1.01
Graphical User Interface
a menu based interface known as icons (pictures that appear on the desktop environment).
Mouse
a pointing device used primarily with graphical interfaces.
Hard Copy
a printed page of text or graphics.
Non-impact Printer
a printer that forms images without striking the paper. Example: Laser or Inkjet Printers. (Laser printers are considered to be the Cadillac of all printers)
Impact Printers
a printer that strikes the paper in order to form images. Example: Dot Matrix Printer
Random Access Memory (RAM)
a type of memory that can be read from and written to by the processor and other devices. Ram memory is volatile.
Read Only Memory (ROM)
a type of memory that is used to store permanent data and instructions because it is nonvolatile.
Keyboard
an input device that enters data with letters, numbers, symbols, and special function keys.
Modem
computer hardware that allows information to be passed through the telephone lines.
Output Device
displays or prints information produced by a computer. Printers and monitors are examples of output devices. A printer produces a hard copy output while a monitor produces a soft copy output.
Softcopy
output viewed on the monitor.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
the "Brains" of the computer where the work is done.
Processor
the device that processes data into information.
Storage
the device that saves data so it can be used again. Disk drives are used to store data on disks.
Output
the information that leaves the computer.
Hardware
the physical equipment of a computer system that you can touch.
Monitor
the video screen of the computer.
Command-line Interface
type of user interface in which the user types commands or press special keys on the keyboard to enter data and instructions.
Scanner
used like a copy machine to allow information to be input into the computer.
Input Device
used to enter information into the computer. Examples are keyboard, joystick, modem, mouse, scanner, voice recognition, touch screen, microphone, light pen, and stylus .
