What is Computer ?

  

What Does Computer Mean?

A computer is a device or equipment that follows instructions from a hardware or software programme to carry out tasks, calculations, and activities. It has the capacity to accept input data, process that data, and then generate outputs.

In the appropriate storage media, computers can also store data for later use and retrieve it as needed.

Modern computers are electrical devices that may be used for a wide range of activities, such as web browsing, document authoring, video editing, application creation, video game playing, etc.

They combine integrated hardware and software components to perform programmes and offer a range of solutions.

Techopedia Explains Computer

The Colossus is the oldest digital electronic device that could be considered the forerunner of the contemporary computer. The Lorenz SZ 40/42, a German encryption device designed to enable military communications during World War II, was broken by the Colossus, which was built in 1943–1944.

To decode encrypted data, the system employed 2,400 vacuum tubes to carry out various boolean logical operations.

Modern computers are available in a wide variety of sizes and designs to carry out a wide range of tasks. Although desktop and laptop computers are the ones that first come to mind, there are numerous more less obvious gadgets that are computers as well, including supermarket scanners, ATMs, and smart TVs.

Computers are now much more widely accessible in our daily lives thanks to the proliferation of cell phones, gaming consoles, wearable technology, and smart appliances .The various bits and components that make up a computer enable user functioning.

There are two main sorts of computers.

Hardware

A computer's physical housing for its CPU, memory, storage, connection ports, and add-ons. Each of these parts, together referred to as devices, serves a distinct function, which may involve receiving inputs, storing data, or sending outputs.

Input devices, including a mouse and a microphone, are used to capture user activity and convert it into data that is sent to the system unit. A hard disc is a type of storage device from which other devices can access data.

The output devices that convert processed data into video and audio signals are a monitor and a speaker.

Typically, the essential parts that serve as the bare minimum for a computer to operate are:

Processor (CPU):

The component that processes and executes inputs from hardware and software is known as a processor (CPU).

Motherboard:

A mainboard that connects all the other hardware devices and components on a basic level (internal and external).

Memory (RAM):

A location for temporary data storage that houses the data the CPU is now using.

 Storage Device:

A storage system that keeps data on hand permanently. Although slower than RAM, it is less volatile.

Power supply unit:

No electrical equipment can function without power, so that one is pretty self-explanatory.

Software

In a wide sense, "software" refers to any components of a computer that are not strictly physical, such as data, programmes, applications, protocols, etc. Software is essential for receiving, encoding, storing, and processing information even when it has no physical form.

All executable and non-executable material, including documents, digital files, libraries, and online data, is included in computer software. Software also includes an operating system (OS) and all of a computer's apps.

Software applications are transmitted to a computer's hardware architecture for reading, interpretation, and execution.

Computers are categorised as personal computers (PC), desktop computers, laptop computers, minicomputers, handheld computers and devices, mainframes, or supercomputers based on their processing speed, storage capacity, size, mobility, and other characteristics.