Computer Lesson 1-2 What is Computer Hardware

Physical Connection

A connection created by using physical media

Port

A connection, either hardware or soft-ware, between a computer and an external device. In networking, an endpoint used by the communications protocol to identify the specific location on a computer where data transferred on the internet is sent or received

Parallel Port

A connector for a device that sends or receives several bits of data simultaneously by using more than one wire

Serial Port

A connector through which information transfers in or out of the computer system one bit at a time

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

A digital cable standard for audio and video transmission

Device

A hardware component installed for use with a computer system

Ethernet

A networking technology used for local area networks

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

A piece of the computer's hardware that processes and compares data and completes arithmetic and logical operations

Connector

A plug used for connecting a device to a computer to a computer port

Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI)

A set of parallel interface standards used for connecting and transferring data between a computer and peripheral devices

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

A standard for connecting video devices such as monitors, televisions, and projects to a video adapter card in a computer

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

A standard that allows communication between devices, such as between a flash drive and a computer

Memory Card

A storage device often used with mobile devices and digital cameras

Optical Storage Device

A storage device that uses laser beams to read the information stored on the reflective surface of a disc

Wireless Connection

A transmission via radio waves

Terabyte

A unit of measure equal to 1024 gigabytes

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

A video display interface used to connect a video source to a display device

Wi-Fi

A wireless technology that uses radio signals over a distance up to 300 feet to connect devices to the internet

Circuit

In electronics, a path between two or more points along which an electrical current can be be carried; in telecommunications a specific path between two or more points along which signals can be carried

Peripheral

Input, output, and storage devices that can be connected to a computer

Volatile Memory

Memory which does not retain data when the computer is turned off

IR Wireless

One of the earlier wireless technologies that allowed computers to exchange data. It uses infrared radiation to transmit data. Infrared is electromagnetic energy at a wave-length slightly longer that that of a red light.

Cloud Storage

Space on internet serves where data and applications can be stored and accessed

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Special chips that store data and instructions while the computer is working

Hardware

The physical parts of a computer

Upload

To send data from a client computer to a server computer through a network or internet connection

Bluetooth

Wireless technology that uses radio signals to allow communications between devices over short distances

Circuit Board

an insulated board on which microchips and other components are mounted or etched