# 4 Summary of Session 5

You have seen that although the three products you have looked at are very different types of computer, they all embody the same basic functionality and a version of a functional block diagram can be drawn for each product to illustrate this.

One feature of the PC is the range of forms of secondary memory it can use, and also the variety of input and output devices which the user can choose. The kitchen scales’ embedded computer is relatively simple with no secondary memory and relatively few input and output devices. The computer within the camera has a processor which needs to implement several complex processes to manipulate the image, has secondary memory and has many input and output devices.

Having considered the various forms data can take in Session 4 and the various forms computers can take in this session, you will next look at how we bring these together and control the processing of data by computers when you start to look at programs. That is the topic of the next session.

You can now go to Session 6.

OpenLearn - An introduction to computers and computer systems
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