The Computer Language
It is impor
tant to learn about computers at school. Nearly all jobs use computers now. Computers can help us learn about many things too. To learn, we need to find out information.
Computers can find information very quickly. They can even get it from the other side of the world. Different programs (called software) can make one computer do different jobs. We can use computers for entertainment too. We can play games, make pictures and music all on the same computer.
Few terms are used when we speak about computers. They have specific meanings and may sometimes have a different meaning to what we use normally. Some terms and words are mentioned below:
Program or Software
The instructions that tell a computer what to do.
File
A letter you type, an excel spreadsheet you save, a drawing you have done or even a song or a video clip which is available in your computer is called a file. There are two types of files.
1. Program files - Instruction written while programming are saved in files. Eg. Install file are called
Program files.
2. Document files - Collection of characters and numbers. Eg. Names and address for a mailing list, a
letter done on word are also referred to as text files.
Folder
It is used to organise your files in the computer, just as you would do to keep different letters. DOS name is Directory.
Disk
Disks store information and programs when a computer is turned off. They can also be used to move programs to another computer.
Disk Drives
The disk drive is also called the floppy Drive. They come in two sizes 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch. Dirt or Oily fingerprints can damage a disk as well as the drive and render it unreadable and un-writable.
It is impor
tant to learn about computers at school. Nearly all jobs use computers now. Computers can help us learn about many things too. To learn, we need to find out information.Computers can find information very quickly. They can even get it from the other side of the world. Different programs (called software) can make one computer do different jobs. We can use computers for entertainment too. We can play games, make pictures and music all on the same computer.
Few terms are used when we speak about computers. They have specific meanings and may sometimes have a different meaning to what we use normally. Some terms and words are mentioned below:
Program or Software
The instructions that tell a computer what to do.
File
A letter you type, an excel spreadsheet you save, a drawing you have done or even a song or a video clip which is available in your computer is called a file. There are two types of files.
1. Program files - Instruction written while programming are saved in files. Eg. Install file are called
Program files.
2. Document files - Collection of characters and numbers. Eg. Names and address for a mailing list, a
letter done on word are also referred to as text files.
Folder
It is used to organise your files in the computer, just as you would do to keep different letters. DOS name is Directory.
Disk
Disks store information and programs when a computer is turned off. They can also be used to move programs to another computer.
Disk Drives
The disk drive is also called the floppy Drive. They come in two sizes 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch. Dirt or Oily fingerprints can damage a disk as well as the drive and render it unreadable and un-writable.
Hard Disk
Hard disk functions like a floppy disk. The difference is the hard disk
canhold vast amount of data and faster than the floppy. Hard disk come
in different capacities like 10GB, 20, 30, 40, 80GB, 160GB...etc.
Hard disk functions like a floppy disk. The difference is the hard disk
canhold vast amount of data and faster than the floppy. Hard disk come
in different capacities like 10GB, 20, 30, 40, 80GB, 160GB...etc.
CD ROM
A CD ROM is similar in many ways to audio CD technology. Data recorded with a lacer beam. Initially CD rom is read only. But Read/ write CD rom's are available. The main advantage of CD rom's are that they can store high capacity of data. 700M
Word Processors
This book was written on a computer using a word processor. A word processor is a writing Program. When you type the words on a key board they appear on the screen. It is very easy to change what you have written. You can change the type of writing, the size, and how it is set Out. You can save your work and finish it later. When you have finished you can print what you have written. Most word processors can check to see if you have made spelling mistakes. They can even put them right for you.
Computer Graphics
Graphics are pictures. Some programs can draw and change pictures. Computer programs can
draw shapes in any colour. You can use pictures that someone else has made called clip-art. On the computer screen
you can make as many changes as you like. When the picture looks right you can print it out.
Desk Top Publishing
DTP stands for desk-top publishing. DTP programs are like word processors, but they let you use pictures too. You can make a page with writing (called text) and pictures (graphics). The program lets you move things around on the screen until the page looks right. It's a bit like sticking pictures together to make a collage. When you are happy with it you can send a disk, containing the pages, to the printer. Newspapers and books are usually made like this. Schools can make their own newspapers. Your teacher might help you to make your own.
Networks
If your school has many computers it may have a network. A network joins lots of computers together. There is usually one big computer called a Server . The server stores most of the programs and the work that people do. The computers where people do their work are called work stations.
The server sends information and programs out to the work-stations when they are needed. All of the computers on a network can use one printer. You can send messages from one computer to another through the server. You can even play computer games with someone else on the network.
Database
A kind of software that stores information and helps us search quickly for bits that we need, for example names and addresses
E-mail
Messages sent between computers on a network or the Internet, like a letter that is delivered in an instant
Computers can be used for so may different things and not just for standard learning, typing or caculations etc. Some of the other uses of computers are mentioned below:
Computer Assisted Learning
Some computer programs help us learn without a teacher. This is called Computer Assisted Learning or CAL. The computer can show you how to do something. It can ask questions to check that you have understood. If you get the answers right you can go on to the next stage. Sometimes the questions are part of a game to make it fun. The computer can help you to leam at the right speed for you. Computers can help real teachers to do their jobs.
