S3+Computing


 * Here you will be able to access information on a particular topic on computing.**

Here is an interesting website giving you an introduction to computers, input output, storage devices etc. Have a look.

http://www.maran.com/computerssimplified/menu2/

=What is a computer?=


 * A computer is** an **information processing machine**.
 * A computer only follows** the **Instructions it is given**.
 * Data** is **Input**, **Processed** then **Output**

Data and Information
>
 * **Data has no meaning.**
 * Data is made up of symbols e.g 8474, hg24485
 * **Information has meaning**
 * We understand what a piece of information is about
 * e.g Telephone Number 8474, Car registration Number hg24485.


 * Comparison on Printers [[image:Printer.JPG width="64" height="64"]]**
 * ===Printer=== || ===Setup costs=== || ===Running costs=== || ===Speed=== || ===Resolution=== ||
 * **Laser** || High || Low || Fast || High ||
 * **Colour Laser** || Very High || High || Fast || High ||
 * **Inkjet** || Low || High || Quite Fast || Very High ||
 * **Colour Laser** || Very High || High || Fast || High ||
 * **Inkjet** || Low || High || Quite Fast || Very High ||






 * Information on input and output devices**


 * Input Device || Description ||  || Output Device || Description** ||
 * Keyboard || Typing information into the computer ||  || VDU or monitor || Screen to view output from computer ||
 * Mouse and Trackball || Used to point and click on icons within a windows enviroment ||  || Laser Printer || Fast, quiet and expensive. Office or school use ||
 * Graphics Tablet || Transfer drawings directly into computer's memory ||  || Ink Jet Printer || Usually colour, cheap but slow and quiet. Home use ||
 * Light Pen || Lets you trace an image directly on the screen ||  || Dot Matrix Printer || Impact printer. Noisy and poor quality. Prints in small dots of ink ||
 * Scanner || Used to input text and graphics directly into memory ||  || Plotter - used by architects and CAD operators || Uses pens to draw fine high definition lines used in plans ||
 * Microphone || Inputs sounds and can be used for voice recognition ||  || Speakers || Used to produce high quality sounds and play music ||
 * Joystick || Used in computer games ||  || Virtual Reality Headset || Used to display a 3D "world" to the user ||