Chapter 3 & 4 Flashcards
central processing unit (CPU)
Part of the computer that consists:
- arithmetic/logic unit
- control unit
- register areas
arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
The part of the CPU that performs mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons
control unit
The part of the CPU that sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in and out of the ALU, the registers, the primary/secondary storage and various output devices.
Register
A high-speed storage area in the CPU used to temporarily hold small units of program instructions and data immediately before, during, and after execution by the CPU
Primary storage (main memory; memory)
The part of the computer that holds program instructions and data
Instruction time (I-time)
The time it takes to perform the fetch instruction and decode instruction steps of the instruction phase
Execution time (E-time)
The time it takes to execute an instruction and store the results
Machine cycle
The instruction phase followed by the execution phase
Pipelining
A form of CPU operation in which multiple execution phases are performed in a single machine cycle
MIPS
Millions of instructions per second, a measure of machine cycle time
Clock speed
A series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time
Megahertz (MHz)
Millions of cycles per second, a measure of clock speed
Gigahertz (GHz)
Billions of cycles per second, a measure of clock speed
Moore’s law
A hypothesis stating that transistor densities on a single chip will double every two years
Byte (B)
Eight bits that together represent a single character of data
Random access memory (RAM)
A form of memory in which instructions or data can be temporarily stored
Read-only memory (ROM)
A nonvolatile form of memory
Cache memory
A type of memory speed that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory
Multiprocessing
The simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time
Coprocessor
The part of the computer that speeds processing by executing specific types of instructions while the CPU works on another processing activity
Multicore microprocessor
A microprocessor that combines two or more independent processors into a single computer so that they share the workload and improve processing capacity
Parallel computing
The simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors to obtain the results faster
Massively parallel processing systems
A form of multiprocessing that speeds processing by linking hundreds or thousands of processors to operate at the same time or in parallel with each processor having its own bus, memory, disks, copy of the operating system, and applications
grid computing
The use of a collection of computers often owned by multiple individuals or organizations to work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem
Secondary storage
Devices that store large amounts of data, instructions, and information more permanently than allowed with main memory
Sequential access
A retrieval method in which data must be accessed in the order in which it is stored
Direct access
A retrieval method in which data can be retrieved without the need to read and discard their data
Sequential access storage device (SASD)
A device used to sequentially access secondary storage data
Direct access storage device (DASD)
A device used for direct access of secondary storage data
Magnetic tape
A type of sequential secondary storage medium
Magnetic disk
A direct access storage device with bits represented by magnetized areas
Redundant array of independent/ inexpensive disks (RAID)
A method of storing data that generates extra bits of data from existing data, allowing the system to create a “reconstruction map” so that if a hard drive fails, this is send can rebuild lost data
disk mirroring
A process of storing data that provides an exact copy that protects users fully in the event of data loss
virtual tape
A storage device for less frequently needed data so that it appears to be stored entirely on tape cartridges
optical storage device
A form of data storage that uses lasers to read and write data
compact disc read-only (CD-ROM)
A common form of optical disc on which data cannot be modified once it has been recorded
digital video disc (DVD)
A storage medium used to store software, video games, and movies
network-attached storage (NAS)
Hard disk storage that is set up with its own network address rather than being attached to a computer
storage area network (SAN)
A special-purpose, high-speed network that provides high-speed connections among data storage devices and computers over a network
policy-based storage management
Automation of storage using previously defined policies
storage as a service
Storage as a service is a data storage model where a data storage service provider rents space to individuals and organizations
data entry
Converting human readable data into a machine-readable form
data input
Transferring machine-readable data into the system
source data automation
Capturing and editing data where it is initially created and in a form that can be directly entered into a computer
speech recognition technology
Input devices that recognize human speech
digital camera
An input device used with a PC to record and store images and video in digital form
magnetic stripe card
A type of card that stores a limited amount of data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based particles contained in a band on the card
chip-and-PIN card
A type of card that employs a computer chip that communicates with a card reader using radio frequencies
contactless card
A card with an embedded chip that only needs to be held close to a terminal to transfer its data
point-of-sale (POS) device
A terminal used to enter data into the computer system
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
A technology that employs a microchip with an antenna to broadcast its unique identifier and location to receivers
pixel
A dot of color on a photo image or a point of light on a display screen
plasma display
A type of display using thousands of smart cells (pixels) consisting of electrodes and neon and xenon gases that are electrically turned into plasma to emit light
LCD display
Flat display that uses liquid crystals
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display
Flat display that uses a layer of organic material sandwiched between two conductors which in turn are sandwiched between a glass top plate and a glass bottom plate so that when electric current is applied to the two conductors, a bright, electroluminescent light is produced directly from the organic material
digital audio player
A device that can store, organize, and play digital music files
MP3
A standard format for compressing a sound sequence into a small file
portable computer
A computer small enough to carry easily
handheld computer
A single use computer that provides ease of portability because of its small size
smartphone
A handheld computer that combines the functionality of a mobile phone, camera, web browser, e-mail tool, MP3 player, and other devices into a single device
laptop computer
A personal computer designed for use by mobile users, being small and light enough enough to sit comfortable on a user’s lap
notebook computer
Smaller than a laptop computer, an extremely light-weght computer that weighs less than 4lbs and can easily fit in a briefcase.
