Chapter 1 - CS008
Individual Computer
A type of computer designed for one user at a time
Organization Computer
A type of computer designed to be used by many people at the same time
System Unit
Base unit of the computer - made up of a plastic or metal enclosure, the motherboard, and the integrated peripherals
Motherboard
Circuit board that connects the central processing unit(s), CPU, to the other system components
Network
Connects two or more computers to share input/output devices and other resources through the use of a network interface card
Information
Data that has been consolidated, organized, and processed
Storage Device
Hard Drives, CD & DVD drives, and media card readers -- used with USB drives and Flash memory cards. Anything that can hold data &/or information.
Communication Device
Hardware component that moves data in and out of a computer
Communications
High-speed movement of data or information
2 Main Components of Computers
I- Software II- Hardware
Hardware
Include physical parts of a computer such as the system unit, the monitor, the keyboard, the printer, and ect.
Information-processing cycle
Made of 4 basic components of computation I - Input II- Processing III- Output IV- Storage
Sub-notebooks
Portable individual computers which run full desktop operating systems but possess fewer components and are both smaller and lighter than notebooks
RAM
Random Access Memory, functions to temporarily store the programs and data needed by the CPU for processing
Data
Raw and unorganized facts that are entered into a computer for processing
CPU
The central processing unit, it is the key component that deals with processing data into information
Input
The first operation in the information-processing cycle, which allows the computer to accept data from devices such as a keyboard or mouse.
Storage
The fourth operation of the information-processing cycle, that entails holding programs, software, and data for the computer system to use.
Processing
The second operation in the information-processing cycle, which converts data into information via CPU
Output
The third operation in the Information-processing cycle. It requires output devices such as monitors and printers to demonstrate the results of input & processing that people can see and hear.
Computer System
a group of associated components, software & hardware, that work together to perform various functions
Desktop Computers
an individual computer designed for home or office use, which now include all-in-one computers that combine the system unit and the monitor together
Portable computers
an individual computer designed to be travel friendly and use-able in various settings. Many types of technologies fall under this category of individual computers
Personal computer [PC]
an individual computer that runs either with a MAC or IBM compatible systems
Computer
any device that performs the information-processing cycle
Notebooks
portable individual computers which are small enough for easy computer mobility
Wireless devices
type of portable individual computer
Tablet-PCs
type of portable individual computer where rather than relying on keyboard or mouse to input data, a touch sensitive monitor or special writing stylus inputs the data