Introduction to computer

Introduction to computer By Kelvin Chiumia

What is a computer?

What is a computer? A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can accept data, process the data according to specified rules, produce results, and store the results for future use. Data and information Computers process data(input) into information(output).

Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, images, audio, and video.

Continued …..

Continued ….. Information conveys meaning and is useful to people (is the data that is organized, meaningful and useful).for example, in big shops(chipiku stores or Shoprite) computers process several data items to print information in the form of a cash register receipt. To process data into information, a computer uses hardware and software.

Definition of software and hardware

Definition of software and hardware Hardware is the electric, electronic and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer. Software is the series of instructions that tells the hardware how to perform tasks. Software, also called a program, consists of a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose, that tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them.

Components of a computer

Components of a computer These components include : input devices output devices, system unit storage devices, and communications devices

Components of a computer

Components of a computer

Input devices

Input devices An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer. Five widely used input devices are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, and Web cam

Input devices

Input devices Computer keyboard A computer keyboard contains keys you press to enter data into the computer.

Computer keyboard

Computer keyboard

Keyboard vocabulary

Keyboard vocabulary Shift Key. Press shift at the same time you are pressing any other key and you will get a new character. For instance, press shift at the same time you press a letter and it will capitalize the letter. Press shift at the same time you press a number and you will get a “%” or “$.” Tab Key. Just like a typewriter, the tab key helps you indent your text

Keyboard vocabulary

Keyboard vocabulary Function Keys. Sometimes referred to as “F keys,” they are not as popular as they once were (with older DOS programs). But there’s one F key you can pretty much always count on: the F1 key. It will most often bring up a help menu, no matter what program you’re in.

Enter Key. On your keyboard, the Enter key might be marked as a “Return” key or with only a large arrow. It’s used to go down to a new line when typing text. It also can be pressed any time a button or choice is highlighted (within a software program or on the Internet) to tell the computer you select that particular item.

Keyboard vocabulary

Keyboard vocabulary CTRL Key. The Control key is used in conjunction withanother key to initiate a certain action. In most programs, holding down the CTRL key while pressing the S key will save a file, CTRL+P will print a file, etc. ALT Key. Also used in combination with other keys to do something. For instance, ALT+F usually opens the File menu.

Caps Lock. Press it once and when you type the letters they will all be capitalized. Press it again and the letters will go back to lower case.

Keyboard vocabulary

Keyboard vocabulary Num Lock and Numeric Keypad. The Num Lock key toggles the numeric keypad on and off. When off, the keys perform other functions (i.e., directional arrows) instead of typing numbers. Space Bar. Used to enter a blank space between sentences when typing text.

Backspace. This key will remove the character to the left of the cursor(the small blinking vertical line that shows you where you are on a page of text). Shift Key. The Shift key allows you to create a capital letter. Or … you can hold down Shift key and press one of the number keys (on the top row of keyboard) to get a punctuation symbol (!, @, #, $, for instance).