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How a Computer Works

Input, process, output, storage

You speak into a tablet. Words appear on the screen. Which part is the input?

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Your voice is the input, the thing that goes in.

Fruit and curd go into a blender. You press the button. A smoothie comes out. A computer works the same way.

Fruit and curd go in. That's input.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Fruit and curd go in. That's input.
  2. The blades mix it. That's the process.
  3. A smoothie pours out. That's the output.
  4. Some goes in the fridge. That's storage.

A computer takes input, processes it, gives output and can store it.

  • Input — what goes in: a tap, a word, a photo.
  • Process — the computer works on it, step by step.
  • Output — what comes out: words, a sound, a picture.
  • Storage — where a copy is kept for later.

These four parts, in order, are the loop.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Input, process, output, storage
  3. 2 The main parts of a real device
  4. 3 Input and output devices
  5. 4 Hardware vs. software
  6. 5 Memory forgets. Storage remembers.
  7. 6 Files and folders
  8. 7 The big picture
  9. 8 Track quiz

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