Networks can exchange data at fantastic rates. Programs or software tell computers what to do. Software is the part of a computer system which doesn't break when you drop it. Software is now a bigger business than hardware. The key distinction is between programs and data.
Programs tell what is to be done.
Data is what the programs run on. Input devices - keyboard and mouse. Secondary storage device - floppy and hard disks. The data remains after the power is gone. Output devices - monitor and printer.