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136 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
First digital computers
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Engineers built the first digital computers during World War II for breaking codes and calculating missile trajectories. By the 1950s, a few computers were being used for business data processing applications, such as payroll and inventory management.
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Internet
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A global computer network originally developed as a military project, then handed over to the National Science Foundation for research and academic use.
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E-Mail
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A form of electronic communication, was an application for the masses and finally a reason to buy a computer and join the digital revolution.
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Synchronous Communication
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Takes place in real time similar to a phone conversation. Chat groups, web conferencing, and Skype.
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Asynchronous Communication
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Does not require both parties to be online at the same time. Instead, one person can post a message, which can later be accessed by one of more other people. Blogs and Facebook are both examples.
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Computer Network
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A group of computers linked by wired or wireless technology to share date and resources.
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Web
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Short for World Wide Web. It is a collection of linked documents, graphics, and sounds that can be accessed over the Internet.
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Cyberspace
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Refers to entities that exist largely within computer networks.
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Digitization
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The process of converting text, numbers, sound, photos, and video into data that can be processed by digital devices.
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Download
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The practice of copying a file from a remote computer to a local computer.
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Convergence
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A process by which several technologies with distinct functionalities evolve to form a single product. Cell phones have cameras.
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Digital Cameras
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More than 99 of all cameras sold are digital, and the market for camera film is dwindling rapidly.
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Computer
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A multipurpose device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output, all according to a series of stored instructions.
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Computer Input
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Whatever is typed, submitted, or transmitted to a computer system. Input can be supplied by a person, by the environment, or by another computer.
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Computer Output
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The result produced by a computer. Examples include reports, documents, music, graphs, and pictures.
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Data
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The symbols that represent facts, objects, and ideas.
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Processing
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The way computers manipulate data in many ways.
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CPU
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Most processing takes place in a component called the central processing unit.
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Microprocessor
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An electronic component that can be programmed to perform tasks based on data it received.
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Memory
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An area of a computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed, stored, or output.
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Storage
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The area where data can be left on a permanent basis when it is not immediately needed for processing.
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File
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A named collection of data exists on a storage medium, such as a hard disk, CD, DVD, or flash drive.
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Computer Program
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The series of instructions that tells a computer how to carry out processing tasks.
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Software
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A program that sets up a computer to do a specific task.
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Stored Program
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A series of instructions for a computing task can be loaded into a computer's memory.
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Application Software
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A set of computer programs that helps a person carry out a task. Word processing software and personal finance software
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System Software
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To help the computer system monitor itself in order to function efficiently.
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Operating System
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Essentially the master controller for all the activities that take place within a computer.
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Personal Computer
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A microprocessor-based computing device designed to meet the computing needs of an individual.
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Workstation
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To an ordinary personal computer that is connected to a network. Or a powerful desktop computers used for high-performance tasks, such as medical imaging and computer-aided design, that require a lot of processing speed.
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Video Game Console
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Includes circuitry similar to a personal computer's, but its input and output devices are optimized for gaming.
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What is the difference between data and information?
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Data are symbols that represent people, events, things, and ideas. Data becomes information when it is presented in a format that people can understand and use. Data is used by machines, information is used by humans.
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Data Representation
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The form in which data is stored, processed, and transmitted.
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Digital Data
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Text, numbers, graphics, sound, and video that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.
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Analog Data
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Represented using an infinite scale of values.
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The difference between bits and bytes
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Transmission speeds are typically expressed in bits, whereas storage space is typically expressed in bytes.
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Byte
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A group of eight bits.
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Kilobyte
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1,024 bytes. Small computer files
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Megabit
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1,048,576 bits
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Megabyte
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1,048,576 bytes. Often used when referring to the size of medium to large computer files.
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Gigabit
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1 billion bits
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Gigabyte
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1 billion bytes. Typically used to refer to storage capacity.
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Integrated Circuit
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Super thin slice of semiconducting material packed with microscopic circuit elements, such as wires, transistors, capacitors, logic gates, and resistors.
