CAT Flashcards
1
Q
List 4 computers
A
- Laptops
-Desktops
-Phone
-Tablet
2
Q
Which computer is made up of separate parts connected to one another?
A
A desktop has separate parts
3
Q
What is the difference between hardware and software?
A
Hardware are the physical parts of a computer.
Software is instructions that you give to your computer using apps and programs.
4
Q
What makes a computer multi-purpose?
A
The ability to run different types of programs.
5
Q
List the main steps in the information processing cycle.
A
Input - Processing - Output, Storage
6
Q
Distinguish between data and information.
A
Data is unprocessed items and information processed data.
7
Q
What controls all the activities in a computer?
A
The operating system
8
Q
What does booting up mean?
A
It’s the process whereby a computer starts up and loads the operating system.
9
Q
What may you need to log onto Windows?
A
You may need a password/username.
10
Q
What is the desktop?
A
It’s the first basic ‘screen’ of the operating system.
11
Q
What is GUI?
A
It is the Graphical User Interface designed to be used with a keyboard and mouse.
12
Q
Mouse actions: What does left- click do?
A
It is used to select something.
13
Q
Mouse actions: What does right- click do?
A
It brings up a pop-up menu with options related to the current activity.
14
Q
Mouse actions: What does double-click do?
A
It opens a file or folder, or to run a program.
15
Q
Mouse actions: What does drag do?
A
It is used to move or resize an object.
16
Q
What is located on the desktop?
A
- Taskbar
- Start button
- Shortcuts
- Icons
- Recycle bin
- Notification area
- Quick launch
17
Q
What can the <esc> button be used for?</esc>
A
It can be used to cancel an option or get back to where you were.
18
Q
What can be used to shut down the computer?
A
The Start menu.
19
Q
What is a file?
A
It is a collection of data that is stored on a computer under a single name.
20
Q
What is storage?
A
It is a place on the computer where word is kept permanently.
21
Q
What is memory?
A
It is a place on the computer where work is kept temporarily, while we are still working with and before we save it to storage.
22
Q
What is a keyboard?
A
It is a most common input device, used to type in text or data.
23
Q
What does QWERTY refer to?
A
It refers to a standard ‘full’ keyboard.
24
Q
What is touch typing?
A
It is typing using all your fingers on both hands, without looking down on your keyboard.
25
What are the 2 main categories of computer powered devices?
General purpose computers
Dedicated devices
26
What do general purpose computers all have in common?
They all have an operating system which can run different productivity applications that can perform a variety of tasks.
27
What devices fall into the general-purpose computer category?
Desktop computers
Portable computers
Smartphones
Servers
28
What separate parts does a desktop computer have?
A box (system unit) containing the CPU, memory, hard drive, etc.
Input and output devices such as a monitor, a keyboard end a mouse.
29
What does all in one computers have?
It's box and the screen come as one single unit.
30
What are laptops, notebooks and tablets?
They are portable computers designed to use miniature parts with low power consumption, allowing them to operate on batteries and they come as one unit.
31
Name 2 advantages of laptops, notebooks and tablets and one disadvantage:
The advantages are that you can work anywhere at any time and with your data with you and they run on batteries.
Their disadvantage is that they can be difficult and expensive to upgrade.
32
How did laptops get the name 'laptop'?
Their name was given to them, because it's a portable computer with a full keyboard and flip-up monitor that you can use on your lap.
33
True or false: A notebook is bigger than a laptop.
False, a notebook is smaller than a laptop.
34
What makes a tablet different from a laptop or notebook?
A tablet has a touch or pen sensitive screen and that allows the user to interact directly with the screen.
35
What are smartphones?
Smartphones has their own operating system and can have applications so that they can be more useful, and they also can be used as a camera and video camera, a media player, a web browser, a GPS navigator, an email reader and as a miniature computer.
36
What are servers?
Servers are computers that can provide recourses to other computers and users in a network. They often have more powerful processors, larger memory and plenty of storage.
37
What are dedicated devices?
Dedicated devices are designed to perform just one task, you cannot load different software onto them.
38
Give examples of dedicated devices:
Media players like MP3 players.
Dedicated GPS device
The ABS braking system in your car
ATM machines
Household appliances like a microwave or washing machine.
39
What does ICT stand for?
ICT: Information, Communication and technology
40
What is information?
It is manipulated or processed data.
41
What is communication?
