What is a computer?

We are off to a great start in Exploring Computer Science, our first big question is: "What is a computer?" There were lots of great answers to that question. It wasn't just Desktop's and cells phones, it was answers like cars, dishwashers, people, toasters, sprinklers, air conditioning, the earth, the brain, and doors. It turns out that many things could be considered a computer and we could classify them in different ways. Did your way of thinking about computing change from this lesson?

The big question we are going to think about this year in all of our activities is "What is computing?"


Assignment: Interview a family member or friend and find out what features they would like to have if they were buying a personal computer. Ask questions like "How do you use a computer?" or "Where will you use a computer?", or "What kind of budget do you have?" Bring your answers to class on Wednesday.