ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe the modern computer in simple terms for everyone–its hardware, software, operating system, usage, files and folders, online use, and troubleshooting–just the basics, nothing fancy. A main function of the operating system is to control and utilize all the hardware and make the computer easily usable by people and by programs or apps. It brings life to the innate electronic hardware components and orchestrates all activities on a computer. The ultimate purpose of the hardware and OS combination is to run application programs (apps) in order to perform specific tasks. Computer users, computational thinkers especially, should become familiar with organizing and managing files and folders on the computer, including creating, copying, moving, and deleting files, as well as understanding file types and compatibility. Modern computers can hardly work without access to the Internet. If the Internet connection goes down, it can bring serious disruptions to normal operations.
