These days, computers are everywhere. According to the above definition from the American Heritage Dictionary, computers include your VCR, your car, your fax machine, even your watch and programmable coffee maker. Personal computers are for a single user . They generally have a monitor, keyboard, and pointing device such as a mouse. There is a huge and intimidating specialized computer vocabulary.
Most computer users get along just fine knowing only a few key terms.
Here are some of the basic terms and concepts which will really help you in learning about and understanding computers. Important concepts Computers work with Digital information in bits. Any information which can be encoded or described with some scheme of words or numbers can be stored and manipulated digitally. Hardware is the physical metal and plastic of a computer, sort of like your body is to you. Software is the programs which tell the computer what to do, sort of like the skills and knowledge that you can learn from a teacher or how-to book.