Page 73 - DK Children's Encyclopedia
P. 73

Computers                                                                         SEE ALSO

                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Coding  p.65
                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Codes  pp.66—67
           Computers are machines that store information and can be                            ▸ ▸ Communication
           programmed to perform tasks. Many show information on                                p.69
           a screen, such as on a mobile phone or a laptop. Others are                         ▸ ▸ Internet  p.138

           hidden inside objects to make them work.                                            ▸ ▸ Machines  p.150
                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Robots  p.212
                                                                     Screen
                                                                     Words and images are
                                                                     displayed on the screen.
       How computers work                                                                       USB port
       Computers are programmed                                                                 Work can be saved and
                                                                                                moved between devices on
       in code to perform different                                                             a tiny hard drive, called a
       tasks. This is called software.                                                          USB. It is plugged in here.
       The programs are stored and
       run by the parts, or hardware,
       of the computer.











                                                                                                       Keyboard
       Battery                                                                                         Words typed on
                                                                                                       the keyboard
       Computers need                                                                                  appear on
       electricity to work. The                                                                        the screen.
       battery provides and
       stores the electricity.











                 Processor                Motherboard                RAM                      Hard drive
                 This part performs the   This connects everything, so   This part stores information,   This stores information
                 calculations that make   that different parts of the   but only while the computer   even when the computer
                 the computer work.       computer can communicate.  is switched on.          is switched off.


          How we use
          computers
          Computers are found
          inside many everyday
          objects. Computers let us
          program these machines to                                                               Industrial robot
          perform specific tasks.        Traffic lights       Video games                         Computers tell big
                                         Computers control    Game consoles are computers         machines what to do—
                                         when the lights      that let you play games on a        often the same thing
                                         change color.        television screen.                  over and over again.


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