COMPUTER SYSTEM Flashcards
A machine that uses electronic components and
instructions to the components to perform calculations
and repetitive and complex procedures, process text, and
manipulate data and signals.
computer
❖ defined as all of the physical
components of a computer
❖ attached to a component called a
motherboard.
❖ includes the physical, tangible parts or components of a computer
computer hardware
❖ Heart of any computer is the motherboard a thin, flat sheet made of a firm
or flexible nonconducting material on which the internal components—
printed circuits, chips, slots, and so on—of the computer are mounted.
motherboard
what is the motherboard made out of?
nonconducting plastic / fiberglass
basic components of the computer
cpu
memory
input devices
output devices
storage media
considered the brain of the
computer. It performs all types of data processing operations, stores data, intermediate results and instructions (program). It controls the operation of all parts of computer
central processing unit - cpu
3 components of cpu
control unit
arithmetic logic unit
memory (ram, rom, cache)
allow computer receive information from the outside world
input devices
allow the computer to report its results to the external world
output devices
4 types of storage media
hard drive
usb flash drive
optical media
cloud storage
- Computational-oriented
computer - Designed for:
✓scientific applications
requiring gigantic
amount of calculations
(at super fast speeds)
✓analysis of scientific &
engineering problems
✓ mathematically
intensive research
applications
supercomputers
- Most common fast, large, and
expensive - Used in large businesses:
hospitals, large healthcare
facilities for processing,
storing, & retrieving data
mainframes
mainframes are used for processing large amount of repetitive calculations involved in:
✓B___
✓P___
✓I___ C___
✓B___ O___ C___
billing
payroll
inventory control
business operation computing
Departments in the hospitals who uses mainframe computers:
✓L___ and R ____
✓D___ department
✓A___ department
✓P___ department
✓C___ S___ department
laboratory and radiology
dietary
admissions
pharmacy
central supply
Machines and software that
process transactions in high volume are known as ___.
transaction processing system
true or false: * Mainframe computers are often
used to support the entire
Hospital Information Technology
(HIT)
true
- Designed to support a single user
- In hospitals, they are used to:
✓Patient classification
✓Nurse staffing
✓Scheduling - Often placed in a rolling cart to:
✓Record nursing notes
✓Ordering tests
✓Treatments
✓Looking up medications
microcomputers
are small, special
function computers, have almost same functionality and processing capabilities as microcomputers but are limited in their
expansion capabilities
handheld computers
a very small special function handheld computer that
provides calendar, contacts, note-taking functions and may provide word processing, spread sheet and other functions.
personal digital assistants
Set of programs, which is designed to perform a welldefined function.
computer software
2 types of computer software
system
application
- Collection of programs designed to operate, control, and
extend the processing capabilities of the computer itself. - Comprise of programs written in low-level languages,
which interact with the hardware at a very basic level.
system software
- Products are designed to satisfy a particular need of a particular environment.
- may consist of a single
program, such as Microsoft’s notepad for writing and editing a simple text. It may also consist of a collection of programs, often called
a software package, which work together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet package.
application software
- Software whose source code is available for modification or
enhancement by anyone. - The ‘source code’ is the part of a software program that most
computer users don’t ever see; it’s the code computer programmers
can manipulate to change how a piece of software.
open source software
- Free software is exactly as the term implies, free of charge; but
that does not necessarily mean the user has a license to access,
change or distribute that software. - Some software has source code that cannot be modified by
anyone but the person, team, or organization who created it,
and maintains exclusive control over it.
free software
other names for free software
proprietary software, close source software
Software Systems used by nurses are based in ___
Hospital Information System (HIS)
There is also a system where physicians document their medical orders called
Computer Physician Order Entry system
