BUS4 188 Midterm 1 (CH 1-5)
Twisted-pair cable
Common dual-line wire. Often packaged as three or four pairs of wires. The cable can be run for only a limited distance, and the signal is subject to interference. -oldest form of electrical wiring, simply pairs of copper wires, cheap, slow and subject to interference from other electrical applications or cables.
CD-ROM
Compact disk-read only memory. Data is stored and retrieved with a laser. A special machine is required to create data on a CD-ROM. Used to hold data that does not change very often. Useful for multimedia applications because a disk can hold about 650 megabytes of data. The format used to store music CDs. -The ROM portion of the name means that you can only read data from the disk. -saving data to CD is relatively slow
Secondary Storage CH2
Data storage devices that hold data even if they lose power. Typically cheaper than RAM, but slower. Disk drives are common secondary storage devices. -hard disk drives are most common but slower (and cheaper) than USB & SSD.
Output Device CH2
Data stored in binary form on the computer must be converted to a format people understand. Output devices— for example, display screens, printers, and synthesizers—make the conversion. -change the data back to a form humans can understand
Operations level CH1
Day-to-day operations and decisions (well structured). In a manufacturing firm, machine settings, worker schedules, and maintenance requirements would represent management decisions at the operations level. Information systems are used at this level to collect data and perform well-defined computations. Transaction processing systems important to this level because data is collected on transactions and ops. ex. scheduling employees, ordering supplies, customer surveys
Strategic decisions CH1
Decisions that involve changing the overall structure of the firm. They are long-term decisions and are unstructured. They represent an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over your rivals. They are usually difficult and risky decisions. MIS support for strategic decisions typically consists of gathering, analyzing, and presenting data on rivals, customers, and suppliers. ex. building new factories, new product
E-mail CH2
Electronic mail, or messages that are transmitted from one computer user to another. Networks transfer messages between the computers. Users can send or retrieve messages at any time. The computer holds the message until the recipient checks in.
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) CH1
Online services that provide high-level APIs used to dereference various low-level details of underlying network infrastructure like physical computing resources, location, data partitioning, scaling, security, backup etc. A form of cloud computing that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS delivers Cloud Computing infrastructure to organizations, including things such as servers, network, operating systems, and storage, through virtualization technology. These cloud servers are typically provided to the client through a dashboard or an API, and IaaS clients have complete control over the entire infrastructure.
Network address translation (NAT)
A network configuration where internal computers use non-routable addresses (usually in the 10.0.0.0 range). When connecting to devices on the Internet, the boundary router temporarily assigns a real IP address and then directs the incoming messages to the original computer by changing the address within the packets. -NAT also creates an additional security level because no one outside this local network can directly access any of the computers. -internally, machines are assigned numbers that cannot be used outside the local network. Requests sent to external servers are temporarily assigned a real IP address by the router. Any external attempt to reach an internal computer is automatically blocked.
DVD (digital video disk) CH2
A digital format primarily used for storing video and movies. However, it can also hold audio and traditional computer data. One side of the disk can hold over 3 gigabytes of data. -Compared to CD-strengths of DVD are (1) increased capacity, (2) significantly faster access speeds, and (3) standards for audio, video, and computer data.
Solid State Drive (SSD) CH2
A disk drive replacement or data storage mechanism that uses electronic components to store data instead of a movable platter. Most SSDs are similar to flash drives but with greater capacity and faster data transfer speeds. -non-volatile, faster, ore expensive
switch
A network device used to connect machines. Unlike a router, a switch creates a virtual circuit that is used by a single machine at a time. -A switch connects the devices in the LAN -Routers and switches are crucial to improving efficiency in large networks -Routers and switches improve performance by choosing the path of the message and segmenting large networks into smaller pieces. -how identifies other objects on the network: Switches use physical addresses that are assigned to each network interface card (MAC) -Switches are commonly used to isolate traffic within a local area network -cannot transfer data beyond seven hops
Intranet CH3 (inside)
A network within an organization that utilizes standard Internet protocols and services. Essentially, this includes Web sites that are accessible only for internal use. Sites employ Internet technologies but use security methods to restrict access to internal users only. Limited to a special group of users.
UNIX: CH2
A popular operating system created by Bell Labs. It is designed to operate the same on hardware from several different vendors. Unfortunately, there are several varieties of UNIX, and software that operates on one version often must be modified to function on other machines.
