1.2. Computing Basics Flashcards
It is a device, usually electronic, that stores, receives, processes, and outputs information.
Computer
It usually refers to the physical components in a computing system which includes input devices, output devices, storage devices, as well as the electronic components and chips that make up the Central Processing Unit (CPU).
Computer Hardware
It contains thousands of microscopic electronic transistors–electronic “gates” that can perform logical operations and complex instructions.
Computer Processor
What does VLSI stand for?
Very Large Scale Integration
This performs arithmetic operations such as addition, multiplication, division, etc. in the processor.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit
What does ALU stand for?
Arithmetic and Logic Unit
It usually refers to the actual machine instructions that are run on a processor.
Computer Software
It is usually written in a high-level programming language such as C or Java and then converted to machine code that the processor can execute.
Software
It is nothing more than a structured collection of 0s and 1s.
Binary
A single 0 or 1 is referred to as what?
Bit
8 bits form a what?
Byte
Computer memory can refer to:
- Main Memory
- Secondary Memory
These are typically long-term storage devices such as hard disks, flash drives, SD cards, optical disks (CDs, DVDs), etc. These generally have a large capacity but are slower.
Secondary Memory
These are data stored on chips that the processor is actively using. It is much faster but also more expensive and thus generally smaller.
Main Memory
The first hard disk was developed by ________ in ________.
IBM in 1956
