Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
89 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What are the four steps of the information processing cycle?
|
Input, Processing, Output, Storage.
|
|
|
What are Input Devices?
|
A Piece of hardware that allows users to enter program, data, and commands into a computer.
|
|
|
What are some examples of Input Devices?
|
Keyboard, Point and Click Devices, Scanners, Joysticks.
|
|
|
What are the two main types of keyboards?
|
Alphanumeric and Special Function.
|
|
|
How many keys are there on a standard desktop computer?
|
101 to 105 keys.
|
|
|
In addition to alphabet letters and symbols what other types of keys are there on a keyboard?
|
Function Keys
Special Purpose Keys Cursor Control (arrow keys) Key Numeric arranged in keypad form |
|
|
What kind of data input are good for use with special function keyboards?
|
Specific Applications involving simplified rapid input.
|
|
|
What are some common applications for touch screens?
|
ATM's, restaurants, airport check in counters, cell phones MP3 players.
|
|
|
What are some examples of mouse hardware?
|
GUI Graphical User Interface
Mouse Mouse Pointer Mouse Pad Optical Mouse Foot Mouse |
|
|
How do Trackball Mouse Work compared to traditional mouse?
|
Users move a ball with the fingers or palm to move the mouse pointer.
|
|
|
What are the two parts of a typical touch pad and what are there functions?
|
Two Buttons used to Click
A smooth pad used to move the pointer. |
|
|
What are the benefits of using a joystick and when is such a device used.
|
Typically used in Gaming
Eliminates the need for a bulky mouse. |
|
|
What are some examples of typical input device drawing tools.
|
Digitizing Pen
Drawing Tablet Graphics Tablet. |
|
|
How does a Graphics Tablet Work.
|
Hundreds of intersecting wires forming an electronic matrix are embedded in the tablets surface. Each intersection represents a specific address.
|
|
|
How does an optical scanner work to convert a picture into a digital image.
|
Step1 The document is laid face down on a glass window.
Step2 A light moves under the glass surface as the document is being scaned Step3 Mirrors reflect an image of the document. Step 4 A change coupled device (CCD) converts the light into a analog signal Step5 An analog to digital converter (ADC) changes the analog signal to digital format Step6 The scanned image is sent to a program. Step7 The document can then be displayed on a monitor or sent to a printer |
|
|
How do you measure Resolution?
|
DPI or Dots Per Inch.
|
|
|
What are the two types of Scanners.
|
Flat Bed and Handheld.
|
|
|
In what application are bar code readers used?
|
Retail,wholesalers, shipping companies, banks, hotels, and other business.
|
|
|
What are some examples of Graphic and and Video input devices.
|
Digital Cammera
Web Cams Digital Video Cameras |
|
|
How does a digital camera differ from a film cammera.
|
It captures images in in digital format instead on capturing it on film.
|
|
|
How do digital cameras work.
|
Step1 When a picture is taken light passes into the camera
Step 2 The image is sent to a chip called a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Step 3 The CCD generates an analog signal representing the image. Step4 An analog to digital converter (ADC) converts the signal to a digital format. Step5 The digital signal processor adjust and stores the image on a removable storage medium such as a memory stick or a SD card. Step6 The camera can then be connected to a computer using special software provided by with the camera. |
|
|
What resolution is required for high quality pictures suitable for most consumers.
|
4.0 or 5.0 megapixels
|
|
|
What are some devices used to capture video input?
|
Web cams and Digital Video Cameras
|
|
|
What is the difference between speaker independent programs and speaker dependent programs.
|
Speaker Independent programs can respond to words spoken by different individuals.
Speaker Dependent Programs can only respond to words that closely math the speech pattern of a previously recorded word.If another person uses it it might not work. |
|
|
What are some examples of speech recognition?
|
A Example of a speech recognition is a Voice Activated ATM or an automated telephone line.
|
|
|
What is the second phase of the information processing cycle?
What happens during this phase? |
Processing
This is when the data is manipulated according to instructions in a computer program. |
|
|
What is the foundation of machine language?
|
0 = Off
1 = On |
|
|
How many bits does a byte contain?