Internet service provider (ISP)
A private company that provides connections to the Internet. Individuals pay a fee to the ISP. The ISP pays a fee to a higher-level provider (e.g., NSP) to pass all communications onto the Internet. -Verizon, AT&T, comcast
domain name system (DNS)
A set of computers on the Internet that converts mnemonic names into numeric Internet addresses. The names are easier for humans to remember, but the computers rely on the numeric addresses. -server converts names to numbers
Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
A set of standards that define how raw data is transmitted on the Internet and how machines are addressed. Version 6 contains several improvements to the older version 4. For example, version 6 supports 128-bit addresses compared with 32 bits in version 4. It will take several years for people to move to version 6.
Bluetooth
A short-range wireless network technology invented by IBM. It is most commonly used for cell-phone devices such as headsets. The data transmits a 1 mbps up to 32 feet. It is one of the few network protocols to automatically encrypt the data. Newer versions offer higher data rates.
Firewall
A small, fast network computer device that examines every packet entering a company. Rules or filters can be created that will reject certain packets that are known to be dangerous to the network. -essentially routers that examine each packet of network data passing through them and block certain types to limit the interaction of the company network with the Internet
SaaS (Software as a Service) CH1
A software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted. SaaS is typically accessed by users using a thin client, e.g. via a web browser.
Browser CH2
A software tool that converts World Wide Web data into a graphical page with hypertext links. Using standard (HTML) commands, companies can offer data and additional links to users. Users simply click on individual words and pictures to retrieve additional data and move to other network sites. -Software display devices -Ex. safari, google chrome, mozilla firefox
Virtual machine (VM)
A software-based definition of a computer that is stored and run on top of a physical computer. A single physical computer can host several VMs. Physical processors, RAM, disk space, and network connections are shared among the VMs. Generally, the physical elements can be reallocated to whichever VM currently needs more capacity -is the process of running a separate computer in software on top of one set of hardware. -Basically, one physical set of hardware is configured to run multiple operating systems at the same time so it appears to be several separate computers.
Digital subscriber line (DSL)
A special phone service connection available to customers within 3 miles of the phone company's switch. It provides about 1 Mbps transmission speed for Internet connections.
File transfer protocol (FTP)
A standard method of transferring files on the Internet. If you control a computer, you can give other users access to specific files on your computer without having to provide an account and password for every possible user. -inexpensive easy to use, no security
Redundant array of independent Disks (RAID) CH2
A system consisting of several smaller drives instead of one large drive. Large files are split into pieces stored on several different physical drives. The data pieces can be duplicated and stored in more than one location for backup. RAID systems also provide faster access to the data, because each of the drives can be searching through their part of the file at the same time.
grid computing
A system that networks multiple computers so that they cooperatively process the designated tasks, effectively functioning as a single computer -instead of having multiple processors in one computer, multiple computers are connected together across a network.
XML (Extensible Markup Language)
A tag-based notation system that is used to assign names and structure to data. It was mainly designed for transferring data among diverse systems.
Broadcasts
A technique of transmitting messages using radio, micro, or infrared waves. Broadcast messages are sent to all devices in a certain area. Others in the vicinity can also receive the messages. -Any receiver or antenna that lies in its path can pick up the signal. However, infrared transmissions and some microwaves require clear line-of-sight transmission. The major advantage of broadcast methods is portability. For example, computers can be installed in delivery vehicles to receive information from corporate headquarters. Or individuals can carry around laptops and cell phones and remain connected to the network.
Really simple syndication (RSS)
A technique used with blogs to automatically push new versions down to subscribers. Users can configure a Web browser to connect to a favorite blogger. New versions are automatically displayed on the browser. -Really simple syndication (RSS) feeds can be established so that your browser or reader automatically checks for new information and displays it automatically. It is even possible to connect your reader to your desktop so that any of your subscriptions are automatically displayed on the desktop when information changes
Fiber optic cable CH3
A thin glass or plastic cable that is internally reflective. It carries a light wave for extended distances and around corners. -expensive, more data/higher capacity, more secure, harder to work with, fastest transmission rates with the least interference
Instant Messaging (IM)
A two-way electronic communication in real time. Short comments that you type are immediately displayed on the recipient's screen. It generally requires that both parties run the same software
ITaaS (information as a service) CH1
An operational model where the information technology (IT) service provider delivers an information technology service to a business. ITaaS as an operating model is not limited to or dependent on cloud computing like the other 3. A technology-delivery method that treats IT as a commodity (product), providing an enterprise with exactly the amount of hardware, software, and support that it needs for an agreed-on monthly fee.