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Semiconducting Materials
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Substances with properties between those of a conductor and an insulator.
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System Board
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Houses all essential chips and provides connecting circuitry between them.
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Programming Language
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C, BASIC, COBOL, or Java are used to create programs to control digital devices.
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Source Code
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The human-readable version of a program created in a high-level language by a programmer.
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DIP
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It has two rows of pins that connect the IC circuitry to a circuit board.
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PGA
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Is a square chip package with pins arranged in concentric squares, typically used for microprocessors.
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Complier
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Converts all the statements in a program in a single batch
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Object Code
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The resulting collection of instructions is placed in a new file.
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Interpreter
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Converts and executes one statement at a time while the program is running.
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Instruction Set
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A collection of pre-programmed activities.
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Machine Language
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A list of codes for a microprocessor's instruction set.
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Machine Code
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A set of machine language instructions for a program.
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Op Code
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Operation Code is a command word for an operation such as add, compare, or jump.
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Operand
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An instruction specifies the data, or the address of the data, for the operation.
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ALU
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Arithmetic logic unit is the part of the microprocessor that performs arithmetic operations, such as addition and subtraction.
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Registers
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Hold data that is being processed.
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Control Unit
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Fetches each instruction.
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Compute-Intensive
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Problem is one that requires massive amounts of data to be processed using complex mathematical calculations.
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PDA
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Personal Digital Assistant is a pocket-sized digital appointment book with a small keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen, designed to run on batteries and be used while holding it.
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Brute Force Attack
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Password-Cracking software but has an extensive range
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Sniffing
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Intercepts information sent out over computer networks.
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Phising
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A hacker poses as a legitimate representative of an official organization such as your ISP, your bank, or an online payment service.
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Keylogger
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Software that secretly records a user's keystrokes and sends the information to a hacker.
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Identity Theft
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When someone gains unauthorized access to your personal data and uses it illegally
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Dictionary Attack
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Helps hackers guess your password by stepping through a dictionary containing thousands of the most commonly used passwords.
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Authentication Protocol
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Any method that confirms a person's identity using something the person knows, something the person possesses, or something the person is.
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Smartphones
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These cell-phones contain a microprocessor and have many characteristics of computers.
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Portable Media Players
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Their main strength is playing music, showing videos, and storing photos.
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Microcontroller
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A special purpose microprocessor that is built into the machine it controls.
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Peripheral Device
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Designates input, output, and storage equipment that might be added to a computer system to enhance its functionality.
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Form Factor
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The size and dimensions of a component, such as a system board or system unit.
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Desktop Computer
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Fits on a desk and runs on power from an electrical wall outlet.
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Tower Case
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Provides plenty of space for gamers and modders who want to soup up their machines by adding storage decides, lighted power cables, or accelerated graphics cards.
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Mini Case
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Smaller than a tower unit and sometimes sports a handles.
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All-in-one computer
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This form factor is handy but has limited space for expansion.
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Portable Computer
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A small, lightweight personal computer with screen, keyboard, storage, and processing components integrated into a single unit that runs on power supplied by an electrical outlet or a battery.
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Notebook Computer
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A small, lightweight portable computer that opens like a clamshell to reveal a screen and keyboard.
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Gaming Computers
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They feature the fastest processors, stuffed with memory, include state of the art sound capabilities, and feature multiple graphics processors.
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GHZ
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Indicates the speed of the microprocessor clock. Gigahertz means a billion cycles per second.
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Multi-Core Processor
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A single microprocessor that contains a circuitry for more than one processing unit
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Front Side Bus
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The circuitry that transports data to and from the microprocessor.
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Megahertz
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FSB speed is measured in megahertz. MHz means one million cycles per second.
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CPU Cache
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Special high speed memory that allows a microprocessor to access data more rapidly than from memory located elsewhere on the system board. A large cache can increase computer perfomance.
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Word Size
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The number of bits that a microprocessor can manipulate at one time.
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64-bit processor
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It has 64-bit registers and processes 64 bits at a time.
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CISC
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Complex Instruction Set Computer
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RISC
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Reduced instruction set computer. A RISC processor performs most instructions faster than a CISC processor.
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Serial Processing
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The processor must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instructions.
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Pipelining
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A processors can begin executing an instruction before it completes the previous instruction.
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Parallel Processing
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Multiple instructions are executed at the same time.
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Benchmarks
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Are the results from various testing laboratories that run a series of tests to gauge the overall speed of a microprocessor.
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Overclocking
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A technique for increasing the speed of a computer component, such as the processor, graphics card, system board, or memory.
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RAM
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Random Access Memory is a temporary holding area for data, application program instructions, and the operating system.
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Capacitors
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They hold the bits that represent data.
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Volatile
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It requires electrical power to hold data.
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Virtual Memory
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To store parts of programs or data files until they are needed.
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Nanosecond
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One-billionth of a second. 8 ns RAM is faster than 10 ns RAM.
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ROM
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Read-only memory is a type of memory circuitry that holds the computer's startup routine.
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ROM Bios
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ROM contains a small set of instructions. Basic input/output system.
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EEPROM
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Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory is a non-volatile chip that requires no power to hold data.
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Access Time
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The average time it takes a computer to locate data on the storage medium and read it.
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Random Access
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The ability of a device to jump directly to the requested data.
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Sequential Access
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It reads through the data from the beginning of the tape.
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Storage Density
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The amount of data that can be stored in a given area of a storage medium, such as the surface of a disk.
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Hard disk controller
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Positions the disk, locates data, and interfaces with components on the system board.
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How do CDs and DVDs work?
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CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray technologies are classified as optical storage which stores data as microscopic light and dark spots on the disc surface. The dark spots are pits. The lighter, non-pitted surface areas of the disc are called lands.
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Pointing Device
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Allows you to manipulate an on-screen pointer and other screen based graphical controls.
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Mouse
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The primary pointing device.
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Trackball
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Consists of a ball resting in a stationary base.
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Joystick
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Looks like a small version of a car's stick shift. Moving the stick provides input to on-screen object.
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Trackpad
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Touch-sensitive surface on which you can slide your fingers to move the on-screen pointer.
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Touch Screen
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The most commonly used touch screen technology is a transparent panel coated with a thin layer of electrically conductive material that sense a change in the electrical current when touched.
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LCD Display
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Produces an image by filtering light through a layer of liquid crystal cells.
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LED Display
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Low-power light-emitting diodes.
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Dot Pitch
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Measure of image clarity
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Pixels
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The small dots of light that form an image.
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Viewing angle width
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Indicates how far to the side you can still clearly see the screen image
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Response Rate
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The time it takes for one pixel to change from black to white then back to black.
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Color Depth
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The number of colors a monitor can display.
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Screen Resolution
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The number of horizontal and vertical pixels that a device displays on the screen.
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Graphics Card
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Graphics circuitry can also be supplied by a small circuit board.
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Graphics Processing Unit
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It stores screen images as they are processed but before they are displayed.
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Dot Matrix Printer
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Produces characters and graphics by using a grid of fine wires.
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Duty Cycles
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It determined how many pages a printer is able to churn out.
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Duplex Printer
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Can print on both sides of the paper. It saves paper but can slow down the print process.
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Printer Control Language
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The most widely used language for communication between computers and printers.
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PostScript
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An alternative printer language that many publishing professionals prefer. The data that arrives at a printer along with its printer language instructions require memory.
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Data Bus
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Data travels from one component to another over circuits.
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Expansion Bus
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The segment of the data bus to which peripheral devices connect.
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USB
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Universal Serial Bus. It is a peripheral device.
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FireWire ports
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Used for external storage devices and for transferring data from digital video cameras to a computer for editing, printing, or storage.
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eSATA
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Another type of port, popular for connecting high-speed external devices.
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What is VGA, DVI, HDMI?
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Video Graphics Array, Digital Visual Interface, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface ports are designed for audiovisual devices, They are primarily used for connecting a monitor to a desktop computer, and for connecting an external monitor to a notebook computer.
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