This essay is about how computers work and how they operate. Every computer works in a way like this diagram:
Hardware
When someone opens up a computer there should be 6 main parts called the six components. If any of the six components are missed out, a computer won´t work, or at least won´t last very long. The six components are:
The Motherboard (also called the circuit board) is a board which connects all the components together. It is very complicated as shown on the picture below.
The amount of RAM (Random-Accessing Memory) a computer has determines how fast the computer is. When working on a document on Word, and it's not saved, it is on the RAM. The RAM can't hold too much, and one very important factor of the RAM is that it's temporary. If the document isn't saved, and the computer shuts down, the RAM can't save things and it's gone. The RAM needs energy to keep going, and once that is taken away it won't work and everything that isn't saved is gone. That's why they tell people to always save their work frequently!
One of the ways to stop the RAM working is by (like it says) taking away the energy. How does the energy get to the computer? Through the Power Supply. Most people think that the power supply is the cable running out of the back of the computer, this is in fact not true. It is inside the computer looking like the picture below. It takes the energy that goes in the computer (110-200V) lowers it down to a Voltage the computer can use.
When buying a new computer, it has to have a OS (Operating System) to run the computer. For example, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS or Linux. When a computer is bought at a shop it is very likely that the OS is already there - it is possible to change it though.
Linux is good to use because it's free and legal.
Network
So when the OS is installed (normally by just putting the CD in the computer and click OK or something), it is possible to start going on the internet (if having connection). It is also possible to check if the connections are working, not just by starting the internet, but also with other computers by going to "Terminal". It is possible to get there by just typing in 'Terminal' in any search bar depending on which OS using.
So when a terminal is opened, a blank page should be shown, just like a new word document. Sometimes though it tells when last logged in.
A lot of information can be found using the Terminal, but a few specific words have to be typed to find it, and knowing which words would help a lot.
These codes are very basic:
Type "ping" and then the URL of the website the computer has to check with if it has connection (there is no need to press enter first). The internet is connected when lots of lines will pop up like this:
This will continue, but that doesn't matter. Google.com is used for this example, the computer will send (informally called) 'a message' to Google.com asking if they are there?, Google will reply by "pinging" the computer. Also in the middle of the pinged line, 10 numbers are shown (for Google it is 74.125.71.105) this is the code of the website, or if doing this with another computer this is the IP address of the other computer.
So how is it possible to check if the computer is connected to another computer?
This is by typing "ping" and then the IP address of the person checking with. But how can an IP address be found? This is different depending on which OS used. If, for example, when using a MAC OS, just type in 'Spotlight' (the magnifying glass at the top right of a screen) "Network Utility" and press the 'Top Hit' which should be called... 'Network Utility'. A screen should appear looking like this:
Then as shown on the picture, the IP address of the computer can be found (not on this example though).
If using Linux, it is possible just by using Terminal, just type "ifconfig -a" into Terminal, and then the IP address will appear. So when someone wants to ping with another computer, just type "ping" and the IP address of the other person (Note that an IP address change if changing location). The other person's IP address can be found on their computer.
If using another OS than Linux or MAC OS, just type into Google "How to find my own IP with (OS using)" or something similar. No one should ever believe a website which says it knows the IP address ... this is highly unlikely.
There are many many more things possible with Terminal, but these are some very basic things.
People
The topic 'people' is very big and there are lots of things to talk about. This will be about a small part of the topic "people": the costs and benefits of technology.
Costs doesn't mean how much any technology costs, well... that's part of it. But Cost means any negative side effects.
So, for example, when a car is bought, the benefits are:
If used to take the bus, waiting for it to come can be long and boring, now the car is there ready to go to the place wanting to go.
Cars look very good, and can build reputations.
When going to the supermarket with the bus, it is only possible to carry as this much in some hands, almost anything can fit in a car.
Though some of the cost can be:
It is bad for the environment
The car and the fuel costs money, which means working harder.
Having a Driver's License is a must have to drive a car, which takes time and costs more money.
When having to drive somewhere unusual, having to know the route is crusial, which can be complicated. The bus and train is easier.
When taking the bus or train it is possible to relax and do whatever, when driving always be allurt and don't do other things.
There are costs and benefits to everything, even if sure that there are no. The most obvious to think about for costs are the environment and the amount bought for, but there are thousands more.
