Inside your computer - Bettina Bair

How does a computer work? The critical components of a computer are the peripherals (including the mouse), the input/output subsystem (which controls what and how much information comes in and out), and the central processing unit (the brains), as well as human-written programs and memory. Bettina Bair walks us through the steps your computer takes with every click of the mouse.

Lesson by Bettina Bair, animation by Flaming Medusa Studios.

[LacutoLauren]

Never in my life have I felt so sympathetic towards my CPU.

[rajeshgupta]

i must start respecting my computer from now onwards. 😃

[kalsedon]

Me: " clicks on chrome "
Chrome: "doesn't open"
Me: "clicks on chrome 64 time"
CPU:🔥🔥🔥🔥

[cybrmusic]

2:19
"Let's drop everything now and deal with that"
Computer: Alright, exit out of Google, stop your hardrive and SSD, turn off the internet, what does this click want?

[theeurodriver]

Mum: *PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN WHILE DOING ASSIGNMENTS, YOU CANT MULTITASK!*
Me: Hold my CPU

[mohamedsalahmoghazy]

I am a Software Engineer Working with these devices everyday
Yet I feel so overwhelmed by your explanations
Great Work Folks Keep it UP

[ashantinyongo]

Being a CPU sounds like the WORST administrative office job ever.

[vitaliyo]

It's still magical that a box with some parts can provide such a awesome experience such as connecting with the world through an invisible link

[skybldev]

A bit of correction:
1) The way the video displays the mouse input to the computer is through a, quote 'USB Port' at 1:02, although the way it explains it is with the old PS/2 system.

PS/2 works by system interrupts, essentially directly telling the computer every time it makes an action.

USB mice on the other hand is kind of the other way around. The computer asks the mouse (or peripheral) if it's gonna do something. If it sends something back in response to that, then that is represented as a movement.

2) Computers nowadays don't use the BIOS to accept/send data externally. Just because it's called the 'Basic *Input/Output* System' doesn't mean it's responsible for handling data sent from peripherals.

Back in the MS-DOS days, the BIOS provided a hardware apstration layer, which basically was a system for allowing peripherals to communicate with he OS and applications.

Today, the operating system -- or if we step farther back -- the CPU accepts and sends data to external peripherals or devices *directly*, while the BIOS is simply a firmware that tests system components or peripherals, and loads the computers operating system(s).

In my honest opinion, this video should be updated with the correct information hopefully soon.

[allenjoseph]

Thanks Mrs Bair for such a wonderful lesson! I think this was the most easiest way to explain such a complex thing!

[squigglylines]

woaaah...i should probably shut up the next time my computer lags...but i wont remain silent about my sh*tty wifi

[davidflores]

This is the only video I have seen so far on YouTube that actually explains thoroughly how a computer works without compromising the clarity. Nice work!

I am programmer by the way :D

[driftliketokyoftw]

Me: Billions of instructions a second?
Me, in overclocked intel i9: Ha! That’s CHILDSPLAY.

[TheRealFaceInCake]

This is a bit embellished but accurate.

For all the people talking about how shitty it would be to be a CPU.

Your CPU does all the number crunching. Organization is done for it by other components, the most notable one being the north-bridge chip which is responsible for memory control for the CPU, remember 1:18? It falls near into that category. The computer is constantly running at its own speed, you screw it up, the BIOS allows a moments time for your data to be processed. Either way, most new CPUs nowadays have an integrated memory controller.

That being said, I just love the intricacy of computers. Everything is completely accurate and it's a great video. :D

Just remember your CPU doesn't deal with your bullshit. Your bullshit is organized and queued up for your CPU to handle at its own speed. It does the hard number crunching. It's got more brawn with brain then you think.

[zulfadhlizainal]

Ummm isn't that mouse cable really at weird position?

[tatianasobolewska]

Thanks for sharing this useful information in a very simple way, just great for growing minds!

[sam.mankar]

I really love the way TED-ED explains complex thing in simple ways. Thank you TED-ED.
LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM INDIA ❤️🇮🇳

[sans_ified]

it's fun to revisit an old video i used to watch 6 years ago. before i don't really understand what everything is mentioned, but now i do.

[Sage.Seen]

Really liked your effort in putting it in simple forms

[Narsuaq]

As an IT student, this was a joy to watch. :D