| Computers are a part of today's bustling world and | | | | general-purpose in its application. An individual types |
| play a role in everybody's life, young or old, whether | | | | information into the computer through the use of the |
| they like it or not. A version of a computer, whether it | | | | keyboard as well as the mouse and watches what he |
| be highly technologically advanced or not can be found | | | | she is typing materialize on the computer screen. The |
| in household appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, | | | | computer then begins the process of sorting through |
| toasters and microwave ovens. Cars have their own | | | | the data it is receiving and processing it as is |
| unique kind of computers, as do televisions, DVD | | | | necessary. The computer user can then save what |
| players and so much more. But when we think | | | | he sees in front of him on the hard drive of the |
| computer what comes to mind first is generally what is | | | | computer or onto a floppy disk or CD. If saved to the |
| known as a PC (or personal computer). Almost every | | | | hard drive then the information cannot be used on any |
| household has at least one and most companies could | | | | other computer but if saved on a disk that information |
| not be without one today. So much is done on the | | | | has now become portable and can be used on other |
| computer and over the computer. | | | | computers and not just that one in particular. |
| A personal computer can mean so many things to so | | | | Every computer contains certain elements which in |
| many people and it has a variety of functions. For | | | | brief include the CPU or central processing unit or the |
| students it's great for doing research using the Internet | | | | brain of the desktop computer, the memory where |
| as well as typing up essays and papers for school. | | | | information is stored, the motherboard or main circuit |
| The Internet is a tremendous resource for anyone | | | | board, the power supply which regulates electricity |
| wanting to learn about practically any subject from | | | | going through the computer, the hard drive, or |
| animals to authors and everything in between. And | | | | permanent storage, the operating system, or basic |
| what of e-mail? Twenty, thirty years ago no one could | | | | software, the integrated drive electronics controller or |
| have conceived of the idea that a person could sit | | | | IDE, the peripheral component interconnect bus or PCI |
| down in front of a computer screen and type a | | | | which allows other items to plug into it, the small |
| message to someone who is close or far away and | | | | computer system or SCSI which allows devices such |
| then send it to them and have it received almost | | | | as scanners to be plugged into it, the accelerated |
| instantly! It's quite an amazing development for our | | | | graphics port or AGP which is used by the graphics |
| world. And for those who enjoy solitary recreational | | | | card which in turn translates visual information from the |
| pursuits, there are a variety of games that can be | | | | computer into a format it can read. And last but |
| played on computers. One can also watch movies and | | | | certainly not least is the sound card, which allows the |
| listen to music via the use of a computer. | | | | computer to record as well as play anything with an |
| A computer is often thought of as a machine that | | | | audio element to it such as a CD that is accompanied |
| processes information in a timely manner and is very | | | | by music. |