It is the process of transferreing data/info from one place to another.
42
What is technology?
System technologies (hardware or software)
Communication technology (networks and communication devices)
Internet technologies (internet, world wide web and e-communication)
43
What is ICT?
It describes all the hardware and software needed to gather and process data in order to exchange info quickly.
44
Why do we need information?
Information can help us analyse data in order to come to valid conclusions.
45
What is an ICT system's combination?
An ICT system is a combination of hardware, software, data, processes and people.
46
How does an ICT system work?
1. You (or the system) collect data, which is then stored, communicated or processed.
2. Data can be sent for processing as it is collected, or as it is retrieved from storage or communication.
3. The info created by processing is displayed, sent to storage, or communicated further.
47
What does a computer system do?
A computer system takes input, does something to it (processes it) and then produces some kind of output. It also then needs to be stored.
48
What are the components of a cell phone system?
SIM cards, cell phone software, cell phone towers and people.
49
What items and functions are needed to get a cell phone system to work?
Contracts.
Ensuring adequate stock.
Generating finance for expansion and maintenance.
Tracking and billing of call durations, SMSs, data transfers and free talk.
Time, carry-over of free min / sec, and expiry of the same.
Service and repairs of handsets and other infrastructure.
Monitoring the network status.
Maintaining staff records.
50
What is a cell phone system able to do?
It is able to process data, manipulate information and communicate with other people.
51
Where can you find a POS system and what does it help with?
POS (point of sales) systems are usually in supermarkets to speed up the till point.
52
What are the components of a POS system?
Staff, customers, scanners, servers, cables, credit card machines and software.
53
What processes does a POS system have?
Scanning barcodes, calculating total, updating stocks and debiting bank accounts.
54
What are the advantages of a POS system?
- The barcode scanners allow that the bills can be added up faster and easily.
- Scanning also prevents errors that typically occur when typing in prices manually.
- It enables better inventory management by easily removing items scanned from the computerised stock database.
- The sales figures (data) is sent to the head office, so that stock ordering and management decisions can be made efficiently for the whole group.
-A detailed database of sales is built up after time, which can be analysed to determine buying trends.
55
How can ICT be used unethically?
Stealing from each other
- Piracy, copying of CDs and DVDs
- Identity theft
- Theft of data
- Theft of computer time
Spreading false info with a speed and reach never possible before.
Creating malicious software like viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, etc.
56
Why can be easy to do something bad on your computer?
You can't see the things your stealing.
You don't seem to hurt real people.
No one gets hurt physically, and there is no potential for violence.
It is easy to convince yourself that the big companies are just 'ripping you off' and you are just giving them what they deserve.
57
What are the economic reasons for why we use computers and ICTs?
They are more accurate and reliable than people.
They are fast, so they can do more tasks than a human.
They can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
They cost less than people in the long run (salaries have to be paid to people).
They reduce the need for other resources.
58
Explain the steps of the information processing cycle.
Input - The user gives the computer instructions.
Processing - Those instructions then get processed by calculating, sorting, searching, etc.
Communications - The computer can also possibly be connected to other devices and communication can provide input or output.
Storage - Storage saves the processed info and keeps a permanent record of the work.
Output - The computer gives feedback on the instructions it was given, output can include, images, text, sound, etc.
59
What is input?
Input is the data and instructions that are given to a computer.
60
In what forms can instructions be given to a computer?
- A program is a set of instructions which is loaded into memory when you run the program.
- Programs respond to commands given by users.
- A user can also respond to a question 'asked' by a program.
61
What is a keyboard?
It is the most commonly used input device, and it allows you to type data into the program you are using. They can also come in many different forms, some are built into portable devices, and some appear on screen.
62
What does the F1 key do?
It usually opens a help screen for the program you are working in.
63
What do you use the mouse for?
You use it to interact with the graphics on the screen. The computer displays a pointer on the screen to show what you are interacting with.
64
How does a mouse work?
A mouse works by shining a light on the surface it is moved on. Sensors can sense how light is reflected and so detect in which direction and with what speed the mouse is being moved in. The computer can also sense which mouse button is being used.
65
What is a port?
Ports are the sockets on a computer that you use to connect peripherals to your computer. The USB port is common amongst modern devices.
66
What does plug and play refer to?
It refers to a series of technologies where the operating system automatically detects a device that has been plugged into the computer.
67
How do wireless mice and keyboards work?
