Chapter 2: Hardware and Software

contactless card

a card with an embedded chip that only needs to be held close to a terminal to transfer its data; no PIN number needs to be entered

software suite

a collection of single programs packed together in a bundle

compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)

a common form of optical disc on which data cannot be modified once it has been recorded

application service provider (ASP)

a company that provides the software, support, and computer hardware on which to the run the software from the user's facilities over a network

portable computers

a computer small enough to carry easily

server

a computer used by many users to perform a specific task, such as running network or Internet applications

digital audio player

a device that can store, organize, and play digital music files

sequential access storage device (SASD)

a device used to sequentially access secondary storage data

magnetic disk

a direct access storage device, with bits represented by magnetic areas

pixel

a dot of color on a photo image or a point of light on a display screen

random access memory (RAM)

a form of memory in which instructions or data can be temporarily stored

mainframe computer

a larger, powerful computer often shared my hundreds of concurrent users connected to the machine via terminals

thin client

a low-cost, centrally managed computer with essential but limited capabilities and no extra drives (such as CD or DVD drives) or expansion slots

redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID)

a method of storing data that generate extra bits of data from existing data, allowing the system to create a "reconstruction map" so that if the hard drive fails, the system can rebuild lost data

multicore microprocessor

a microprocessor that combines two or more independent processors into a single computer so that they share the workload and improve processing capacity

service-oriented architecture (SOA)

a modular method of developing software and systems that allows users to interact with systems and systems to interact with each other

workstation

a more powerful personal computer used for mathematical computing, computer-assisted design, and other high-end processing, but still small enough to fit on a desktop

read-only memory (ROM)

a non-volatile form of memory

laptop computer

a personal computer designed for the use by mobile users; it is small and light enough to sit comfortably on a user's lap

smartphone

a phone that combines the functionality of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, camera, Web browser, e-mail tool, and other devices into a single handheld device

tablet computer

a portable, light weight computer with no key card that allows you to roam the office, home, or factory floor carrying the device like a clipboard

green computing

a program conceded with the efficient and environmentally responsible design, manufacture, operation, and disposal of IS-related products

desktop computer

a relatively small, inexpensive, single-user computer that is highly versatile

direct access

a retrieval method in which data can be retrieved without the need to read and discard other data

sequential access

a retrieval method in which data must be accessed in the order in which it is stored

clock speed

a series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time

blade server

a server that houses many individual computer motherboards that include one or more processors, computers memory, computer storage, and computer network connections

Software as a Service (SaaS)

a service that allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business application software by paying a monthly derive charge or a per-use fee

handheld computer

a single-user computer that provides ease of portably because of its small size

storage area network (SAN)

a special-purpose, high-speed network that provides high-speed connections among data-storage devices and computers over a network

virtual tape

a storage device for less frequently needed data so that it appears to be stored entirely on the tape cartridges, although some parts of it might actually be located on faster hard disks

digital video disc (DVD): a storage medium used to store software, video, games, and movies

a storage medium used to store software, video, games, and movies

radio frequency identification (RFID)

a technology that employs a microchip with an antenna to broadcast its unique identifier and location to receivers

chip-and-PIN card

a type of card that employs a computer chip that communicates with a card reader using radio frequencies; it does not need to be swiped at a terminal

magnetic stripe card

a type of card that stores a limited amount of data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based particles contained in a band on the card

plasma display

a type of display using thousands of smart cells (pixels) consisting of electrodes and neon and xenon gases that are electronically turned into plasma (electronically charged atoms and negatively charged particles) to emit light

magnetic tape

a type of sequential secondary storage medium, now used primarily for storing backups of critical organizational data in the event of a disaster

command-based user interface

a user interface that requires you to give text commands to the computer to perform basic activities

nettop computer

an inexpensive desktop computer designed to be smaller, lighter, and consume much less power than a traditional desktop computer

digital camera

an input device used with a PC to record and store images and video in digital form

application program interface (API)

an interface that allows applications to make use of the operating system

graphical user interface (GUI)

an interface that displays pictures (icons) and menus that people use to send command to the computer system

direct access storage device (DASD)

device used for direct access of secondary storage data

byte (B)

eight bits that together represent a single character of data

organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display

flat display that uses a layer of organic material sandwiched between two conductors, which, in turn, are sandwiched between a glass top plate and a glass bottom plat so that when electric current is applied to the two conductors, a bright electroluminescent light is produced directly from the organic material

LCD display

flat display that uses liquid crystals— organic, oil-like material placed between two polarizers— to form characters and graphic images on a backlit screen

speech-recognition technology

input devices that recognizes human speech

propriety software

one-of-a-kind software designed for a specific application and owned by the company, organization, or person that uses it

unity program

program that helps to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system

computer programs

sequences of instructions for the computer

programming languages

sets of keywords, symbols, and rules for constructing statements that people can use to communicate instructions to a computer

notebook computer

smaller than a laptop computer, an extremely lightweight computer that weighs less than 7 pounds and can easily fit in a briefcase

off-the-shelf software

software mass-produced by software vendors to address needs that are common across businesses, organizations, or individuals

middleware

software that allows various systems to communicate and exchange data

storage as a service

storage as a service is a data storage model where a data storage service provider rents space to individuals and organizations

user interface

the element of the operation system that allows people to access and command the computer system

supercomputer

the most powerful computer system with the fastest processing speeds

arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

the part of the CPU that performs mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons

control unit

the part of the CPU that sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in and out of the ALU, the register, the primary storage, and even the secondary storage and various output devices

central processing unit (CPU)

the part of the computer that consists of three associated elements: the arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas

hardware

the physical components of a computer that perform the input, processing, storage and output activities of the computer

parallel computing

the simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors to obtain results faster

multiprocessing

the simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time

netbook computer

the smallest, lightest, least expensive member of the laptop computer family

grid computing

the use of a collection of computers, often owned by multiple individual or organizations, to work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem