Computer Basics Vocabulary

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DESKTOP MICROCOMPUTER

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A small computer based on a microprocessor

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WORKSTATION

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A desktop computer that is conventionally considered to be more powerful than microcomputer

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LAPTOP OR NOTEBOOK

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A portable computer small enough to use on ones lap.

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SUPERCOMPUTER

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A mainframe computer, that is among the largest, fastest, or most powerful of those available at a given time.

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MAINFRAME

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A large powerful computer, often serving many connected terminals and usually used by large complex organizations.

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SERVER

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A computer that processes requests for HTML and other documents that are components of web pages.

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HANDHELD

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Compact enough to be used or operated while being held in the hand, or hands: a hand held video camera.

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BOOT PROCESS

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Bootstrapping is the process of starting up a computer from a halted or powered-down condition

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INPUT

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Information that is created or collected and fed into the system.

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BINARY CODE

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The base 2 number system used by the computer composed by the digits 0 to 1.

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DATA

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Facts used by a computer.

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INFORMATION

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Processed, stored, and transmitted data.

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OUTPUT

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Useful information that leaves the system; i.e. processed information.

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CPU

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Central Processing Unit. The part of a computer that interprets and executes instructions.

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CIRCUITS - A)

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A closed path followed or capable of being followed by an electric current.

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CIRCUITS - B)

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A configuration of electrically or electro magnetically connected components or devices.

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SILICON CHIP

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A small crystal of a silicon semiconducter fabricated to carry out a number of electronics functions in an integrated circuit.

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PENTIUM

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The named given to Intel's P5 chip, the successor to the 80468. The name was chosen because of difficulties Intel had in trade marking a number. It suggest the number 5 (implying 586) while (according to Intel) conveying a meaning of strength "like titanium." Among hackers, the plural is frequently "pentia."

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RAM

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A memory device in which information can be accessed in any order.

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ROM

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Memory hardware that allows fast access to permanently stored data but prevents addition to or modification of the date.

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BIT

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A fundamental unit of information having just two possible values, either binary digits 0 or 1.

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BYTE

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A sequence of adjacent bits, usually 8, operated on as a unity by a computer.

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KILOBYTE

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A unit of computer memory or data storage capacity equal to 1,024 bytes. 1,000 bytes.

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MEGABYTE

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A unit of computer memory or data storage capacity to 1,048,576 bytes.

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GIGABYTE

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A unit of computer memory or data storage equal to 1,024 megabytes.

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TERABYTE

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A unit of computer or data storage capacity equal to 1,024 gigabytes.

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STORAGE DEVICES

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A hardware device, such as a hard disk or floppy disk, used to record and store data.

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LASER PRINTER

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Quality and faster.

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HARD DISK

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A rigid magnetic disk mounted permanently in a drive unit.

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FLOPPY DISK

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A small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope w/ a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer, "floppy disks are noted for their relatively slow speed and small capacity and low price."

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WRITE -PROTECTED

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To modify (a file or disk) so that its data cannot be edited or erased.

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FORMATTED

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The arrangement of data for storage or display or a method for achieving such an arrangement.

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CD-R

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Compact disk on which you can write only once and thereafter is read-only.

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CD-RW

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Compact disk-rewritable; you can write multiple times.

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INPUT DEVICES

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Any device used to input data into a computer. (Keyboard)

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OUTPUT DEVICES

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Device used when reading/looking at output. (Printer)

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PIXELS

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The basic unit of the composition of an image on a television screen, computer monitor, or similar display.

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PERIPHERAL DEVICES

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Devices connected by cable to the COPU of a computer; "disk drives and printers are important peripherals."

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DESKTOP

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The screen background, icons, and windows visible on the computer screen.

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TASKBAR

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A row of buttons or graphical controls on a computer screen that represents open programs among which the user can switch back and forth by clicking on the appropriate one.

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PROGRAM

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A series of commands and executable files that produce an expected result.

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OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE

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The master controller for all the activities that take place within a computer.

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FOLDER

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Location a physical media where data is stored.

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MULTITASKING

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When the computer has two or more applications open at one time and user switches back and forth.

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GUI

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Graphics that will aid the user in accomplishing their task.

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ICONS

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Small graphics, which when clicked runs a program, executes a command or opens a document.

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MENUS

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A list or table of executable options.

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APPLICATION SOFTWARE

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Spreadsheets, databases, and word processing programs that preform a specific function.