They use short range radio waves to communicate with the computer. A wirelses adaptor has to be connected to a USB port on the computer to receive signals from the device.
68
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wireless devices?
Advantages:
- There is less clutter as there are no cables.
- You have a wider range of movement.
Disadvantages:
- They require batteries
- They are more expensive than wired devices.
- They can easily be removed, so they are easily stolen.
- Sometimes there can be interference, causing the device to temporarily stop working.
69
How is a monitor's size measured?
The size of a monitor is measured diagonally in inches from one corner to another. 19" monitor is common.
70
What is the resolution of a monitor?
The resolution refers to the number of pixels used to form the screen image. The resolution is measured horizontally and vertically in pixels. A monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution will display rows of 1920 pixels across the screen and 1080 pixels vertically down the screen.
71
What do we need a graphics card for?
We need it so that a image can be generated by the circuitry.
71
What is the response time of a computer?
It is the time it takes the monitor to change a pixel from one colour to another and is measured in milliseconds. A low (fast) response time is needed for high quality graphics and video.
72
How can you connect monitors?
Monitors connect to a computer using the HDMI ( High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt or even USB. Monitors connect to the computer's own power supply by using a special cable supplied with the monitor.
73
What do printers produce?
They produce hard copy which means they produce output on paper.
74
What are the 2 types of printers?
Inkjet printers:
- Spray microscopic dots of ink onto the paper.
- Are relatively cheap.
- Use ink cartridges.
- Are able to produce good quality colour printouts.
- Are generally slower then laser printers.
Laser printers:
- Work like a photo copier machine - uses toner instead of ink.
- Are generally more expensive to buy than inkjet printers.
- Are generally cheaper to run when printing large volumes then inkjet printers.
- Generally print faster than inkjet printers.
75
How is a computer connected to a computer?
It is connected through a USB port and printers that connect to a network can print wirelessly.
76
What is the printer que and how can you access it?
The printer que is where the print tasks are stored temporarily on the hard drive, and where it waits until the printer is ready to print it. You can access the print que when you go to the printer via the Control Panel or by clicking the printer icon in the notification area.
77
Where does a computer keep all of its data and programs?
Storage. Storage has a larger capacity than memory, because it has to keep all of the data.
78
What is the difference between memory and storage?
Storage is permanent unless you choose to delete something, while memory does not keep its contents when the power is switched off and that means that memory is volatile.
79
What is the main storage device of a computer and what else can we use for storage?
The hard drive located inside the computer case or system unit is the man storage. We can use portable media such as portable hard drives, flash drives, CDs, DVDs and cell phones as other storage options.
80
What is the difference between a storage device and a storage medium?
Storage media is the physical material on which we store data and programs. A storage device is the computer hardware that read from and write to storage media.
81
What is the size of a computer's memory and storage measured in?
Bytes, each single character we store takes up space which we refer to bytes.
82
Where is every computer's hard drive located and how does it store data?
Every computer's hard drive is located inside the case which stores data as magnetic patterns on the surface of one or more disks platters. This hard drive is usually referred to as the C: drive.
83
What are flash drives?
They are cheap storage devices that use electronic memory to store their data, they can their power from the USB port they connect to. Flash drives range in size from 1 GB upwards.
84
What health concerns do excessive use of computers lead to?
Poor body posture, repetitive strain injury that result from fast repetitive actions and eyesight problems.
85
What is green computing?
It is a term used to describe using computers in a way that is sensitive to the environment.
85
What does ergonomics mean?
It is the design of the workplace and the equipment used in the workplace for the comfort and safety of people in their workplace.
86
What are some health tips for using computers?
- Use ergonomically designed equipment.
- Sit correctly.
- Make sure the lighting is adequate.
- Make sure the air condition is adequate.
- Make sure the keyboard and mouse are in easy reach.
- Make sure that your monitor is distanced from your eyes.
- Every once in a while, turn away from your screen and try to look out the window.
- Take regular breaks.
87
What is electronic waste?
It is outdated or broken electronic equipment that get dumped, this equipment contains toxic chemicals.
88
How can you practise green computing?
- Switch of computers that you are not using.
- Try to avoid the senseless wasting of paper by proofreading before you print.
- Rather than try to throw old or broken hardware away, see if someone can use it or try to fix or upgrade them.
- Investigate the possibility of refilling ink cartridges.
89
What is software, where is it kept and how does it work?
