Week 2: Clear - Computer Hardware

Week 2 material consisted of an overall introduction to computers, how they work, who uses them and a brief history dating back to the origin of the computer. Having a rather detailed computer background, I found this weeks material very clear, concise and to the point. The concept that I believe is the most important to have a firm grasp on is computer hardware and how an individual can use it to improve their computing experience. Not only can people use this hardware to improve their own computing experience, it can also be vital in a business environment.

For example, take a meeting that someone has with a client over the phone and one that is done through a webcam and or conference. The client would feel more engaged in the conversation knowing that the people can see him and having a face to talk to helps secure confidence and trust in the client. A webcam is a device that one attaches to their computer that allows another individual to see them on their computer, when both parties have a webcam they can see and interact with each other. This is great for business or even for long distance relationships where the couple are not physically able to see each other. Having a microphone is critical when using a webcam, the microphone allows the other person to hear what your saying, without the microphone it would only be a video. Most desktops and laptops come with microphones already included, however they are very inexpensive if they need to be purchased separately. For those unfamiliar with a webcam, I have included a picture of one to the left.

Also, understanding the main hardware of a computer can greatly help an individual diagnosis problems that may occur in the future. Knowing the purpose of the CPU, memory, hard drive, mother board and power supply allows a person to grasp what really makes a computer tick. If one were to upgrade in the future, it would be easy for one to swap the parts themselves and avoid having to pay a professional to do it. I found the concept of hardware and devices very interesting and it amazes me how so many parts are easily intertwined. A great website that explains computer hardware is: http://www.computer-hardware-explained.com/. It gives great examples and includes pictures to help explain what the author is saying, I would recommend it to anyone with a minimal amount of computer literacy.