Gigabyte CH2
Approximately 1 billion bytes of data. Technically, 2 raised to the 30th power or 1024*1024*1024 (1024^3). It is one step above megabyte and one below terabyte
Terabyte CH2
Approximately 1 trillion bytes of data. Technically, it is 2 to the 40th power or 1024*1024*1024*1024 (1024^4). The step lower is gigabyte, the step above is petabyte.
Pixel CH2
Short for "picture element" it is the fundamental unit of a digital image, typically a tiny square or dot which contains a single point of color of a larger image. -If the picture is in color, each dot is assigned a (binary) number to represent its color.
WiFi
Short for wireless fidelity. An early protocol for defining wireless connections, commonly used in homes and businesses. It has a relatively short range (perhaps 100 meters). Transfer speeds initially were less than 11 mbps (using 802.11b), but have increased to 54 mbps (802.11a and 802.11g), and are potentially up to 100 or 200 mbps (802.11n). The higher speeds are achieved by using multiple frequencies at the same time. Actual speeds are considerably lower (as low as half the rated maximum). -access points are relatively inexpensive and commonly installed in homes. WiFi enables multiple computers to connect to an Internet connection and is particularly useful for enabling laptop users to wander around a house or small office and remain connected to the network.
Device Drivers CH2
Small software modules that provide the interface from an operating system to a hardware device. Manufacturers improve and rewrite their device drives, so you should periodically update your system to obtain the newer drivers. -small software programs that provide hooks that are called by the OS to execute commands on the device. For example, a printer driver provides a standard set of commands to the operating system, and handles the details of drawing text and objects on the specific printer. These software drivers are routinely updated by the vendors to fix bugs and add new features. -Every peripheral device (printer, keyboard) uses device driver software to connect to the operating system. -a computer program that controls a particular device that is connected to your computer.
Groupware CH3
Software designed to assist teams of workers. There are four basic types: communication, workflow, meeting, and scheduling. The most common is communication software that supports messages, bulletin boards, and data file transfers and sharing. -includes software that enables several people to work on the same document. Each individual computer has access to the master document. When one person makes a change to the document, the change is highlighted for everyone to read and approve.
Decision support system (DSS) CH1
System to use data collected by transaction-processing systems to evaluate business models and assist managers in making tactical decisions. There are three major components: data collection, analysis of models, and presentation.
Expert system (ES) CH1
System with the goal of helping a novice achieve the same results as an expert. They can handle ill-structured and missing data. Current expert systems can be applied only to narrowly defined problems. Diagnostic problems are common applications for expert systems.
Tactical decisions CH1
Tactical decisions typically involve time frames of less than a year. They usually result in making relatively major changes to operations but staying within the existing structure of the organization (do not alter the overall structure). MIS support consists of databases, networks, integration, decision support systems (DDS helps analyze data), and expert systems. ex. changing inventory methods, new tools to cut costs/improve efficiency
Processor CH2
The heart of a computer. It carries out the instructions of the operating system and the application programs. -It carries out instructions written by programmers. It uses RAM to temporarily store instructions and data. Data and instructions that need to be stored for a longer time are transferred to secondary storage. -The processor is the fastest of the group and its performance is measured in nanoseconds (billionths of a second). Processors are even faster than RAM. As a result, processors contain separate memory caches embedded in the chip.
Motherboard CH2
The main board in a computer that contains sockets for the process and RAM. It also contains an interface bus so that interface cards can be added to the system.
Media access control (MAC)
The network protocol that governs how data bits are sent across a connection medium. Almost always implemented in a LAN card. It is most commonly noticed when you need to control security based on physical cards—in which case you need the MAC address that is uniquely assigned to every network interface card. -This number is used by switches to route local traffic. At the local level, network cards contain a media access control (MAC) address.
Resolution CH2
The number of dots or pixels displayed per inch (dpi) of horizontal or vertical space. Input and output devices, as well as images and video, are measured by their resolution. Higher values of dots per inch yield more detailed images
Instance CH2
a case or occurrence of anything ex. an instance is a VM hosted on Google's infrastructure
OSI Model
a competing seven layer network model that defines the ISO-OSI view of networks. The model is similar in concept to the TCP/IP model, but it breaks level 1 (physical) into two layers, and level 4 into three layers (application).
