Four computers before breakfast
You wake up. Your phone alarm rings. You check the school website on a laptop. The page comes from a machine in a data centre you will never see. The kettle clicks off by itself.
That is four kinds of computer in ten minutes. A support technician has to know all four.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Personal computer | a computer made for one person at a time | a laptop |
| Mobile device | a small computer you carry, with a battery | a smartphone |
| Server | a computer that gives a service to other computers | a web server |
| Embedded device | a small computer hidden inside a machine to do one job | a washing machine |
| Network | computers joined together so they can share things | |
| Firmware | the program stored inside a device that makes it work |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can match a computer to its type and say what it is used for.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Personal computers and mobile devices
A personal computer (PC) is made for one person at a time. It has a screen, a keyboard and a mouse. It can be a desktop that stays on a desk, or a laptop with a battery.
A mobile device is a smartphone or a tablet. It is small and light. It has a touch screen and it runs on a battery all day.
Comparing PCs and mobile devices
| Feature | Personal computer | Mobile device |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Big to medium | Small and light |
| Power | Mains power, or a laptop battery for a few hours | Battery for a day |
| Input | Keyboard and mouse | Touch screen and voice |
| Upgrade | Often possible: add memory or a bigger disk | Rarely possible: parts are fixed |
| Good for | Writing reports, coding, design, spreadsheets | Calls, messages, photos, maps on the move |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.