If you’re watching this right now...then
I’m pretty sure that you’re using some
kind of computer.
Your computer might look like this or this.
But you might also be watching me on a tablet,
a phone...or even your tv.
And all of these things are, or work, thanks
to computers, too!
So what is a computer?
There are a lot of ways to answer that question.
But to keep it simple, we’ll say that a
computer is a machine that can follow instructions.
Now, instructions are just steps that tell
us how to do a job.
I bet you’re already pretty good at following
instructions.
Like, a grownup may give you instructions
on how to put on a jacket or a sweatshirt
by yourself.
If I don’t do the steps in the right order,
or don’t follow them closely, things might
turn out all wrong.
But if I do follow the instructions carefully...then
I can easily get the jacket on without any
problems.
Computers use instructions to do all kinds
of things -- and things that are way harder
than getting dressed!
The instructions that we give a computer are
called a program.
And when the computer follows the instructions,
we call it running the program.
When a computer runs a program correctly,
it accomplishes a task...it does something!
For example, when you use a tablet or a smartphone,
you might run a special kind of program called
an app.
An app, or application, is a program that
has a specific job to do.
It might be to play a game with you to help
you learn math, or it might be to tell you
if it’s going to rain today.
Computers have lots of different parts to
help them run apps and other kinds of programs.
But there are two really important ones.
The first part is called a central processing
unit.
That’s a big fancy name, so most people
call it the CPU for short.
The CPU is kind of like the brain of the computer.
It helps the computer to read and to follow
the instructions that are in the program.
Computers also have some kind of memory, sort
of like we do.
You use your brain to remember things...like
how to put on a jacket.
But a computer uses its memory to remember
which step it’s on when it’s following
instructions.
And when a computer shows you a picture that
you took last month, it’s using its memory.
But a computer doesn’t have a brain to use
its memory.
Instead, its memory is often stored in little
tiny electrical circuits, called chips.
All of these parts inside a computer make
it work.
But let’s look at some of the outside parts
of a computer...the parts we touch and see.
There are some parts that we use to write
programs, or to give a computer information.
If we do that using letters and numbers, then
we use … a keyboard!
Some keyboards are separate from the computer,
with keys that you push.
Others are built into the computer, and all
you have to do is touch the screen with your
finger!
Another part that helps us to tell the computer
what to do is called the mouse.
You can see why it’s called a mouse - it
has a wire that kind of looks like a tail!
When we move the mouse on a table or desk,
we move a pointer around.
And when we click a button on the mouse, we
give the computer an instruction.
Sometimes the mouse doesn’t have a wire,
and some computers don’t use a mouse at
all.
On these computers, you can just use your
finger to move things around on the screen.
Oh and speaking of the screen - that’s an
important part, too!
But instead of helping us put things into
the computer, it helps the computer communicate
with us -- it shows us the results of the
programs we’ve put in.
So, a screen can show us the math game we’re
playing, or the picture that we want to see.
But there are also printers, which give us
words and pictures on a piece of paper, and
speakers or headphones, which give us sounds.
All of these different parts work together,
so computer can help us work, study, and learn.
And watching videos and playing games on computers
is definitely a lot of fun!
But computers do so much more than that!
Computers help people to talk to each other
all across the world.
They help people to design and build bridges,
houses, skyscrapers, and roller coasters.
Computers even help to launch astronauts into
space, and help us land robots to explore
the surface of Mars.
Every day we’re thinking of new ways computers
can help us.
Thanks for using your computer to join me
on SciShow kids!
Do you have a question about computers, or
anything else?
Grab a grownup and ask them to help you leave
a comment on this video, or send an email
to Kids@SciShow.com!
