How Computer Works::

Parts

A computer is any electronic device that consists of four parts---in any form. A computer must have a way to input information, output information, process information and store information. Any electronic device that meets all four requirements is considered a computer. The most common device considered a computer is the personal computer (PC), whether it be made by Apple or by another manufacturer.

Input

An input device is any way a human can communicate with the electronic device. The most common methods with a PC are a keyboard and a mouse. These devices communicate with the main box of the computer using short electronic signals through the wires attached to the main box of the computer. Other methods of input are a light pen, a touch screen, a scanner and a microphone.

Output

An output device is a device that allows the computer to show the result of a process (usually to a person). The most common PC output device is the monitor, as the monitor displays the result of calculations or requests made by the user. The computer communicates with the output devices by using small electric signals over wires connected to the computer. Other common output devices include the printer, speakers and plotters.

Processor

The heart of the computer is the processor. This is the part of the computer that does all the hard work. The processor in a PC is also called the CPU or central processing unit. This is a silicon chip attached to the motherboard of the PC. The motherboard connects all the various parts of the computer together to allow them to communicate with one another. The CPU in the PC does all the calculations, receives electronic signals from input devices, sends electronic signals to output devices and sends electronic information to storage devices.

Storage

The storage device allows the computer to retain information. Without a storage device, the computer would be the same every time it was turned on and would be unable to store things such as documents and bookmarks. Storage devices vary in the methods used to store the information, but most information is stored simply as a series of ones and zeros. The most common storage device on a PC is the hard drive or hard disc. This device uses magnets to store information when you save it to your disc. Other storage devices include optical storage, floppy drives and tape drives.

Supercomputer

A supercomputer is a computer which performs at a rate of speed which is far above that of other computers. Given the constantly changing world of computing, it should come as no surprise to learn that most supercomputers bear their superlative titles for a few years, at best. Computer programmers are fond of saying that today's supercomputer will become tomorrow's computer; the computer you are reading this article on is probably more powerful than most historic supercomputers, for example.

The term “supercomputer” was coined in 1929 by the New York World, referring to tabulators manufactured by IBM. To modern computer users, these tabulators would probably appear awkward, slow, and cumbersome to use, but at the time, they represented the cutting edge of technology. This continues to be true of supercomputers today, which harness immense processing power so that they are incredibly fast, sophisticated, and powerful.

The primary use for supercomputers is in scientific computing, which requires high-powered computers to perform complex calculations. Scientific organizations like NASA boast supercomputers the size of rooms for the purpose of performing calculations, rendering complex formulas, and performing other tasks which require a formidable amount of computer power. Some supercomputers have also been designed for very specific functions like cracking codes and playing chess; Deep Blue is a famous chess-playing supercomputer.

In many cases, a supercomputer is custom-assembled, utilizing elements from a range of computer manufacturers and tailored for its intended use. Most supercomputers run on a Linux or Unix operating system, as these operating systems are extremely flexible, stable, and efficient. Supercomputers typically have multiple processors and a variety of other technological tricks to ensure that they run smoothly.

One of the biggest concerns with running a supercomputer is cooling. As one might imagine, supercomputers get extremely hot as they run, requiring complex cooling systems to ensure that no part of the computer fails. Many of these cooling systems take advantage of liquid gases, which can get extremely cold. Another issue is the speed at which information can be transferred or written to a storage device, as the speed of data transfer will limit the supercomputer's performance.