key terms
BD-ROM
(Blu-ray ROM) A Blu-ray disc that cannot be modified; usually used to distribute movies.
BD-RE
(Blu-ray disc rerecordable) A Blu-ray disc that can be recorded on multiple times.
ROM
(Read only memory) a chip on the motherboard that is prerecorded with and permanently stores the set of instructions that the computer uses when you turn in on; permanent
Cache
(computer science) RAM memory that is set aside as a specialized buffer storage that is continually updated
CISC
(computer science) a kind of computer architecture that has a large number of instructions hard coded into the cpu chip
virtual memory
(computer science) memory created by using the hard disk to simulate additional random-access memory
UXGA
(ultra extended graphics array) Describes resolutions up to 1600x1200 and over 16million colors. Sometimes used on powerful laptops and when using applications in which more of the screen needs to be seen (such as spreadsheets).
DVD-R
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DVD-ROM
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DVD-RW
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DVD-VIDEO
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EEPROM
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Expanion slot
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Expansion Card
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Expansion port
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Expantion bus
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Gigahertz
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LCD
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Megahertz
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PC platform
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PCI
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RAM
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floppy disk
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form factor
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front side bus
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graphics card
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graphics processing unit
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hard disk controller
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hard disk drive
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hard disk platter
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head crash
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home computer system
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hyper transport
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hyper-threading technology
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ink jet printer
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level 1 cache
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level 2 cache
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linux platform
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mac platform
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magnetic storage
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media center PC
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microprocessor clock
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minilaptop
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mod
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mouse
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multi-core processor
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nanosecond
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non-volatile
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note-book computer
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optical storage
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overclocking
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parallel processing
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peripheral device
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pipeling
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pits
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pixels
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plasma screen
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plug and play
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pointing device
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pointing stick
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portable computer
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postscript
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power surge
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printer control language
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random access
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re-writable technology
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re-write head
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re-write technology
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read only technology
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storage density
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storage device
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storage medium
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surge strip
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double layer DVD
A DVD that essentially stacks data in two different layers on the disk surface to store 8.5 GB, twice the capacity of a standard DVD.
DVD+RW
A DVD-RW is like a DVD-R but can be erased and written to again. Like CD-RWs, DVD-RWs must be erased in order for new data to be added. DVD-RWs can hold 4.7GB of data and do not come in double-layered or double-sided versions like DVD-Rs do.
CD-R
A compact disk on which you can write only once and thereafter is read-only memory.
system unit
A computer case that contains the CPU, power supply, memory, and storage.
Desktop computer
A computer that is intended for use at a single location. A desktop computer consists of a case that houses the main components of the computer, plus peripheral devices.
Card reader
A device that transfers data to or from a computer.
Benchmarks
A measurement tool that gathers ratings of a manager's use of skills associated with success in managing.
USB Flash Drive
A portable solid state storage device with a built-in connector that plugs directly in to a computer's universal serial bus.
touch screen
A touch-sensitive transparent panel covering the screen. Instead of using a device such as a stylus, you can use your finger to point directly to a selection on the screen.
dot matrix printer
A type of printer that uses a matrix of pins striking paper through an ink ribbon to create dots on the paper, forming alphanumeric characters and graphic images. (12)
CD-DA
A typical audio CD.
XGA
A video mode with a maximum graphics resolution of 1024 × 768.
USB
Acronym for the Universal Serial Bus, an interface connection to a personal computer. USB speech recognition headsets and microphones bypass the sound card and input speech more directly and with less distortion into a computer processor.
DVD
Also called Digital Versatile Disk; full-length movies can be stored on this medium.
refresh rate
As applied to monitors, the number of times in one second an electronic beam can fill the screen with lines from top to bottom. Also called vertical scan rate.
BD-R
BD recordable. A BD-R drive might also write to DVDs or CDs.
Blu-ray
Blu-ray is an optical disc format such as CD and DVD. It was developed for recording and playing back high-definition (HD) video and for storing large amounts of data. While a CD can hold 700 MB of data and a basic DVD can hold 4.7 GB of data, a single Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25 GB of data.
