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COMPUTING GCSE PAPER 1 OCR J277 > Paper 1 definitions > Flashcards

Paper 1 definitions Flashcards

1
Q

ALU

A

Arithmetic logic unit: The part of the CPU where data is processed and manipulated. This processing and manipulation normally consists of arithmetic operations or logical comparisons allowing a program to make decisions

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2
Q

Control Unit

A

The part of the CPU that manages the execution of instructions. The control unit fetches each instruction in sequence and decodes and synchronises it before executing it by sending control signals to other parts of the compter

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3
Q

Register

A

Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU normally designed for a specific purpose, where one piece of data or control information in stored temporarily

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4
Q

PC

A

Program counter: A register in the control unit which holds the address of the next instruction to be executed

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5
Q

ACC

A

Accumulator: A special register which holds the data currently being processed by the central processor. Any data to be processed is stored temporarily in the accumulator.

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6
Q

MAR

A

Memory Address Register: A register in the CPU that stores the address of the memory location currently in use. In the fetch phase, this is the address of the data being used

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7
Q

MDR

A

Memory Data Register: A register in the CPU that stores data being transferred to and from the immediate access store. It acts as a buffer, allowing the central processor and memory unit to act independently without being affected by minor differences in operation. A data item will be copied to the MDR ready for use at the next clock pulse where it can either be used by the central processor or stored in memory

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8
Q

CIR

A

Current Instruction Register: A register in in the control unit that stores the address of the next instruction currently being executed and decoded

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9
Q

Buses

A

A common physical pathway (wire) shared by signals to and from several components of a computer

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10
Q

Data Bus

A

The part of the bus which carries the actual information

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11
Q

Control Bus

A

The part of the bus which carries identification about where the data is being sent

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12
Q

Fetch-Decode-Execute

A

The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it and carrying it out

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13
Q

CPU

A

Central Processing Unit: The main part of the computer consisting of the registers, ALU and control unit

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14
Q

Clock Speed

A

Measured in Hertz- the frequency at which the internal clock generates pulses. The higher the clock rate, ht faster the computer may work. The clock is the electronic unit that synchronises related components by generating pulses at a constant rate

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15
Q

Cores

A

A part of a multi-score processor, which is a single component with 2 or more independent actual CPUs which are the units responsible for the FDE cycle

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16
Q

Cache

A

A part of the main store between the central processor and the rest of the memory. It has extremely fast access, so sections of a program and its associated data are copied their to take advantage of its short fetch cycle

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17
Q

Von Neumann Architecture

A

Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems. A single control unit manages program control flow following a linear sequence of fetch-decode-execute

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18
Q

Embedded systems

A

A small computer that is part of a wider device or machine, it includes hardware and software and allows users to interact with the machine. eg central heating, washing machines, dishwashers

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19
Q

RAM

A

Random Access Memory: Volatile main memory with very fast access times. Contains operating system, current instructions and data, and open files or software

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20
Q

Virtual Memory

A

Part of a disk drive allocated to be used as if it were main memory. It is very slow, and the software will attempt to use the immediate-access store if possible

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21
Q

Volatile

A

Memory that loses its content when the power is turned off

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22
Q

Non-Volatile

A

Memory that retains its data when it loses power

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23
Q

Bootstrap Loader

A

The first program to be loaded into RAM when the device is turned on

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24
Q

POST

A

Power On Self-Test: determines if all the necessary components are connected and running correctly

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25
Q

Speed

A

The relative speed that data can be accessed by each type of device

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26
Q

Storage Device

A

Any medium which holds data or programs

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27
Q

Magnetic Storage

A

A storage medium which uses surfaces coated with a layer of magnetic material on which data can be stored by magnetically setting the arrangement of the magnetic material. This is done by electromagnetic read/write heads

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28
Q

Flash Storage

A

A collection of memory chips that is controlled by its own software to make the collection of chips act like a disk drive

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29
Q

Optical Storage

A

A storage medium that uses plastic discs on which the data is stored as patterns on the surface in pits and lans

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30
Q

Capacity

A

The amount of data that can be stored on the device, measured in bytes

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31
Q

Robustness

A

The amount of physical damage that a device can take before it breaks

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32
Q

Cost per Gigabit

A

A comparison between different storage devices

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33
Q

Platter

A

A circular disk on which magnetic data is stored. They spin at a high speed so that the reading head can receive the data stored

