Module 3: computer hardware
Motherboard
A Circuit board inside a computer that contains the micro processor, the computer memory, and other internal devices.
Video card
A circuit board that processes image signals
Unicode
A coding system that represent text and symbols in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A complex integrated circuit that consists of millions of electronic parts and is primarily responsible for converting input (data)into meaningful output (information)
Peripheral device
A device such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, or speakers that can connected to an extend a capability of a computer.
Scanner
A device that converts a paper image into electronic file that you can open and work with on your computer.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
A device that maintains power to computer equipment in case of an interruption in the primary electrical source
Surge suppressor
A device that prevents power fluctuations from damaging electronic components
Multi touch screens
A display that can respond to multiple fingers touching the screen simultaneously.
Touch screen
A display that lets you touch areas of the screen to interact with software
Byte
A field size for number feels that allows entries only from 0 to 255.
Paging file
A file on a hard disk that Windows uses to hold parts of programs and data files that do not fit in RAM.
Touchpad
A flat surface that is touch sensitive, and you move your finger around the touchpad to move the pointer on the screen.
Solid state drive SSD
A hard drive without moving parts, and is faster and more durable than magnetic drives.
Binary system
A number system that has two digits, zero and one.
Stylus
A pen shape digital tools for making selections and entering information on the touchscreen
Laptop
A portable computer that is smaller than the average briefcase and light enough to carry comfortably, often called a notebook.
Mobile device
A portable or a handheld computing device, such as a smart phone or tablet, with a screen size of 10.1 inches or smaller.
Device driver
A program that controls a device attached to your computer, such as a printer, monitor, or video card.
Port
A slot on the computer or device where you can attach a peripheral device.
Digital pen
A small device, shaped like a pen, that you can use to draw, tap icons, or tap keys on an on screen keyboard, similar to a stylus, but is more capable because it has programmable buttons.
Tablet
A small, flat computer with a touch sensitive screen that accepts input from a digital pen, stylus, or your fingertips
Trackball
A stationary pointing device with a ball anchored inside a casing, as well as two or more buttons.
Benchmark
A test run byby a laboratory or other organization to determine processor speed and other performance factors.
Wheel
A type of game controller that mirrors the functionality of a steering wheel in a vehicle
Game controller
An input device you use when playing a video game
USB hub
Anexternal device that contains many USB ports.
Power on self test (POST)
At start up, a sequence that tests all computer components for proper operation.
Optical media
CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, use laser technology for storage and playback.
Input device
Communicates instructions and commands to a computer. Common input devices are keyboard, mouse, stylus, scanner, microphone, game controller.
Desktop computer
Computer that typically consists of the system unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Output device
Conveys information from the computer to the user. Common output devices include displays, speakers, headphones, projectors, and printers.
Printer
Crates hardcopy output on paper, film, and other media
Swap file
Data that cannot fit in RAM and uses an area of the hard disk called virtual memory. Also called a paging file.
Bus width
Determines the speed at which data in a computer travels, also referred to as word size
Word size
Determines the speed at which state it in a computer travels also referred to as bus width
Projectors
Displays visual output from a computer on a large surface such as a wall or screen
Gamepad
Game controller held in both hands that controls the movement and actions of players or objects
Motion sensing controller
Game controller that allows users to guide on screen elements with air gestures
Dance pad
Game controller that is a flat, electronica device divided into panels that users price with their feet in response to instructions from the video game.
Joystick
Game controller with a handheld vertical lever, mounted on a base, that you move in different directions to control the actions of the simulated vehicle or player.
Headphones
I'll put device that consists of a pair of small listening devices that fit into a band placed over your ears
WebCams
In computer concepts, a camera built into a computer, which is primarily use for video conferencing, chatting, or online gaming.
Pointing device
In computer concepts, a device used to .2 and select specific objects on the computer screen. Examples of point devices include a mouse, touchpad, and track ball.
ASCII
In computer concepts, an 8-bit coding scheme, which means that 8 bits are used to represent uppercase and lowercase letters, mathematical operators, and logical operations.
Plug and play
In computer concepts, devices that begin functioning properly as soon as you connect them to your computer.
Clock speed
In computer concepts, the speed at which a processor can execute instructions. Clock speed either can be measured in megahertz or gigahertz
Virtual memory
In the computer concepts, the capability of an operating system to temporarily store data on a storage medium until it can be "5swapped"into RAM.
Headsets
Includes one or more headphones for output, and a microphone for input.
Keyboard
Input device that contains not only characters such as letters, numbers, and punctuation, but also keys that can issue commands.
Cameras
Input devices that support adding pictures or videos to a computer.
Control unit
Manages the flow of instructions within the processor.
Non-volatile
Memory that does not lose its contents when the power is removed.
Volatile
Memory that loses its contents when power is removed.
Speakers
Output devices used to convey audio output, such as music, voice, sound effects, or other sounds
Read only memory (ROM)
Permanently installed memory on your computer attached to the motherboard. The ROM chip contains the BIOS, which tells your computer how to start.
multi-core processor
Processor with multiple cores
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
Responsible for performing arithmetic operations in the CPU.
Restore
Returning an operating system or files to their default settings, or migrating back to the operating systems previous version.
Bit
Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data a computer can process.
All in one computer
Similar to a desktop computer, but the monitor and system unit our house together.
Earbuds
Speakers that are small enough to place in your ears
External hard drives
Storage drive housed in a separate case, and typically connected to your computer using a USB cable.
Processor cache
Stores frequently use data next to the processor so that it can easily and quickly be retrieved.
Cloud storage
Storing electronica files on the Internet, not on a local computer; often called storing data "in the cloud"
Firmware
The instructions on the ROM chip.
Hard drive
The most common storage medium on a computer; can be magnetic or solid state
Mouse
The most common type a pointing device used with computers.
Form factor
The shape and size of a computer.
Cycle
The smallest unit of time a process can measure
Platform
The software, or operating system, a device uses.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
The storage location that is part of every computer and that temporarily stores open apps and document data while a computer is on.
Microphone
Used to enter voice or sound data into a computer.
Voice synthesizer
Voice output that converts text to speech