Introduction to the Computer

The Monitor lets you see what you are doing with the computer. Everything you do is displayed on the screen of the monitor. The monitor has a switch that allows you to turn the monitor off and on. The monitor has at least 2 knobs, dials or wheels that allow you to adjust brightness and contrast (sometimes if the brightness wheel is turned too far to the darkness side, the picture will be so dark it will seem like the monitor is not working). If the power light is not on when the computer is on then the monitor is not getting power.  Check the power at the wall or the connector at the back of the monitor. The monitor has two cords.  One goes to the CPU and plugs into the 16 pin outlet (one with 16 holes) on the back of the computer and one goes to a wall outlet.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brain of the computer. Its case houses most of the equipment that makes a computer function. The CPU consists of:

• A Case to house all of the parts (be careful, the plugs and ports are keyed [one side bigger than the other] and should only go in one way. Don't force a connector if it does not want to go. It may be upside down).
   
• A CPU chip (the brain).
   
• A Floppy Drive this allows you to save files on a floppy disk to be stored outside of the CPU.
   
• A Hard Drive, also called Archival Memory (the hard drive allows you to save programs and files inside the case for later use).
   
• A CD-Rom drive.
   
• Memory Chips, are also called Volatile Memory (this memory is only used while the computer is turned on, if you do not save a file that is in virtual memory when you turn the computer off the file will be lost).

Also

• Connection Ports
  • A Printer port (one with 25 holes)
  • 1 or more Serial Ports (one with 9 pins)
  • 1 or more USB Ports (not on all machines)
  • A Keyboard port
  • A Mouse port
  • A Power Port - This is where you plug in the power cord.  (Be careful, the plugs and ports are keyed [one side bigger than the other] and should only go in one way. Don't force a connector if it does not want to go. It may be upside down)
  •  
• A Keyboard - Plugs into the keyboard port on the CPU (Be careful, the plugs and ports are keyed [has a plastic pin in the middle] and should only go in one way. Don't force a connector if it does not want to go. It may be upside down).
   
• A Mouse - Plugs into the mouse port on the CPU (Be careful, the plugs and ports are keyed [has a plastic pin in the middle] and should only go in one way. Don't force a connector if it does not want to go. It may be upside down).

The Computer might have one or more of the following:

• A Modem - This can be installed inside (internal) or outside the CPU (external).
• With 1 or more telephone plug outlets: (1 for a phone to be connected to [labeled phone] and 1 for the wall cord to be connected to [labeled wall or line]).

• A Sound Card - This is always installed inside the CPU.
• Has 1 or more outlets: (1 for the speakers, 1 for line out, 1 for microphone).

The Printer

The printer is used to print anything you have created with the computer. Some printers can print in color. The printer has 2 cords (1 goes to the CPU and plugs into the 25 hole Printer Port.  The other one plugs into the wall).

You put paper in a tray for the printer to print on.