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34
Q

Sector

A

A sub division of the magnetic disk, containing a fixed amount of storage space

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35
Q

Track

A

A circular path on the surface of the disk, where magnetic data is stored

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36
Q

Speed

A

The relative access speed of each type of device

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37
Q

Portability

A

The ease with which data is transferred from one location to another whilst being stored on the device

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38
Q

Durability

A

The ability of the device to withstand knocks and bumps without becoming damaged

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39
Q

Reliability

A

The approximate lifespan of a device

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40
Q

Pits and falls

A

The reflective/non-reflective parts of an optical disk that store data

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41
Q

HDD

A

Hard disk drive, a storage media that stores data as magnetic elements

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42
Q

SSD

A

Solid state drive- uses flash memory to store data

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43
Q

SD card

A

Small, portable devices that use flash memory to store data, found in phones, cameras, etc

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44
Q

Data pen/stick

A

Physically small devices that use flash memory to store data- usually connects to a computer via the USB port

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45
Q

DVD

A

Digital versatile disk- uses optical methods to store data

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46
Q

CD

A

Compact disk- uses optical methods to store data

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47
Q

Bit

A

A single unit of data, usually modelled as 1 or 0

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48
Q

Byte

A

8 bits of data

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49
Q

Nibble

A

4 bits of data

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50
Q

Kilo

A

1000 bits of data

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51
Q

Mega

A

1,000,000 bits of data

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52
Q

Giga

A

1,000,000,000 bits of data

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53
Q

Tera

A

1,000,000,000,000 bits of data

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54
Q

Peta

A

1,000,000,000,000,000 bits of data

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55
Q

Number base

A

The positional number system, using unique digits to display quantities, digits are reused and their position displays higher or lower quantities

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56
Q

Denary

A

Base 10

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57
Q

Binary

A

Base 2

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58
Q

Hexadecimal

A

Base 16

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59
Q

Right shift

A

By shifting a binary number to the right by one column and placing a zero in the least significant column, the number can be doubled

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60
Q

Left shift

A

The reverse process to a right shift, the number halves

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61
Q

Character set

A

The collection of symbols, letters and digits that can be represented on a computer

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62
Q

ASCII

A

American standard for information interchange- a character set

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63
Q

UNICODE

A

A much larger character set that includes more characters than UNICODE

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64
Q

Pixel

A

One graphical dot

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65
Q

Metadata

A

The information at the beginning of a (picture) file, usually the length, height, colour depth and the type of file

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66
Q

Colour depth

A

The number of colours used in an image (3 bits = 2x2x2 = 8 colours)

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67
Q

Resolution

A

The number of dots per inch in an image file

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68
Q

Sampling

A

Sound is gathered at certain intervals (5 times per second)

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69
Q

Sample rate

A

The rate at which sound is gathered and turned into a digital file

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70
Q

Bit depth

A

The number of bits available for each sample

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71
Q

Analogue

A

A value that can take any value between an upper and lower limit

72
Q

Digital

A

Values that have to stick to certain numbers

73
Q

Hertz

A

The number of cycles per second

74
Q

Duration

A

The length of a sound

75
Q

Compression

A

Reducing the size of a file

76
Q

Lossy compression

A

Reducing the size of a file with permanent data loss

77
Q

Lossless compression

A

Reducing the size of a file without losing any data

78
Q

Dictionary file

A

Used to store common words/phrases from the compressed file

79
Q

Run length encoding

A

A technique used to find repeated data and code it

80
Q

LAN

A

Local area network- two or more connected computers in one geographical site using owned infrastructure

81
Q

WAN

A

Wide are network- two or more connected computers on more than one geographical site using someone else’s infrastructure

81
Q

Latency

A

How long data takes to reach its destination

82
Q

Error rate

A

How many transmission errors occur in a set amount of time

82
Q

Bandwidth

A

The rate at which data can be transmitted in a network, measured in GB/s

82
Q

Peer-to-peer network

A

A type of network in which all workstations are of equal status

83
Q

Client-server network

A

A network in which one computer, the server, has overall control

84
Q

Wireless access point

A

Sometimes known as a wireless router- sends and receives WiFi transmissions from devices and the network

