| ters are now the latest form of communication in the | | | | it is a personal or a super computer, are able to do the |
| 21st century. It is the most widely-used and reliable | | | | same computational tasks that are presented or given |
| gadget nowadays. | | | | to them given that they have enough storage capacity. |
| A computer is a fast, electronic, and computational | | | | How Does a Computer Work? |
| device, which operates under the control of instructions | | | | In general, ithas four sections namely the control unit, |
| that can store, send, and interpret data. The first ones | | | | the ALU or arithmetic and logic unit, and the I/O or the |
| produced somehow resemble the modern day | | | | input and output devices. Groups of wires called |
| computers and were introduced in the middle of the | | | | “busses” interconnect all the parts. |
| 20th century particularly in the 1940s. | | | | The ALU, control unit as well as the basic input and |
| The concept of various machines is slightly similar to | | | | output devices along with other hardware that are |
| the computers that existed much earlier than the said | | | | closely linked with the said devices are known as the |
| date. The early model of electronic computers was | | | | CPU or the central processing unit. The early versions |
| about the size of a very large room that consumes | | | | of CPU were made of various separate components |
| enough power to about 700 modern personal | | | | but ever since the 1970s, the CPUs are typically |
| computers. | | | | constructed on a sole integrated circuit known as a |
| On the other hand, our computers are now based on | | | | microprocessor. |
| integrated circuits. These are a million times more | | | | The Control Unit is also called a central controller and |
| capable while only occupying a small space. | | | | control system that directs other computer |
| Nowadays, computers may be built small enough to fit | | | | components. Its main process is to decode or interpret |
| inside the timepiece. The battery is enough to make it | | | | one by one the set of instructions in a program. It |
| work. Personal computers are also called | | | | decodes each set of instruction and turns them into a |
| “icons of the Information Era” and | | | | sequence of controlled signals that functions the |
| sometimes mistaken to be a computer although the | | | | computer parts. The control systems of advanced |
| most common computer today is what we call | | | | computers may probably change some of the order |
| “the embedded computer.” | | | | of the instructions in order to improve its performance. |
| As the word “embedded” implies, this | | | | A main component of all CPUs is the special memory |
| type of computer is a simple and very small device | | | | cell or a register called the “program |
| used in order to control devices. Furthermore, | | | | counter”. The so-called program counter keeps |
| embedded computers are found in machines such as | | | | track of the location of the memory wherein the next |
| fighter aircrafts, digital cameras, industrial robots, as well | | | | set of instructions is read. |
| as children’s toys. | | | | The control system has various functions. One of |
| Computers are versatile for they have the ability to | | | | which is to read the code of the next set of |
| execute as well as store instructions, which are called | | | | instructions from the indicated cell of the program |
| programs. It is said that any computer is probably | | | | counter. Another function is that it decodes the |
| capable in performing the tasks that any other type of | | | | numerical codes of the instructions into a series of |
| computer can do. So it means that any type whether | | | | signals or commands for each system. |