Computing Department

Home » Key Stage 3 » KS3 Computer Science » What is a computer?

What is a computer?

To be able to qualify as a computer a device must be able to accept an INPUT, PROCESS the input and then produce an OUTPUT. This is usually explained in a diagram like this:

input - output

 

For example, a calculator would qualify:

  • Input – type in  12  +  13
  • Process – the CPU in the calculator DECODES the instructions and carries out the task
  • Output – 25 is displayed on the screen