What are computers?
A computer is a programmable device that stores, retrieves, and processes data . The term "computer" was originally given to humans (human computers) who performed numerical calculations using mechanical calculators, such as the abacus and slide rule . The term was later given to a mechanical device as they began replacing the human computers. Today's computers are electronic devices that accept data ( input ), process that data, produce output , and store ( storage ) the results. Computer overview Below is a picture of a computer with each of the main components. In the picture below, you can see the desktop computer , flat-panel display , speakers , keyboard , and mouse . We've also labeled each of the input devices and output devices . History of the computer The first digital computer and what most people think of as a computer was called t...