A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can accept data, process the data according to specified rules, produce results, and store the results for future use.
Data and Information
Computers process data into information. Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, images, audio, and video. Information conveys meaning and is useful to people.
Many daily activities either involve the use of or depend on information from a computer.
Information Processing Cycle
Computers process data (input) into information (output). Computers carry out process using instructions, which are the steps that tell the computer how to perform a particular task. A collection of related instructions organized for a common purpose is referred to as software. A computer often holds data, information, and instructions in storage for future use. Some people refer to the series of input, process, output, and storage activities as the information processing cycle.
Most computers today communicate with other computers. As a result, communications also has become an essential element of the information processing cycle.