Why is this significant? |
A byte include 8 bits.
It is very significant because byte contains enough possible combinations to make up 256 different basic characters.EX 1,2,3,4 A,B,C,D, !,@,#,$,% |
|
|
How does the concept of a light switch illustrate the way binary numbers represent data.
|
Flipping on the light switch "ON" position causes the current to flow
Flipping it "OFF" causes the current to stop. Different combinations of ON and OFF could then be represented by alphabet letters and numbers |
|
|
What are the two widely used data coding schemes that are based on the binary system?
|
The American Standard Code For Information Interchange (ASCII)
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) |
|
|
What is the common application for each coding system used mainly on?
|
ASCII is used on many PC's and Midrang Servers.
EBCDIC is used mainly on IBM servers and mainframe computers. |
|
|
Explain the process of converting an electrical signal to binary form
|
Pressing a specific button on a keyboard generates a specific electrical signal. The electrical signal is converted into binary form a (byte) and is stored in the memory. The computer then process the digital signal and quickly releases a image on the corresponding with the button you pushed.
|
|
|
Why was Unicode developed?
|
To acomadat other languages than English such as Chinese which has many more characters Unicode was developed to create more characters.
|
|
|
How many bytes does Unicode use?
How many binary digits does Unicode use? |
2
16 |
|
|
What are the basic components of a system unit?
|
Power Supply
Storage Bays Motherboard |
|
|
What type of current is used by computers.
|
AC converted into DC
Alternating Current Direct Current |
|
|
Why does the power supply typically contain a fan.
|
The power supply typically contains a fan to cool the system unit. Computer usage generates allot of heat but computer hardware need to remain cool.
|
|
|
What are examples of storage bays typically used on a computer?
|
Hard Drives
CD/DVD Drives |
|
|
What are the seven components of a motherboard and what are there functions.
|
(CPU) Central Processing Unit
Used for manipulating all types of data System Clock. Used to synchronize the computers activities. Slots for connecting RAM Used to store temporary information while the computer is in use One or more (ROM) Read Only Memory Used to store the computers permanent memory where various instructions are stored. Expansion Slots Used for attaching expansion card that add various capabilities to there computer Ports Used for connecting input devices such as keyboards, mouses, modems. And output devices such as speakers and printers. Buses Electronic connections that allow the communication between different components in the computer. |
|
|
Why is semi conductor material used for the CPU
|
Because it is neither a good conductor of electricity (like copper) or a good insulator of electricity (like rubber)
|
|
|
What is the most commonly used semiconducting material?
|
Silicon
|
|
|
What are the three basic components of the CPU?
|
Control Unit
Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) Registers |
|
|
What are the functions of the Control Unit?
|
Directs and coordinates the overall operations of the computer system.
It interpets program instructions and initiates the action needed to carry them out.These are the fetching and decoding of the machine cycle. Fetching means retrieving an instruction from memory. Decodeing means interpeting or translating the instruction into strings of binary digits (bytes) the computer understands. The time required to fetch and decode and instruction is called instruction time or I-Time. |
|
|
What is the function of the ALU?
|
The ALU is the part of the CPU that preforms the executing step of the machine cycle. Executing means caring out the instructions and preforming arithmetic and logical operations on data such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
The ALU can also preform logical operations such as comparing data items. |
|
|
What is the function of the Register?
|
The Register is used by the ALU to temporarily store instructions and data to help speed up processing time.
The time required to do this is called Execution time or E-time |
|
|
What is the most commonly used semiconducting material?
|
Silicon
|
|
|
What are the three basic components of the CPU?
|
Control Unit
Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) Registers |
|
|
What are the functions of the Control Unit?
|
Directs and coordinates the overall operations of the computer system.
