Lesson Notes — Computer Terminology & Basic System Functions
Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 1: Introduction to Computer Literacy & Troubleshooting / Lesson 1: Computer Terminology & Basic System Functions
Lesson overview
Computers can feel like magic, but they are not. A school laptop, a phone, and a game console all do the same jobs: they take information in, process it, store it, and show you a result. This lesson gives you the words for the parts that do each job.
Hardware, software, and firmware
- Hardware is every physical part of a computer that you can touch, from the screen to the chips inside.
- Software is the programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do, such as Google Chrome, a game, or the operating system.
- Firmware is software stored permanently on a hardware chip so a device can start up and run its basic functions.
- BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware on a computer’s motherboard. When you press the power button, it checks the hardware and starts the operating system. Newer computers use a similar program called UEFI that does the same job.
Parts and what they do
| Job | Part | What it does | Everyday example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Input device | Sends information into the computer | Keyboard, mouse, microphone, webcam, touchscreen |
| Process | CPU | The central processing unit follows instructions and does the calculations | Working out where a character moves in a game |
| Short-term memory | RAM | Holds what you are working on right now; it is cleared when the power goes off | The tabs and documents you have open |
| Long-term memory | Storage | Keeps files even when the power is off | Hard drive, solid-state drive, flash drive |
| Output | Output device | Shows you the result | Screen, speakers, printer, headphones |
A peripheral is any device you connect to a computer to add a function, like a mouse, a printer, or headphones. Some peripherals are input devices, some are output devices, and some, like a touchscreen, are both.
Think of a desk
Picture yourself working at a desk. The CPU is you, doing the thinking. RAM is the top of the desk, where you spread out the things you are using right now. Storage is the filing cabinet, where everything is kept until you need it. If the desk is small, you can only work on a few things at once. If you clear the desk by turning the power off, anything you did not put away in the cabinet by saving it is gone.
A common mix-up
RAM and storage are not the same thing. When a laptop lists a number like 128 GB or 256 GB, that is usually storage. RAM is a separate, smaller number, often between 4 GB and 16 GB, and it affects how many things the computer can handle at the same time.
Check your understanding
- Is a microphone an input device or an output device? How do you know?
- You were typing a paragraph, the laptop shut off, and the paragraph was gone. Which part lost it, and what could you have done to keep it?
- Name one piece of hardware and one piece of software that work together when you play a game.
Use the Key Terms page for this lesson to build your glossary, and write each definition in your own words.