I always wondered what was inside a computer or TV set. I really couldn't understand how it worked so I concluded that it was purely magical. An uncle I grew up around called it "Oyibo witchcraft 😅".
In elementary school we were told that a computer is an electronic device that accepts and processes data then brings it out as information. This was a simple and great definition except I didn't understand what data meant or what actually processes the data in the "computer box".
Let's explore this definition of a computer in simple terms.
--The computer as an electronic device
Technology came with the invention of electricity. Electronic devices are equipment that uses electricity to function. They normally depend on a power source, plugged directly to a socket or stored power in batteries. Same way we eat food to give us energy, the computer needs electricity to enable it to function.
--The computer accepts data
We normally take in food/water/oxygen with specific parts of our bodies; the mouth and nose. So does the computer have special devices to take in data, they are called input devices. Examples of input devices are keyboard, mouse, scanner, camera e.t.c. Data in this case can be special instructions(e.g a written note🙃) to the computer.
--Processing data
Our bodies also have features that enable digestion of food from the mouth to the stomach. Basically, the process of digestion is controlled by the brain.
The computer also has a special device called the CPU( central processing unit) which acts as its "brain". It’s amazing that the CPU has similar functionalities with the human brain. It has a form of memory called RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores data while it is being processed, and also a permanent storage ROM( Read Only Memory), just like we have short term and long term memory in the brain😃 awesome right?
The CPU was made by engineers who took time to write series of instructions and functions( arithmetic and logical operations) which helps to process data. These instructions are called programs.
--Outputs information
So after eating and digestion has taken place, we receive the output in terms of energy, sweat and waste products through specific body parts.
Similarly, after the instructions have gone into the computer and are processed, a result/information comes out through the output devices. Examples of output devices are printers, monitor, speaker and so on.
In summary, we can see that the computer has great features that enable us give instructions and produce results. We've seen the application of computers in video games, typing, photography and so on. You could also be part of those engineers who write these instructions (programs) in the brain of the computer and that's called Programming😃.