Computing in the Modern World: Hardware & Software Concepts

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A computer can be divided into two types of components: and . are the physical components of a system. They include the parts inside the computer, like the CPU, power supply, and sound card. They can also include parts outside the computer, known as . Scanners, printers, monitors, speakers, mice, and keyboards are all examples of equipment. There are two types of peripherals: , which take information and store it in the computer; and , which present information in the computer to a user. A is an input device used to enter text into a computer; the common arrangement of keyboard keys is knows as ''. A is also an input device that allows a user to move a around the computer for easy navigation. All programs and software are displayed on a , which is an device.

is the other component of a computer. Software is made up of (also known as ) that organize and display and information. The most basic type of software is the , which manages all the other programs on a system. , distributed by Microsoft, is the most common operating system. Most operating systems have a , which is what is displayed by default on your monitor when you start your computer. A 'default' setting is the setting in a system; it is what happens if you haven't manually changed it.

Software manages , which is made up of data. Information is organized in the computer into , which are stored in by the operating system. There are many different file types, or , and each type of file is good for a different thing. Audio files, for example, are often in the , , or format. Information displayed on the internet is usually in the format, which is an acronym for the programming language that are written in. Other filetypes include (programs or applications), (text files), (images), and (compressed data). Data is accessed through programs, and there are a few ways to get to a program. You can click on a , which is a small picture or on the desktop that links to the actual program in the computer. Or you can select from the , the thin bar at the bottom of the Windows screen that contains the button, address bar, and other toolbars.