Computer System
Lesson 1
An Overview of the Computer System
This lesson includes the following sections:
• The Parts of a Computer System
• Looking Inside the Machine
• Software: Bringing the Machine to Life
The Parts of a Computer System
• What is a Computer?
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• Users
The Parts of a Computer System - What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device used to process data.
• A computer can convert data into information that is useful to people.
• A complete computer system includes four distinct parts:
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• User
The Parts of a Computer System - Hardware
• A computer 's hardware consists of electronic devices; the parts you can see and touch.
• The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware used by the computer, such as a keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.
The Parts of a Computer System - Software
• Software – also called programs – consists of organized sets of instructions for controlling the computer.
• Some programs exist for the computer 's use, to help it manage its own tasks and devices.
• Other programs exist for the user, and enable the computer to perform tasks for you, such as creating documents.
The Parts of a Computer System - Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can manipulate and process into information that is useful to people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer stores and reads all data as numbers.
• Although computers use data in digital form, they convert data into forms that people can understand, such as text, numerals, sounds, and images.
The Parts of a Computer System – Users
An Overview of the Computer System
This lesson includes the following sections:
• The Parts of a Computer System
• Looking Inside the Machine
• Software: Bringing the Machine to Life
The Parts of a Computer System
• What is a Computer?
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• Users
The Parts of a Computer System - What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device used to process data.
• A computer can convert data into information that is useful to people.
• A complete computer system includes four distinct parts:
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• User
The Parts of a Computer System - Hardware
• A computer 's hardware consists of electronic devices; the parts you can see and touch.
• The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware used by the computer, such as a keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.
The Parts of a Computer System - Software
• Software – also called programs – consists of organized sets of instructions for controlling the computer.
• Some programs exist for the computer 's use, to help it manage its own tasks and devices.
• Other programs exist for the user, and enable the computer to perform tasks for you, such as creating documents.
The Parts of a Computer System - Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can manipulate and process into information that is useful to people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer stores and reads all data as numbers.
• Although computers use data in digital form, they convert data into forms that people can understand, such as text, numerals, sounds, and images.
The Parts of a Computer System – Users