Computers can be imposing pieces of electronics if you are not familiar with even the basics of how they work and what they are and consist of. This series of articles will start with the basics and over time build on them to inform even the most technologicallly challenged person and help them to sound like a computer whiz.

The first thing you need to know about a computer is what are all the parts and pieces. Here is a list of the basic, common terms you will hear when talking about computers.

1) Computer - Also PC, personal computer, IBM-compatible (out dated), 'puter (slang), comp. (abbrev). This is technically the electronics that do all of the work. It is an electronic device that is programmable, able to be given a series of commands to run for a specific result, in order to store, get or manipulate data. This is usually a separate 'box' from the other pieces of the computer package and incudes all the hardware necessary for the computer to function excluding a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Alternatively, this word can be used to pertain to an entire package of equipment including a monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc... (see below).

2) Moniter - Also screen or display. This is the visual component of the computer package. It was traditionally a cathode-ray tube (CRT), like televisions, that displayed information sent to it from the computer. Nowadays you can find a variety of solutions for video display in computing including CRT, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and touch screens (normally a CRT or LCD with a touch sensitive layer over the top used for interaction). Monitors are generally measured in inches or centimeters on the diagonal (like televisions) from opposite corners (lower left to upper right for example), standard sized include 15, 17, 19, 20-22 inch. Recently computer monitors have shown up in widescreen (16:9 ratio) sizes to accomodate more computing space as well as the display of movies in their original format. The main purpose of the computer monitor is to display data that is sent directly from the computer in order to facilitate human interaction with the computer.

3) Keyboard - A set of buttons depressed by the fingers that represent letters, numbers and symbols required for input into a computer system. Standard configurations are "QWERTY" (named for the first six letters in the keyboard pattern) and Dvorak (also Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, Simplified Keyboard or American Simplified Keyboard) which has failed to gain in popularity. The Dvorak was originally created as an alternative to the QWERTY standard to address inefficiency in the typing layout.

Generally a keyboard consists of 101 or more key including all the letters in a given alphabet, the number 0-9 and necessary symbols and navigation buttons. Keyboards interface with the computer via either a PS/2 (named after the IBM Personal System/2) or USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. Another, outdated, port also exists called the AT or DIN-5 (Deutsches Institut für Normung with 5 pins) as well as an Apple Computing proprietary port called ADB. USB is becoming the dominant port and some experts believe the PS/2 will eventually disappear. With the proliferation of wireless communication in computing, wireless keyboards have come into use which utilize several standard communication protocols including Bluetooth (a specific radio communication protocol), IrDA (Infrared Data Association) and radiowave communications (more on these in a later article).

4) Mouse - A handheld device used to move the cursor (a visual representation used to select programs in a two-dimensional visual computer interface) in order to give the computer instructions. Originally the mouse consisted of a ball that was tracked as it moved across the desk and the information was relayed to the screen. Currently many mice are optical or laser using low-grade lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and tracking the movement of the desk beneath the mouse. Mice generally come in several configurations including two-button, three-button and wheel. The original Apple mouse had only one button. Most mice have a left button and a right button. Wheel and three button mice generally have a wheel that can be spun with the index finger as well as clicked like a button. In a text only computing environment mice are unnecessary and only became popular with the advent of visual computing like XWindows, Windows and Apple's MacOS. Mice have used a variety of connection types including RS-232C (named after the standard protocol), ADB, PS/2 and USB. With the proliferation of wireless communication in computing wireless mice have come into use which utilize several standard communication protocols including Bluetooth , IrDA and other radiowave communications.

5) Peripherals - Additional equipment that is connected to the computer. Generally these include mice, keyboards, monitors, speakers, etc. Several types of storage are also considered peripherals including CD, DVD, USB flash drive, floppy disk and external hard disks. Any piece of equipment that accepts output from the computer, inputs data to the computer or connects the computer to other devices or gives the computer the ability to do something more than it was originally able to do, is a peripheral. These can include pieces added internally including audio, video or network cards.

Part 2