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Your network

We all know how good it is to see our friends and family. We know everyone in the group.

We can:

• talk to each other
• share stories and pictures
• tell people our news
• show everyone our pets

When we think about the people we know and share things with, we can say we are connected.

Connect is another word for join or link. We are connected to our friends and family.

We call a group of connected things a network. Your friends and family are your network.

How many people can you count in your network?

Connecting computers

Computers and other digital devices can also be connected.

When they are connected they can share information with each other.

That means, we can use them to send messages and share words, pictures, stories and videos.

Computer networks

We call a group of connected computers and digital devices a computer network.

Sometimes the computers we use at school are connected to make a network. They can all share information and send messages to each other.

The computers in the network can share devices so you would only need one printer.

How are computers connected?

We can connect computers and digital devices in different ways.

Sometimes we connect them with thick wires called cables.

We plug cables into special holes on the device called ports. Messages and information can move along the cable from one device to the next.

We can connect some devices together without cables or wires. We use technology called wi-fi that sends information through the air. Wi-fi is invisible.

Glossary

Here are the meanings of some important words:

Computer - A device that can follow instructions stored in its memory.
Digital device - A machine that has a computer inside.
Printer - A device that can make a paper copy of information from a computer.
Network - A groups of things that are connected.
Computer network - A group of connected computers.
Cable - A thick wire used to connect devices.
Port - A special hole on a device for plugging in cables and wires.
Wi-fi - A way of sending information through the air without wires.

Activities