Computer Hardware Introduction to Hardware

Mouse

There are many, many things for the novice to learn so that they are able to navigate Windows. The first thing that you should learn to do is how to use the mouse to navigate Windows. The mouse is another equally important input device, like the keyboard, very simple to use. It is extremely useful for navigation in software environments and can save much time and effort comparing to the keyboard for similar use. Your mouse gives you the ability to point to, select, and move items on the computer screen.

Modem

A modem is a device that translates the digital signals from your computer into analog signals that can travel over a standard phone line. A modem on the other end of the line can understand it and converts the sounds back into digital information. It is the device that will connect you to the internet or allow you to communicate with a friend. Modems come in different speeds and are measured in bps or bits per second. A 28.8 Kbps modem transmits data at speeds up to 28,800 bits per second. A 56 Kbps modem is twice as fast, sending and receiving data at a rate of up to 56,000 bits per second. Most modems today are 56 Kbps. In case modems come with your PC as external devices they look like the device above. The other alternative is to have the modem mounted on the motherboard so it appears as internal device of the computer.