Chapter 1 Intro to the world of computers Flashcards
Computer literacy
The knowledge and understanding of basic computer fundamentals
microcomputers
inexpensive personal computer
computer
a programmable electronic device that accepts data input, performs processing operations on that data and outputs and stores results
hardware
the physical part of a computer system such as the keyboard, monitor, printer etc
internet
the largest and most well known computer network linking millions of computers all over the world
netbook
a very small notebook computer
processing
performing operations on data that has been input into a computer to convert input to output
software
the instructions, also called computer programs, that are used to tell a computer what it should do
storage
the operation of saving data, programs or output for future use
supercomputer
the fastest most expensive and most powerful computer
URL
Uniform Resource Locator
An internet address, usually beginning with http://, that uniquely identifies a web page
Web site
A collection of related web pages usually belonging to an organization or individual
wireless networking
allows the use of computers in virtually any location and both online and offline content to be sent wirelessly from one device to another.
Wireless hotspots
internet connections that allow people to connect to the www
authentication systems
allows only authorized individuals to enter office building, or access to the company network via access card or finger or hand scan
consumer kiosks
consumers access small self service computer based stations that provide information or other services to the public including those used for ATM transactions, bridal registries, ticketing systems
Self check out systems
mini computers that allow consumers to pay for their goods without a sales clerk
input
the process of entering data into a computer, can also refer to the data itself
output
the process of presenting the results of processing, can also refer to the results themselves.
Communications
the transmission of data from one device to another
Data
raw , unorganized facts
Information
Data that has been processed into a meaningful form
IPOS Cycle
the information processing cycle
The progression of input, processing, output and storage
Examples of early computers
Before 1946
slide rule, punch card tabulating machines
First Generation Computers
1946-1957
enormous computers utilizing vacuum tubes
Could only solve one problem at a time
egs ENIAC and UNIVAC
Second Generation computers
1958-1963
used transistors (small devices made of semiconductor material that acts like a switch to open or close electronic circuits.
Programming languages were Fortran and cobol
Third Generation computers
1964 to 1970
transistor replaced by integrated circuits which incorporate many transistors and electronic circuits on a single tiny silicon chip
Fourth Generation computers
1971 to present
increase in amt of transistors on a single chip…leading to invention of microprocessor
IBM PC and Apple Macintosh computers
Transistor
small device made of semiconductor material that acts like a switch to open or close electronic circuits
Input devices (egs)
egs keyboard, mouse, microphone, digital pens, digital camera, touch pad and touch screens
Processing devices (egs)
CPU or central processing device
CPU
Central processing device
considered the brain of the computer
it performs the calculations and comparisons needed for processing and controls the computers operations.
Output devices (egs)
accepts processed data from the computer and presents the results to the user
egs are monitors, printer, speaker, headphones data projectors
Storage devices
CD DVD drives, flash memory card readers are used to access data from storage media
hard drives and usb flaw drives includes both a storage device and storage medium in a single piece of hardware.
Used to save data, program settings,, or output for future use; they can be installed to a computer, attached tot he computer as an external drive or accessed remotely thru a network or wireless connection.
Communication Devices
allow users to communicate electronically with others
hardware include modems, network adapters and routers
modem
used to connect a computer to the internet
network adapters
connects an computer to a computer network
Routers
used to create a small network so a variety of devices can share and internet connection and data
Software
the programs that allow a computer to operate i.e. the instructions that are used to tell a computer what it should do
Operating system
the main component of the system software that enables a computer to operate, manage its activities and resources under its control, run application programs and interface with the user.
Boot
To start up a computer
Windows desktop
the background work area displaced on the screen for computers running Microsoft Windows
Application software
programs that enable users to perform specific tasks on a computer such as writing letters or playing games
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language
computer language used for developing webpages
JavaScript
scripting languages are used to create interactive web pages
Programmers
are computer professionals who write the programs for computer use.
computer users or end users
are the people who used computers to perform tasks or obtain information
systems analysts
are people who design computer systems to be used within their companies
Computer operations personel
are people who are responsible for day to day computer operations at a company such as maintaining systems or troubleshooting user related problems.
Security specialist
are people responsible for securing the company computers and networks against hackers and other intruders
embedded computers
tiny commuters embedded into products to perform specific functions or tasks for that product
mobile device
mobile phones, small tablets,and other small personal devices that contain built in computing or internet capabilities
personal computers
fully functioning portable or desktop computers that are designed to be used by a single individual at a time
Midrange servers
computers that host data and programs available to a small group of users
Mainframe Computers
powerful computers used to host a large amount of data and programs available to a wide group of users (used in hospitals, large businesses etc
Supercomputers
extremely powerful computers used for complex computations and processing
portable computers
a small personal computer such as a notebook, tablet or netbook that is designed to be carried around easily
Notebook computer
fully functioning portable computer that opens to reveal a screen and keyboard aka a laptop computer
Tablet computers
typically notebook sized computers that are designed to be used with digital pens or touch input.
Thin clients
a personal computer designed to access a network for processing and data storage instead of performing those tasks locally (aka network computer)
Internet appliance
a specialized network computer designed primarily for internet access and or email exchange
Virtualization
creating virtual rather than actual versions of a computing resource such as several separate environments that a located on a single server but act like different servers
ISP
Internet Service Provider
a company that provides internet access, usually for a fee
supercomputing cluster
a group of numerous smaller computers connected together to act as a single supercomputer
Computer network
a collection of computers and other hardware devices that are connected together to share hardware, software and data as well as to communicate electronically with one another.
www
world wide web
the collection of webpages available through the internet
Webpage
a document typically containing hyperlinks to other documents located on a web server and available through the world wide web.
IP address
a numeric internet address used to uniquely identify a computer on the internet
Domain name
a text based internet address used to uniquely identify a computer on the internet
username
a name that uniquely identifies a user on a specific computer network
email address
and internet address consisting of a username and computer domain name that uniquely identifies a person on the internet
hyperlinks
graphics or text linked to other web pages
SMS
short message service
MMS
multimedia message service