Computer Simulations
Sometimes grown-up people go to school too. Computer simulations can help adults learn to drive and fly aircraft. A simulation is like real life. In a simulation you can use controls like a steering wheel and a computer screen shows what you would see if it was real.
A lot of games are like this but simulations are more realistic. If you crash in a simulation no one gets hurt and you don't do any damage. Space pilots use simulators to practice for the real thing. A real rocket launch would be much too expensive.
Computer and music
Music lessons with a computer can be fun. Most computers have a sound card and loudspeakers. You can put
music CDs in the computer and have music while you work with the right programs you can make the computer
play made-up tunes.
Computers can be linked up to electronic instruments like a keyboard or drum machine. Special software sends
messages that make the instruments play the note you want. You can play or write tunes and the computer will
remember them. It will play them back for you. Some computer programs can even invent new tunes of their
own.
Computers and Disability
Computers can help people with disabilities. If you cannot hold a pencil or pen easily, a computer can help you to write. You don't even need to be able to type. Computers can turn spoken words into writing. Some can 'speak' words written down on paper. Computer voices don't sound very real yet.
Computers can help people to move around at school. Some people can't move enough to steer an electric wheelchair. They can steer the wheelchair by blowing and sucking. Software in the computer recognizes the pattern of sucks and blows and turns on the right motors on the wheelchair.
A CD ROM is similar in many ways to audio CD technology. Data recorded with a lacer beam. Initially CD rom is read only. But Read/ write CD rom's are available. The main advantage of CD rom's are that they can store high capacity of data. 700M
Word Processors
This book was written on a computer using a word processor. A word processor is a writing Program. When you type the words on a key board they appear on the screen. It is very easy to change what you have written. You can change the type of writing, the size, and how it is set Out. You can save your work and finish it later. When you have finished you can print what you have written. Most word processors can check to see if you have made spelling mistakes. They can even put them right for you.
Computer Graphics
Graphics are pictures. Some programs can draw and change pictures. Computer programs can
draw shapes in any colour. You can use pictures that someone else has made called clip-art. On the computer screen
you can make as many changes as you like. When the picture looks right you can print it out.
Desk Top Publishing
DTP stands for desk-top publishing. DTP programs are like word processors, but they let you use pictures too. You can make a page with writing (called text) and pictures (graphics). The program lets you move things around on the screen until the page looks right. It's a bit like sticking pictures together to make a collage. When you are happy with it you can send a disk, containing the pages, to the printer. Newspapers and books are usually made like this. Schools can make their own newspapers. Your teacher might help you to make your own.
Networks
If your school has many computers it may have a network. A network joins lots of computers together. There is usually one big computer called a Server . The server stores most of the programs and the work that people do. The computers where people do their work are called work stations.
The server sends information and programs out to the work-stations when they are needed. All of the computers on a network can use one printer. You can send messages from one computer to another through the server. You can even play computer games with someone else on the network.
Database
A kind of software that stores information and helps us search quickly for bits that we need, for example names and addresses
Messages sent between computers on a network or the Internet, like a letter that is delivered in an instant
Computers can be used for so may different things and not just for standard learning, typing or caculations etc. Some of the other uses of computers are mentioned below:
Computer Assisted Learning
Some computer programs help us learn without a teacher. This is called Computer Assisted Learning or CAL. The computer can show you how to do something. It can ask questions to check that you have understood. If you get the answers right you can go on to the next stage. Sometimes the questions are part of a game to make it fun. The computer can help you to leam at the right speed for you. Computers can help real teachers to do their jobs.
Computer Simulations
Sometimes grown-up people go to school too. Computer simulations can help adults learn to drive and fly aircraft. A simulation is like real life. In a simulation you can use controls like a steering wheel and a computer screen shows what you would see if it was real.
A lot of games are like this but simulations are more realistic. If you crash in a simulation no one gets hurt and you don't do any damage. Space pilots use simulators to practice for the real thing. A real rocket launch would be much too expensive.
Computer and music
Music lessons with a computer can be fun. Most computers have a sound card and loudspeakers. You can put
music CDs in the computer and have music while you work with the right programs you can make the computer
play made-up tunes.
Computers can be linked up to electronic instruments like a keyboard or drum machine. Special software sends
messages that make the instruments play the note you want. You can play or write tunes and the computer will
remember them. It will play them back for you. Some computer programs can even invent new tunes of their
own.
Computers and Disability
Computers can help people with disabilities. If you cannot hold a pencil or pen easily, a computer can help you to write. You don't even need to be able to type. Computers can turn spoken words into writing. Some can 'speak' words written down on paper. Computer voices don't sound very real yet.
Computers can help people to move around at school. Some people can't move enough to steer an electric wheelchair. They can steer the wheelchair by blowing and sucking. Software in the computer recognizes the pattern of sucks and blows and turns on the right motors on the wheelchair.
