HOW IT WORKS …

Review: binary numbers Decode this message 0100 1000 0100 0101 0100 1100 0100 1111

Review: binary numbers Decode this message 0100 1000 (72 – H ) 0100 0101 (69 – E ) 0100 1100 (76 – L ) 0100 1111 (79 – O )

WHAT IS A COMPUTER? A computer is an electronic device for retrieving, storing and processing data according to a variable program Computers are not as smart as we make them to be, they cannot function outside of what we tell them to do

What’s inside? Motherboard: a circuit board which contains the principal components of a computer and ports for other circuit boards to be connected/slotted A motherboard will function very similarly to a LEGO board

CPU Central processing unit Basically functions as the “brain” of the computer Everything goes through the processor Functions: 1) input/fetches data 2) processes/decodes data 3) outputs/executes data 4) stores data

CPU (things to know) Processing speeds, reads bits of information at a time Hertz – pieces of information per second Ex: 2.2 GHZ (2.2 billion “pieces” per second) Multi-core processors

CPU (what’s inside of it?) Transistors: basically switches that run and are programmed according to an electric current Circuited in a way that represents a decision tree ENIAC (1945) Moore’s Law: the number of transistors in a space will double every two years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhNyURBiJcU

Memory (RAM) There are two types of memory: RAM vs. Long-Tem Storage RAM (random access memory) Comparative to “within arm’s reach” memory storage “Random” because computer can access anything on RAM quickly, as opposed to finding it’s place like in your closet or on a shelf Memory is lost when computer is shut down, dependent on electricity, constant current More ram, generally means faster computer (512 mb, 4 gb)

Memory (hard drives) Storage memory: long-term data storage, comparative to bookshelves, closets Runs on electricity but data is not erased when it is powered off, “permanently written” Much bigger capacity, but much slower speeds Generally more than 256 GBs, 500 GBs, 1 TB

Memory (hard drives) HHD (mechanical) vs SSD (no moving parts – random access) Both through the SATA port *SSD stores data in transistors called FGMOSFET (Floating Gate Metal Oxide Surface Field Effect Transistor)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eNTlwnnhss

Input devices Input devices allow us to communicate with our computers by converting information into a format that the computer can understand (1’s and 0’s) Keyboard, mouse, microphone, touch screen, webcams, etc.

output devices Output devices allow computers to communicate with us in a way that we would understand Monitors, speakers, printers, etc.

Hardware vs. software Hardware is rigid, and cannot perform tasks that were not originally designed for the device Software is fluid and can be easily change Software is a set of instructions that tell the hardware of the computer how to behave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFi90lZmXA