CAT Flashcards
What is hardware?
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer that you can touch, including the monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer case, and peripherals.
What are the main components of the information processing cycle?
The main components are input, processing, output, storage, and communications.
What is input in the context of a computer?
Input is when the computer receives instructions and data from the user, typically through devices like a mouse and keyboard.
What is output in the context of a computer?
Output is the feedback the computer provides after processing, usually in the form of pictures, text, sound, or printed material.
What does the CPU do?
The CPU (central processing unit) is responsible for processing data, performing tasks like calculating, sorting, and searching.
What is the purpose of storage in a computer?
Storage allows for a permanent record of work, receiving output and providing input for the computer. It can be internal (e.g., hard disk) or portable (e.g., flash drive).
How do computers communicate with each other?
Computers linked to other computers can communicate, providing additional input and output.
What is input in computing?
Input is the data and instructions given to a computer. Providing input is the first step of getting a computer to do anything.
How do computers operate?
Computers operate under the control of instructions, which can be given in the form of programs, commands, and user responses.
What is a program?
A program is a set of instructions loaded into memory when you run it.
How do programs respond to user commands?
Programs respond to commands given by users, for example, when you click on the Font Size command in Word.
What happens when a program asks a user a question?
A user can respond to a question asked by a program, influencing what happens next, such as saving a document in Word.
Why do computers need data?
Computers need data because without it, there is nothing to process.
What types of data can computers work with?
Computers can work with various types of data, including text, numbers, graphics, audio, and video.
What are common hardware devices for input?
Common hardware devices for input include the keyboard, mouse, touch screen, and touchpad.
What is the most commonly used input device?
The keyboard is the most commonly used input device, allowing users to type data into programs.
What are some special keys on the keyboard?
Some special keys include F1 (opens help), Esc (cancels choices), and Print Screen (captures the screen).
What does the Print Screen key do?
The Print Screen key activates the print screen function, capturing everything displayed on the screen as an image.
What is the clipboard?
The clipboard is an area in memory where copied text and objects are temporarily stored until pasted or the program is closed.
How does the clipboard work?
The clipboard can only hold one item at a time; each time you copy or cut an object, it replaces whatever was last stored.
What does the Windows key + E do?
It opens Windows/File Explorer.
What does the Windows key + D do?
It takes you to the desktop.
What is a pointing device?
A pointing device is any kind of input device used to move a pointer around the screen.
What is the most common pointing device used with desktop computers?
The mouse.
How does a mouse work?
A mouse works by shining a light onto the surface it is moved on, and sensors detect the reflected light to determine movement.
What are the main components of a mouse?
It normally has two buttons and sometimes a scroll wheel.
What does a mouse click do?
Used to select an option or an object such as a file or folder.
What does a double-click do?
Used to start a program or open a file or folder.
What does a right-click do?
Usually opens a pop-up menu with options relevant to the object that was right-clicked.
What does dragging an object do?
Used to select and drag an object from one location to another.
What does scrolling with a mouse wheel allow you to do?
Allows you to scroll in lists, long documents, or web pages without moving the mouse to the scrollbar.
How can keyboard and mouse combinations enhance functionality?
Pressing and holding keys like Shift, Alt, and Ctrl can change the meaning of a mouse click.
What should you do if a single click does not work?
Try double-clicking.
When should you right-click on an object?
When you want a menu of options that work only with the object you are clicking on.
What are ports?
Ports are the sockets on a computer that you use to connect peripherals to your computer.
What is the most commonly used port for modern devices?
The most commonly used port for almost all modern devices is the USB port.
What is a USB hub?
A USB hub provides extra USB ports.
What does plug-and-play mean?
Plug-and-play refers to technologies where the operating system automatically detects and configures a device that has been plugged into the computer.
Do USB ports use plug-and-play?
Yes, USB ports use plug-and-play.
How do wireless mice and keyboards connect to a computer?
Wireless mice and keyboards use short-range radio waves (usually Bluetooth) to communicate with the computer.
What is required for a wireless device to send a signal?
Wireless devices need power in order to send a signal, so they have to contain a battery.
What are the advantages of wireless devices?
Advantages include less clutter due to no cables and a wider range of movement.
What are the disadvantages of wireless devices?
Disadvantages include the need for batteries, higher cost, ease of theft, and potential interference with the wireless signal.
What is output in computing?
Output is whatever the computer produces to provide us with the results of its processing, such as text, graphics, audio, or video.
What are some examples of output devices?
Users can view output on screens, print it out, or hear it through earphones, headphones, or speakers.
What is hard copy?
Hard copy refers to printouts on paper.
What is soft copy?
Soft copy refers to the visual output on our computer screens.
What is the most commonly used output device from a computer?
The monitor (screen/display) is the device most commonly used to obtain output from the computer.
What types of monitors are modern desktop monitors called?
Modern desktop monitors are called LCD / LED monitors.
What is the most common output from a monitor?
The most common output is text and graphics on a screen, and sound from a speaker.
What is a common size for monitors?
A common size is a 19” monitor.
What is a wide screen monitor?
