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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 humanwritten 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.