Server CH2/3
a computer or computer program that manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network. -processes requests and delivers data over a network connection -reliability, easy backup, easy maintenance, multi-user, scalability
Asynchronous Ch3
communication in which messages are sent and received at different times -the sender and receiver do not have to be connected at the same time. The recipient can pick up and reply to a message at any time ex. email
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)
designed to transfer wireless data over relatively long distances, but is rarely used in the U.S. except for some back-haul or point-to-point connections where it is too expensive to lay fiber cables. -limited bandwidth to reduce interference
synchronous
happening at the same time as ex. phone call, im, texting
co-locate (colo)
is a data center facility in which a business can rent space for servers and other computing hardware. Typically, a colo provides the building, cooling, power, bandwidth and physical security while the customer provides servers and storage. -For a monthly fee, they provide the space, power— with UPS, and air conditioning, along with the high-speed Internet connection.
Augmented Reality (AR) CH2
is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real-world are "augmented" by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory, and olfactory -adds digital elements to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone. Examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. -enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something.
Quantum computing CH2
is the use of quantum-mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computation. A quantum computer is used to perform such computation, which can be implemented theoretically or physically.
Wide area network (WAN)
network that is spread across a larger geographic area. In most cases, parts of the network are outside the control of a single firm. Long-distance connections often use public carriers. -a network which is used to connect different local area networks (LAN). Local area networks are connected to one another through a device called router. There may be used many router to connect large amount of LANs. -consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs) -The largest WAN in existence is the Internet. -WANs use the services of carriers, such as telephone companies, cable companies, satellite systems, and network providers.
Input devices CH2
People do not deal very well with binary data, so all data forms must be converted into binary form for the computer. Input devices—for example, keyboards, microphones, mouse, and bar code readers—make the conversion.
Commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) CH2
Purchased software for building applications. Relatively popular because it is faster than building from scratch. -software that is created to support the needs of millions of different users. ex. microsoft office
RGB CH2
Red-green-blue. A color scheme used for video displays. Colors are specified by identifying the desired strength of each primary color. In most implementations the color value ranges from 0 to 255 (one byte).
Extranet CH3 (outside)
A network configured to give certain outsiders, usually customers and suppliers, limited access to data using Web-based systems. example, your suppliers can log into a special section to check on your production schedule, pick up technical specifications, or bid on jobs. Limited to a special group of users.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) CH1
An integrated computer system running on top of a DBMS. It is designed to collect and organize data from all operations in an organization. Existing systems are strong in accounting, purchasing, and HRM.
Mainframe CH2
Mainframes are a type of computer that generally are known for their large size, amount of storage, processing power and high level of reliability. They are primarily used by large organizations for mission-critical applications requiring high volumes of data processing. In general, there are a few characteristics of mainframes that are common among all mainframe vendors: Nearly all mainframes have the ability to run (or host) multiple operating systems. Mainframes can add or hot swap system capacity without disruption. Mainframes are designed to handle very high volume input and output (I/O) and emphasize throughput computing. A single mainframe can replace dozens or even hundreds of smaller servers.
Five Forces model CH1
Michael Porter's model used to search for competitive advantage. The Five Forces are: rivals, customers, suppliers, potential competitors, and substitute products. (threat of new entrants, bargaining power of buyer/suppliers, threat of substitute products or services, rivalry among existing competitors) typical external agents are customers, suppliers, and rivals, government. Competitive advantages can be found by producing better quality items or services at a lower cost than your rivals. Also, many firms have strengthened their positions by building closer ties with their suppliers and customers.
packet
Network messages are split into packets for transmission. Each packet contains a destination and source address as well as a portion of the message.
Network components
Networks require a transmission medium and each device connected must have a network card to make the connection. A switch connects the devices in the LAN, and a router connects the LAN to the Internet. A firewall is often used to filter out certain types of packets or messages so they do not transfer from the Internet to the LAN.
operating system CH2
A basic collection of software that handles jobs common to all users and programmers. It is responsible for connecting the hardware devices, such as terminals, disk drives, and printers. It also provides the environment for other software, as well as the user interface that affects how people use the machine. -An operating system is the main software on a device that handles common tasks including security, file storage, printing, and communication with other systems. ex. Microsoft windows, Apple IOS
Cache Memory CH2
A buffer between the processor and a slower device such as a printer, disk drive, or memory chips. The cache generally consists of high-speed memory. Data is transferred in bulk to the cache (reads ahead and stores several pieces of the file into cache memory). Data is then pulled out as it is needed, freeing up the processor to work on other jobs instead. -a factor that influences the overall performance. The processor runs faster than any other device in the computer, including RAM. Any time there is a large speed difference performance can be improved by adding a memory cache to the faster device.
