Comptia A+ 801/802 Chapter 6-10
Parallel Port
I/O port that enables data-transfer method sending 8 bits or multiples of 8 in a single operation; quite often a DB 25F port, also known as LPT port
SVideo
analog video standard used in many VCR and DVD products for input and output of video signals
iLink
another name for IEEE 1394
com
another name for serial port
Apps
applications made for smartphones and tablets
CCFL backlight
backlight for conventional LCD displays
digital camera
camera that uses a digital image sensor instead of film; most use flash memory cards for storage
data projector
can be used in place of a primary display or can be used as a clone of a primary display to permit computer information and graphics to be displayed on a projection wall or screen
mini PCI
cards used to configure different models of a particular portable computer with different features and are not available at retail
ghost cursor
caused by mouse movement too fast for screen refresh rate
accelerometer
combination of hardware and software that measures velocity in mobile devices; detects rotation, shaking of the device, and so on
WXGA
common widescreen graphics graphics resolution for laptops and some displays
HDMI
compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data
SDDIMM
compact version of standard DIMM module, available in various pinouts for used in notebook computers and laser/LED printers
custom system configuration
computer configuration that is not a stock or standard configuration to better fir the computer to a specified task
Thin Client
computer used to access network stored and processed applications
standard thick client
computer used to run locally stored and locally processed applications
daisy-chaining
connecting multiple devices through a single port; used EPP and ECP parallel port modes and SCSI
header cable
connects to motherboard header pins connected to integrated I/O ports
Inverter
converts DC current into AC current to power CCFL backlight in LCD displays
virtualization
creating an environment in which operating system or applications run on a software-created simulation of a computer rather than directly on the computer hardware itself
color quality
describes the number of bits that represent color
ECP
designed for daisy-chaining different devices to a single port; uses IRQ, I/O port addresses, and DMA channel, making it the most resource hungry of all the different parallel port modes
terminator
device placed at the end of the SCSI daisy-chain or a switch setting on the last device on a SCSI daisy-chain
TV tuner
device that can receive analog or digital TV from over-the-air or cable TV sources for live playback or storage for later viewing
KVM switch
device that enables a single keyboard, video display, and mouse to work with two or more computers
contrast ratio
difference in brightness between the lightest and darkest portions of the displays
SPDIF
digital audio standard for interfacing sound cards or onboard sound hardware to a digital amplifier
multitouch Touchscreens
display that can sense the presence of two or more contact points; common in Apple and Android mobile devices
OLED
display that uses organic LEDs based on organic compounds that emit light
docking system
enables laptop computers to use devices not built in, such as card slots, high-end audio and video ports, and others; requires a proprietary, dedicated external bus connector
Videocard
expansion card that generates video signal and displays it on a monitor
VGA
first popular analog video standard; basis for all current video cards
SCSI
flexible interface usable for hard and optical drives, scanners, and other devices
pointing device
general term for any mouse-type device
pointing stick
generic term for IBM/Lenovo TrackPoint, Toshiba Accupoint, or other eraser-head pointing devices located in the middle of the keyboard
I/O port
generic term for ports used for input or ouput
Express Card
high-performance replacement for CardBus; available in 34-mm-wide (/34) and 54-mm-wide (/54) versions
USB
high-speed replacement for older I/O ports
root hub
hosts USB ports on a PC
imaging device
how Microsoft Windows identifies devices such as cameras or scanners in My Computer/Computer
HID
human interface device, mouse or keyboard
ARM
in mobile devices, a 32-bit reduced instruction set computing architecture designed for low-power consumption and simplicity
composite
lowest quality video signal supported by PCs, uses a single RCA cable and port to transmit video signal
synchronization
matching up of files and other data between one computing device and another
SVGA
may refer to 800 x 600 VGA resolution or any VGA display setting that uses more than 16 colors or a higher resolution 640 x 480
Device ID
method of indicating different devices attached to a SCSI host adapter; each device must use a unique ID number, which is set on each device
CRT
monitor's picture tube, a large vacuum tube that displays information
touchpad
most common type of pointing device installed on laptops; all emulate mice, but some recent models also support multitouch
resolution
number of dots per inch (dpi) supported by a scanner or printer, or the number of pixels supported by a display
