Beginner Terms & Concepts Flashcards
Preparation For WGU
What is Computer Science?
Computer Science is the study of computers and how computer technology can be used to solve problems. It includes the study of computers, their design, and the way they process information.
What is a program?
A program is a set of instructions (specifically an algorithm) that has been coded into a language that a computer can understand. Programs give computers the instructions they need to work.
What is a group of connected computers called?
A network.
What is an algorithm?
A set of instructions that will need to be coded into a language that a computer can understand to create a program.
What is a computer?
A computer is a device that stores and processes information.
What is a computing system?
A computing system contains all the basic hardware and software that work together to make a computer run.
What is data?
Data is raw, unorganized facts.
What is analysis?
Analysis is the process of organizing, describing, and understanding data.
What is the hardware?
Hardware is the physical parts of a computer.
What is software?
Software is the code or programs that the computers run.
Provide examples of input hardware.
Keyboard, Mouse, Game Controller, Webcam, Microphone, etc.
Provide examples of output hardware.
Computer Monitor, TV Screen, Headphones, 3D Printer, etc.
Provide examples of processing hardware.
CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), Motherboard, Microprocessor, Sound Card, & Network Card.
Provide examples of storage hardware.
RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), SD Card, etc.
How are storage and processing hardware parts different?
Processing hardware runs programs while storage hardware stores information. Both are necessary in a computer because it is a device that stores and manipulates data (which requires a processor).
What is the difference between the CPU and the GPU?
The CPU is the main brain of a computer and runs most of the programs. It receives input information and executes commands from other hardware and software. The GPU delivers images, animations, and videos that can be viewed on the computer’s screen.
What is the difference between system software and application software?
System software makes sure that the individual hardware devices properly work together and with other programs, while application software are programs that allow the user to perform specific tasks. All applications are programs, but not all programs are applications for the consumer to use. Some programs are for the computer only.
What is a USB Flash Drive?
A USB (Universal Serious Bus) Flash Drive, otherwise known as a thumb drive, is a portable plug in device used to store information.
What is an operating system?
Operating systems are programs that communicate with hardware, allowing other programs to run in the background.
What is troubleshooting?
Troubleshooting is the process of solving problems by using a systematic, or step-by-step, approach.
Why is a systematic approach useful?
Creating a step-by-step process that is repeatable with similar results increases efficiency and decreases the need for certain resources.
What is the difference between troubleshooting and debugging?
Where troubleshooting is the general process for fixing problems, debugging specifically is for finding and fixing errors in a program or code.
What makes a good user interface?
Accessibility for all.
Describe the User Interface (UI).
The User Interface includes all the parts of a computing system that you use to operate the computer, such as a touch screen, speakers/headphones, on-screen menus, buttons, graphics, etc.
What are the two main types of User Interfaces (UI’s)?
Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Command-Line Interface (CLI)
What is a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?
A GUI is a type of User Interface that uses icons and symbols on a screen instead of just plain text.
What is a Command-Line Interface (CLI)?
A CLI uses only text to operate a computer, requiring the user to type in specific commands or phrases for it to work.
What is converting data into code called?
Encoding
What is converting data from code to a readable format called?
Decoding
What is the difference between data and information?
While data is raw, unorganized facts, information gives context to the data, processing it into usable or useful facts.
How many different colors can be made using hexadecimal or RGB?
Approximately 16 million
Name another term for computer.
Information Processor, meaning they take information and make it easier for us to use.
What does RADAR stand for and how is it used?
RADAR stands for “Radio Detection And Ranging” and it is using radio frequency to detect the presence of or distance from an object.
What does LIDAR stand for and how is it used?
LIDAR stands for “Light Detection And Ranging” and it is using laser light to measure the distance to a target.
Name and describe the two types of data a computer utilizes.
Input Data and Output Data. Input Data is the unorganized information entered into the computer, while the Output Data is the information after the computer has processed it.
Describe the definition of code.
A system of symbols, letters, and numbers used to represent something else.
Give an example of decoding.
Morse Code, where operators receive coded messages in the form of dots and dashes, and decode them into a readable format.
Name 3 data encoding schemes.
Binary, Hexadecimal, and RGB.
What is binary code?
Any code that uses 1’s and 0’s.
What are two most common ways colors can be encoded?
RGB and Hexadecimal.
Describe RGB.
RGB is color notation that uses three numbers separated by commas, where each number is between 0 and 255. Each of the three numbers represents a different shade of red, green, and blue and when combined, they can make many more colors.
Describe Hexadecimal.
The hexadecimal color notation uses six characters to represent the same 16 million colors as RGB. It uses combinations of the numbers 0-9 and letters A-F. Each set of two characters represents a different color. The first two characters represent red, the two green, and the final two blue. The combinations represent different shades of each individual color.
Encode the color Black in RGB.
0,0,0
Encode the color Black in Hex.
00 00 00
Give various examples of collecting data.
Interviews, Surveys, & Observation
What is one advantage conducting interviews has over handing out surveys?
Interviews give you more control over the process by being able to interact with the subject and prod for more relevant answers if needed.
If you want to gather easily computable data, which two question types should be avoided?
Interview-Type and Open-Ended
Name a few examples of when computers collect data from US citizens in mass?
Social Media, Navigation Systems, Voting, Census, etc.
What are the three different types of survey questions?
Open-Ended, Multiple Choice, & Linear Scale
What are the pros and cons of using open-ended questions in a survey?
Open-ended questions allow for more detailed responses, but like interview responses, the data is more difficult for a computer to analyze.
What are the pros and cons of using multiple choice questions in a survey?
Multiple choice questions are great for finding trends and patterns, making it easy for a computer to analyze, but the options are limited to the choices given.
What are the pros and cons of using linear scale questions in a survey?
Linear scale questions allow users to rank their answer, but rankings are subjective and are interpreted differently by individual users.
Define observation as a means of collecting data.
Observations require looking at an event and making a record of it.
What are the two primary ways to visualize data?
Charts and graphs.
When are line graphs used?
Line graphs are used to show how something changes over time.
Why are bar graphs used?
Bar graphs are used to compare different values in a category.
What type of chart shows the percentage of parts of a whole?
A pie chart.
Explain the difference between a use case and a test case.
Use cases are the broad tests that determine if a user is able to complete a general tasks, while test cases are specific tests that use various types of input.
If you want to make sure that your program will run even if things go wrong, what type of programmer are you?
A defensive programmer.
Why is testing different kinds of input important in case testing?
It’s important because you want to make sure your program runs no matter what the user inputs.
Use and test cases are used to find what in your program?
Errors (or bugs)
What is one of the best ways to ensure that your program works no matter what?
Intentionally get your program to produce errors to see how you can solve them.
What are two types of documentation you can make to help others understand your program?
Comments or a README files.
Which type of documentation helps a programmer remember what small chunks of code are supposed to do?
Comments
Why is commenting out a line of code helpful in debugging?
It helps you prevent a line(s) of code from running without having to delete them from the file.
Why are comments useful to you and other programmers?
It is much easier and more efficient to read a comment explaining pieces of the code than it is to try to read the code and interpret what it does.
Name the six top reasons to use documentation?
It makes it easier to find sections of code you want, explains how to use a program, gives credit, makes it easier to collaborate, helps to find bugs, and allows the programmer to write notes to themselves while programming.
What are some examples of comments to add as a note in your code as a reminder to come back and fix an error?
BUG, #TODO, or #FIXME
What type of documentation do you use to help a user install your program?
A README file.
What is a user guide?
A user guide is a document that helps the user learn the functionality of a program.
What do you call a text document that has no formatting, just words and punctuation?
A plain text file
What is user-centered design?
User-centered design is creating a program based on what users want.
What type of design follows the principles of usability, accessibility, and content?
A user-centered design.
What is feedback?
Feedback is the information gathered from users testing your program.
How is alpha testing different from beta testing?
Alpha testing is the first round of testing, and it is done with a small group of trusted people, sometimes even before a program is finished. Beta testing is the second round of tests, and it is done with a group of users from your target audience once the program is complete.
Will an alpha or a beta tester be likely to find more bugs?
An alpha tester
What does it mean to make a program accessible and why is it important?
A program is accessible if people with different abilities can use it successfully. It is important because you want to make sure that you are not excluding any group of people from using the program, based on their abilities.
What are the benefits of programming as a team?
You can accomplish bigger tasks, have a variety of strengths to draw from, extra sets of eyes to help avoid and catch mistakes, can learn from others, and have the opportunity to increase productivity and efficiency.
What two things are mandatory when considering using another programmer’s code, even if only using it as inspiration?
Getting permission and giving attribution
Describe each role a team of programmers plays when completing a project?
One is the driver and one is the navigator. The driver is in control of the keyboard, including typing in the code and double-checking their work. The navigator is in charge of telling the driver what code should be written and for catching bugs while working. It is important to rotate roles often to ensure accuracy.
Why is it helpful to utilize libraries when developing a program?
Using libraries helps save time and can prevent errors.