1 Flashcards
Where can you find computers?
Computers are everywhere
What is computer literacy?
If you are computer literate, you have knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses
An electronic machine, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory
›accepts data
›manipulates the data according to specified rules
›produces results
›stores the results for future use
What is a computer?
Data
Collection of raw unprocessed facts, figures, and symbols
Information
Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful
Who is a user?
Someone that communicates with a computer
Someone who uses the information it generates
Hardware
The electric, electronic, and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer
Software
The series of instructions that tells the hardware how to perform tasks
What is the information processing
cycle?
What are common computer hardware components?
What is an input device?
Any hardware component that allows a user to enter data and instructions into a computer
What is an output device?
Any hardware component that can convey information to a user
What is the system unit ?
Sometimes called a chassis
A box-like case made from metal or plastic that protects the internal electronic components of the computer from damage
Circuitry in the system unit usually is part of or is connected to a circuit board called the motherboard
What are two main components on the motherboard?
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Memory
- Also called a processor
- Electronic device that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
•Temporary holding place for data and instructions
Memory
What is a chip?
An electronic device that contains many microscopic pathways that carry electrical currents
°Usually no bigger than one-half inch square
°Packaged so it can be attached to a motherboard
What are internal components and external devices?
Internal Component- Resides inside the system unit
External Device- Also called a peripheral
Attaches to the system unit
What is storage?
Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
Storage Medium
•Physical material on which a computer keeps the data, instructions and information
Storage Device
- Records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium
- Devices often function as source of input because they transfer items from storage into memory
What are common storage devices or drives?
What is a floppy disk?
A thin, circular, flexible disk enclosed in a plastic shell
Insert and remove a floppy disk into and from a floppy disk drive
A Zip® disk is a higher capacity disk
What is a hard disk?
Consists of several circular platters that store items electronically
Disks are enclosed in an airtight, sealed case, which often is housed inside the system unit
Provides much greater storage capacity than a floppy disk
Some hard disks are removable
What is a compact disc?
A flat, round portable medium that stores data using microscopic pits, which are created by a laser light
›CD-ROM
›CD-RW
rewriteable CD
›DVD-ROM
tremendous storage capacities
What is miniature storage media?
Used in devices such as digital cameras
One popular type is called a card
What is a communications device?
Enables computer users to communicate and to exchange items such as data, instructions, and information with another computer
Allows you to establish a connection between two computers and transmit items over transmission media, such as cables,
telephone lines,
or satellites
°One type is a
modem
What characteristics make a computer powerful?
Storage
Accuracy
Reliability
Speed
Communications
What is a computer program?
A series of instructions that tells the hardware of a computer what to do
Programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices
What is system software?
What is a graphical user interface (GUI)?
Allows you to interact with the software using visual images such as icons
°An icon is a small image that represents a program, an instruction, or some other object
What is application software?
Programs that perform specific tasks for users
What is custom software?
Written by a programmer
Tailor-made program developed at a user’s request to perform specific functions
Collection of computers and devices connected together via communications devices and media
When your computer connects to a network you are online
What is a network?
What are the reasons to network?
What is a local area network (LAN)?
A network that connects computers in a limited geographic area such as a school computer laboratory, office or group of buildings
What is a wide area network (WAN)?
A network that covers a large geographical area, such as one that connects offices across the country
Billions of documents, called Web pages, that are linked together on computers throughout the world
World Wide Web (WWW)
What are the categories of computers?
What are the two most popular series of personal computers?
What is a mid-range server?
More powerful and larger than a workstation computer
Supports up to 4,000 users
Often connected via a personal computer or terminal
Once known as a minicomputer
What is a mainframe?
Large, expensive, very powerful computer
Can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously
Stores tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information
Fastest, most powerful computer
°Able to process more than 12 trillion instructions per second
supercomputer
For an information system to provide accurate, timely, and useful information, each element must be present and all of the elements must work together
information system
