Computer Basics

Hello! Welcome to our webpage! This site is going to try and teach you the basics about computers.

 

 

Here are some terms you need to know about computer basics:


 

 

USB Ports- Just about any computer that you buy today comes with one or more USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors on the back. These USB connectors let you attach everything from mice to printers to your computer quickly and easily.

Serial Ports- This is thought to be one of the most basic connections to a computer. The serial port has been an essential part of most computers for more than 20 years. Although many of the newer systems have done away with the serial port completely, for the USB connections. Most modems still use the serial port, as do some printers, PDAs and digital cameras.Here is an example of some of the ports

Keyboard- Is the device that you use to type with. There are many different types of keys on your keyboard, such as: toggle keys, function keys, combination keys, and number keys. Some examples of toggle keys are: Control, Caps Lock, and Delete.

Mouse- Every day of your computing life, you reach out for your mouse whenever you want to move your cursor or activate something. Your mouse senses your motion and your clicks and sends them to the computer so it can respond accordingly.

Wireless Mice- Most wireless mice use radio frequency (RF) technology to communicate information to your computer. Being radio-based, RF devices require two main components: a transmitter and a receiver. Here is what a typical Wireless mouse looks like:

Laptops- They're completely portable, and they use less power and make less noise than desktop models. But, they're often a little slower and have less graphics and sound processing power, however these differences can be too small for most users to notice. Laptops are also more expensive than desktops. The price gap is closing, because laptop prices are falling faster than desktop prices.

Bubble Jet Printer-A bubble jet printer is any printer that fires extremely small droplets of ink onto paper to create an image. If you've ever looked at a piece of paper that has come out of an bubble jet printer, you know that:

Inkjet printers are fairly cheap and are less expensive than laser printers, and much less expensive than color laser printers.

LCD Monitor-You probably use machines that have an LCD (liquid crystal display) every day. They are all around us -- in laptop computers, digital clocks and watches, microwave ovens, CD players and many other electronic devices. LCDs are common because they offer some real advantages over other display methods. They are thinner and lighter and draw much less power than cathode ray tubes (CRTs).

CRT Monitor- The CRT was the first computer monitor to come into use. Almost all TVs in use today rely on a device known as the cathode ray tube, or CRT, to display their images. Below is a diagram on how a CRT Monitor works.

Operating system- If you have a computer, then you have heard about operating systems. Any desktop or laptop PC that you buy normally comes pre-loaded with Windows XP. Macintosh computers come pre-loaded with OS X. The operating system (OS) is the first thing loaded onto the computer without the operating system, a computer is useless.

Application- An application enables the user to utilize the computer's power to perform a task the user wishes to do.

Virus-A computer virus messes up a computer by slowing it down by interfering with file processes or shutting down the whole computer. A virus can get into your computer either from an e-mail or it can be disguised as a download. Viruses also can spread from computer to computer very rapidly through e-mails and other applications. Below is a diagram of how a virus spreads.


Tower-The tower is the outer casing of the computer. It is also known as the chassis. Some people incorrectly call it the CPU. That is all you need to know about the tower.

 

 


Now that you know some of the definitions, here are some games that you can try!

Word Jumble

Word Seek


Here is a quiz to test yourself on what you now know about computers.

Quiz


Here are some links to fun websites that will tell you more about computers!

Brain Pop

WhatIs.com

How PCs Work

 

 

Return to Project Homepage