Computer

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A computer is a machine that stores knowledge in its memory, and does automated calculations on that knowledge. Automated calculation means that if the machine is given some input, it will produce some output. People can use computers to do jobs, or just to have fun.

How computers store things

The knowledge is stored as symbols, called data. They change symbols and the jobs they have to do into math equations, and can learn the answers to billions of these equations every second. This lets a computer take very hard tasks or strange ideas, and show them with pictures, sound, and words to communicate with the person using them (the "user"). Most of the time, a computer communicates with the user by drawing pictures or writing words on its monitor (screen).

After the computer is done with the data in its memory, it will store it on a hard disk. Most computers have a list of orders that tell the computer how to work with the user. This list of orders is called an algorithm. An operating system tells the computer how to understand what jobs it has to do, how to do these jobs, and how to tell people the results. The disk that contains the operating system is called a boot device.

The different jobs that the computer does are called computer programs. This lets most computers have the same operating system, or list of orders to tell it how to talk to the user, while each computer can have its own computer programs or list of jobs to do what its user needs. Having different programs and operating systems makes it easy to learn how to use computers for new things. When a user needs to use a computer for something different, the user learns how to use one new program.

Computers and the Internet

One of the most important jobs that computers do for people is helping with communication. Communication is how people share information. Computers have helped people move forward in science, medicine, business, and learning, because they let experts from anywhere the world work with each other and share information. They also let other people communicate with each other, do their jobs almost anywhere, learn about almost anything, or share their opinions with each other. Some people say they like computers and the Internet because everyone can have a voice and be heard by whomever wants to listen to what they have to say.

Blogs are used by many people to say what they want on the Internet. Some people spend most of their time reading and writing blogs. Many people from all over the world use them. Some people use them to write about things that happen to them. Experts can use them to help people learn more. Some blogs are used by companies to sell things.

Computers and waste

A computer is now almost always an electronic device. It usually contains materials that will become toxic waste when disposed of. When a new computer is bought in some places, laws require that the cost of its waste management must also be paid for. This is called product stewardship.

In some countries, old computers are recycled (melted down) to get gold and other metals from them. This is dangerous, because this procedure releases the toxic waste into the water and soil.

Computers become obsolete quickly. Very often, they are given away, and new ones replace them within two or three years. This makes the problem worse, so computer recycling happens a lot. Many projects try to send working computers to developing nations so they can be re-used and will not become waste as quickly.

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How computers store things

Computers and the Internet

Computers and waste