ICT Systems Flashcards
Analogue
Continuous data, eg the second hand on an analogue watch displays each second and the space in between.
Broadband
A high-speed internet connection.
Cable
A data communications technology that provides broadband internet speeds over the cable television infrastructure.
Data
Values, typically letters or numbers.
Digital
Information stored as discrete values usually represented as numbers. This contrasts with analogue data which is represented by continuous data, usually in waves.
Digital Broadcasting
Broadcasting using digital data. A greater number of channels can be offered as well as interactive services, eg the red button.
DVD
A plastic, circular disc used to store up to 8.5 GB of music, video or data. DVDs are optical storage media, similar to CDs and Blu-ray discs.
Hardware
The physical parts of a computer system, eg a graphics card, hard disk drive, CD drive, etc.
Information
Data that has meaning, not just a number or a letter.
Input
Entries or changes which are inserted into a system and which activate/modify a process.
Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers.
Internet Connection
A connection to the internet by a computer or another internet-enabled device.
Media
A collective name for images, video and audio.
Output
Either an exit or changes which exit a system and which activate or modify a process.
Sensor
A device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal to be read and interpreted.
Web Browser
An application that displays web pages.
data capture form
A method for collecting data.
Program
Sequences of instructions for a computer.
Screen Shots
Taking a screen shot of what’s displayed on screen and saving it in an image file, eg as a *.jpg, *.bmp or *.gif.
Software
The programs, applications and data in a computer system. Any parts of a computer system that aren’t physical.
User Documentation
Documents containing all the information a user needs to know about using and getting support with a piece of software or hardware.
User Guide
A step-by-step guide to using a piece of software including instructions, example scenarios and screenshots.
Application
A software program that allows a user to perform a specific task.
Benchmark
A measurement of performance, there are software and hardware benchmarks.
Crash
When an application or operating system no longer responds. Crashes can be caused by software and hardware.
Input Device
A device used to input data or information into a computer, eg a keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone etc.
Linux
An operating system, similar to Windows or Mac OS. Linux is free and open-source, meaning anyone can improve it and share their improvements.
Operating System
The software that manages the hardware and software resources in a computer system.
Output Device
A device used to output data or information from a computer, eg a monitor, printer or speakers.
Spreadsheet
A piece of software used to manipulate data, often used in modelling.
User Interface
The means by which a user interacts with a computer or device.
Web
The complete set of webpages and documents held on all internet severs. Also known as the world wide web.
Word Processor
An application used to write, edit and format text.
