Information Technology Flashcards
what is health?
Health can be defined as the state of being free from illness
what is safety?
Safety is the state of being free from harm, danger or risk
why do we need computer lab rules?
To ensure the health and safety of individuals in the lab, it is crucial to establish and enforce computer lab rules.
how to avoid a fire outbreak in a computer lab
avoiding water near electrical devices and not overloading outlets are crucial
how to avoid electrical shocks and fires
avoiding water near electrical devices and not overloading outlets are crucial
what to do to ensure proper ergonomics?
Lab rules can stipulate proper workstation setup including monitor height, chair ergonomics, and regular breaks to reduce health risks
how to ensure data is not compromised
Rules regarding data security, password protection, and proper logoff procedures ensure that data is not compromised
how to prevent the spread of illness
Rules regarding personal hygiene, such as hand washing and the use of sanitizers, can reduce the risk of illness transmission
how to control noise in a computer lab
Establishing rules for acceptable noise levels and the use of headphones can create a more conducive environment for work and study
how to prevent accidents in a computer lab
Keep walkways clear, securing loose cables, and using equipment responsibly can prevent accidents
what are the general rules of a computer lab?
- No food or beverages
- No open flames or smoking
- Proper cable management
- Use of power strips
- Ergonomic Workstation setup
- Regular breaks
- Data Security
- Hand Hygiene
- Noise control
- Clear Walkways
what are the steps to connecting peripherals?
- power off system
- Check compatibility
- use the correct ports
- connect cables firmly
- power on
- install drivers if necessary
What are the steps to disconnecting peripherals?
- Safely eject before disconnecting
- power off devices
- disconnect in the right order
- store properly
What are the steps for proper maintenance of computer equipment?
- turn off before moving
- keep food and liquid away
- regular dusting
- proper ventilation
- use surge protectors
- cable management
- avoid overheating
- update software and devices
- handle components with care
- backup data regularly
explain the main purpose of the CPU
the CPU interprets, processes, and executes instructions
what are the two main components of the CPU?
the two main components of the CPU are the ALU and CU
what are the functions of the CU?
The functions of the CU are:
.Fetching instructions and data from the main memory
.Decoding instructions fetched from main memory
.Directs and coordinates the operations of the ALU
what are the functions of the ALU?
.performs arithmetic operations eg. division, multiplication, addition and subtraction.
.performs comparison operations eg. checks where one data is bigger, smaller of equal to the other.
what are the two main categories of computer components?
the two main categories are:
.computer hardware
computer software
list three facts about computer hardware
- the four main components of computer hardware can be represented using the IPOS cycle.
- the IPOS cycle is a fundamental concept in computer systems
- it represents the sequential flow of data and instructions within a computer.
what happens in the IPOS cycle?
- In this cycle, data and commands are first entered into the computer through input devices such as keyboards or mice
- The CPU then processes this input, executing instructions and performing calculations.
- next, the processed data is sent to output devices, like monitors or printers, to be
presented to the user. - together, data may be stored in various forms of memory and storage devices to ensure it can be accessed and utilized when needed
- this continuous cycle of input, processing, output, and storage forms the core operational pattern of all modern computer systems
What is the CPU referred to as in devices like personal computers, gaming devices and mobile devices and why
It is referred to as the microprocessor due to its miniature size
what is storage?
storage refers to keeping data or information for future use
what can data be?
data can be temporary (volatile) or permanent (non-volatile)
what are the categories of storage?
the categories of storage are primary storage and secondary storage.
what is primary storage?
main storage used by the CPU for data access
what is secondary storage?
long term storage for data and files not actively used
which category of storage is faster?
primary storage
what is RAM
temporary storage used for data that is actively being used or processed by the CPU
what are the characteristics of RAM?
the characteristics are:
.RAM is volatile, meaning it loses power when turned off
.Fast access speed
what is ROM?
Non-volatile storage that permanently holds data, typically firmware or software that is not intended to be modified frequently.
what are the characteristics of ROM?
.Non-volatile: Retains data without power.
.It is slower than RAM but faster than secondary storage.
what are examples of primary storage?
1.RAM (random access memory)
2. ROM (read-only memory)
*PROM (programmable read-only memory)
*EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory)
*EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory)
what is PROM?
A type of ROM that can be programmed once after manufacturing.
what is a characteristic of PROM?
Once data is written, it cannot be changed.
what is EPROM?
A type of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed using UV light.
what is the characteristic of EPROM?
A type of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed using UV light.
what is EEPROM
A type of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed using electrical signals.
what is the characteristic of EEPROM?
A type of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed using electrical signals.
what are the main categories of secondary storage?
*Optical Storage
*Flash Memory Storage *Magnetic Storage
what is optical storage used for?
*Optical storage uses light (like a laser) to read and write data. The data is stored on the surface of a disc, and the computer or player uses a laser to “see” the data.
*Optical storage is mainly used for storing music, movies, and software.
what are examples of optical storage?
*CDs (Compact Discs): Hold up to 700 MB of data, like music albums or small programs.
*DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs): Can hold more data than a CD, usually up to 4.7 GB, and are used for movies or larger software.
*Blu-ray Discs: Hold even more data (up to 50 GB) and are mainly used for high-definition movies.
what is flash memory used for?
*Flash storage uses special chips to store data, requiring electricity to work.
*Unlike other types of storage, flash storage has no moving parts, which makes it fast, durable, and more portable.
*It is used in devices like smartphones, laptops, and cameras
examples of flash memory storage
*USB Flash Drives: Small and portable storage devices that connect to your computer’s USB port. They can store data from a few GBs to several TBs.
*Solid-State Drives (SSDs): Found in many modern computers and laptops. SSDs are faster and more durable than traditional hard drives (HDDs) and use flash memory.
*Memory Cards (SD Cards): Used in devices like cameras and smartphones to store photos, videos, and apps. They can hold anywhere from a few GBs to several TBs of data.
what are some characteristics of magnetic storage?
*Magnetic storage uses magnets to store data on a rotating disk or tape.
*It has been around for a long time and can store large amounts of data, but it’s slower than flash storage.
*Magnetic storage also has moving parts, so over time, they can wear out.
what are examples of magnetic storage?
*Hard Disk Drives (HDDs): These are commonly used in desktop computers and laptops. They store data on spinning disks and can hold large amounts of data, from 500 GB to several TBs.
*Magnetic Tapes: Often used for backups, especially in businesses. Magnetic tapes can store huge amounts of data, but they are slower to access than other types of storage.
*Floppy Disks: An older type of storage that could hold only about 1.44 MB of data. These were used in the 1990s but have been replaced by newer technologies.
what is software?
software is a set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and execute different programs
what are the two main categories of software?
the two main categories of software are:
a. Application software
b. System software
what is application software?
These are programs developed to perform specific tasks or solve a particular problem for end users, but are not essential for the computer to work.
what are the types of application software?
a. Special purpose software
b. General purpose software
what is special purpose software?
designed for specific tasks or industries. It does not have much use beyond those tasks. Eg, Playlife
what is general purpose software
also known as ‘off the shelf’ software. These softwares are flexible and can be used for a variety of different tasks, as they were not written for any specific business or organization. eg, word
what are the sources of application software?
- Off the shelf - purchasing packaged software from a computer store or buying online.
- Custom-written software, also known as tailor-made software, refers to developing software from scratch. This software is written to meet a company’s specific needs. This may be necessary because there are no commercial applications available. Custom-written software is very expensive.
3.Customized software: using features in the software to personalise or modify the software that already exists. For example, creating a set of template documents that include the company name, logo and colours in a word processing program. In other words, this is generalized software that has been modified to meet the needs of a specific person or organization. Eg. (buying a pants and altering it at a tailor)
4.SaaS: using ‘software as a service’ as provided by online companies, for example, Google Docs and Word Online.
what are some examples of application software?
- Word
- Playlife
- Excel
- Outlook
- Powerpoint
- Access
what is system software?
A type of computer program that is designed to run a computer’s hardware and application programs.
what are the types of system software?
*translators
*utilities
*operating system
what are translators?
These are translation programs that convert code into a programming language the computer can process.
what are utilities?
Utility programs are usually bundled with an operating system, they manage, maintain and control computer resources.
what are utilities used for?
These programs are available to help you with the day-to-day tasks associated with personal computing and to keep your system running at peak performance.
what are examples of utilities?
Some examples of utility programs include:
*Virus scanning software
*Backup software
*Scan disk
what are operating systems?
An operating system is a set of programs that govern the operation of a computer.
what is the use of operating systems?
Without operating system software, the computer would not be able to function. Therefore, the O.S. is switched on as soon as the computer is power on or ‘boot’ the system.
what is booting?
Booting is the process of loading the operating system software into a computer’s main memory from disk.
what are some examples of operating systems?
*Windows
*Linux
*Unix
*Apple iOS
*Android
*Chrome OS
*DOS
what is one function of operating systems?
Manage the computer’s resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives, and printers
what are the types of user interface?
*Command Driven
*Graphical User Interface (GUI)
what is the command-driven user interface?
Commands are typed into the machine using the keyboard, rather than using a mouse to select an object on the screen. These commands are given in a programming language. The system then reads this command and carries it out. Command driven interfaces tend to be used by computer experts.
what is the GUI?
-It is a user interface that includes graphical elements, such as windows, icons and buttons. The commands are issued by clicking on icons instead of typing into a window.
what is P.C.?
personal computer
what is SSD?
solid state disk
what is HDD?
Hard disk drive
what is DVD
digital video disk
what is SD card
secure digital card
what is hdmi?
high definition multimedia interface
what is USB?
universal series bus
what is ps2
personal system 2
what is RAM?
random access memory
what is ROM?
read-only memory
what is VGA?
video graphics array
what is OS?
operating system
what is CU?
control unit
what is CPU?
central processing unit
what is ALU?
arithmetic logic unit
what is CD?
compact disk
