3.+Computer+Basics

= Welcome to Your New Learning Zone! What is a Computer?=

To have a computer you need: 1. CPU. Central Processing Unit or System Unit 2. Monitor. Screen 3. Keyboard. 4. Mouse 5. Speakers. 6. CD-Rom 7. Printer Have You Seen It?

=The Computer and its Parts= = || =

Input Devices
There are several ways to get new information or **input** into a computer. The two most common ways are the **keyboard** and the **mouse**. The keyboard has keys for **characters** (letters, numbers and punctuation marks) and special commands. Pressing the keys tells the computer what to do or what to write. The mouse has a special ball that allows you to roll it around on a pad or desk and move the **cursor** around on screen. By clicking on the buttons on the mouse, you give the computer directions on what to do. There are other devices similar to a mouse that can be used in its place. A **trackball** has the ball on top and you move it with your finger. A **touchpad** allows you to move your finger across a pressure sensitive pad and press to click.
 * [[image:http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/computer/img/input_devices.gif width="220" height="160" caption="input devices"]] ||
 * input devices ||

Other types of input devices allow you to put images into the computer. A **scanner** copies a picture or document into the computer. There are several types of scanners and some look very different, but most look like a flat tray with a glass pane and a lid to cover it. You can input photographs into a computer with a **digital camera**. Photos are taken with the camera away from the computer and stored on a memory chip. Then the camera is plugged into the computer, so that the images can be downloaded. Another input device is a **graphics tablet**. A pressure sensitive pad is plugged into the computer. When you draw on the tablet with the special pen (never use an ink pen or pencil!), the drawing appears on the screen. The tablet and pen can also be used like a mouse to move the cursor and click.

Output Devices
Output devices display information in a way that you can you can understand. The most common output device is a **monitor**. It looks a lot a like a TV and houses the computer screen. The monitor allows you to 'see' what you and the computer are doing together.


 * [[image:http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/computer/img/speakers.gif width="220" height="160" caption="speakers"]] ||
 * speakers ||

A **printer** is another common part of a computer system. It takes what you see on the computer screen and prints it on paper. There are two types of printers. The **inkjet printer** uses inks to print. It is the most common printer used with home computers and it can print in either black and white or color. **Laser printers** run much faster because they use lasers to print. Laser printers are mostly used in businesses. Black and white laser printers are the most common, but some print in color, too.
 * Speakers** are output devices that allow you to hear sound from your computer. Computer speakers are just like stereo speakers. There are usually two of them and they come in various sizes.