Module 3: Computer Hardware

scanner

An input device that can change images into codes and an electronic file for input to the computer.

flash memory

Fast type of memory that typically is less expensive than some other types of RAM, and can retain its contents in the absence of power, nonvolatile

static RAM (SRAM)

Memory can be recharged less frequently than DRAM, but can be more expensive than DRAM, volatile

magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM)

Memory uses magnetic charges to store contents, and can retain its contents in the absence of power, nonvolatile

unicode

a 16 bit coding scheme that is an extension of ASCII and support more than 65,000 symbols and characters, including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and other pictorial characters

video card

a circuit board that processes image signals

Central Processing Unit

a complex integrated circuit consisting of millions of electronic parts and is primarily responsible for converting input (data) into meaningful output (information)

surge suppressor

a device that prevents power fluctuations from damaging electronic components

touchpad

a flat surface that is touch-sensitive and you move your finger around the touch pad to move the pointers on the screen

Solid State Drive (SSD)

a hard drive without moving without moving parts and is faster and more durable than magnetic drives

binary system

a number system that has two digits, 0 and 1

device driver

a program that controls a device attached to your computer, such as a printer, monitor, or video card

uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

a short-term battery backup that comes on automatically in case of power loss

trackball

a stationary pointing device with a ball anchored inside a casing

benchmark

a test run by a laboratory or other organization to determine processor speed and other performance factors

ASCII

an 8-bit coding system, meaning 8 bits are used to represent uppercase and lowercase letters, mathmatical operators and logical operations

keyboard

an input device that contains keys you can press to enter letters, numbers, and symbols

touchscreen/multitouch screens

can respond to multiple fingers touching the screen simultaneously

input device

communicate instructions and commands to a computer (ex: keyboard, mouse)

output device

conveys information from the computer to the user (ex speakers, printers)

bus

data traveling in and out of the CPU

storage devices

designed to store data for extended periods of time, the type and amount of data helps to determine the most appropriate storage device to use

bus width/word size

determines the speed at which data travels

plug-and-play

devices that begin functioning properly as soon as you connect them to your computer

mouse

fits under your hand can connect to the computer with either a wire or wirelessly

Slide 17, 18,19

hardware to consider when purchasing a computer

Optical media

includes CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, but their use as storage as storage media is declining

cameras/webcams

input devices that can support adding pictures or videos to a computer

clock speed

measures the speed at which a processor can execute instructions

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

memory needs to be constantly recharged or contents will be erased, volatile

digital pen

more capable than a stylus, because it has programmable buttons

read-only memory (ROM)

permanently installed on your computer and is attached to the mother board . the ROM chip contains the BIOS, which tells your how to start

virtual memory

process of optimizing RAM storage by borrowing hard drive space

stylus

small pen like device that you can use to touch and draw with an onscreen keyboard

Tablet

small, flat computer with a touch sensitive screen

random access memory (RAM)

stored on one or more chips connected to the main circuit board of the computer, also referred to as the mother board

power-on self test (POST)

tests all computer components for proper operation

swap file/paging file

the area of the hard drive temporarily used to store data that cannot fit in RAM

Bit

the smallest unit of data a computer can process

firmware

updated instructions on the ROM chip

microphone

used to enter voice or sound data into a computer

pointing device

used to point to and select specific objects on the computer screen

byte

when bits are group together