Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 1

Computer (definition)

Answer 1

Is an electronic device that can perform calculations

Question 2

Hardware

Answer 2

Is the physical stuff that you can touch or hold in your hand

Question 3

Operating system (OS)

Answer 3

Controls the hardware and enables you to tell the computer what to do

Question 4

Graphical user interface

Answer 4

The UI that offers images or icons to select (as opposed to making you type commands)

Question 5

Applications

Answer 5

(Or programs) enable you to do specialized tasks on a computer, such as
- type a letter
- send a message from your computer in Houston to your friend’s computer in Paris etc.

Question 6

Computing process (the most basic)
Hint: 3 stages

Answer 6

• input
• processing
• output

Question 7

Input

Answer 7

Clicking the mouse, typing on the keyboard, or touching the touch screen.

Question 8

Processing

Answer 8

The parts inside the device or case take over at that point as the operating system tells the hardware to do what you’ve requested

Question 9

Central processing unit (CPU)

Answer 9

This is at the heart of every computing device. Usually a single, thin wafer of silicon and tiny transistors. The CPU handles the majority of the processing tasks and is, in a way, the “brain” of the computer.

Question 10

Output

Answer 10

Once the computer has processed your request, it shows you the results by changing what you see on the display or playing a sound through the speakers.

Question 11

Data storage

Answer 11

Means saving a permanent copy of your work so that you can come back to it later

Question 12

Network connection

Answer 12

Often describes how one computer connects to one or more other computers

Question 13

Ports

Answer 13

Connector points on the back on the pc. Some ports connect to output devices such as monitors. Other ports are exclusively used for input devices. USB handle input and output

Question 14

Software

Answer 14

Any premade set of binary instructions that a CPU can read and react to is software. All applications are software. Any operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or apples iOS running on your iPhone are also software.

Question 15

User interface (UI)

Answer 15

The software parts from which you can interact.

A visual representation of the computer on the monitor that makes sense to the people using the computer.

Question 16

Compatibility concerns between OSs

Answer 16

Formats vary so widely that you can’t just install any program on any OS. Programmers do extra work to build separate versions of a program that can run on more than one OS.

Question 17

Compatibility concern 2

Answer 17

Is whether a specific OS can communicate with a given piece of hardware.

Question 18

File extension

Answer 18

.xlsx hidden by default , that tells the OS which application to use with the file.

Question 19

file association

Answer 19

Pairing of application with file extensions

Question 20

File explorer options

Answer 20

ComptTIA’s term for folder options is file explorer — enables you to make changes in default behavior with the tool. —- to get to folder options in windows 11, in the toolbar, click the three horizontal dots next to the view menu options and select options. In windows 10, select the view tab and click options.

Question 21

C:\Program Files

Answer 21

Most programs install some or all of their essential files into a sub folder of the program files folder.

Question 22

C:\Program Files (x86)

Answer 22

The 64 bit editions of windows create two directory structures for program files.

The 64 bit applications go into the C:\Program Files folder, whereas the 32-bit applications go into the C:\Program Files (x86)

The separation make it easy to find the proper version of whatever application you seek.

Question 23

Spaces

Answer 23

Term Apple uses for multiple desktops in MacOS