How We Think Of Computers ...and Why It Helps To Keep Things Simple

Today’s Objectives 1 Start to grasp how many types of computers are shaping our lives 2 Get a better idea of how computers work by getting our hands on hardware 3 See a simpler way to think about how computers work 4 Start thinking of computers as machines made from layers that do special jobs

How We Think Of Computers We know computers come in many shapes, sizes and types Some you know already Some will be new But they’re having a big impact on your life That’s why Computing’s so exciting!

Computers You Know...

New types of computers

How We Think Of Computers All these computers seem complex They look hard to understand So in Computing lessons, we’ll always look for simpler ways to look at complex things Let’s start to simplify how we think about at computers...

How We Think Of Computers So when you’re on a computer, what are you really ‘using’? And what bit of ‘magic’ allows those ‘apps’ to work? And inside the ‘box’, what stuff is hard at work? And finally...what amazing ‘brain’ is doing the clever stuff?

How We Think Of Computers You know lots of that because you’ve been using computers for years But have you ever looked inside at the hardware? That really helps to get an idea of how things work So let’s do it now...

Your Challenge ‘Challenges’ are activities where you have to work things out Today, you can work with your desk partners to discuss that strange box of computer parts...

Hands-On Hardware

Hands-On Hardware What are they called? What are they for? Discuss with your partner

Hands-On Hardware Mouse A hardware device that we use all the time as an ‘input’ Did you have a good look inside? There’s a lot happening in a mouse!

Hands-On Hardware Hard Drive Another device that we use all the time It ‘stores’ all the files you save Storage is for ‘keeps’

Hands-On Hardware Motherboard ‘Heart’ of the computer that connects all the hardware Lots of chips & components Also look closely at the back See the tiny tracks? Each is a ‘bus’ that carries data around

Hands-On Hardware Processor ‘Brain’ of the computer Carries out instructions from the software But it does this ultra-fast It’s like an athlete that could over-heat !

Hands-On Hardware Cooling Fan Is locked in position to keep the processor cool Just show how much work the processor is doing!

Hands-On Hardware Memory Chips that come in ‘modules’ Memory is the processor’s super-fast partner Keeps it ‘fed’ with instructions & data But it only works while the computer is switched on Memory can’t save!

Computers In Layers Let’s now put all our new knowledge together We can start with the software you know about Then add all that new hardware So we can start to think of a computer as a machine made from many layers...

Application Software Systems Software Input & Output Devices Storage Programs we use for work and play Systems Software ‘Operating system’ makes everything work together Input & Output Devices To get stuff in and out of the computer Storage Devices Stores the files you save Motherboard ‘Heart’ of the computer that connects all hardware Memory Chips Holds your work – but only while the computer is on! Processor ‘Brain’ that executes the software’s instructions Logic Circuits Microscopic circuits inside chips that process data

Computers In Layers Breaking computers down into layers helps make sense of complex machines Each layer does a special job We’ll work through the layers in our lessons to learn more about how things work

Computers In Layers

Today’s Objectives 1 Start to grasp how many types of computers are shaping our lives 2 Get a better idea of how computers work by getting our hands on hardware 3 See a simpler way to think about how computers work 4 Start thinking of computers as machines made from layers that do special jobs