netbook computer
A small, light, inexpensive member of the laptop computer family
tablet computer
A portable, light, weight computer with no keyboard that allows you to roam the office, home, or factory floor carrying the device like a clipboard
thin client
A low-cost centrally managed computer with essential but limited capabilities and no extra drives
desktop computer
A nonportable computer that fits on a desktop and that provides sufficient computing power, memory, and storage.
nettop computer
An inexpensive desktop computer designed to be a smaller, lighter, and consume much less power than a traditional desktop computer
workstation
A more powerful personal computer used for mathematical computing, computer-assisted design, and other high-end processing but still small enough to fit on a desktop
server
A computer employed by many users to perform a specific task such as running network, or internet applications
scalability
The ability to increase the processing capability of a computer system so that it can handle more users, more data, or more transactions in a given period
blade server
A server that houses many individual computer motherboards
mainframe computer
A large, powerful computer often shared by hundreds of concurrent users connected to the machine over a network
supercomputers
The most powerful computer systems with the fastest processing speeds
graphics processing unit (GPU)
A specialized circuit that is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and is much faster than the typical CPU chip at performing floating point operations and executing algorithms for which processing of large blocks of data is done in parallel
green computing
A program concerned with the efficient and environmentally responsible design, manufacture, operation, and disposal of IS-related products
computer programs
Sequences of instructions for the computer
documentation
Text that describes a program’s functions to help the user to operate the computer system
personal sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that serves the needs of an individual user
personal productivity software
The software that enables users to improve their personal effectiveness, increasing the amount of work and quality of work they can do
workgroup
Two or more people who work together to achieve a common goal
workgroup sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that helps workgroup members attain their common goals
enterprise sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that serves the that needs of the firm in its interaction with its environment
operating system (OS)
A set of computer programs that controls the computer hardware and acts as an interface with applications
kernel
The heart of the operating system and controls its most critical processes
user interface
The element of the operating system that allows people to access and interact with the computer system
command-based user interface
A user interface that requires you to give text commands to the computer to perform basic activities
graphical user interface (GUI)
An interface that displays pictures (icons) and menus that people use to send commands to the computer system
application program interface (API)
Tools software developers use to build application software without needed to understand the inner workings of the OS and hardware.
utility program
Program that helps to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system
middleware
Software that allows various systems to communicate and exchange data
service-oriented architecture (SOA)
A modular method of developing software and systems that allows users to interact with systems and systems to interact with each other
proprietary software
One-of-a-kind software designed for a specific application and owned by the company, organization, or person that uses it.
Off-the-shelf software
Software mass produced by software vendors to address needs that are common across businesses, organizations, or individuals
application service provider (ASP)
A company that provides the software, support, and computer hardware on which to run the software from the user’s facilities over a network
Software as a Service (SaaS)
A service that allows businesses to subscribe to web-delivered application software
software suit
A collection of single programs packaged together in a bundle
workgroup application software
Software that supports teamwork, whether team members are in the same location or dispersed around the world
programming languages
Sets of keywords, commands, symbols, and rules for constructing statements by which humans can communicate instructions to a computer
compiler
A special software program that converts the programmer’s source code into the machine-language instructions, which consists of binary digits
single user license
A software license that permits you to install the software on one or more computers, used by one person
open source software
Software that is distributed, typically for free, with the source code also available so that it can be studied, changed, and improved by its users
