CIS 120 Test II
Output
displays data & information in a form suitable for the user
Bit
Binary digit 0 or 1
Byte
Unique combinations of 8 bits of 0's and 1's
Motherboard
Located inside the system unit, contains the central electronic components of the computer including:
- Processor (CPU)
- ROM, RAM & Cache
- Slots for expansion cards
- Network interface card (NIC)
RAM
Random access memory- stores intructions & data currently using
- Temporary (Volatile) storage, that is erased when computer is turned off
ROM
Read only memory- stores start up instructions (needed for start up)
- Permanent (NON volatile) storage- data is NOT erased when computer is turned off
CPU/ processor
"Brains" of the computer
- Control all functions of the computer's components
- Processes all commands & instructions
- Performs billions of tasks per second without error
Ergonomics
Refers to how you set up your computer & other equipment to minimize your risk of injury or discomfort- monitor height, chair, lighting and taking breaks
Megabyte
1 million bytes of data, length of 4 printed books
Gigabyte
1 billion bytes of data
RAMS and hardrives are measured by GB
Resolution
Printers image clarity
- Measured in dots per inch (dpi)
- Higher dpi= greater level of detail and clarity
Processing
Manipulating, calculating & organizing data into information
Moore's Law
Describes the pace at which central processing units improve.
- This rule predicts that CPU capacity will double approx. every 2yrs.
Machine cycle
A process
- Fetches required piece of data or instructions from RAM
- It decodes into something the computer can understand
- Executes the instruction
- Stores the results to RAM before fetching the next instruction
Clock speed
Dictates how many instructions the CPU can process each second
Overclocking
Run CPU at a faster speed than the manufacturer recommends
Core
Contains the parts on a CPU required for processing
Hyperthreading
Enables a new set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished
Telephony
Use of equipment to provide voice communications over a distance
Synchronizing
Process of updating your data
Bluetooth
Uses radio waves to transmit data signals
Memory module
AKA- memory cards
Small circuit boards that hold a series of RAM chips
- They fit into special slots on motherboard
MMS
Text, sound and images and video clips able to send to others phones or email.
Optical media
CD
DVDs
Blue ray Discs (BD)
Petabyte
1,000 terabytes
Physical memory
Amount of RAM sitting on memory modules in your computer
Port
DVI, HDMI, Display port adapter
SMS
short message texts up to 160 characters- uses cellphone network
SuperFetch
Monitors which application you use most and preloads these into your system memory so they'll be ready to go
VoIP
A form of voice based internal communication to make phone calls.
Examples: Digital phone, skype, tech similar to email
Sampling rate
Number of times per second a signal is measured and converted to a digital value
* Measured in kilobits per second
Analog
Waves that illustrate the loudness of a sound or brightness of colors in an image at a given moment in time.
e-reader
Device that can display etext & that has supporting tools, like note taking, bookmarks & integrated dictionaries
Electronic ink
Crisp, sharp grayscale presentation of text achieved by using millions of microcapsules with white & black particles in a clear fluid
GPS
System of 21 satellites (plus 3 squares) built and operated by the U.S. Military, that constantly orbits the earth. It pinpoints location on earth
Digital signal processor
Special chip that processes digital information & transmits signals quickly
Binary language
The language computers use to process data into information, consisting of only values 0 and 1
Megabyte
A unit of computer storage equal to approx. 1 million bytes
Non volatile storage
Permanent storage, as in ROM (read only memory)
Port
Interface which external devices are connected to the computer
Cache memory
Small blocks of memory, located directly on and next to CPU chip; acts as holding places for recently or frequently used instructions or data that the CPU accesses most.
*CPU can retrieve the instructions/data more quickly*
Raid 0
Strategy of running 2 hard drives in one system, cutting in half the time it takes to write a file.
Raid 1
Mirroring all data written on 1 hard drive to a second hard drive, providing instant backup of all data
Seek time
The time it takes for the hard drives to read/write heads to move over the surface of the disk to the correct track
Platter
A thin, round, metallic storage plates stacked onto the hard drive spindle
Codec
A rule implemented in either software/hardware, which squeezes a given amount of audio & video information into less space.
Access time
The time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data
Analog-to-digital converter
Converts analog signals to digital signals
Computer
A data processing device that gathers, processes, output & stores data.
Sector
Section of hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from center of the platter to the edge
Track
A concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter