Chapter 1 - CS008

Individual Computer

A type of computer designed for one user at a time

Organization Computer

A type of computer designed to be used by many people at the same time

System Unit

Base unit of the computer - made up of a plastic or metal enclosure, the motherboard, and the integrated peripherals

Motherboard

Circuit board that connects the central processing unit(s), CPU, to the other system components

Network

Connects two or more computers to share input/output devices and other resources through the use of a network interface card

Information

Data that has been consolidated, organized, and processed

Storage Device

Hard Drives, CD & DVD drives, and media card readers -- used with USB drives and Flash memory cards. Anything that can hold data &/or information.

Communication Device

Hardware component that moves data in and out of a computer

Communications

High-speed movement of data or information

2 Main Components of Computers

I- Software II- Hardware

Hardware

Include physical parts of a computer such as the system unit, the monitor, the keyboard, the printer, and ect.

Information-processing cycle

Made of 4 basic components of computation I - Input II- Processing III- Output IV- Storage

Sub-notebooks

Portable individual computers which run full desktop operating systems but possess fewer components and are both smaller and lighter than notebooks

RAM

Random Access Memory, functions to temporarily store the programs and data needed by the CPU for processing

Data

Raw and unorganized facts that are entered into a computer for processing

CPU

The central processing unit, it is the key component that deals with processing data into information

Input

The first operation in the information-processing cycle, which allows the computer to accept data from devices such as a keyboard or mouse.

Storage

The fourth operation of the information-processing cycle, that entails holding programs, software, and data for the computer system to use.

Processing

The second operation in the information-processing cycle, which converts data into information via CPU

Output

The third operation in the Information-processing cycle. It requires output devices such as monitors and printers to demonstrate the results of input & processing that people can see and hear.

Computer System

a group of associated components, software & hardware, that work together to perform various functions

Desktop Computers

an individual computer designed for home or office use, which now include all-in-one computers that combine the system unit and the monitor together

Portable computers

an individual computer designed to be travel friendly and use-able in various settings. Many types of technologies fall under this category of individual computers

Personal computer [PC]

an individual computer that runs either with a MAC or IBM compatible systems

Computer

any device that performs the information-processing cycle

Notebooks

portable individual computers which are small enough for easy computer mobility

Wireless devices

type of portable individual computer

Tablet-PCs

type of portable individual computer where rather than relying on keyboard or mouse to input data, a touch sensitive monitor or special writing stylus inputs the data