Module 3: computer hardware

Motherboard

A Circuit board inside a computer that contains the micro processor, the computer memory, and other internal devices.

Video card

A circuit board that processes image signals

Unicode

A coding system that represent text and symbols in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

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

Peripheral device

A device such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, or speakers that can connected to an extend a capability of a computer.

Scanner

A device that converts a paper image into electronic file that you can open and work with on your computer.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

A device that maintains power to computer equipment in case of an interruption in the primary electrical source

Surge suppressor

A device that prevents power fluctuations from damaging electronic components

Multi touch screens

A display that can respond to multiple fingers touching the screen simultaneously.

Touch screen

A display that lets you touch areas of the screen to interact with software

Byte

A field size for number feels that allows entries only from 0 to 255.

Paging file

A file on a hard disk that Windows uses to hold parts of programs and data files that do not fit in RAM.

Touchpad

A flat surface that is touch sensitive, and you move your finger around the touchpad to move the pointer on the screen.

Solid state drive SSD

A hard drive without moving parts, and is faster and more durable than magnetic drives.

Binary system

A number system that has two digits, zero and one.

Stylus

A pen shape digital tools for making selections and entering information on the touchscreen

Laptop

A portable computer that is smaller than the average briefcase and light enough to carry comfortably, often called a notebook.

Mobile device

A portable or a handheld computing device, such as a smart phone or tablet, with a screen size of 10.1 inches or smaller.

Device driver

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

Port

A slot on the computer or device where you can attach a peripheral device.

Digital pen

A small device, shaped like a pen, that you can use to draw, tap icons, or tap keys on an on screen keyboard, similar to a stylus, but is more capable because it has programmable buttons.

Tablet

A small, flat computer with a touch sensitive screen that accepts input from a digital pen, stylus, or your fingertips

Trackball

A stationary pointing device with a ball anchored inside a casing, as well as two or more buttons.

Benchmark

A test run byby a laboratory or other organization to determine processor speed and other performance factors.

Wheel

A type of game controller that mirrors the functionality of a steering wheel in a vehicle

Game controller

An input device you use when playing a video game

USB hub

Anexternal device that contains many USB ports.

Power on self test (POST)

At start up, a sequence that tests all computer components for proper operation.

Optical media

CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, use laser technology for storage and playback.

Input device

Communicates instructions and commands to a computer. Common input devices are keyboard, mouse, stylus, scanner, microphone, game controller.

Desktop computer

Computer that typically consists of the system unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Output device

Conveys information from the computer to the user. Common output devices include displays, speakers, headphones, projectors, and printers.

Printer

Crates hardcopy output on paper, film, and other media

Swap file

Data that cannot fit in RAM and uses an area of the hard disk called virtual memory. Also called a paging file.

Bus width

Determines the speed at which data in a computer travels, also referred to as word size

Word size

Determines the speed at which state it in a computer travels also referred to as bus width

Projectors

Displays visual output from a computer on a large surface such as a wall or screen

Gamepad

Game controller held in both hands that controls the movement and actions of players or objects

Motion sensing controller

Game controller that allows users to guide on screen elements with air gestures

Dance pad

Game controller that is a flat, electronica device divided into panels that users price with their feet in response to instructions from the video game.

Joystick

Game controller with a handheld vertical lever, mounted on a base, that you move in different directions to control the actions of the simulated vehicle or player.

Headphones

I'll put device that consists of a pair of small listening devices that fit into a band placed over your ears

WebCams

In computer concepts, a camera built into a computer, which is primarily use for video conferencing, chatting, or online gaming.

Pointing device

In computer concepts, a device used to .2 and select specific objects on the computer screen. Examples of point devices include a mouse, touchpad, and track ball.

ASCII

In computer concepts, an 8-bit coding scheme, which means that 8 bits are used to represent uppercase and lowercase letters, mathematical operators, and logical operations.

Plug and play

In computer concepts, devices that begin functioning properly as soon as you connect them to your computer.

Clock speed

In computer concepts, the speed at which a processor can execute instructions. Clock speed either can be measured in megahertz or gigahertz

Virtual memory

In the computer concepts, the capability of an operating system to temporarily store data on a storage medium until it can be "5swapped"into RAM.

Headsets

Includes one or more headphones for output, and a microphone for input.

Keyboard

Input device that contains not only characters such as letters, numbers, and punctuation, but also keys that can issue commands.

Cameras

Input devices that support adding pictures or videos to a computer.

Control unit

Manages the flow of instructions within the processor.

Non-volatile

Memory that does not lose its contents when the power is removed.

Volatile

Memory that loses its contents when power is removed.

Speakers

Output devices used to convey audio output, such as music, voice, sound effects, or other sounds

Read only memory (ROM)

Permanently installed memory on your computer attached to the motherboard. The ROM chip contains the BIOS, which tells your computer how to start.

multi-core processor

Processor with multiple cores

Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

Responsible for performing arithmetic operations in the CPU.

Restore

Returning an operating system or files to their default settings, or migrating back to the operating systems previous version.

Bit

Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data a computer can process.

All in one computer

Similar to a desktop computer, but the monitor and system unit our house together.

Earbuds

Speakers that are small enough to place in your ears

External hard drives

Storage drive housed in a separate case, and typically connected to your computer using a USB cable.

Processor cache

Stores frequently use data next to the processor so that it can easily and quickly be retrieved.

Cloud storage

Storing electronica files on the Internet, not on a local computer; often called storing data "in the cloud"

Firmware

The instructions on the ROM chip.

Hard drive

The most common storage medium on a computer; can be magnetic or solid state

Mouse

The most common type a pointing device used with computers.

Form factor

The shape and size of a computer.

Cycle

The smallest unit of time a process can measure

Platform

The software, or operating system, a device uses.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The storage location that is part of every computer and that temporarily stores open apps and document data while a computer is on.

Microphone

Used to enter voice or sound data into a computer.

Voice synthesizer

Voice output that converts text to speech