic machine, so it gives you fast service.• Reliability and accuracy: A computer is reliable and accurate. It never

makes a mistake by itself.• Storage Capacity: A computer system is able to store large amount of

data, which we can get back quickly for future use.• Works the whole day: A computer can work 24 hours without asking for

any tea-break or rest. It is never tired.

DIFFERENT PARTS OF A COMPUTER AND THEIR USES.

•A computer and all the equipment attached to it is called hardware. Hardware is any part of a computer that can be seen, touched and carried from one place to another.

EXAMPLES OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS• KEYBOARD: It is an input device used to type into a computer. It has

small buttons with letters and numbers called keys.

EXAMPLES OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS• MONITOR: This is an output device used to display drawings, words,

games, cartoons, movies, etc. It is also called a VDU (Visual Display Unit). It looks like a television.

EXAMPLES OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS• SYSTEM UNIT: This houses the brain of a computer. It is the engine of

the computer. it looks like a box. The CPU is called the brain of the computer.

EXAMPLES OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS• MOUSE: A Mouse is a pointing device that fits under the palm of our

hands. We can select or move items from the screen with the help of the mouse. It is used to draw pictures, fill in colours and select objects.

EXAMPLES OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS• PRINTER: Is for writing on a paper what is in the computer. It is an

output device used for printing out our document on paper.

REVISION QUESTIONS

• What is used to display drawings, words, games, cartoons? _______• A _______is sometimes called the brain of the computer.• _________is used to draw pictures, fill in colours and select objects.• All the equipment attached to the computer are called _________• A ________looks like a television.• A _________is a pointing device.