It interpets program instructions and initiates the action needed to carry them out.These are the fetching and decoding of the machine cycle. Fetching means retrieving an instruction from memory. Decodeing means interpeting or translating the instruction into strings of binary digits (bytes) the computer understands. The time required to fetch and decode and instruction is called instruction time or I-Time. |
|
|
What is the function of the ALU?
|
The ALU is the part of the CPU that preforms the executing step of the machine cycle. Executing means caring out the instructions and preforming arithmetic and logical operations on data such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
The ALU can also preform logical operations such as comparing data items. |
|
|
What is the function of the Register?
|
The Register is used by the ALU to temporarily store instructions and data to help speed up processing time.
The time required to do this is called Execution time or E-time There are several different types of Register each used for a different task. EX Instruction Register Data Register Storage Register |
|
|
What are examples of specialized co processors?
|
A Co Proccesor is a specilized chip that assist the CPU in preforming certain operations.
EX Graphics Co Processor used for specialized graphic applications Cryptographic Co Processor used to provide encryption and related processing. |
|
|
What Determines the speed and power of CPU chips?
|
Number of transistors
Clock Speed The number of bits that can be handled in a single unit. |
|
|
What are some examples of typical Clock Speeds?
|
3.0 GHz and 4.0 GHz
|
|
|
What are some examples of Clock Speed available in typical notebook computers and handheld devices
|
2.5 GHz and 2.4 GHz
|
|
|
How many blocks of data are newer computers designed to handle at one time?
|
A microprocessors word size also affects its power and speed. In microprocessors terms a word is a group of bits. that a computer can process as a unit. Newer processors can handle 64 bits at a time and older processors can handle 32 bits at a time.
|
|
|
What are the seven key advances in the development of the microprocessor and how did they improve?
|
Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC)
Old computers used a complex lengthy set of instructions for processing data. Modern computers now use a shortened set of instructions called (RISC) Pipelining Old computers had to execute one instruction at a time. Moderen Computers use pipeling to allow the CPU to begin executing another instruction as soon as the previous instruction reaches the next phase. Closer Circuits Newer computers contain chips with circuits that are much closer together which speeds up processing time Newer and better material Most chips consist of electrical circuits etched onto a a piece of silicon. Some chip manufactures are deigning copper circuits to replace the aluminum ones used to day because copper is better conductor of electricity Parallel Processing Instead of only using one Microprocessor to do everything you can now use two or more processors to work simultaneously together., Multithreading A thread is a part of a program that can operate interdependently of other parts. Multithreading allows several of these threads to occur at once.. Dual Core and Multi Core Processors. It is now possible to have multiple processors on one chip that greatly improves speed |
|
|
What is the function of the System Clock?
|
The System Clock generates evenly spaced electrical pulses that synchronize the flow of information through the computers internal communication channels.
|
|
|
How is pulse speed measured?
|
Hertz
|
|
|
How does the clock cycle relate to the CPU
|
A CPU has a certain fixed number of clock cycles to execute each instruction. The faster the clock ticks the faster the CPU can execute instructions.
|
|
|
What does the speed of the clock affect?
|
The speed of the clock only affect the CPU.
|
|
|
What are other terms for RAM
|
Main memory or primary storage
|
|
|
What are the three main functions of RAM?
|
Accept and hold programs, instructions, and date
Acts as the CPU's soource for data and instructions and as a destination for operation results Holds the final processed information until it can be sent to the desired output or storage device, such as a printer or disk drive |
|
|
Explain RAM Address
|
The CPU must be able to find programs and data once they are stored in RAM. Therefore program data is placed in specifc locations know as RAM Address.
|
|
|
What does it mean for RAM to be readable and writeable?
|
RAM is both readable and write able which means that contents of RAM can be changed at any time .
|
|
|
What happens to RAM when the computer looses power?
|
The contents of the RAM are lost if the computer looses power because RAM requires a constant charge making it very VOLATILE MEMORY
|
|
|
What are other terms for RAM
|
Main memory or primary storage
|
|
|
What are the three main functions of RAM?
|
Accept and hold programs, instructions, and data
Acts as the CPU's source for data and instructions and as a destination for operation results Holds the final processed information until it can be sent to the desired output or storage device, such as a printer or disk drive |
|
|
Explain RAM Address
|
The CPU must be able to find programs and data once they are stored in RAM. Therefore program data is placed in specifc locations know as RAM Address.