screen lock
pattern drawn on the display, a PIN (passcode), or a password, used to make a mobile device unacessible to other people
geotracking
practice of tracking and recording the location of a mobile device over time
display port
primarily used to transmit video but can also send audio and USB signals as well; designed as a replacement to VGA and DVI
Video capture
process of capturing live video from analog or digital sources and storing it as a computer file
jailbreaking
process of removing limitations on Apple devices, giving the user root access and allowing a person to install unauthorized software
screen calibration
program on a mobile device that verifies the three axes (left to right, up and down, and back to front) are calibrated properly
port replicator
provides a single connection for various types of I/O ports for portable computers; device is connected to external devices and is then connected to the portable computer through an external proprietary expansion bus or through a USB port
refresh rate
rate at which electron guns in the monitor's CRT repaint the picture on the screen; measured in Hz
bus powered hub
receives power from upstream USB port; limits power to 100 mA per device
LED
refers to a special backlit LCD display; similar to LCD but uses different backlighting instead of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp
DVI
replaced DFP as the standard for support of LCD displays on desktop computers
nullmodem
serial cable that has transmit and receive wires crossed at one end; used for data transfer
serial port
serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time
mini PCIe
smaller than a mini-PCI cards and use a two-part, double-sided, 52 pin-edge connector
MDM
software that secures,manages, and monitors multiple mobile devices from a central location
Fn key
special key on laptop keyboards that, when pressed, enables other keys to perform an additional task, such as adjusting screen brightness, toggling the Windows desktop to an external display, and so on
MIDI
standard developed for the storage and playback of music based on digital sampling of actual musical instruments
RGB
the three additive primary colors used in electronics, systems, and monitors
Belarc System Advisor
third-party ActiveX web-based program that identifies the computer's operating system, hardware, Windows version, and security status
CPUZ
third-party CPU identification program that provides extensive technical information on a CPU's features and revision level
SI Software Sandra
third-party system analysis program that provides extensive technical information on a computer's hardware
degaussing
to demagnetize a CRT display; removes color fringing and distortions onscreen
Plasma
type of displays that uses small cells that contain ionized gas
LCD
type of screen used on portable computers and on flat panel desktop displays
GPU
used to render information on its way to the display
self-powered hub
uses AC adapter, provides full power specified for USB port type(s) supported
EPP
uses both IRQ and I/O port addresses; mode supported by most high-speed printers and drives attached to parallel port
Webcam
video camera designed for live chat sessions; resolutions range from sub-VGA -1080p HD
Internet passthrough
when a mobile device connects to a PC to use the PC's Internet connection
Wi-Fi tethering
when a mobile device shares its Internet connection with other Wi-Fi capable devices
rendor specific
when only certain hardware manufacturers use an operating system made for them
GPS
worldwide system of satellites that provides information concerning the whereabouts of mobile devices and anything else with a reciever
HD audio
Intel standard for high definition audio; supports 192 kHz 32-bit sampling in stereo and 96 kHz 32-bit sampling for up to eight channels
Android
Linux-based operating system mostly in smartphones and tablets computers; open-source
IOS
Mac OSX-based closed source operating system for iPhones and iPads
Hi-speed USB
USB 2.0 ports and devices
Super Speed USB
USB 3.0 ports and devices
generic hub
USB hub that plugs into a USB port of USB root hub
Cardbus
32-bit version of PC Card add-on card used in laptops
XGA
1024 x 768 display standard that is a minimum requirement for most Windows programs
PC card
16-bit PCMCIA card used in older laptops
Audio mini-jack
3.5 mm (1.8 inch) jacks used for stereo and surround audio, microphones and line in/line out connections
System Information
Microsoft Windows application that displays information about a computer's operating system, hardware, and environment
Device Manager
Microsoft Windows utility that displays detailed information about the computer hardware in the system including status and driver information
Home Server PC
PC optimized to provide file, print, and backup services on a home or SOHO network
Dual View
Windows standard for supporting extended or cloned desktop with external video port on laptop computers
Soundcard
add-on card designed for digital sound recording and playback; plugs into a PCI or PCIe x1 slot
gyroscope
adds measurements of pitch, roll, and yaw to mobile devices, just like in the concept of flight dynamics