Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 1 Introduction to Information Technology 9 data. Sharing data makes it possible for many users on the network to see and access each other’s information. A server generally handles backing up the stored data for all users so that data can be retrieved if a part of the system malfunctions. Personal Computers and Mobile Devices A personal computer is a processing device designed to meet the needs of an individual user, whether in the home, a business, or a school. It has a screen, a mouse, and a keyboard, as shown in Figure 1-6, and is generally connected to the Internet. Personal computers vary in their speed, size, and portability. They come in the forms of desktop models, laptops and related models, and mobile devices. Basic Parts and Functions of a Computer No matter the size or use for a computer, all computers contain the same basic types of components. Hardware is the physical components Peak speed (Rmax) 1018 1019 1020 1017 1015 1013 1011 109 107 105 103 101 10 –1 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Year FLOPS OPS Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 1-5. The capability of supercomputers has constantly increased over the years. Venus Angel/Shutterstock.com Figure 1-6. A personal computer has a screen, mouse, and keyboard in addition to the CPU unit.