Computer+Basics

**Hardware**: The hardware is the part of the computer you can touch and see. Ex. Monitor, Keyboard.
 * Software**: The software is a part of the computer you cannot touch. It includes all the instructions and that make the computer run and the programming to control everything that the computer does.

H A R D W A R E

 * Hardware** can be further divided into INPUT, OUTPUT, BOTH input and output, PROCESSING, or STORAGE devices.

The __Monitor__ is the display screen, similar to a television screen. OUTPUT The __Keyboard__ is what you type on, similar to a typewriter. INPUT The __Mouse__ is the small hand held device that attaches to the computer. It may have two or three buttons and a scrolling wheel. The mouse is used to move the cursor (pointer) on the computer screen. INPUT The __Computer__, __tower__, or __case__ is the heart of the system. This is a box that contains all the parts that make the computer work. It can be identified by the fact that it does not seem to do anything. It also has slots to put computer disks in. PROCESSING The __Printer__ is a device that puts what you have created on to paper. OUTPUT The __Scanner__ is a device that captures pictures so that they can be seen and used on the computer, similar to a colour photocopier. INPUT

= More on the mouse = The mouse is a hand held device that lets you interact with the computer by pointing to things on the screen. When you move the mouse on a flat surface a cursor (pointer) moves on the screen. By using the buttons on the mouse you can choose, highlight and move objects. The following list of terms describes the different ways a mouse can be used: __Clicking__ - Pointing to an item and quickly pressing and releasing the mouse button. __Left clicking__ - clicking the left button while the pointer is over something on the screen will select it. __Right clicking__ - clicking the right button while the pointer is over something on the screen will bring up a menu of options. This menu list things that can be done with that object. (ex. copy and paste) __Double-clicking__ - Double-clicking means clicking twice with your left mouse button very fast. This is used to begin programs. This will be explained further in future tutorials. __Dragging__ - Holding down the mouse button while over an object will grab on to it. If you move the mouse while holding down the mouse button you will be able to move (drag) the object to a new place on the screen. __Dropping__ - After dragging an item, releasing the mouse button will leave (drop) the object at the new place on the screen. __Scrolling__ – With a scroll mouse you can move up or down through the pages by moving the wheel up or down and by keeping the cursor over a slider.

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