85
Q

Router

A

A device that sends and receives data packets to other routers on different networks, using IP addresses- the device that connects a network to the internet

85
Q

Switch

A

Sends data packets to and from their destination on a network using MAC addresses

85
Q

Hub

A

Broadcasts data to all other member devices attached to the hub

86
Q

Transmission media

A

The physical connection between devices (copper wire, WiFi, fibre optic)

86
Q

Domain name server

A

The set of servers that contain all of the URLs and their corresponding IP addresses so that a user can type in the URL and find the target computer with the website on

87
Q

Hosting

A

Allowing a website space on a computer which remote users can access the data from

87
Q

The Cloud

A

A collection of computers that users can rent space from (usually in a large building called a server farm)

88
Q

Virtual networks

A

A sub network inside another. It uses the same infrastructure, but may be reserved for only a few members

89
Q

Network interface card

A

A device needed by a device to connect to the network- it provides the device with their MAC address

90
Q

Ethernet cable

A

Copper wire

90
Q

IaaS

A

Infrastructure as a service- providing hardware resources for rent by users, such as hard drive space

91
Q

SaaS

A

Software s a surface- providing applications for users to use online (like OneDrive)

91
Q

Internet

A

The collection of devices that are networked together to provide the network of networks

91
Q

World wide web

A

The web pages that sit upon the Internet and can be accessed by remote users

92
Q

IP address

A

assigned to a device that connects to a network by the network. each one is unique

92
Q

URL

A

Universal resource locator- the web address of a webpage

92
Q

MAC address

A

Media access control- a unique identifier for the machine connecting to a network. It is built into the hardware and can’t be changed.

93
Q

Service set identifier

A

uniquely identifies a wireless LAN

93
Q

Wired

A

Devices connected via a copper or optic cable

94
Q

Wireless

A

Devices connected via electromagneic signals

94
Q

WiFi

A

Uses microwaves to transmit and receive data

94
Q

Bluetooth

A

Uses radio waves to transmit and receive data

95
Q

Encryption

A

Disguising data so it can’t be read without the key

95
Q

Standards

A

Rules set out to allow computers to communicate

95
Q

TCP / IP

A

A set of protocols that allow communication on the internet

96
Q

HTTP

A

Hypertext transfer protocol- used for transmitting and receiving webpages

96
Q

HTTPS

A

Hypertext transfer protocol secure- encrypted transmission of webpages

97
Q

FTP

A

File transfer protocol- for transmitting large files between computers

97
Q

POP

A

Post office protocol- takes a copy of emails from the webserver and deletes any files on the webserver

97
Q

IMAP

A

Internet message access protocol, creates a copy of an email on the web server on the local machine

97
Q

SMTP

A

Simple mail transfer protocol- used to send emails

97
Q

Layers

A

The use of protocols in layers so that they can be replaced or edited without affecting the other layers

97
Q

Malware

A

Software that is hostile or intrusive- it may change, monitor or delete data without the user’s permission

97
Q

Phishing

A

A technique used to try and gather personal details from users under false pretences

98
Q

Social engineering

A

Using human weakness or gullibility to obtain data

98
Q

Shoulder surfing

A

Literally looking over someone’s shoulder as they enter their password

98
Q

Brute force attacks

A

Repeatedly guessing someone’s password

98
Q

Denial of service attacks

A

the intentional paralysing of a computer network by flooding it with data sent individually from many computers

99
Q

Data interception and theft

A

To steal data from a person or organisation

100
Q

SQL injection

A

Uses SQL written at the end of a URL to gain access to a remote database

100
Q

Virus

A

Software designed to harm the data or computer, which can usually replicate itself

101
Q

Worm

A

A form of malware that can replicate itself without being part of another piece of software

102
Q

Zombies

A

Can allow someone to remotely use your computer without your knowledge or permission

103
Q

Keyloggers

A

Records the keys that have been pressed on a computer and sends them back to the creator, hoping to gain account details or a password