Coaxial cable
A cable used to transmit data. Cable television is a widespread application. The inner cable is surrounded by a plastic insulator, which is surrounded by a wire mesh conductor and an outer casing. The wire mesh insulates the internal signal wire from external interference. -Designed to carry more information than twisted pairs, with lower chances of interference. -Consists of a central wire surrounded by a nonconductive plastic, which is surrounded by a second wire. The second wire is actually a metallic foil or mesh that is wrapped around the entire cable. This shielding minimizes interference from outside sources. Cable television signals are transmitted on coaxial cables. Coax is capable of carrying more information for longer distances than twisted
PaaS (Platform as a Service) CH1
A category of cloud computing services that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app.
Byte (B) CH2
A collection of bits. Traditionally, 8 bits make up one byte. From binary arithmetic, an 8-bit byte can hold 2 to the 8th power, or 256, possible numbers. In many systems a byte is used to hold one character.
Internet CH3
A collection of computers loosely connected to exchange information worldwide. Owners of the computers make files and information available to other users. Common tools on the Internet include e-mail, ftp, telnet, and the World Wide Web.
Server farm CH2/3
A collection of dozens or hundreds of smaller servers. Software allocates tasks to whichever server is the least busy. This approach to scalability is fault-tolerant and easy to expand, but can be difficult to manage.
Binary Data CH2
A collection of ones and zeros called bits. Computer processors operate only on binary data. All data forms are first converted to binary. -All data represented as binary data when it comes to computers
Local Area Network (LAN)
A collection of personal computers within a small geographical area, connected by a network. All of the components are owned or controlled by one company -commonly used to connect computers and share data within a company. A LAN uses the same technologies as any other type of network, but is recognized separately because all of the components of the network are owned by your company or organization (or household). -Wi-Fi is a medium-range local area network technology -Local area networks are connected to one another through a device called router. - a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus ...
Router
A communication device that connects subnetworks together. Local messages remain within each subnetwork. Messages between sub-networks are sent to the proper location through the router. -a piece of network hardware that connects a local network to the Internet. -Works like a post office, It examines the destination address of each packet of information and selects the best way to send that packet. -Switches and routers examine every packet that passes through them and decide where to send each packet. -Routers use a logical address that is easier to change to identify objects on the internet -Routers and switches improve performance by choosing the path of the message and segmenting large networks into smaller pieces. -routers transfer data across longer distances and more complex networks such as the Internet.
USB flash drive CH2
A flash memory storage device that plugs into a USB port or a computer or mobile device. -are often used for storage, data back-up and transfer of computer files. Compared with floppy disks or CDs, they are smaller, faster, have significantly more capacity, and are more durable due to a lack of moving parts. ... USB flash drives draw power from the computer via the USB connection
Point of sale (POS) system
A means of collecting data immediately when items are sold. Cash registers are actually data terminals that look up prices and instantly transmit sales data to a central computer.
dots per inch (dpi) CH2
A measure of the resolution of devices including printers and displays. Higher values representing more dots per inch provide more detailed images and text. Some people use the term pixels (ppi) instead of dots.
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
A method of sharing a communication medium with multiple users where each computer is allowed to send data for a specified amount of time, then releases it to the next computer. Typically handled by requiring devices to send short packets of data. -Only one machine or person can communicate at a given time. Rules or protocols determine who gets to send a packet, what to do if two machines try to communicate at the same time, how to address the packets, and the length of the packets. -Only one machine or person can send data at a time. Data is limited to short packets to prevent one communicator from monopolizing the time.
Storage area network (SAN)
A method of storing computer data on devices attached to a high-speed local connection instead of placing them into each computer. Separating data from the computer and centralizing it makes it easier to upgrade, control, and provide backups. Fiber optic connections are often used for SAN drives. -often used to provide vast amounts of flexible storage. The disk drives are separated from the computers and connected by a high-speed network using fibre channel or high-speed LAN connections. Physically separating the secondary storage from the computer box makes it easy to expand the capacity, provide redundancy, and move the drives to safer locations. Because of the high transfer speeds across the SAN, the drives appear as simple local devices to the computer, so no software changes are needed. **high-speed sub network of shared storage devices. A SAN's architecture works in a way that makes all storage devices available to all servers on a LAN or WAN
Bitmap Image CH2
A method of storing images. The picture is converted to individual dots (pixels) that are stored as bits. Once a picture is stored in bitmap form, it is difficult to resize. However, bitmaps are good for displaying photographic images with subtle color shading. Bitmap pictures are evaluated in terms of the number of colors and resolution of the picture. -GIF, JPEG, PNG -more pixels/smaller = better resolution
Peer-to-peer network
A network configuration in which each machine is considered to be an equal. Messages and data are shared directly between individual computers. Each machine continuously operates as both a client and a server.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) CH2
American standard code for information interchange. A common method of numbering characters so that they can be processed. For instance, the letter A is number 65. It is slowly being replaced by the ANSI character set table and the use of international code pages that can display foreign characters.
