Societal Issues Vocabulary
Ethics Vocabulary
1. Anti-Virus--a computer program that detects viruses and repairs files.
2. Bomb--destructive computer program that acts on a predetermined event or at a
specific time.
3. Commercial software--software that is available for purchase
4. Computer Vandalism--act of damaging, altering, or destroying a computer,
computer peripherals, computer software, or computer service.
5. Computer Virus--a computer program that can reproduce by changing other
programs to include a copy of itself--a parasite program, needing another program
to survive
6. Copyright Law--law which requires the permission of the owner to make nonarchival copies of the work in question. It protects the holder of the copyright.
7. Ethical--conforming to the accepted professional standards of conduct. A set of
moral principles or values.
8. Freeware--a copyrighted program for which the user is not obligated to
compensate the author. It is given away free of charge, but it may not be copied
and distributed without permission;.
9. Hacker--computer user who enjoys tinkering with computers, or who
intentionally accesses computer system without permission to do so
10. Hoax-A program intended to scare users into thinking they have a virus
11. Intellectual Property--ideas put into action, like writing, music, art, computer
programs. These can be protected under copyright or patent laws.
12. Password--a safeguard for access to a computer or a computer system
13. Piracy--The illegal copying and distribution of software.
14. Private Data--information which is confidential and only ethically available to
selected individuals. The right to keep certain things to yourself; not for public
viewing.
15. Public Data--information which is available ethically to any user
16. Public Domain Software --programs that are not copyrighted and are free to be
shared, copied, and used.
17. Shareware--copyrighted software distributed free of charge on a trial basis but
one for which the author/developer requests a donation if you continue to use it.
It is on the honor system.
18. Software Piracy--the unauthorized duplication, illegal copying, and/or
distribution of programs
19. SPA (Software Publishers Association)--group that investigates software
copyright violations
20. Trojan Horse--a destructive computer program that disguises itself as a useful
piece of software
21. Virus--a computer program designed to cause damage to computer files. See
also: bomb, hoax, trojan horse, and worm.
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Societal Issues Vocabulary
22. Worm--a destructive computer program that bores its way through a computer's
files or through a computer network. It often leaves bits of itself behind in other
programs.
Hardware Vocabulary
1. Computer--machine that performs four functions: input, processing, storage, and
output. It can perform calculations and process a large amount of information
accurately and much more rapidly than the human brain.
2. CPU--Central Processing Unit--the main component that performs all of the
processing--also known as a microprocessor or "brain" of the computer
3. Disk Drive--a device that reads data off a disk and/or writes data to a disk (hard
or floppy)
4. Hardcopy--output from a computer that can be touched-- (Ex: output from a
printer or plotter)
5. Hardware--physical parts of the computer
6. Input device--part used to input data into a computer. (Ex: keyboard, mouse,
scanner, touch screen, probeware device)
7. Keyboard--an input device with keys--used to enter data. Five parts of the
keyboard: Numeric Keypad, Alpha Pad, Arrow Keys, Function Keys, Control
(Command) Keys
8. Microprocessor-- a chip that tells your computer to do these four functions:
input, processing, storage, output
9. Monitor--the TV-like screen--an output device
10. Mouse--a hand held input device
11. Output--data that has been processed by the computer.
12. Output device--part used to output data from a computer. (Ex: printer, monitor,
speaker)
13. Peripheral--device that can be attached (added on) to a computer. (Ex: printer,
monitor, speaker, scanner)
14. Port--the place on a computer where cable can be attached
15. Printer--an output device used to print on paper (Ex: Laser Printer, Dot Matrix
Printer, Ink Jet Printer)
16. Printout--output from a printer (Ex: Laser, Dot Matrix, Ink Jet)
17. Scanner--a peripheral device that captures images from photographic prints,
posters, magazine pages, and similar sources for computer editing and display.
(converts to data that is put into a computer)
18. Secondary Storage--devices that can be used to permanently store your work
(Ex: floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk)
19. Speaker--output device that produces sound or softcopy
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Societal Issues Vocabulary
Terms
1. Booting--the process of loading the operating system software into memory to
start up a computer. Also called starting.
2. Cursor--a highlighted mark (sometimes blinking) on the screen that indicates the
user's location. It indicates where the next letter or character will appear when
keyed. Sometimes the cursor is a special picture or icon.
3. Disk Drive--The device that reads from and writes to a floppy disk or hard disk.
4. DPI--dots per inch (pixels)
5. Input--data entered into the computer
6. Pixel--the smallest component of an image that can be transmitted or received in a
video display system (tiny points of light that make up a picture)
7. Primary Storage--RAM
8. RAM--Random Access Memory--a temporary memory to hold your data-(storage place inside your computer where 1s and 0s are kept until power is cut
off--also holds the program that you are working on)--RAM is also called primary
storage.
9. Resolution--the quality of a picture on the screen (high or low)
10. Softcopy--output from a computer that can be seen or heard, but not touched-(Ex: output from a speaker or monitor)
11. Software--instructions on a disk that make the computer work. It tells the
computer (CPU) what to do. Software programs are usually stored on disks until
needed. Often the disk containing the program is called software.
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