Computer Hardware and
Network Systems Terms
Lucas Abbott
Computer Platform (OS –
Operating Systems)
• An operating system is an
interface between hardware and
user. An OS is basically the
nucleus of the computer, and is
responsible for the management
and coordination of activities and
the sharing of the resources of the
computer. The operating system
acts as a host for computing
applications run on the machine
Processor (CPU)
A Central Processing Unit
(CPU) or processor is an
electronic circuit that can
execute computer programs,
which are actually sets of
instructions. The form,
design, and implementation
of CPUs have changed
dramatically since the
earliest examples, but their
basic function remains
much the same.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Random-access memory
(usually referred to as RAM) is
a form of computer data
storage. Today, it takes the
form of integrated circuits that
allow stored data to be
accessed in any order (i.e., at
random). The word random
refers to the fact that any piece
of data can be returned in a
constant time, regardless of its
physical location and whether
or not it is related to the
previous piece of data.
Hard Disk (Hard Drive)
• A hard disk drive(often
shortened as hard disk,
hard drive, or HDD) is a
non-volatile storage
device that stores
digitally encoded data
on rapidly rotating
platters with magnetic
surfaces.
Serial cable (Windows)
•
A serial cable is a cable that can be
used to transfer information
between two devices using serial
communication, often using the
RS-232 standard. Serial cables may
use D-subminiature connectors
with 9 or 25 pins, but other
connectors are used. A specially
wired cable used for connecting
two similar computer serial ports
directly is known as a null modem.
Parallel cable (windows)
• Parallel ATA
(PATA) is an
interface standard for
the connection of
storage devices such
as hard disks, solidstate drives, and CDROM drives in
computers
Small Computer Systems Interface
(SCSI) (Mac/Windows)
• Small Computer System Interface, or SCSI
(pronounced scuzzy), is a set of standards for
physically connecting and transferring data
between computers and peripheral devices. The
SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and
electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most
commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but
it can connect a wide range of other devices,
including scanners and CD drives. The SCSI
standard defines command sets for specific device
types; the presence of "unknown" as one of these
types means that in theory it can be used as an
interface to almost any device, but the standard is
highly pragmatic and addressed toward
commercial requirements.
Hay what up
Universal Serial Bus (USB) (Mac/Windows)
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a way of setting up
communication between a computer and peripheral devices.
USB is intended to replace many varieties of serial and
parallel ports. USB can connect computer peripherals such as
mice, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners,
digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives,
and external hard drives. For many of those devices, USB has
become the standard connection method. USB was designed
for personal computers, and as a power cord between a device
and an AC adapter plugged into a wall plug for charging. As
of 2008, there are about 2 billion USB devices sold per year,
and about 6 billion total sold to date.
The design of USB is standardized by the USB Implemented
Forum (USB-IF), an industry standards body incorporating
leading companies from the computer and electronics
industries. Notable members have included Agere (now
merged with LSI Corporation), Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard,
Intel, Microsoft and NEC.