A computer is an electronic device that can accept input data, process data, store data, and produce output according to instructions. It consists of input devices like keyboards and mice to enter data, output devices like monitors to display or print output, a central processing unit to perform calculations and control functions, and storage devices like hard drives and memory to permanently or temporarily hold data. Charles Babbage is considered the father of modern computers, having designed early mechanical computers in the 1800s to perform basic arithmetic functions.