104
Q

Ransomware

A

Encrypts the data on a computer and charges a fee to release the encryption key

104
Q

Trojans

A

Malware that disguises itself as another type of software, like a music file

105
Q

Eavesdropping

A

Intercepting data packets

105
Q

Network policy

A

The rules an organisation creates to govern how people will use their system. There is usually an associated Acceptable Use policy

105
Q

Acceptable use policy

A

A set of rules that inform users how they are supposed to behave when using the network

106
Q

Penetration testing

A

Asking white hat hackers to try and access your network to try and find vulnerabilities

106
Q

Network forensics

A

The use of audit trails to find wrong doing on the network

107
Q

Anti-malware software

A

Software that looks for malware, it can warn and disable software or files that it identifies as dangerous to the system

107
Q

Firewalls

A

A combination of hardware and software that inspect data packets as they leave and enter a computer, designed to prevent unauthorised access to a computer system

108
Q

User access levels

A

These determine the rights that a user has to parts of a computer or network

109
Q

Passwords

A

A way of restricting access to a system using usernames and the associated code

110
Q

White hat hackers

A

Hackers that access a system with permission

111
Q

Black hat hackers

A

Hackers that access a system without permission

112
Q

Grey hat hackers (ethical hacking)

A

Somewhere in between white hat and black hat hackers that put their expertise into finding vulnerabilities in an organisation’s system without permission, then reports them to the organisation

113
Q

Black box testing

A

Asking someone to test the vulnerabilities of an organisation’s system, giving them no more information than any other hacker

114
Q

White box testing

A

Asking someone to test the vulnerabilities of an organisation’s system, giving them as much information as an insider would have

115
Q

Proxy server

A

Acts as an intermediary between the web browser and the internet, blocking or allowing data packets

116
Q

Operating system

A

Manages the general running of the computer and providing a way for the user to interact with the device and providing a platform for applications

117
Q

User interface

A

Provides a method for the computer and user to share information

118
Q

Memory management

A

The operating system manages the amount of memory that is being used by any running processes

119
Q

Multi tasking

A

The ability of the computer to concurrently run several processes at the same time

120
Q

Peripheral

A

A device that is plugged into the computer

121
Q

Drivers

A

The software that allows the computer to run and interact with a peripheral device

122
Q

User management

A

The allocation of usernames, files and permissions for users of the device

123
Q

File management

A

The control of the names, structures and permissions that are allowed on files

124
Q

Buffers

A

A system of transferring and temporarily storing data

125
Q

Access rights

A

The type of access that a user has to data

126
Q

File structure

A

The way in which files are linked to each other

127
Q

Kernel

A

The computer program at the core of the computer that allows the OS control over all aspects of the computer

128
Q

Platform

A

The combination of operating system and hardware that allows computers to run applications

129
Q

Utility software

A

Used to analyse, manage, configure and maintain a computer system

130
Q

Defragmentation

A

To organise data saved on a hard drive so it is touching

131
Q

Ethics

A

The moral code agreed by an organisation

132
Q

Legislation

A

The legal framework

133
Q

Privacy

A

To keep ones data/activities to oneself

134
Q

DPA

A

The Data Protection Act, 1998
Legislation which protects individuals from unreasonable use of their stored personal data

135
Q

CMA

A

The Computer Misuse Act, 1990
Legislation which defines electronic vandalism, unauthorised access to computer systems and information theft

136
Q

CDPA

A

The Copyright Design and Patents Act, 1988
Legislation which gives creators the right to control the ways in which their material may be used

137
Q

RIPA

A

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000
Legislation which regulates the powers of public bodies to carry out surveillance, investigation and interception of communications

138
Q

Open source

A

Users can modify and distribute the software

139
Q

Proprietary

A

Users cannot modify the software, it is copyright protected and usually paid for

140
Q

Computational thinking

A

The thought process involved in formulating a problem and expressing its solution in a way that a human or machine can effectively carry out

141
Q

Examples of ethical issues

A

digital divide, invasion of privacy

142
Q

Examples of legal issues

A

copyright, hacking, privacy

143
Q

Examples of cultural issues

A

censorship, geography of a country

144
Q

Examples of environmental issues

A

fossil fuels, lack of natural resources

COMPUTING GCSE PAPER 1 OCR J277 (8 decks)

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