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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. Computers You Know...

5. New types of computers

6. 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...

7. 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?

8. 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...

9. 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...

10. Hands-On Hardware

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

12. 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!

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

14. 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

15. 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 !

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

17. 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!

18. 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...

19. 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

20. 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

21. Computers In Layers

22. 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