1. The Electronic Computer Age
Chapter 4

2. Atoms:
Atoms are the smallest part of an element (that still have their properties.)
Parts of an atom: nucleus, protons, neutrons, and electrons
Note: You do not need to know definitions
for the parts of an atom.

3. Electronic Current
Conductors- materials that electricity can flow through or along (because they give up electrons easily).
Insulators- materials that electricity cannot move in (because they hold their electrons tightly).
The flow of electrons is called current.

4. Electric Current
Conductors- materials that conduct electricity easily (because they give up their electrons freely).
Insulators- not good for transmitting electricity (because they hold onto their electrons).
Current- the flow of electrons through a conductor.

5. Measuring Current:
Current is measured in amps.
The force needed to make the amps flow is called volts.
If voltage gets larger, current gets larger.
Imagine this like blood being the amps and your heart being the volts needed to move the blood (amps) along.

6. Resistance
Resistance (measured in ohms) is the amount of struggle a material puts up when conducting.

7. Computers
A list of instructions for a computer to perform its work is a program.
Data is stored as bits which come in groups of eight. Each group of eight bits is called a byte.

8. Basic Parts
Processor- the brain, decides where data goes, when and how it moves, converts instructions into actions.
Memory- random access memory is temporary memory that the processor assigns to various tasks.
Hard Drive- where the data resides permanently (OS, files, settings)

9. Kinds of Input: Keyboard and mouse Light sensitive screens
Hard and floppy disks
Light pen

10. Types of Output:
Monitor
Printer
Audio: beeps, music
Projector

11. Types of Software:
Operating Systems- what the computer uses to run (Microsoft Windows)
Applications- programs that can be used to perform specific tasks (word processors, games, data-bases)
Programming Languages-
BASIC, C++

12. Electronic components (parts)- carry out useful tasks, control and direct the flow of energy in a complex object.
Components are connected together to form circuits.
Transistors, Resistors- components which control electricity flow.

13. I/O
Input- information provided to a computer. Examples: keyboard, scanner, mouse
Output- information provided from a computer. Examples: printer, monitor, speakers

14. Data Communication Connecting computers that are far apart.
Modem- traditional method for Internet connections. Others- cable, T1, DSL

15. OS
Operating System- the “language” the computer talks in. Allows user to control computer.
Examples: Windows 98, Linux, DOS

16. AI
Artificial Intelligence- imitation of human thought by computers.

17. PROCESS
Processor,
memory,
software
INPUT
Keyboard,
speech,
mouse
OUTPUTS
Printer,
sounds,
data,
visual content
MONITOR
Human,
computer,
software