What is a Computer?
These are programmable electronic devices or machines that are designed to accept and perform logical or mathematical operations at a high speed. In other words, computers are multipurpose machines used in the processing of data according to a set of given instructions.
What does a Computer do?
Even though computers are used to perform a variety of tasks that are of concern to the modern technological era, they are specifically used in the analysis and processing of data (Igbaria, Iivari & Maragahh, 1995).
Input-processing-Output
This refers to the basis for computer operations. In other words, input process output, well referred to as IPO is a brief model used to describe or explain the process of computer operation. Computers are programmable and cannot think or operate by themselves without the manipulation of humans.
In order for a computer to function, stuff such as data or programs have to be put through the necessary hardware, where they would be processed to produce the required output. This output could be in various forms and shapes.
In this regard, input simply refers to the process of entering information into a computer and sending it into the central processing unit for final operation. Output, on the other hand, refers to the process of acquiring the already processed data from the computer CPU.
The following links gives further insight on the input process output model of a computer:
Computer Hardware
Computer hardware are the physical components or elements that comprise computers, especially those parts that can be seen and touched. Even though there may be different hardware for various computer models, all computers will probably have the same components.
Some of the common computer hardware would include things such as hard drives and disks, Random Access Memory (RAM), removable drives, the mouse, and the keyboard. Other important hardware include monitor and the system unit. With the help of computer software, each of these components plays a key role in the operation of computers (Englander & Englander, 2003).
The following images illustrates both internal and external computer hardware.
Computer Software
Computer software refers to a set of instructions or programs that instruct computers what to do. Unlike the hardware which comprises of physical components, computer software are not tangible. Software are crucial components to computers for they instruct various hardware elements on what to do and how to coordinate with other hardware units. Another importance of the software is that it enables the hardware to be accepted by the computer, thus making them compatible to computers. Common computer software include things such as the operating system (OS), applications, and word processing programs, among others.
The Keyboard
This is an input device which acts exactly like a typewriter, and is used to enter data into a computer by typing letters, numbers and symbols on the pad.
However, unlike the typewriter, computer keyboards are made into special keys such as Control (Ctrl), Alternate (ALT), and Escape (Esc). In addition, there is also a numeric keypad which serves as an alternate to the numbers provided across the top of the pad.
These special features makes the keyboard a very useful input component to computers.
Following is an image of a modern day computer keyboard.
The Mouse
As the name suggests, this is a mouse-like device which is normally operated by hand in controlling the movement of a cursor on the computer screen. This electronic device is used to execute commands to computer programs, and can be used to all types of computers.
Monitors
Monitors or screens are the computer display devices that electronically display images, text and other forms of communication.
Most computer actions are displayed through this device as they are processed by the machine.
Printers
These are peripheral devices or machines that can be attached to computers to produce physical media that represents electronic media such as text documents within the computer.
The Internet
- Internet refers to the international computer network that links millions of computers across the world.
- As it would be observed, internet is arguably the most useful interactive development that has ever happened to the computer technology (Lee, 2009).
- The dawn of the internet back in the 1960s has improved the use of computers, thus making life easier and more enjoyable for humans.
- To a further extent, the use of internet on computers has effectively encouraged and facilitated various forms of human interaction, thus making computers more useful in the current world than ever.
Searching Skill
Computers are known for their high memorising ability, among other important aspects that make them useful to the modern society. The high searching skills of the machines, makes them even more useful when it comes to data analysis and processing.
When connected to the internet, computers can perform extraordinary tasks by enabling people to search, access and share useful information.
References
Englander, I., & Englander, A. (2003). The architecture of computer hardware and systems software: An information technology approach. New York: Wiley Publishers.
Igbaria, M., Iivari, J., & Maragahh, H. (1995). Why do individuals use computer technology? A Finnish case study. Information & Management, 29(5), 227-238.
Lee, S. (2009). Online Communication and Adolescent Social Ties: Who benefits more from Internet use? Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14(3), 509-531.