Computer Basics Vocabulary

UPS Device

(Uninterruptible Power Supply) A device that provides battery backup when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level. Small UPS systems provide power for a few minutes; enough to power down the computer in an orderly manner, while larger systems have enough battery for several hours.

Internet

A global network connecting millions of computers, linking more than 100 countries for the exchange of data, news and opinions.

Track Ball

A pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down mouse with an exposed protruding ball. The user rolls the ball with the thumb, fingers, or the palm of the hand to move a pointer.

Tablet

A portable computer that uses a touchscreen as its primary input device. Most tablets are slightly smaller and weigh less than the average laptop.

Application

A program that helps the user accomplish a specific task; for example, a word processing program or a spreadsheet program. Application programs should be distinguished from system programs, which control the computer and run those application programs, and utilities, which are small assistance programs.

Palmtop

An electronic organizer.

Tower

An upright case with more room.

Output Devices

Examples - monitor, printer, speakers, projector.

Joy Stick

A lever that can be moved in several directions to control the movement of an image on a computer or similar display screen.

Projector

A machine that throws an image onto a wall.

Daughterboard

A thin circuit board attached to the motherboard, used to attach expansion cards.

DVD

A type of optical disc that uses the same diameter as a CD and looks like a CD, but has a significantly higher storage capacity, sometimes more than 25 times the digital storage of a compact disc. Stands for Digital Video Disc.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

The document format used on the Internet.

Byte

8 bits = 1 character, series of 0's and 1's.

Embedded Processor

A chip designed with a specific set of usable instructions. The user cannot change the instructions an embedded processor can understand.

Blade Server

A compact, self-contained server that consists of core processing components that fit into an enclosure with other blade servers. A single blade may consist of hot-plug hard-drives, memory, network cards, input/output cards and integrated lights-out remote management.

Integrated Circuit

A complete circuit on a chip built by a chip fabrication process.

Chassis

A computer case also known as a computer chassis, tower, system unit, cabinet, base unit or simply case and sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "CPU" or "hard drive", is the enclosure that contains most of the components of a computer (usually excluding the display, keyboard and mouse).

System Unit

A computer case that contains the CPU, power supply, memory, and storage.

Scanner

A computer input device that can read text, images and barcodes, and translate them into digital code.

Keyboard

A computer input device that uses a set of keys to put data into the computer.

Personal Computer (Microcomputer)

A computer that serves one user at a time.

Expansion Slot

A connector designed to allow the addition of printed circuit boards--daughterboards--to the motherboard, for adding special control units such as soundboards.

Work Station

A desktop computer terminal, typically networked and more powerful than a personal computer.

Speaker

A device that converts analog audio signals into the equivalent air vibrations in order to make audible sound. When CRT monitors were the norm, speakers designed for computers were shielded to avoid magnetic interference with the CRT's magnetic coil.

Router

A device that routes packets of data between two or more networks.

Laptop

A laptop is a small, easily transported computer, generally weighing less than 7 pounds and with roughly the same dimensions as a 1- to 2-inch-thick stack of magazines. Laptops computers have an all-in-one layout in which the keyboard, and often the pointing device, is integrated into the computer chassis and an LCD display is in a hinged lid.

Disk Drive

A mechanism that holds, spins, reads, and writes either magnetic or optical disks.

Networking Controller

A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter or physical network interface, and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

Networking Component

A network is simply connections of computers. At a minimum, there are two computers and some type of connection, such as wire. Most networks are larger than this and can include many computers, servers, and a lot of wire. Networks can also include routers, hubs, and wireless capabilities.

Printer

A peripheral output device that produces printed output to paper. Different types include dot matrix, ink-jet, and laser printers.

Memory

A place to store information.

Mouse

A pointing and input device that allows the user to move a cursor around a screen and select items with the click of a button.

Blade Switch (AKA Blade Server)

A server architecture that houses multiple server modules ("blades") in a single chassis. It is widely used in datacenters to save space and improve system management. Either self-standing or rack mounted, the chassis provides the power supply, and each blade has its own CPU, memory and hard disk.

Computer

An electronic device used for processing data. The physical parts that make up a computer (the central processing unit, input, output, and memory) are called hardware. Programs that tell a computer what to do are called software.

Chip

An integrated circuit. A thin piece of silicon that contains all the components of an electronic circuit.

Drive Bays

Areas within a computer system unit that can accommodate additional storage devices.

Information Processing

Capturing, storing, updating and retrieving data information.

Software

Computer program that gives detailed set of instruction to tell the computer exactly what to do.

Server

Designed to support a computer network that allows user to share data, software and peripherals.

Monitor

Display consisting of a device that takes signals from a computer and displays them on a CRT screen.

Input Devices

Examples - keyboard, mouse, joy stick, track ball, and scanner.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Executes commands from a computer's hardware and software; the principal computer chip that contains several processing components, which determines the computer's operating speed; the "brain" of a computer.

Peripherals

Extra attachments and capabilities. Examples - modem, microphone, camera.

Storage

Maintaining encoded information in memory over time.

Main Memory

Memory that is directly addressable by the processor.

Networks

Multiple computers linked together

Compact Disc (CD)

Optical disk data storage format that typically stores audio or text data.

Secondary Storage Devices

Permanently stores data. (Floppy disk, hard drive)

Electronic Components

Process data using instructions which are the steps that tell the computer how to perform a particular task.

Desktop

Sits on the desk with separate monitor.

Raid Controller

Specialized hardware used to create and manage a RAID array.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Storage memory chips that are able to maintain their contents if the power is disrupted. This form of primary storage chips has their stored content entered at the time of their fabrication and can be written to only once.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Temporary storage memory chips that form the computer's primary workspace; contents are lost if the power is disrupted. This form of primary storage can be read and written to many times.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

The address that defines the route to a file on a Web server.

Output

The computer-generated information that is displayed to the user in some discernible form such as a screen display, printed page, or sound.

Input

The data that is entered into a computer. The act of entering data into a computer.

Motherboard (aka systemboard)

The main circuit board of a computer housing the microprocessor and providing the means of connecting all the components--including memory sockets and expansion slots--that make up the computer.

Microprocessor

The main processing unit of a computer or information processing device; acts as the "brain" on the machine carrying out instructions, performing calculations, and interacting with all the components used to operate the computer. Handles the fetch, decode, and execute steps of the computer system.

Hardware

The physical parts of the computer system that you can touch and feel such as the CPU (central processing unit), keyboard, monitor, and computer case.

Operating System

The system necessary for a computer to operate. (Abbreviated as OS)

Switch

Used to network multiple computers together. Switches made for the consumer market are typically small, flat boxes with 4 to 8 Ethernet ports. These ports can connect to computers, cable or DSL modems, and other switches. High-end switches can have more than 50 ports and often are rack mounted.