What is a Computer?

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A computer is basically a processor of information. This contain information such as text, sound video and computer generated graphics being just a few common examples. Computer is very fast and can make use of the global network to communicate with other information based systems. 

Figure 1.1

Data and Information

Data is raw material on which a computer operates. When some appropriate structure has been applied to the data then it becomes information. 

The simplest computer system

Figure 1.2

Figure 1.2 represents the basic parts of any information system. The ideas of input, processing and output are fundamental to all modern computer systems. 

Expanded Computer System

This helps to categorise what's happening in your general Computer. 

Figure 1.3

In this diagram, it has split up the system into different types of inputs and outputs. 

Hardware and Software

Hardware

Hardware is a computer equipment that you can see and touch. Examples; Monitor, mouse, keyboard, CPU etc.

Figure 1.4 Mouse

Figure1.5 Keyboard

Figure 1.6 Monitor

Software

Set of instructions called programs mentioned earlier can be known as Software. Examples; MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS, Excel, Visual Studio.

Figure 1.7 MS Office

Note: Firefox, Google Chrome are Web browsers but not software's. But Operating Systems (OS) such as Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, Mac etc. are a software that build to use software's.