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HISTORY OF COMPUTING Before 1900, most data processing was done manually using simple tools like stones & sticks to count and keep records. Around 2000 years ago, Asian merchants came up with a special calculating tool called Abacus that could be used to calculate large figures. An Abacus is made up of a rectangular frame and a crossbar at the middle.  It is fitted with wires or strings running across from the frame to the crossbar. How to represent a number using an Abacus. Each bead in the lower row has a value of 1, while each bead in the upper row has a value of 5.  To represent a number, the bead is moved to the crossbar.  Those beads away from the crossbar represent zeros. The Figure below represents the number 6908 (Six thousand nine hundred and eight). After Abacus, the first machine that is usually regarded as the forerunner of modern computers was named the Analytical Engine, and was developed by an English mathematician called Charles Babbage. In 1939, Pr

Definition of a computer Lesson Objectives: at the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to describe: definition of a computer  parts of a computer peripheral devices functions of a computer characteristics/features of a computer advantages of a computer purpose of a computer basic terms used in computers In simple terms a computer is a machine that processes data into information A computer can also be described as an electronic device that saves, transmits and processes data into information using electrical signals. The physical parts of a computer include: Mouse,  Keyboard,  system unit and  screen. DESKTOP COMPUTER Which part of a computer is missing in the image above? Common terminologies used in computer Computer functions Data data simply refers to raw alphanumeric values which have no much meaning to the user. //raw here stands for unprocessed Information information is a sequen

Basic Computer Practices and Maintenance Skills for Starters –Part two Adjusting system volume To adjust the volume for multimedia playback devices Open Sounds and Audio Devices in Control Panel . On the Audio tab, under Sound playback , click Volume . In the Master Out dialog box, drag the Volume slider for the appropriate device up or down to increase or decrease the output volume. Installing drivers A device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device. A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects. When a calling program invokes a routine in the driver, the driver issues commands to the device, once the device sends data back to the driver, the driver may invoke routines in the original calling program. Drivers are hardware-dependent and operating-system-specific. In