| Let's Learn About Computers
Inside this head, and inside
many other heads, there are two kinds of knowledge; the memory
work kind of knowledge and the logical kind of knowledge.
People who have their computer knowledge on the memory work side often
have problems installing new programs, using someone else's computer
or adapting to new operating systems like Windows 98 and many other
computer related difficulties. Things that should live on the memory work side of the brain are such things as "What is the capital of New York state?" There is no way that knowledge on the logical side can help you with these. For instance, logically speaking, New York City, a very major place, just has to be the capital of New York state, however it's not. Albany is. You just have to memorize that.
It is important that you learn how to figure out things about computers because there are just too many things to be done with them to try to memorize it all. Anyway, as anyone who has studied hard for a test the next day knows, it's always the stuff you didn't memorize that they ask! So, lets get started on putting your computer knowledge firmly on the 'logical' side of your brain. Why do I need to know definitions or terminology? As rudimentary as it seems, a basic knowledge of the terms and the "language" will aid in understanding the Computer. Working with a computer requires hardware and software. The hardware consists of the mechanical components. Usually, on a personal computer (or PC) machine there are five items of hardware: the computer, the monitor (video screen), the keyboard, the mouse (the small white object on the desk top and connected to the computer), and the printer. The monitor, computer, and printer usually operate on separate circuits and must be turned off and on independently. In computer labs, each computer has its own monitor, keyboard, and mouse, but the printer is usually shared among two or more PC machines. The software consists of programs (coded instructions for the computer) which enable one to carry out certain functions. So a word-processing program (like Word or WordPerfect) or a computer game (like Playroom or Solitaire) or an Internet access program (like Netscape) is software which must be put into the computer's memory in order for one to be able to use it. When a PC user wants to carry out a particular function on the computer, the first task is usually to call up the software program necessary for the task. These programs are either stored in the computer or on the network (on what is called the hard drive) or exist on a disk which the user puts into the computer's external disk drive (the horizontal slit or slits on the front of the computer). All the programs discussed in this handbook are available through the PC, so that it will not be necessary to call up software from a separate disk (other than the text of your own work which you have saved-more on that later). On the front of the computer is one (sometimes two) horizontal slits, with a button and a light beside it. This aperture is called a disk drive. Here is inserted the portable disk on which the user stores information (e.g., a document) prepared on the computer. For further information, see the section below on disks. When the computer is turned on, no immediately useful software programs are active. The user's first task is to select from the various options the particular one necessary to carry out the required work. Once a software program is chosen, that program becomes active in what is called the Random Access Memory (RAM). The computer, as it were, takes the program from storage and makes it active in the machine (i.e., ready to use). Sometimes this means you will have to wait several seconds for a program to load, and there may be odd material appearing on the screen. You'll learn somemore computer terminology in lesson 1.
Quiz
http://www.maxmon.com/history.htm http://www.computer-museum.org/
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