Bibliography:
Photo of Motherboard:
http://www.techshout.com/hardware/2008/15/gigabyte-g31-series-of-motherboards-released-in-india/
Photo of RAM:
http://chinaimportexport.wikispaces.com/Wholesale+China+DDR+RAM+DDR400+DDR333+DDRii8001GB+Manufacturer+exporting+direct+from+China+with+cheap+price
Photo of Power Supply:
http://professionalpowersupplyrepair.com/computer-power-supply-3/
Photo of Hard Drive:
http://learnthat.com/2010/03/hard-drive-crash-recovery/
Photo of CPU:
http://softsupplier.com/processor-insights-103377/
Photo of Case:
http://www.cheaplaptops.org.uk/20071025/apple-mac-mbkw-13sd-laptops-high-performance-macbook-only-789-pounds/
Photo of logo from Linux:
http://www.shaswatpatel.com/reportbiggest-success-of-linux-in-2010/
Word Count:
1334 words (excluding bibliography)
Emma, excellent, excellent work on your essay so far! It is a draft, so it is rough, but I am very impressed by your understanding of how things work. Below are some suggestions to help you refine your essay to be ready to hand in. I think your grade could come out as high as a 6 if you put in the time on this final piece.
ReplyDeleteMake sure before you submit it you get someone else to read it to check for any mistakes in your writing. You can also try to read it aloud to yourself, as this helps pick up on errors too. For example in your introduction you say "Every computer work" but it should be "works", as you are talking about more than one computer.
Generally in essay's we try and avoid giving lists (like your list of 6 components). Perhaps instead of saying: "The six components are:" you could say "The six components are described in the paragraphs below". As you have highlighted the components, it is obvious what they are (I like the highlighting).
The motherboard is what we call a "circuit board" rather than just a "board". This will help people understand what you are talking about.
When talking about RAM you use "decides". This is a good word, but it implies a conscious decision: this is something that cannot be made by a non-living object. Instead try "determines" which does not imply consciousness. English is a funny language! In this paragraph you also use "you". Perhaps try to say "Any unsaved work will be lost when the computer loses power unexpectedly".
Even if you save your work frequently, it can still be lost if you pull the power. That is because often when you save it only saves to RAM, not to your HDD. Can you explain what happens when you shut down your computer properly to ensure that nothing get's lost?
The power supply is not in fact the cable, but rather the part inside the computer that connects to the cable. It takes the mains voltage (110-200V) and steps it down to a much lower voltage that the computer can use. It then makes it available to other components. You are right though, that in a laptop the power supply is external (it is the box on the power cable). Why is this the case?
In a few places you have used "token" instead of "taken" (removed might be better) and "safed" instead of "saved". On the whole though your English is fantastic!
With the CPU, I think you can say more. Remember, the CPU has a small range of instructions that it can perform. These are hardwired into it (part of its physical design). How does it know which instructions to perform in which order?
With the case, remember that one of its main jobs is cooling the computer down. Without it, the computer may overheat and stop functioning properly.
Mistakes in it:
ReplyDeleteFrom motherboard section
The Motherboard (also called the circuit board) is a board which connects all the components together. As shown on the picture (not there yet). It is very complicated, and if you look at the (bottom/right/left/top) of the board you see a quare, in that square is the ???
From RAM section (Capital letters are corrected parts)
The amount of RAM (Random-Accessing Memory) you have determines how fast your computer is. When you work on a document on Word, and you didn't save it yet, it is on your RAM. Your RAM can't hold too much, and one very important factor of the RAM is that it's temporarily. If you haven't saved your work, and your computer shuts down, the RAM can't SAVE things and it's gone. The RAM need energy to keep going, and once that is TAKEN away it won't work and everything your haven't saved it gone. That's why they tell you to always save your work frequently.
(Also explain why it makes it faster)
On the power supply section
The Power Supply is a (removable if laptop) cable normally at the back of the computer which connects the computer to the plug on the wall where the energy is token out. (The laptop still has a power supply but it isn't like a computer which needs a cable all the time, it uses a charger instead)
If you don't want your work to be lost... SAVE it. Then your work goes to the Hard Drive where it will be permanently saved (until it is deleted OR destroyed). Why we do we still use the RAM is we have the Hard Drive? If there wasn't any RAM and everything would always be saved on your Hard Drive, your life would become easier. So why do we still use the RAM, well the Hard Drive may be permanent but it's very slow. The RAM on the other hand is temporarily but very fast. So if your wouldn't have any RAM your computer would be really really slow.
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is attached to the Motherboard and is a chip that helps your computer to THINK (or are you trying to say something else?). If you OPEN the icon / logo of iPhoto, the CPU will tell the computer what to do to open iPhoto.
For the software section, don't just only talk about the OS, also talk about applications like microsoft word or games.
For the network section
it is also possible to check if your connections work not just with the internet, but also other COMPUTERS by going to "Terminal"
thats all i see (also don't use words like THINGS)