UNIT 1
Know your
Computer
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this unit, pupils should be able to:
• Input devices.
• Output devices.
• Storage devices.
3
UNIT 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
• the computer is a machine.
• there are several parts of the computer.
• there are different types of computers.
The computer system is made up of hardware and software.
Hardware is any part of the computer that we can touch and see. Examples of hardware are:
Mouse Monitor Speakers
Printer System Unit Keyboard
4
UNIT 1
HOW DOES A COMPUTER WORK?
A computer takes in data, processes the data and gives out information.
• Data are raw facts and figures which are entered into a computer.
• Process is what the computer does with the data.
• Data together with instructions produce information.
For example:
5+4=9 9 is the information
5 and 4 are the data
Let us see the example below which shows the input, process and output:
1
2
INPUT
Mango pulp, sugar and
milk are put in a mixer grinder.
PROCESS
3
The ingredients are
blended in the mixer grinder.
OUTPUT
The result is
the mango shake.
5
UNIT 1
INPUT DEVICES
the devices that give data or instructions to the computer are called input devices.
The most commonly used input devices are the keyboard and mouse.
Keyboard
The keyboard is a commonly used input device.
It allows the user to input letters, numbers and other characters into a computer.
Mouse
As you move the mouse on a mouse pad, a small arrow moves on the screen.
The arrow you see on the screen is the pointer.
The mouse is also known as a pointing device.
The pointer follows the movement of the mouse.
Joystick
A joystick is a vertical handle which can be moved forward, backwards and
sideways to control a machine.
It is a pointing device that works like a computer mouse as it is used to move
the pointer on the computer screen.
It is often used for playing computer games.
Scanner
A scanner is a device that transfers data – such as hand-drawn pictures or text,
photographic printers, posters and magazine pages – into the computer.
This is done by converting the input document image into a digital format
which can then be fed into the computer.
The scanned data can be edited or modified in the computer.
6
UNIT 1
OUTPUT DEVICES
The devices that display a result or information are called output devices.
This information is displayed on the monitor.
Monitor
A monitor is also known as a Visual Display Unit (VDU).
It is an output device that looks like a television.
It displays both text and pictures.
The output that is displayed on the monitor is called the soft copy.
Printer
A printer gives the output on paper. It prints exactly what is seen on the screen.
The printout from the printer is called the hard copy.
Speakers
Speakers generate sound, based on the input given, which the listener can
hear.
Speakers of specific range are built in to all computers and laptops.
If the sound is required to be audible to a large group of listeners, then
speakers of higher frequency can be attached as an output device to the
computer.
Activity 1
A. Give the name of a device that is input and output device.
…………………………………………………………………..
B. Get ready to flex your mind with other devices.
…………………………………………………………………..
7
UNIT 1
Storage devices
Storage devices are used to save our work so that we can use it again. Some examples of storage
devices are: hard disk, external hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, SD card and flash drives.
Name Image Capacity
Hard Disk
External Hard Disk
Flash Drive
SD Card
DVD-ROM
CD- ROM