Computer Fundamentals - Lesson 2

USB

A Universal Serial Bus is an external bus with a maximum transfer speed of 12 megabits per second usb.

Port

A _______ is a socket or plug-in on your computer that allows you to attach an external device by connecting its cable port.

Gigabyte

A ____________ is 1,073,741,824 bytes (typically rounded off to a billion bytes). Often used to describe the capacity of storage devices such as hard drives. 1024 Mb = 1 GB gigabyte.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

A company that provides customers access to the Internet isp.

Server

A computer that allows access to it's resources and files by other computers over a network server.

LAN (local area network)

A connection of two or more computers in close proximity lan.

Expansion Slot

A connector or slot on your computers motherboard that allows for the insertion of an expansion card, connecting it to the systems bus or electronic pathways expansion slot

Pixel

A contraction for Picture Element. What everything on your computer screen is made up of pixel.

Registry

A database used by Windows95, 98 and NT to store user preferences, setup, device, and system configuration. The Registry files are vital to the proper execution of the Operating Systems registry.

Safe Mode

A diagnostic mode that Windows95 or 98 can start in, with minimal configuration and generic drivers so that system errors can possibly be corrected. You can access this mode by pressing F5 or F8 when you see the words "Starting Windows" on the screen at startup safe mode.

Web Cache

A file that stores copies of Web pages to make frequently accessed pages load faster web cache.

Bootable Disk

A floppy disk that contains the necessary system files that will complete the computers boot up sequence and load a basic Operating System bootable disk.

Proxy Server

A form of network security that acts as a go-between for requests on a network proxy server.

IP Address

A numerical address that identifies computers and devices on a network ip address.

Intranet

A private network that allows computers within an organization to share data and applications intranet.

Extranet

A private network that an organization uses to communicate and share data with customers or partners extranet.

Monitoring Software

A program used to record what Web sites a user visits monitoring software.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A protocol used to move files and folders over a network or the Internet ftp.

Podcast

A series of digital audio or video files accessed via a Web feed podcast.

Software

A set of instructions or programming code that is written to instruct a computer to do a certain task or function software

Protocol

A set of rules or configurations defined between two computers or devices so they can communicate protocol.

Icon

A small graphical image or picture used to represent a program, folder, or function icon.

DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

A small printed circuit board with memory chips on it. These modules clip into sockets on the motherboard to make up your system RAM. They come in denominations of 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB dimm.

Virus

A small program or application designed to harm a computer virus.

Worm

A small program or application, capable of self-propagation designed to harm a computer worm.

Optical Media

A type of media used to store data which is read by a laser such as a CD or a DVD optical media.

Dial-Up

A type of network connection in which data is passed through phone lines dial up.

Client-Server Networks

A type of network in which a server directs the clients' requests for resources client server networks.

Peer-to-Peer Network

A type of network that connects two client computers directly together peer to peer network.

Shareware

A version of a software application available for free use with limited features or for a trial period shareware.

Megabyte

Abbreviated MB, a ___________ is equal to 1024 Kilobytes, or 1,048,576 bytes megabyte.

Megahertz

Abbreviated MHz, a system's clock speed is measured in _________ or millions of cycles per second. The speed of computer devices or chips associated or synchronized with the system clock will be measured in MHz. e.g.: CPUs and system Bus megahertz

On-board

Actually located on a circuit board. Often refers to components or devices that are usually connected to the computer through expansion slots or ports, that are integrated onto the motherboard such as video adapters, sound cards or network cards on board. .

OS (operating system)

An ____________ is the primary form of software running on a computer that organizes files and folders as well as telling the hardware how to interact with the user and other software os.

Grounding Mat

An antistatic mat that helps prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging your computer when your working inside the case. These mats often have a cord that attaches to an electric outlet making contact only with the ground receptacle grounding mat.

Grounding Strap

An antistatic wrist strap that attaches to the computer case or an antistatic mat while you're working on a computer. This safely discharges static buildup and helps prevent damage to the computer through electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap.

Open Source Software

An application that allows free distribution and encourages developers to improve the application and add to it open source software.

Software as a Service

An application that is not installed locally but used over the Internet or another network software as a service.

Cache

An area of high speed memory set aside to store frequently accessed data cache.

Expansion Card

An electronic circuit board that fits into a slot on your motherboard expanding the capabilities of your computer. i.e.: video card, internal modem, sound card expansion card.

NIC

An expansion card that fits into a computer and connects via the network cable to the _____s installed in other computers on the network. It works with the network operating system to send and receive information over the network nic.

Mouse

An input device that translates movements on a horizontal surface into movements of a pointer or cursor on the monitor screen mouse.

GUI (Graphic User Interface)

An operating system (such as Windows) with an interface or working environment that uses graphics and icons on the screen for running programs or entering information gui.

Embedded System

An operating system that combines processors and software in a device embedded system.

Real-Time Operating System

An operating system that reacts to current events and actions occurring around it real time operating `system.

Printer

An output device attached to your computer that produces copies on paper (hard copies printer)

Peripheral

Any device or piece of equipment that is attached to and used by a computer, such as a monitor, tape drive, printer, modem, speakers, etc peripheral..

Input Device

Any device that sends information into your computer system. i.e. : keyboard, scanner, mouse, trackball input device

Circuit Board

Boards used in electronic devices that are made from an insulating material and contain electronic components that are interconnected to form a circuit or group of circuits that perform a specific function circuit board.

Modem

Contraction for Modulator/Demodulator, convert analog data into digital data and vice-versa so that computers can communicate over phone lines modem.