Wide screens are much wider than they are tall and are the same as high-definition TV screens.
Why is the wide screen format useful?
The wide screen format is useful for viewing documents side-by-side and for watching movies.
How is the size of a monitor measured?
The size of a monitor is measured diagonally in inches, from one corner to the other.
What does monitor resolution refer to?
Resolution refers to the number of pixels used to form the screen image.
How is resolution measured?
Resolution is measured horizontally and vertically in pixels.
What does a resolution of 1920 X 1080 mean?
A resolution of 1920 X 1080 will display rows of 1920 pixels across the screen and 1080 pixels vertically down the screen.
What is recommended for monitor resolution?
LCD / LED monitors have a recommended resolution based on the size of the screen, and it is recommended that you do not change it.
What determines the size and quality of the image displayed?
The size and quality of the image displayed is partially determined by the monitor used and also by the graphics card.
What are other terms used for graphics card?
Other terms include video card, graphics adapter, display card, and display adapter.
What do cheaper computers typically use for graphics?
Cheaper computers use built-in graphics circuitry and some of the computer’s memory to hold the images generated for the display.
Why is built-in graphics not ideal?
It leaves less memory for other programs and data.
What is recommended for graphics intensive tasks?
It is better to use a separate, high-end graphics card in your computer.
What is response time in monitors?
The response time of a monitor is the time it takes to change a pixel from one colour to another and is measured in milliseconds.
Why is low response time important?
A low (fast) response time is needed for high quality graphics and video to prevent images from blurring or lagging.
What are common connection types for monitors today?
Monitors can connect via HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or USB.
How do monitors receive power?
Monitors usually connect to the computer’s power supply or can be plugged directly into the mains using a power cable.
What does ‘hard copy’ mean?
Hard copy refers to output produced on paper.
What are the two most common types of printers?
The two most common types of printers are inkjet and laser printers.
What are the characteristics of inkjet printers?
Inkjet printers spray microscopic dots of ink onto paper, are relatively cheap to buy, and produce good quality colour printouts.
What are the characteristics of laser printers?
Laser printers work like photocopiers using toner, are generally more expensive to buy, but cheaper to run when printing large volumes.
What should you consider before buying a printer?
Know what you plan to do with your printer to ensure you get the right type.
Do laptops allow for graphics card upgrades?
Most laptops cannot upgrade their graphics card.
Do most users need powerful graphics cards?
Most users do not need powerful and expensive graphics cards unless they plan to use the computer for graphics intensive tasks.
How is a printer generally connected to a computer?
A printer is generally connected to a computer via a USB port. Because USB ports are plug-and-play, the printer is usually configured automatically once you plug it in.
Can you use a network printer?
Yes, if you are working on a network, you can use a printer that is not directly connected to your computer.
What is required for a printer to connect to a network wirelessly?
Some printers have a built-in WiFi adapter so they can connect to the network without a cable.
How can you change the default printer?
Go to the Control Panel or Settings via the Start menu, locate the Printer option, right-click on the applicable printer icon, and choose the Set as default printer option.
What indicates the current default printer?
A ‘tick’ displayed on a printer icon indicates the current default printer.
What happens when you send a print task to the printer?
When you send a print task to the printer, it is temporarily stored on the hard drive where it waits until the printer is ready to print it.
How can you access the printer queue?
To access the printer queue, go to the printer via the Control Panel / Settings, or by clicking the printer icon in the notification area.
What can you do with a print task in the queue?
You can right-click on the print task and then cancel, pause, or restart the printing.
How quickly do most modern printers process print tasks?
Most modern printers can print fairly quickly, so most print tasks do not stay in the printer queue for long.
What is storage in a computer?
Storage is the place where a computer keeps its data and programs. It has a much larger capacity than memory and retains data permanently unless deleted.
How does storage differ from memory?
Storage is non-volatile and keeps its contents at all times, while memory (RAM) is volatile and loses its contents when the power is off.
What is the main storage device in a computer?
The main storage device is the hard drive located inside the computer case.
What are examples of portable storage media?
Examples include portable hard drives, flash drives, CDs, DVDs, cell phones, and iPods.
What is the difference between storage device and storage medium?
Storage media are the physical materials on which data is stored, while storage devices are the hardware that read from and write to these media.
What is a byte?
A byte is the space taken up by a single character, such as ‘4’, ‘A’, or ‘%’.
How are storage sizes commonly measured?
Sizes are measured in bytes and commonly in multiples of 1024:
- A kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes
- A megabyte (MB) is 1024 KB
- A gigabyte (GB) is 1024 MB
- A terabyte (TB) is 1024 GB
What is the function of a hard drive?
A hard drive stores data as magnetic patterns on the surface of disks and is typically referred to as the C: drive.
What is the storage capacity of hard drives measured in?
The storage capacity of hard drives is measured in Gigabytes (GB) and Terabytes (TB).
What types of data are stored on a hard drive?
Programs like Windows and Word, as well as user data such as documents, are stored on the hard drive.
Why is hard drive size important?
The size of the hard drive impacts the usefulness of the computer, especially with large collections of digital material.