Cable modem
An Internet connection device that translates local area network protocols to run over a television cable line. It can provide transmission speeds around 1.5 Mbps. But the communication line is shared with other users
Management Info System CH1
An MIS consists of five related components: hardware, software, people, procedures, and databases. The goal of management information systems is to enable managers to make better decisions by providing quality information. A combo of computers and people that is used to provide info to aid in making decisions and managing a firm.
RAM (Random Access Memory) CH2
High-speed memory chips that hold data for immediate processing. On most computers, data held in RAM is lost when the power is removed, so data must be moved to secondary storage.
Millisecond CH2
One-thousandth of a second. Disk drives and some other input and output devices perform operations measured in milliseconds. One millisecond compared to one second is the same as comparing 1 second to 16.7 minutes. ex. secondary storage- disk drives, floppy disk, USB drive, SSD- are measured in milliseconds
Data Compression CH2
Instead of recording every one of these pixels, data compression builds up patterns. It takes less space to encode a note that a section contains a large set of black pixels, than to store every pixel. -reduces file size
Megabyte (MB) CH2
Loosely, 1 million bytes of data. Technically, it is 1,048,576 bytes of data, which is 2 raised to the 20th power or 1024*1024 (1024^2). The next step up is gigabyte.
Scalability CH2/3
The ability to buy a faster computer as needed and transfer all software and data without modification. True scalability enables users to buy a smaller computer today and upgrade later without incurring huge conversion costs.
Optical character recognition (OCR) CH2
The ability to convert images of characters (bitmaps) into computer text that can be stored, searched, and edited. Software examines a picture and looks for text. The software checks each line, deciphers one character at a time, and stores the result as text.
Network Interface Card (NIC) (or LAN card)
The communication card that plugs into a computer and attaches to the network communication medium. It translates computer commands into network messages and server commands. -each card has a unique media access control (MAC) address.
computer platform
The hardware architecture, including the CPU, BIOS, and chipset. A platform is a group of technologies that are used as a base upon which other applications, processes or technologies are developed. In personal computing, a platform is the basic hardware (computer) and software (operating system) on which software applications can be run.
Cloud Computing CH1/2
The process of running the main part of an application on servers on the Internet. The servers are generally scalable and provide redundancy. Cloud services available to the public are usually charged on some type of per-use fee basis so firms can buy the level of computing.
Bit (b) CH2
The smallest unit of data in a computer. All data is converted to bits or binary data. Each bit can be in one of two states: on or off (1 or 0). Bits are generally aggregated into collections called a byte.
Dynamic host control protocol (DHCP)
The standard Internet method for assigning Internet addresses to a computer. A DHCP server is given a database with a range of IP addresses and it assigns an unused number to a computer when it requests one on startup. The process means that IP addresses on specific computers can change over time unless the computer is allocated a static address in the database.
Hypertext markup language (HTML)
The standard formatting system used to display pages on the Internet. Special tags (commands inside angle braces, e.g., <HTML>) provide formatting capabilities. Several software packages automatically store text in this format, so users do not have to memorize the tags. -the standard format for telling browsers how to display a page of text and images. These same standards can be used for other types of networks, including intranets and extranets
TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet Protocol) Reference Model
Used to govern the connection of computer systems to the Internet. -The model illustrates how data from an application like e-mail is turned into packets at the transport layer, routed to the destination at the IP layer, and physically transferred as bits at the physical layer.
Parallel processing
Using several processors in the same computer. Each processor can be assigned different tasks, or jobs can be split into separate pieces and given to each processor. There are a few massively parallel machines that utilize several thousand processors.
Virtual reality (VR) CH2
Virtual reality describes computer displays and techniques that are designed to provide a realistic image to user senses, including three-dimensional video, three-dimensional sound, and sensors that detect user movement that is translated to onscreen action. -the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment -When you view VR, you are viewing a completely different reality than the one in front of you. - implies a complete immersion experience that shuts out the physical world.
Blog CH3
Web log. Say it fast and you can hear the abbreviation. A special type of Web site with software that makes it easy for a user to enter comments. Typically used as a daily journal.
