The monitor is the video display of a computer. It allows you to see and manipulate what the computer is doing.
There are two main types of monitors. The traditional monitor is known as a:
CRT Monitor
(Cathode Ray Tube)
The CRT Monitor has more recently been replaced with a flat screen monitor:
LCD Monitor:
(Liquid Crystal Display)
The speakers attach to the computer through the sound card, which is either integrated into the motherboard or attached to it through a PCI slot.
The speakers allow you to listen to sound and audio files while using the computer.
An alternative to the speakers (and sometimes connected through the speakers) is a set of headphones. This particuliar headset also features and attached microphone for sound input into the computer:
Microphones can be used to input, or record, sound into the computer.
Most of today's computers are housed in towers. A tower is a vertical case that encloses the motherboard and all connected chip sets and drives that make up the computer.
The motherboard and connected chip sets, processors, and drives generate heat within the computer tower. Most towers are equipped with extra space and vents to help ventilate the tower to keep it cool. Extremely hot temperatures can damage the computer's delicate microchips.
All other hardware devices are connected to the computer through the back panel of the computer. Most of the ports and their connectors are color-coded to aid the user in connecting the equipment properly.
An alternative to the tower case is a desktop case. Many of the first computers used this sort of housing device. The desktop case is a horizontal housing device. Most users placed the monitor on top of the desktop case.
The keyboard is the main text input device of the computer. The design has not changed all that much from the typewriter that it was developed from. The major change in the keyboard was the addition of keys that are necessary for operating the computer: function keys, number pad, arrow keys, navigational keys, etc.
Most keyboards are arranged in the QWERTY style (named for the first six letters in the arrangement). This style was developed by C. L. Sholes, the inventor of the typewriter, to help to reduce the keys and their typebars (bars which struck the paper with the letter keyed) from sticking together and jamming up the typewriter. The reduction of jammed keys allowed typists to type more quickly and efficiently.
Frequent use of the keyboard, specificially when coupled with improper posture and hand positions, can cause hand-muscles to become strained and sore. Continual strain can lead to such things as Corporal Tunnel Syndrome and RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). To reduce this stress, the Ergonomic Keyboard was developed. It separates the hand by splitting the keyboard down the middle and arching the layout. This allows for a change of hand positions that lessons the muscular strain of constant typing.
Ergonomic Keyboard
The mouse is a small, hand held device used to move the cursor and select items. It was invented by Douglas Engelbart in the 1960s. It was first introduced to the public with the Apple Macintosh computers.
A typical mouse has two buttons the left mouse buttons allows the user to select items. The right mouse button allows the user to bring up a pop-up menu of basic options. Some mice have a wheel which allows for faster scrolling of long pages
The optical mouse uses a laser beam in place of the ball that traditionally moves the two wheels that identifies the mouse location of the computer.
An alternative to the traditional mouse is the trackball. This "upside-down mouse" allows a user to roll the ball with their fingers.
One portable computers, moving a mouse around on a nearby surface is not possible, so Touch Pads are used instead. The pad allows the user to move their finger around on the surface to move the cursor. Nearby buttons act as the mouse buttons.
A Printer is a device that uses ink to print out data from a computer. An inkjet printer uses jets to shoot ink onto the paper.
Ink Jet Printer
A Laser Printer uses a laser to apply powdered toner on the paper.
Laser Printer
Outer Hardware
Directions:
Move your mouse over the components of the computer.
Information regarding that component will appear.
Click the component to remove the information.
References:
by: Casey Jo Burrus
Last Updated:
December 28, 2013
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