Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 10 Introduction to Microsoft Offi ce of the computer. Generally speaking, there are four main hardware components to a computer: • input device • memory • processor • output device This is the minimum hardware for a computer. If a device does not have all four components, it is not a computer. All computers are also basically the same in terms of functions, which are parallel to the basic hardware. A computer is defi ned by these four basic capabilities or functions: • accept data input • store data • process data • produce output This is the minimum functional defi nition of a computer. If a device does not perform all four functions, it is not a computer. A computer with its attached devices is called a computer system. Attached devices that are not critical to computer operation are called peripheral devices, or peripherals. Input The input function translates data from the human world into computer data. Input can be described as data that are entered, scanned, or otherwise sent to a computer system. The data can originate from a person, the environment, or another computer. Examples of input are: • adding words and numbers into documents • setting the temperature in a thermostat containing an embedded computer • activating a sensor in a computerized house alarm system • scanning a photograph • recording video with a camcorder • loading an MP3 fi le and • sending an e-mail or tweet. An input device provides the computer with data on which it can act, as shown in Figure 1-7. The input device is the basis of interaction with a computer. Data can be entered from a keyboard, key pad, touch pad, mouse, scanner, camera, microphone, or game controller. Storage Storage is where data are kept by the computer so the information can be viewed, Shetsoff Women Girls/Shutterstock.com Figure 1-7. This musician is using several input devices, including a mouse, computer keyboard, and MIDI music keyboard.