DVD+R
DVD+R and DVD-R discs look the same as regular DVDs, but can be used to record data. Single-sided, single-layer DVD+R discs can store 4.7GB of data, while double-layer discs can store 8.5GB and double-sided DVD-Rs can store 9.4GB. The DVD+R format is not quite as common as the DVD-R format, but is still supported by most current DVD players and DVD-ROM drives.
solid state storage
Data storage technology with no moving mechanical parts that uses large-capacity, nonvolatile memory, commonly calledflash memory or solid-state drives. (2)
CD-ROM
Disk that can store up to 680 MB of data; data can only be read from it.
Capacitors
Electronic circuit components that store an electrical charge; in RAM, a charged capacitor represents an "on" bit, and a discharged one represents an "off" bit.
safe mode
In Windows, an Advanced Options menu choice that starts Windows without several drivers and components and loads only very basic, non-vendor-specific drivers for mouse, video, keyboard, mass storage, and system services. Safe Mode also displays in low resolution. (11)
serial proccessing
Neuronal Pool Pattern: Moves info in single line
RISC
RNA-induced silencing complex where one of the double stranded miRNA binds to Argonaute protein
duty cycle
Ratio of on time to total cycle time; On 10 sec, off 50 sec = 10/60 x 100= 16% or 1:6 duty cycle. The higher the duty cycle the more fatiguing
ROM BIOS
Read-Only Memory Basic Input/Output System (ROM-BIOS) is a computer chip which holds basic instructions and services in order to run basic hardware tests.
CD-RW
Stands for "Compact Disc Re-Writable." A CD-RW is a blank CD that can be written to by a CD burner. Unlike a CD-R (CD-Recordable), a CD-RW can be written to multiple times. The data burned on a CD-RW cannot be changed, but it can be erased. Therefore, you have to completely erase a CD-RW every time you want to change the files or add new data.
Sequential access
Storage method that requires the user to retrieve information by zipping through it in the order in which it was recorded.
SXGA
Super XGA, a video graphics mode with a maximum resolution of 1280 × 1024. (3)
dot pitch
The distance in millimeters between each like-color pixel on a display. The smaller the distance between the pixels, the sharper the image. Dot pitch is one measurement of image clarity on a CRT monitor. Also called pixel pitch
Access time
The estimated time for a storage device to locate data on a disk
color depth
The number of colors that each pixel in an image is capable of displaying.
data bus
The pathway between the memory or peripheral and processing unit that carries data for processing or data that has been processed.
Dual-channel architecture
The use of two channels to quickly transport data between RAM and the processor.
UPS
Uninterruptible Power Supply. Contains a battery that can run a server for a period of time after power failure, enabling you to shut down the system safely and save any data
VGA
Video Graphic Array (VGA) The VGA translates binary-coded information (0s and 1s) into the color combinations required to make up an image on your computer screen.
WQXGA
Wide Quad eXtended Graphics Array 2560 x 1600 resolution.
CD
a digitally encoded recording on an optical disk that is smaller than a phonograph record
veiwable image size
a measurment of the maxium image size that can be displayed
tape drive
a mechanism that transport magnetic tape across the read/write heads of a tape playback/recorder
Ultra-moible PC
a small form factor PC with a touch sensative screen
CRT
a vacuum tube in which a hot cathode emits a beam of electrons that pass through a high voltage anode and are focused or deflected before hitting a phosphorescent screen
volatile
a volatile substance
AGP
accelerated graphics port, a type of interface or slot that provides high speed pathway for advanced graphics
trackball
an electronic device consisting of a rotatable ball in a housing.
black screen of death
an error condition in which a pc freezez and displays a black screen usually turning the computer off and turning it on again clears the error
drive bays
areas withtin a computer system unit that can accommodate additional sotrage devices
duplex printer
can print on both sides of the paper
trackpad
is a small, rectangular surface that you use by dragging your finger across it.
tablet computer
looks like a notebook computer but the screen is detachable and users can write on the screen using a special purpose pen
U3 drive
offers even more convenience than a flash drive, because it includes pre-installed software accessed through a Windows type interface
SVGA
super video graphics array, video standard with a resolution of 800 by 600
resolution
the ability of a microscope or telescope to measure the angular separation of images that are close together
veiwing angle width
the angle at which you can clearly see the screen image clearly.
recordable technology
the devices and standards that allow computers to write data permanently on CDs and DVDs, but does not allow that data to be changed once it has been recorded
Data transfer rate
the maximum speed at which data can be transmitted between two nodes on a network; usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
word size
the number of bits the processor can interpret and execute at a given time
WUXGA
wide ultra extended graphics array.