Firewall

Hardware or software used to protect data by determining what can get in and out of a network firewall

Server

Hardware that enables communication by passing messages to other users on a network sever.

Node

In networking and communications, a ______ is any computer or device attached to the network node.

Binary Number System

In our everyday lives we use a decimal numbering system containing 10 digits, 0 through 9. Computers use a _______________ which contains only 2 numbers, 0 and 1, called binary digits or bits binary number system.

Pathway

Indicates to the computer, or the user, the drive and list of directories (folders) that must be followed to find that file. This is the path needed to access, retrieve or save the file pathway.

Output

Information processed by the CPU that is sent to another device or peripheral such as a hard drive, monitor or printer ouput.

Communication

Information transferred between user agents and servers on a network commununication.

Backup

It can be made by copying files under a different name or by copying them to another directory, another drive, or a different storage media. It is used to replace or restore files if they should become lost or corrupted backup.

User Agent

Locally accessed software that allows the receipt of and response to communication user agent.

Card

Refers to a printed circuit board (adapter board or expansion card) that installs into one of the expansion slots in your computer, expanding the capabilities of your system, allowing it to communicate with external devices such as monitors or speakers card.

Warm Boot

Resetting or restarting a computer that is already on without turning off the power. It restarts the computer without going through the entire POST. This is accomplished by pushing CTRL+ALT+DEL, using restart on the shut down menu, or pushing the restart button on the front of the computer warm boot.

Device Driver

Small programs that are loaded onto your hard drive and tell the computer how to communicate with that specific input/output device device drver.

Firewall

Software or hardware, used on networks, that prevents outside or undesired access firewall.

Cold Boot

Starting the computer from a power-off status. If your computer is off, and you turn the switch on, you're performing a cold boot _______..

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The _______________ is an integrated circuit chip (IC) that controls and directs the activities of the computer. CPU

Dual Boot

The ability to boot your computer using one of two different operating systems dual boot.

Hardware

The actual physical components and devices that make up a computer system hardware.

Power Supply

The box inside your computer that supplies it with the electricity that it needs power supply.

Memory Address

The computer assigns numbers or addresses to physical memory locations on boot up to keep track of the information that the CPU has access to. This process is referred to as Memory Mapping memory address.

Bus

The electronic pathways that link different devices to each other bus.

Input

The first stage of the computing process, in which a user initiates an action by giving the computer information or a request input.

Monitor

The most commonly used output device for displaying text and graphics from a computer monitor.

Keyboard

The most important input device, used to type commands, data, and other information into your computers memory for processing keyboard.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

The original manufacturer of a hardware component or sub-component oem.

Hard Drive

The primary storage component of a computer which holds all software and data. hard drive

Motherboard

The printed circuit board in a computer that contains the CPU, Chipset, expansion slots, memory and device controllers. Sometimes called the System Board, Main Board, Planar Board or Logic Board motherboard.

Bandwidth

The range of frequencies that a communication cable or channel can carry. In the computer world, it generally refers to the amount of data that can be carried by a specific cable or bus bandwidth

Processing

The second stage of the computing process, in which the computer analyzes information input by the user processing.

OS (Operating System)

The software on your computer that is responsible for allocating the computers resources, such as memory, disk space and processor time, and for accessing different peripheral devices such as the monitor or printer os.

Processor Speed

The speed, or frequency, (in MHz) at which the Central Processing Unit (CPU) in a computer operates processor speed.

Excel

The spreadsheet application used in the Microsoft Office suite excel.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

The standard protocol suite used to ensure that all computers connected to the Internet speak a common language tcp ip.

Output

The third stage of the computing process in which the computer produces a result based on the user's request output.

File Extension

The three character portion that follows the file name and identifies the type of file extension.

Resolution

The total number of pixels used to draw the image on the screen determines the resolution _____.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

The workspace of your computer. It's the area that stores the information and data for processing by the computer's CPU ram.

Internet

The worldwide network of connected computers and servers internet.

CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)

This is one of two technologies used to produce or manufacture microchips. The other is TTL or Transistor Transistor Logic. Although ______ is a little slower and much more susceptible to ESD or static electricity, it uses less power and generates a lot less heat and has replaced the bulkier chips in PCs. All of today's CPUs and memory chips are ______ chips. Because your computer's configuration or setup is stored in a _____ chip, it has sometimes been labeled _____ setup, or just plain ______. So if someone suggests you check your ______, they mean you should look in your setup program cmos.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

When you scan a document, it's like taking a picture that results in an image. The letters and sentences in that image can't be changed or manipulated. ______ is software that attempts to recognize the individual characters and transform the image back into a document that can be edited ocr.

Cable

Wires or a bundle of wires in a protective plastic or rubber covering, with connectors used to join the different components, peripherals and resources associated with your computer system cable.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

_______ is the address of a Web page on the World Wide Web url.

WAN (wide area network)

________ is a connection of two or more networks over a great distance wan.

ROM-BIOS (Read-Only Memory Basic Input/Output System)

____________ is a computer chip which holds basic instructions and services in order to run basic hardware tests rom bios.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

____________ is a memory chip in a computer which holds all programs and data when they are in use ram.

Plug and Play

____________ is a technology that can reduce conflicts between computer devices by automatically configuring them at startup. However, for it to work properly your BIOS and your Operating System both must support PnP, and the device being configured must be a Plug and Play device. The technology actually works pretty good but there can be problems when you mix legacy devices with PnP plug and play.

ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)

_____________ is the discharge of built up static electricity. You may not even feel the discharge but ____ can damage chips and ruin motherboards, rendering your computer useless esd .

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

_____________ is the protocol used to encrypt data being transferred across the Internet ssl.