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A computer program is kind of like a little robot inside of your computer.
It has input, output, and short-term memory (RAM).
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Input
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This robot has a very limited field of vision. In fact, it can normally
not perceive anything at all except for the mouse, keyboard,
and some other raw data (such as from a database or filesystem).
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Output
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Likewise, most computer programs can't really change anything in the outside
world. They can change data in the database or filesystem, or show something
on the screen.
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Memory (RAM)
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This is one of the interesting parts of what this little robot is doing in your computer.
It is using the memory to build a pre-specified model. It takes blocks of blank
memory matter, changes the shape of it according to input, and puts these blocks together with other pieces.
Kind of like playing with legos. Once this model is constructed it can be used it to make
predictions, and other logical deductions, about what might or should happen to the model.
It then outputs what it has been instructed to, depending on the results of the model.
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