Introduction to computers
Are you new to computers? Do you wonder what they do
and why you would want to use one? Welcome—you're in the right place.
This article gives an overview of computers: what they are, the
different types, and what you can do with them.
What are computers?
Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or programs.
The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were
huge machines that required teams of people to operate. Compared to
those early machines, today's computers are amazing. Not only are they
thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, in your lap, or
even in your pocket.
Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware
refers to the parts of a computer that you can see and touch, including
the case and everything inside it. The most important piece of hardware
is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor.
It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that translates instructions
and performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor,
keyboard, mouse, printer, and other items are often called hardware devices, or devices.
Software refers to the
instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word
processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is
a type of software. The operating system (OS) is software that manages
your computer and the devices connected to it. Two well-known operating
systems are Windows and Macintosh operating system. Your computer uses the Windows operating system.