The Computer

The Computer

Uma was interested learning about the spell checker from the moment she heard it from Upul. So she read a book entitled “The changing world” this is the first chapter of that book. Let’s see what she read.

  

A computer has several essential components. It is a machine with a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse and a central processing unit (CPU) or systems unit; this is what is referred to as a computer.

The monitor is like the screen on television which displays all visuals. It is also called the Visual Display Unit (VDU).

The keyboard is quite similar to an electronic typewriter with additional keys for new functions. It is the main device through which the operator enters the data.

It has four main types of keys: data keys used to enter letters, numbers and punctuation marks, shift keys to produce capital letters, control keys to help move the cursor (pointer on the computer screen). Function keys are used to issue common commands.

The mouse got its name when its long tail – like cord was connected to the CPU. It does the services of a pointer called the ‘cursor’. The mouse is divided into two segments: the left and right.

A mere press called the ‘click’ on any of its segments would mean a simple message or a serious command depending on the type of operation. Often the mouse rests on a pad.

The Central Processing Unit or the Systems Unit is the heart of the computer. It does the major part of the instruction fed by the operator and stores the document for future reference, thus action as a store house. These four parts are interdependent and therefore we get the term ‘computer system’. A system is the mechanism of working according to a set order.

The above four main component of a computer appear in various shapes and sizes. The future of computers is hard to predict. Computer of the future will be smaller, faster, and more powerful. They may be found in every room in your house. They may be the size of a wristwatch.

Whatever the future holds, one thing is for sure: computer technology will continue to charge our lives.

Did you know that the first computer was the man? In the good old days, people who would calculate problems in Mathematics were called computers, because the word, mean to count or figure out.

Computers follow instructions from humans. They can solve only the problems that people tell them to solve.