Learning objective: Identify common examples of computers and explain that a computer follows instructions to do a task.
When you hear the word computer, you might picture a laptop. But a computer is any machine that follows instructions to do a task — and computers come in many different shapes!
Look at the diagram above: a laptop, a tablet, a phone, and even a smartwatch are all computers. Some toys, some cars, and even some kitchen appliances have small computers inside them too.
What makes all of these different-looking devices computers is the same basic idea: each one follows instructions to do a task. A phone follows instructions to show you a photo. A smartwatch follows instructions to show you the time.
Think about your own home, school, or neighborhood. How many computers can you find? You might be surprised how many devices around you are actually computers, doing all sorts of different tasks by following instructions.
This whole unit explores exactly that idea — instructions. In the next lesson, you'll learn about a special word, algorithm, for a set of step-by-step instructions, whether a computer follows them or a person does.
A computer isn't just a laptop — tablets, phones, and even some watches and toys are computers too, all following instructions to do a task.
What is a computer?
Which of these can be a computer?
What do all computers have in common?
Look around your home or classroom. List 3 computers you find, and describe one task each one does.