THIS IS A COMPUTER COMPILED BY RICHARD AMOAKO, CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT GOODWILL AFRICA, A YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION

THIS IS A COMPUTER SYSTEM A basic Computer system should have at a minimum a mouse, a keyboard and a monitor.

THIS IS A SYSTEM UNIT The system unit is the main part of a computer system. Inside the system unit are all the various components and parts that allow the computer to perform its functions. On the outside of the system unit, peripheral devices such as the keyboard, mouse and monitor connect to the Computer. The System Unit should not be confused with the CPU (Central Processor Unit) which is inside the System Unit.

THIS IS A KEYBOARD The keyboard is an input device. It allows you to input new information as well as change existing information on the Computer.

THIS IS A MOUSE The mouse in an input device. You use the mouse to tell the Computer what to do by moving, pointing and clicking on programs, applications or icons. The mouse also helps you to navigate program menus.

THIS IS A MONITOR The monitor is an output device. It shows you what the Computer is doing by displaying visual information and images to the screen. When you move the mouse, type on the keyboard or click on a program to launch, the monitor shows you what is happening in real time.

THIS IS A PRINTER A printer is an output device that allows you to create readable copies of text and data on paper. You can also use the printer to print pictures and various images. A printer connects to the Computer through a parallel printer port or a USB port on the System Unit.

THIS IS A PAIR OF COMPUTER SPEAKERS The computer speakers allow you to listen to sound coming out of the computer. It is therefore an output device. The speakers are normally connected to the computer through a sound port on the back or front of the System Unit. Some speakers connect to a USB port instead.

THE COMPUTER MICROPHONE Computer microphones come in various shapes and sizes. A microphone is an input device that helps you record your own sound onto the computer. Some people use the microphone to chat over the internet.

THIS IS A CD-ROM DRIVE The CD-ROM drive reads information on CDROM disk or media. The information on the media may be pictures, songs, games, videos, an application program etc. The CD-DRIVE drive may be internal or external to the System Unit.

THIS IS A CDROM DISK The CD media is what you will place in the CDROM drive. The information on the media will be retrieved by the CDROM drive.

THIS IS A USB DISK A USB disk , also known as a pen drive, is a removable storage device. You can use it to store information from the computer. It makes it convenient to carry your files from one place to another. To access the USB disk you would connect it to a USB port on the system unit.

THIS IS A HARD DISK The hard disk is a storage media inside the Computer’s system unit. It is used to store various kinds of information such as documents, pictures videos and applications. The hard disk will only be seen if the System Unit is opened.

THIS IS A FLOPPY DRIVE 3¼ inches floppy disks A floppy drive is a component of the main system unit. It is used to store information on a floppy diskette. A 3¼ inches floppy disk can store up to 1.44MB of information.

This is a floppy diskette The floppy disk is a removable storage media. It makes it convenient to carry your files from one Computer to another. A 3¼ inches floppy disk can store up to 1.44MB of information.

THIS IS A SCANNER A scanner is used to scan or take snapshots of images on paper and transfer those images into the Computer for storage or editing or both.

THIS IS A WEBCAM A webcam is used to capture images and transmitted directly over the internet for other internet users to see. A webcam connects directly or wirelessly to the computer.

THIS IS A MOTHERBOARD The motherboard is located inside the System Unit. All the other parts of the Computer including the CPU, Memory, hard drive are connected to motherboard.

THIS IS A CPU CPU is short for Central Processor Unit. The CPU is the brain of the Computer. It interprets and processes the instructions that the user submits to the Computer through input devices or applications and programs. The speed at which the CPU processes instructions to perform it’s tasks is measured in Megahertz (MHz) and Gigahertz (GHz). [ 1Ghz = 1000Mhz ] The CPU is located on the motherboard inside the Computer.

THIS IS A MEMORY CHIP The Computer uses memory also known as RAM to temporarily store information needed by the CPU to perform its tasks while the Computer is running. Information in RAM is said to be volatile or temporal because all the information is lost when the Computer is turned off.

SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Part Number English Monitor Motherboard 3 CPU (Microprocessor) 4 ATA sockets 5 Main Memory (RAM) 6 Adapter cards 7 Power supply unit 8 CD-ROM drive 9 Hard disk drive (HDD) 10 Keyboard 11 Mouse