by Elaine Parrish

Created on: September 05, 2009

Have you ever looked at your computer and felt sure that it was a machine conjured up from a Science Fiction movie, zapped with gamma rays and moonbeams, and sent to you by gremlins bent on tormenting you? Well, you are not alone!

Just what is that mysterious machine?

If you are over 40 - and especially, if you are over 50 - you have seen, felt, touched, and possibly owned all of the pieces and parts. Yes, it is true! The computer is just recycled technology, some of which has been around since before any of us were even born. If you recognize, or can identify the following list of items, then you know all about the computer. If you can't, ask your grandmother!

1. A power strip (that long bar with the electrical plugs in it)

2. Extensions cords

3. Record player

4. Transistor radio

5. Window fan

6. Electric motor (like in a blow dryer or kitchen mixer or can opener)

7. Digital clock

8. Telegraph system

9. Electricity

10. Plastic Box

Well, that is pretty much it. Way!

How did you do? Pretty good, huh? (Never underestimate the value of maturity!)

Now let's put it all together to build a computer. Please note that I am using layman's terminology and oversimplifying the situation.

We'll start with the plastic box (#10). If you have a desktop computer, you probably have what is called a tower or mini tower. If you have a laptop or notebook, you have a much smaller version. The plastic box is just that - a plain, ole, plastic box. Just like buying a box of donuts, we have to have something to hold the donuts. This plastic box, with all the computer goodies inside, is called a CPU - central processing unit.

Inside, on the bottom of the box is the power strip (#1), which is called the Motherboard, because it is the thing that "gives life" to all the other pieces and parts. Of course, the motherboard does not look like a power strip, but that is the function that it performs. Everything else in the plastic box connects to the motherboard.

The extension cords (#2), called cables and plugs - depending on the function - connect everything to the motherboard (the distributor of the electricity). Some of the extension cords are called ribbon cables. This is because they look like wide strips of ribbon like you would use to decorate a Christmas present. They are (usually) gray, plastic/rubbery/flexible strips with ribs. The ribs can be thought of as the lane dividers in an interstate highway and they do the same job - they keep traffic in its rightful lane and

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