What is a popular category of computer that can perform all of its input processing output and storage activities by itself and is intended to be used by one person at a time?

Components of a Computer

A computer contains many electric, electronic,

and mechanical components known as

hardware.

Input

Users have a variety of input options for

entering data into a computer, many of which

involve using an input device. An input device is

any hardware component that allows you to

enter data and instructions into a computer or

mobile device. The following sections discuss

common input methods.

✓ Keyboards - A keyboard contains keys

you press to enter data and instructions

into a computer or mobile device. All

desktop keyboards have a typing area

that includes letters of the alphabet,

numbers, punctuation marks, and other

basic keys. Some users prefer a wireless

keyboard because it eliminates the

clutter of a cord.

✓ Pointing device - is an input device that

allows a user to control a small symbol

on the screen called the pointer.

✓ Some mobile devices and computers

enable you to speak data instructions

using voice input and to capture live

full-motion images using video input.

✓ Scanner - is a light-sensing input device

that converts printed text and images

into a form the computer can process.

Output device

Is any hardware component that conveys

information from a computer or mobile device

to one or more people.

✓ A printer is an output device that

produces text and graphics on a

physical medium, such as paper or

other material

✓ A 3-D printer can print solid objects,

such as clothing, prosthetics, eyewear,

implants, toys, parts, prototypes, and

✓ A display is an output device that

visually conveys text, graphics, and

video information

✓ Speakers allow you to hear audio such

as music, voice, and other sounds

o Earbuds

o Headphones

Memory consists of electronic components that

store instructions waiting to be executed and

the data needed by those instructions

• A computer keeps data, instructions, and

information on storage media

• A storage device records (writes) and/or

retrieves (reads) items to and from storage

media

The Internet is a worldwide collection of

computer networks that connects millions of

businesses, government agencies, educational

institutions, and individuals

• The World Wide Web (or web, for short) is a

global library of information available to anyone

connected to the Internet

• The web consists of a worldwide collection of

electronic documents, each of which is called a

webpage

• A website is a collection of related webpages

• A web server is a computer that delivers

requested webpages to your computer

• A browser is software that enables users with

an Internet connection to access and view

webpages on a computer or mobile device

• A search engine is software that finds

websites, webpages, images, videos, news,

maps, and other information related to a

specific topic

A workstation is a powerful, high-end microcomputer. They contain one or more microprocessor CPUs. They may be used by a single-user for applications requiring more power than a typical PC (rendering complex graphics, or performing intensive scientific calculations).

Alternately, workstation-class microcomputers may be used as server computers that supply files to client computers over a network or the Internet. This class of powerful microcomputers can also be used to handle the processing for many users simultaneously who are connected via terminals; in this respect, high-end workstations have essentially supplanted the role of minicomputers (see below).

Note! The term “workstation” also has an alternate meaning: In networking, any client computer connected to the network that accesses server resources may be called a workstation. Such a network client workstation could be a personal computer or even a “workstation” as defined at the top of this section. Note: Dumb terminals are not considered to be network workstations (client workstations on the network are capable of running programs independently of the server, but a terminal is not capable of independent processing).

There are classes of computers that are not microcomputers. These include supercomputers, mainframes, and minicomputers.