Chapter 5 Computers
video capture card
Adapter card that converts an analog video signal to a digital signal that a computer can process.
point-and-shoot camera
Affordable and lightweight camera that provides acceptable quality photographic images for home or small office users.
user response
An instruction a user issues by replying to a question displayed by a program.
input devices
Any hardware component that allows users to enter data and instructions into a computer.
wireless mouse, or cordless mouse
Battery-powered device that transmits data using wireless technology, such as radio waves or infrared light waves.
wireless keyboard, or cordless keyboard
Battery-powered keyboard that transmits data using wireless technology, such as radio waves or infrared light waves.
face recognition system
Biometric device that captures a live face image and compares it with a stored image to determine if the person is a legitimate user.
fingerprint reader
Biometric device that captures curves and indentations of a fingerprint and compares them with those of a stored image.
voice verification system
Biometric device that compares a person's live speech with his or her stored voice pattern to determine if the person is a legitimate user.
hand geometry system
Biometric device that measures the shape and size of a person's hand and compares these measurements to stored measurements.
image processing
Business practice that consists of capturing, storing, analyzing, displaying, printing, and manipulating images with scanners.
mouse gestures
Capability that allows users to perform certain operations by holding a mouse button while moving the mouse in a particular pattern.
data collection device
Device that obtains data directly at the location where the transaction or event takes place.
biometric device
Device that translates a personal characteristic into a digital code that is compared with a digital code stored in a computer.
optical reader
Device that uses a light source to read characters, marks, and codes and then converts them into digital data that a computer can process.
enhanced resolution
Digital camera resolution calculated by a special formula that adds pixels between those generated by optical resolution.
turnaround document
Document that a user returns to the company that has created and sent it.
source document
Document that contains the original form of data to be processed.
dance pad
Flat electronic device divided into panels that users press with their feet in response to instructions from a music video game.
graphics tablet
Flat, rectangular, electronic, plastic board that is used to create drawings and sketches.
kiosk
Free-standing computer that usually includes a touch screen.
portable keyboard
Full-size keyboard that communicates with a smart phone or PDA.
joystick
Handheld vertical lever mounted on a base used to control actions of a simulated vehicle or player.
bar code
Identification code consisting of either vertical lines and spaces of different widths or a two-dimensional pattern of dots, squares, and other images that represent a manufacturer and an item.
pointing device
Input device that allows a user to control a pointer on the screen.
digital pen
Input device that allows users to write or draw on the screen by pressing the pen and issue instructions to a Tablet PC by tapping on the screen.
keyboard
Input device that contains keys users press to enter data and instructions into a computer.
game pad
Input device that controls the movement and actions of players or objects in video games or computer games.
game controller
Input device that directs movements and actions of on-screen objects in video and computer games.
touch-sensitive pad
Input device that enables users to scroll through and play music, view pictures, watch videos or movies, adjust volume, and/or customize settings.
light gun
Input device used in video and computer games to shoot targets and moving objects after you pull the trigger on the weapon.
motion-sensing game controllers
Input devices used with computer and video games that allow the user to guide on-screen elements by moving a handheld input device in predetermined directions through the air.
pen input
Input method in which you touch a stylus or digital pen on a flat surface to write, draw, and make selections.
toggle key
Key that switches between two states each time a user presses the key. for example number lock.
gaming keyboard
Keyboard designed specifically for users that enjoy playing games on the computer.
enhanced keyboard
Keyboard that has twelve function keys along the top; two Control (CTRL) keys and two Alternate (ALT) keys along the bottom; and a set of keys and additional keys between the typing area and the numeric keypad.
ergonomic keyboard
Keyboard whose design reduces the chance of wrist or hand injuries.
digitizer
Large-scale application term for a graphics tablet.
video conference
Meeting between two or more geographically separated people who use a network or the Internet to transmit audio and video data.
digital camera
Mobile device that allows users to take pictures and stores the photographed images digitally, instead of on traditional film
optical mouse
Mouse that uses devices, such as optical sensors or lasers, that emit and sense light to detect the mouse's movement.
laser mouse
Mouse type that uses a laser sensor.
air mouse
Newer type of motion-sensing mouse that, in addition to the typical buttons, allows you to control objects, media players, and slide shows by moving the mouse in predetermined directions through the air.
Wii Remote
Nintendo's motion-sensing input device that uses Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate with the Wii game console.
pixels per inch (ppi)
Number of pixels in one inch of screen display.
a widely used OCR font is
OCR font A.
OCR device
Optical character recognition devices that include small optical scanners for reading characters and sophisticated software to analyze what is read.
optical character recognition (OCR)
Optical reader technology that involves reading typewritten, computer-printed, or hand-printed characters from ordinary documents and translating the images to a form that a computer can process.
optical mark recognition (OMR)
Optical reader technology that reads hand-drawn marks such as small circles or rectangles.
United States Postal Service (USPS) uses a
POSTNET bar code.
signature capture pad
Pen input device that captures handwritten signatures with a stylus or pen that is attached to the device.
biometric identifier
Physiological or behavioral characteristic, such as fingerprints, hand geometry, facial features, voice, signatures, and eye patterns.
mouse
Pointing device that fits comfortably under the palm of a user's hand.
field camera
Portable digital camera with many lenses and other attachments.
pointing stick
Pressure-sensitive pointing device shaped like a pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on a keyboard and moved by pushing the pointing stick with a finger.
video input
Process of capturing full-motion images and storing them on a computer's storage medium.
audio input
Process of entering any sound, such as speech, music, and sound effects, into the computer.
voice input
Process of entering data by speaking into a microphone.
download
Process of transferring a copy of images from a digital camera to a computer's hard disk.
MICR reader
Reading device that converts MICR characters into a form that a computer can process.
RFID reader
Reading device that reads information on an RFID tag via radio waves.
program
Series of related instructions that tells a computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them.
stylus
Small metal or plastic device that looks like a ballpoint pen, but uses pressure instead of ink to write, draw, or make selections.
mouse pointer
Small symbol displayed on a computer screen whose location and shape changes as a user moves a mouse.
pointer
Small symbol displayed on a computer screen whose location and shape changes as a user moves a pointing device.
touch pad
Small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and motion.
predictive text input
Smart phone technology where you press one key on the keypad for each letter in a word and software on the phone predicts the word you want.
music production software
Software that allows users to record, compose, mix, and edit music and sounds.
OCR (optical character recognition) software
Software that enables scanners to read and convert text documents into electronic files.
handwriting recognition software
Software that translates handwritten letters and symbols into characters that a computer or device can process.
function keys
Special keys programmed to issue commands to a computer. which are labeled with the letter F.
studio camera
Stationary camera used for professional studio work.
trackball
Stationary pointing device with a ball on its top or side.
wheel
Steering-wheel-type input device that is used to simulate driving a vehicle.
image processing system
Storing and indexing electronic documents to provide access to exact reproductions of the original documents.
biometrics
Technology of authenticating a person's identity by verifying a personal characteristic.
Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR)
Technology that reads text printed with magnetized ink.
multi-touch
Term used to describe touch screens that recognize multiple points of contact at the same time.
optical resolution
The actual photographed resolution at which a digital camera can capture a digital image.
resolution
The number of horizontal and vertical pixels in a display device.
pixel
The smallest element in an electronic image. Short for picture element.
Microsoft surface
Touch screen with a 30-inch tabletop display that allows one or more people to interact with the screen using their fingers or hands.
touch screen
Touch-sensitive display device with which users interact by touching areas of the screen.
Click Wheel
Touch-sensitive scroll pad on a portable media player that users rotate to browse through song, picture, or movie lists and press to play or pause media, display a menu, and other actions.
streaming cam
Type of Web cam that has the illusion of moving images because it sends a continual stream of still images.
flatbed scanner
Type of light-sensing input device that scans a document and creates a file of the document in memory instead of a paper copy.
retail and grocery stores use the
UPC (Universal Product Code) bar code.
digital video (DV) camera
Video camera that records video as digital signals instead of as analog signals.
whiteboard
Video conference feature in which another window on the screen displays notes and drawings simultaneously on all participants' screens.
bar code reader
also called bar code scanner, Optical reader that uses laser beams to read bar codes by using light patterns that pass through the bar code lines.
insertion point
also called cursor, symbol on a computer screen, usually a blinking vertical bar, that indicates where the next character a user types will appear. See also cursor.
web cam
also called pc video camera, Type of digital video camera that enables a home or small business user to capture video and still images, send e-mail messages with video attachments, add live images to instant messages, broadcast live images over the Internet, and make video telephone calls.
voice recognition
also called speech recognition,
data
is a collection of unprocessed items, including text, numbers, images, audio, and video.
command
is an instruction that causes a program to perform a specific action.
input
is any data and instructions entered into the memory of a computer.
the goal of ergonomic keyboard
is to incorporate comfort, efficiency, and safety in the design of the workplace.
magnetic strip card reader
often called magstripe reader, Reading device that reads the magnetic stripe on the back of credit, entertainment, bank, and other similar cards.
Radio frequency identification (RFID)
standard, specifically a protocol, that defines how a network uses radio signals to communicate with a tag placed in or attached to an object, an animal, or a person.
optical scanner
usually called a scanner, Light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics and then translates the results into a form the computer can process.