It is a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Software is kept on a storage device when it is not working. To work software must be loaded from storage into memory so that the CPU can start following instructions.
90
What are the 2 types of software?
Application software: is a group of programs that perform specific tasks for users, e.g. word processing programs, gaming software, etc.
System software: is software that is intended to control, support or operate the computer, e.g. the operating system, anti-virus software, compression software.
91
What does an operating system do?
It controls all the activities that take place on a computer, every computer needs an operating system to function. Examples: Windows 8 and 10, Apple's macOS Sierra and Linux. Operating systems on mobile: iOS, Android and Windows for smartphones.
92
What functions does a operating system have?
- Maintaining all the hardware and software on the computer. The operating system works at a low level, giving the computer instructions on how to do basic tasks.
- Maintaining security.
- Providing user interface. The interface allows us to interact with the computer and the programs.
93
What is the interface and how is it presented?
The interface is the way the content of the screen is arranged and presented to us to use. It is presented to us in a graphical way with small pictures called icons and other visual aids such as menus and buttons.
94
What are 2 things to understand that help you use menus?
- Sometimes further sub-menus (indicated by an arrow pointing to the right) will ask you to make a choice for that particular menu selection.
- Shortcut keys are listed alongside the menu option or in the tooltip, these often make use of the Ctrl key. Keyboard shortcuts are used by a lot of programs, e.g. to copy something and to save a file.
95
How are apps represented on a desktop, and what does it mean when some are live?
Apps are represented by tiles and some of the apps can be live tiles, because they update and change their display information.
96
What are accessories and what do they provide?
They are bundled apps that come with most operating systems, and they provide useful add-on programs for the user.
97
What is a dialog box?
It is a small window that is used for communication between a computer and a user. It usually provides a user with options to complete a task, they can also convey warnings and error messages.
98
What are the different options that the snipping tool provides to capture screenshots?
- The Free-form snip option allows you to draw an area to select a portion of the screen.
- The Rectangular snip option allows you to select a rectangular area on the screen.
- The Window snip option allows you to select and capture an image of a window or dialog box.
- The Full-screen snip option allows you to capture the entire screen when you select this type of snip.
99
Give the different types of programs and what their used for with examples.
Graphics and design - Used to create and manipulate images on the screen, e.g.
Adobe illustrator, Microsoft paint, etc.
Word Processor - Used to create, edit, format and print text-based documents, e.g. Microsoft word.
Spreadsheet - Allow you to perform tasks that are based on calculations, e.g. Microsoft Excel.
Database - Can be used to store data in an organized manner, manipulate the data and process the data into information, e.g. Microsoft Access, OpenOffice base.
Presentation software - Can combine text, sound and graphics into a presentation - usually in the form of an electronic slide show, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint.
Communication software - Allows the user to communicate electronically with other users on a network, e.g. Microsoft Mail and Outlook.
Office Suite - Combines commonly used 'office' software such as word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentation and communication software as an integrated unit, e.g. Microsoft Office 2016.
Desktop Publishing - Allows the user to lay out documents that combine text and graphics professionally to produce publications such as books, magazines, newspapers, etc. Examples, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign.
Games - Allows you to enact roles and have adventures in virtual worlds. Many of them provide interfaces which make use of very realistic 3D graphics and sound effects, e.g. League of Legends, Grand Theft Auto.
Web authoring software - Used in the design and creation of websites, e.g. Adobe Dreamweaver.
Web Browser - Used to access and view web pages on the internet, e.g. Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome.
Plug-in - Plug-ins used to be essential for adding multimedia to web pages, but they were slow and buggy. Plug-ins are still popular as ways to add extra features to graphics software such as Photoshop and 3D software, e.g., Flash, QuickTime.
Financial applications - Used to record and report financial transactions and run accounts systems and budgets, e.g. Microsoft Money Plus Sunset, QuickBooks, Quicken.
100
What are files?
Files are what we use to store our data permanently.
101
What do all operating systems need to see and manage files, and what does it help us so?
All operating systems need a program to see and manage our files, and it helps us to manage our files and to group them together logically.
102
What is each file represented by and in what can we group our files? What should we do when saving a file for the first time?
Files are represented by icons and they can be grouped in folders. A folder can also contain subfolders. When saving a file for the first time you need to select the drive and folder in which it should be stored.
103
What is the arrangement of folders in other folders called?
A hierarchy.
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