|
|
|
What does it mean for RAM to be readable and write able?
|
RAM is both readable and write able which means that contents of RAM can be changed at any time .
|
|
|
What happens to RAM when the computer looses power?
|
The contents of the RAM are lost if the computer looses power because RAM requires a constant charge making it very VOLATILE MEMORY
|
|
|
What metaphor is used to illustrate RAM?
|
A chalk borad because it can be reused and written and erased very easily to make room for new instruction on the same chalkboard.
|
|
|
What type of RAM is used in Computers today?
|
Synchronous DRAM and Double Data Rate SDRAM
|
|
|
What units of measurements are used to measure RAM
|
Kilobytes (Thousands of bytes)
Megabytes (Millions of bytes) Gigabytes ( Billions of bytes) Terabytes ( Trillions of bytes) |
|
|
What is the secondary type of processing storage used with RAM
|
Cache Memory
Cache is a holding area in which instructions most recently called by the processor from RAM are stored. Some instructions are called upon frequently they are often found in cache memory shortening processing time. Cache memory can be contained on the CPU in the form of memory chips hardwired onto the motherboard or as a reserve that is located on a hard disk. |
|
|
What are the three different types of Cache
|
Level 1 Cache
Are built into the architecture of the microprocessor chips providing faster access to the instructions and data residing in the cache Level 2 Cache It is also built into the Microprocessor and is the norm today Level 3 Cache Is available on computers that have level 2 cache memory or advanced transfer cache and is separate from the processor. |
|
|
How does Memory Access time affect the computers performance?
|
It affects the at which the computer can process data and therefor the whole overall performance of the computer is affected by it
|
|
|
How is Memory Access time stated?
|
Fractions of a second.
|
|
|
How is ROM different than RAM
|
ROM can be read ONLY by the user and can not be changed or erased like RAM making it NON VOLATILE Memory.
|
|
|
What does the BIOS do?
|
BIOS or Basic Input Output System are stored on ROM and contain the instructions used to boot the computer and controls communication with keyboards, disk drives, and other computer components.
|
|
|
What does the POST chip do ?
|
Activated in the start up is a Power On Self Test chip contains instructions that check the physical components of the system to make sure they are working.
|
|
|
What is a example of NON VOLATILE MEMORY that can be erased and reused?
|
Flash Memory
It is used to store store programs and data on many handheld devices such as MP3 Players, Cell Phones, Digital Cameras |
|
|
What are some examples of Flash Cards?
|
Compact Flash (CF)
Smart Media Secure Digital (SD) Memory Stick |
|
|
What is the storage capacity of Flash Cards?
|
Typically between 16 MB and 8 GB
|
|
|
What are the 4 main types of expansion cards used in computers today?
|
Sound Card
Graphics Card Network Interface Card Modem Card |
|
|
Why was the PC card developed?
|
The PC card was devloped because the Notebook and Laptop computers are to small to use Expansion Cards so they use PC cards instead.
|
|
|
What are the Eight Examples of the type of ports typically found on a PC and what are there functions?
|
USB- Widely used for high speed modems scanners and digital cameras. Many keyboards and point and click devices are now using USB ports
Serial Port Used for connecting some peripheral devices such as keyboards, mouse, PDA, and external Modems. Parallel Port Used for connecting a peripheral devices to a computer. Newer computers have replaced this with USB ports. Video Port Used to connect the monitor Network Port Used to connect the computer to a network. Modem Port Used to connect a modem card to a telephone line. Audio Port Connects a sound card to an external device such as speakers, microphone, headset. |
|
|
How does data move from one component to another inside a computer?
|
Buses. An electronic path within a computer system along which bits are transmitted.
|
|
|
What are the two basic bus types found in a computer and what each type do?
|
System Bus which connects the CPU to the Memory
Expansion Bus provides communication between the processor and the peripheral devices. |
|
|
What are some examples of expansion buses?
|
Printers, Scanners.
|
