← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

The same main parts in computers, tablets, phones and consoles

Computers, tablets, phones and games consoles all have a processor, memory, storage, and input and output devices inside, even though they look different and come in different sizes.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Inside Digital Systems — Module 5, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Hardware and Performance — Module 2

Understanding The same main parts in computers, tablets, phones and consoles in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The console line shows the same core parts a laptop has, plus its own input (controller) and output (HDMI to a TV). The code says the jobs are the same on both devices, even though one is big and one is small. Storage keeps your saved games even when the console is turned off. Laptops and phones also keep files in storage. A phone still has a processor, memory and storage. The parts are just made small enough to fit in a tiny case. Memory and a processor are inside every digital system. Keyboards and mice are input devices that only some devices use.

Common mistakes: A phone keeps apps, photos and music in storage, so this line should be has storage = true. A phone has the same main parts as a computer. RAM only holds work while the tablet is on and is wiped when it is off. Storage is what saves files, so the line should say RAM holds work in use.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 5–26) and word search (Modules 5–43).

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Learning

Duo

Which statement is true about a phone and a laptop?

Only a laptop has a processor and memoryBoth have a processor, memory, storage, and input and output devices

Matches

phone.processor = none

↓

A phone does have a processor. It is small, but without one the phone could not run apps or follow instructions.

Applying

Meanings

Term

same main parts

Meaning

Computers, tablets, phones and games consoles all have a processor, memory, storage, and input and output devices inside, even though they look different and come in different sizes.

Practice

Phone: processor, memory, storage, input, output

Testing

Gaps

print((phone))

Check Answer

Spots

3has memory = true

4has storage = false

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Quick Questions

1. Which statement is true about a phone and a laptop?

A. Only a laptop has a processor and memory

B. Both have a processor, memory, storage, and input and output devices ✓

A phone is a small computer. It has the same kinds of main parts as a laptop, just in a smaller size.

2. Which part of a games console runs the game's instructions?

A. The speakers

B. The processor ✓

Every console has a processor that carries out instructions, just like the processor in a laptop or phone. Speakers are an output device.

3. A tablet looks very different from a desktop computer. What is inside it?

A. The same kinds of main parts, in a smaller size ✓

B. Completely different parts that do other jobs

Different sizes, same jobs. Tablets and desktops both have a processor, memory, storage, input and output.

4. Which is a touchscreen on a phone?

A. Both an input and an output device ✓

B. Only an output device

A touchscreen shows pictures (output) and senses your finger taps (input), so it does both jobs.

5. Where does a games console save your game progress?

A. In its storage ✓

B. In its speakers

Storage keeps your saved games even when the console is turned off. Laptops and phones also keep files in storage.

Match the Pairs

phone = CPU + RAM + storage + touchscreen → A phone is a small computer. It has the same main parts as a laptop, just packed into a smaller size.

tablet.parts == laptop.parts → A tablet and a laptop look different but have the same kinds of main parts inside.

A games console and a laptop are compared: both have a processor, memory and storage, even though one plugs into a TV. → console: CPU, RAM, storage, controller, HDMI out

Different sizes, same jobs: a desktop computer and a phone both process, remember and store information. → desktop.jobs == phone.jobs

phone.processor = none → A phone does have a processor. It is small, but without one the phone could not run apps or follow instructions.

console = screen + controller → This leaves out the processor, memory and storage. A console needs these inside to run games and save progress.

Key Term

same main parts

Computers, tablets, phones and games consoles all have a processor, memory, storage, and input and output devices inside, even though they look different and come in different sizes.

Fill in the Blanks

1. phone = ["processor", "memory", "storage"] print(len(phone))

Hint: Type the function that counts how many items are in a list.

2. laptop = ["processor", "memory", "storage"] console = ["processor", "memory", "storage"] print(laptop == console)

Hint: Type the operator that checks whether two lists are equal.

3. devices = ["phone", "tablet", "console"] for device in devices: print(device, "has a processor")

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a loop going through a list one item at a time.

4. parts = ["processor", "memory", "storage"] parts.append("screen")

Hint: Type the list method that adds a new item to the end of a list.

5. console = ["processor", "memory", "storage"] print(console[0])

Hint: Type the index number that picks the first item in a list.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A device = phone

B has processor = true

C has memory = true

D has storage = false

E has screen = true

Line D — A phone keeps apps, photos and music in storage, so this line should be has storage = true. A phone has the same main parts as a computer.

Question 2

A Tablet parts:

B CPU: does the thinking

C RAM: saves files when off

D Storage: saves files

Line C — RAM only holds work while the tablet is on and is wiped when it is off. Storage is what saves files, so the line should say RAM holds work in use.

Question 3

A console has CPU

B laptop has CPU

C console has no RAM

D laptop has RAM

Line C — A games console needs memory (RAM) to hold the game while it runs, just like a laptop. The line should be console has RAM.

Question 4

A parts = [CPU, RAM, storage]

B phone_parts = parts - RAM

C console_parts = parts

Line B — A phone has the same main parts as every other device, including RAM. Nothing should be taken away, so the line should be phone_parts = parts.

Question 5

A phone = not a computer

B phone has CPU and RAM

C phone has storage

Line A — A phone is a small computer. It has a processor, memory and storage inside, so the line should be phone = small computer.

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