BCIS FINAL Flashcards
(119 cards)
Binary
uses only two digits, 1 and 0, is commonly used for representing values in computers.
Bits
short for binary digit—is a digit that can be 1 or 0. A bit is the smallest unit of information that a digital electronics device can manipulate
Bytes
A group of eight bits
Computer fluency
refers to a functional understanding of the fundamentals of computers and their uses.
Digital literacy
refers to an understanding of how computers represent different types of data with digits and how the usefulness of that representation assists people in leading productive lives.
Embedded systems
are hardwired into a computer component, such as ROM or flash memory, to control a special-purpose computer.
IoT
refers to the ability of physical objects to communicate over the Internet using embedded computing devices. (unit 3-1.8)
Mobile computer
ex. cell phones
Personal computer
or PC , is any general-purpose computer designed to meet the many computing needs of one individual.
Technology ecosystem
a family of devices and software designed by the manufacturer to work together.
Types of computers (not brands)
General purpose- designed to carry out a wide variety of activities, depending on the software being used. General-purpose computers include personal computers (PCs), mobile computers, servers, and supercomputers
Special purpose- designed for a specific computing purpose. Game devices, digital music players, digital cameras, GPS navigators, digital thermostats and other smart appliances, and a host of industry-specific devices, such as pacemakers, airport security scanners, and bank ATMs, are all special-purpose computers
Wearables
are clothing and accessories that incorporate digital technologies.
ALU
Contains the millions of circuits created to carry out instructions, such as mathematical and logical operations
BYOD
(for “bring your own device”), workers who have fallen in love with their iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks at home are bringing them to work and pressuring employers to support Apple products at work
Cache
A temporary storage area for frequently accessed or recently accessed data; speeds up the operation of the computer; size measured in megabytes (MB)
Cloud storage
stores data on Internet servers for access from any Internet-connected device.
CPU
a group of circuits that perform the processing in a computer, typically in one integrated circuit called a microprocessor.
Input devices
assists in capturing and entering data into a computer system.
Motherboard
the primary circuit board of a computer to which all components are connected, including the CPU.
Output devices
allows a user to observe the results of computer processing with one or more senses.
Processor
carries out the instructions provided by software, using specially designed circuitry and a well-defined routine to transform data into useful outputs.
Resolution
A printer’s output resolution depends on the number of dots printed per inch. A printer with a 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution prints more clearly than one with a 300-dpi resolution
ROM vs. RAM
ROM- provides permanent storage for data and instructions that do not change, such as firmware—programs and data from the computer manufacturer, including the boot process used to start the computer. ROM stores data, using circuits with states that are fixed
RAM- Random access memory (RAM) is temporary, or volatile, memory that stores bytes of data and program instructions for the processor to access. RAM acts as the primary storage area in a computer for software and the data that it works with. RAM plays a crucial role in computer systems and can contribute to or detract from a computer’s performance
Storage: Solid state vs. Optical vs. Magnetic
Solid state- device stores data using solid-state electronics such as transistors and, unlike magnetic and optical media, does not require any moving mechanical parts.
Optical state- media is convenient in terms of mobility but has limited storage capacity and is slow to write to.
Magnetic state- devices have high capacity and are convenient in terms of read and write ability, but they have slow data access rates due to the use of mechanical moving parts.