[2] Computer

What is a computer?

A computer, referred to sometimes as a PC. Is an electronic system device that allows a user to input, store or process data digitally in a binary format. There term computer is widely adopted for a personal computer (PC), but mobile devices, laptops and IoT (Internet of Things) are all different types of computer systems

Take a calculator for instance, you use a calculator to perform a complex sum, such as 462*8, you enter the sum and the calculator outputs the result, in this case 462*8 would be 3,696 as a result on the calculator. A computer will perform even more complex and harder tasks in the 0s and 1s format, these complex tasks are what games, websites and other applications are built on top of. In a format that is viewable to the human eye.

How does a computer process data?

As an example, I use my keyboard as I type this sentence, the computer will convert the input instructions (in binary format) and on-screen I will see the output of set instructions (such as the words I type into the keyboard appear on screen). This is performed by using the 'Fetch and Execute' cycle. 

Figure 1: Fetch and Execute Cycle