What is a modern computer device? Whether I am using a smartphone, or a tablet, or a desktop computer — I am using a computer. It's brain is a tiny, silicon chip. It's the prerequisite machinery of your computer, making up the device's central processing unit (CPU). Get familiar with these terms, and more, with a visual anchor chart and exercise to instruct students with similar terms — whether for your school's computer lab, writing center, library, writing and humanities classes, or anywhere e