Lesson 1 of 9
What is a computer?
Show on a big screenPress the switch on a toy robot. Does it know you are there?
Loading lab…
No. The toy robot only follows its instructions.
A computer is a machine that follows instructions.
A computer does exactly what its instructions say.
An instruction is one exact step. "Double the number" is an instruction. Double means two times.
In the game, you put in 3. The instruction says: double the number. 6 comes out. Put in 3 again. 6 comes out again.
Number in. Instruction. Number out.
Watch out!
A computer does not know you. A beep comes from an instruction. It is not a feeling.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.