Megan Kneece
COM2-COM29 Definitions
Computer: electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that
can input, process, output, and store for further use.
Information processing cycle: Four basic operations performed by computers; input, process, output,
and storage.
Data: collection of unprocessed items: text, numbers, images, audio, and video.
Information: conveys meaning and is useful to one or more people.
Computer users/end users/users: People who just use the computer directly or use the information it
provides.
Computer program/software: detailed set of instructions that tells a computer exactly what to do.
System unit: box-like case that houses the processor, memory, and storage devices.
Keyboard: input device that contains keys you press to enter data into the computer.
Stylus: small metal or plastic device that looks like a ballpoint pen and uses pressure to write, draw, or
make selections.
Mouse: pointing device that fits comfortably under the palm of your hand.
Pointer/mouse pointer: controlled by the mouse, allows you to make selections on the screen
System unit: case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data.
Processor/CPU: interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer.
Control unit: interprets the instructions.
Arithmetic/logic unit: performs the logical and arithmetic processes.
Memory/RAM: consists of electronic components that temporarily store instructions waiting to be
executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and results of processed data.
K/KB (Kilobyte): equals approximately 1,000 memory locations
MB (Megabyte):equals approximately one million memory locations
GB (Gigabyte): equals approximately one billion memory locations
Memory locations (byte): usually stores one character such as the letter A.
Output devices: make the information resulting from processing available for use.
Impact printer: prints by striking an inked ribbon against the paper
Nonimpact printer: form characters by means other than striking a ribbon against paper.
Photo printers: produce photo-quality pictures and are ideal for home or small-business use.
Display device: output device that visually conveys text, graphics, and video information.
Monitor: display device that is packaged as a separate unit.
Flat panel monitor: one of the two basic types of monitors.
LCD monitor: the most popular type of flat panel monitor
CRT: monitor resembling a television
Pixels: individual picture elements
Storage device: stores instructions, data, and information when they are not being used in memory.
Magnetic disks: use magnetic particles to store items such as data, instructions, and information on a
disk’s surface
Formatting: the process of dividing the disk into tracks and sectors
Track: narrow recording band that forms a full circle on the surface of the disk.
Sectors: pie-shaped sections that break the tracks into small arcs
Portable storage medium: means you can remove the medium from one computer and carry it to
another
Hard disk: storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that magnetically store
data, instructions, and information.
Head crash: results in the loss of data or sometimes the entire drive.
Backup: duplicate of a file, program or disk
Floppy disk (diskette): inexpensive portable storage medium
Floppy disk drive: can read from and write on a floppy disk
Access time: time required to access and retrieve data
CD-ROM: optical disc users can read but not write on
CD-ROM drive: what you insert a CD-ROM into to be read
CD-R: optical disk onto which you can record your own items
CD-RW: erasable optical disc you can write on multiple times
DVD-ROM: high-capacity optical disc capable of storing 4.7 GB to 17 GB
DVD-ROM drive: needed to read a DVD-ROM
DVD-R and DVD+R: competing DVD-recordable formats
Blu-ray (BD-ROM) and HD DVD: more expensive and newer DVD-recordable formats
DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD+RAM: competing DVD formats
BD-RE and HD DVD-RW: competing higher-capacity rewritable DVD formats
Tape: magnetically coated ribbon of plastic housed in a tape cartridge
Miniature mobile storage media: rewritable media in form of flash memory card, USB flash drive, of
smart card
Flash memory card: Flash memory cards- solid-state media, they consist entirely of electronics and
contain no moving parts.
USB flash drive- a flash memory storage device that plugs into a USB port on a computer or mobile
device
Smart card- stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card
Communications device- a hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data to
and from one or more computers
Transmission media- where communications occur
Wireless- have no physical lines or wires
System software- consists of programs to control the operations of computer equipment
Operating system- tells the computer how to perform the functions of loading, storing and executing am
application program and how to transfer data
Graphical user interface- provides visual cues such as icon symbols to help the user
Icon- represents an application where a file or document is stored
Application software- programs designed to make users more productive and/or assist them with
personal tasks.
Word processing software- used to create, edit, format, and print documents
Electronic spreadsheet software- allows the user to add, subtract, and perform user-defined calculations
on rows and columns of numbers
Database software- allows user to enter, retrieve, and update data in on organized and efficient manner
Presentation graphics software= allows the user to create slides for use in a presentation to a group
Network- collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via communications
devices and transmission media
Online- when a computer connects to a network
Local area network- a network that connects computers in a limited geographic area
Wide area network- covers a large geographical area
Internet- world’s largest network
ISP- organization supplies connections to the internet for a fee
OSP- provides access to internet and provides other specialized content and services
WISP- company provides wireless internet access
World wide web- contains billions of web pages
Web page- can contain text, graphics, audio, and video
Web site- a related collection of Web pages
Web browser- visitors to a web site use this program
URL- unique address of a web page
http- communications standard used to transfer pages on the Web
e-commerce-