cs110 computer science

17. What is the difference between a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid-state drive (SSD)?

Like a memory stick, there are no moving parts to an SSD. Rather, information is stored in microchips. Conversely, a hard disk drive uses a mechanical arm with a read/write head to move around and read information from the right location on a storage platter. This difference is what makes SSD so much faster.

volatile

Memory that loses its contents when the power is turned off. All RAM except the CMOS RAM used for the BIOS is volatile. ROM, on the other hand, is nonvolatile.

metadata

Metadata describes how and when and by whom a particular set of data was collected, and how the data is formatted.

Primary Storage

The computer's main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the CPU

Octal

The octal number system is base 8, using only digits 0 through 7.

operating system

The operating system (OS) is the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs and applications.Computer operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the storage drives, and controlling

Abstraction

The process of picking out common features of objects and procedures

Public Cloud

The public cloud is defined as computing services offered by third-party providers over the public Internet, making them available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them

What is the difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit processor?

The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

What units are used to measure: a. RAM? How much would be a reasonable choice when purchasing a computer? b. Hard Drive Capacity? How much would be a reasonable choice when purchasing a computer? c. Processor Speed? What's good here? d. USB Flash Drive capacity? What's good here?

a. gigabytes (6) b. terabytes 160-500 gigabytes c. revolutions per minute d. anything

base 2 is also known as

binary

zip, gif, jpeg, mp3, png

compressed

base 10 is also known as

decimal

base 16 is also known as

hexadecimal

How is data represented in a computer?

in binary

Scalability

is the ability of a system to sustain increasing workloads with adequate performance provided that hardware resources are added

Elasticity

is the degree to which a system is able to adapt to workload changes by provisioning and deprovisioning resources in an automatic manner such that at each point in time the available resources match the current demand as closely as possible

NLG

natural language generation

Cloud Computing

the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.

BMP, WAV

uncompressed

Cache

A memory cache, sometimes called a cache store or RAM cache, is a portion of memory made of high-speed static RAM (SRAM) instead of the slower and cheaper dynamic RAM used for main memory.

modem

A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines.

peripheral

A peripheral device is defined as a computer device, such as a keyboard or printer, that is not part of the essential computer (i.e., ... Peripheral devices can be external or internal. Examples of external peripherals include mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, external Zip drive or scanner

device drivers

A program that controls a device.

router

A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP's network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect.

Microprocessor (CPU)

A silicon chip that contains a CPU. In the world of personal computers, the terms microprocessor and CPU are used interchangeably. At the heart of all personal computers and most workstations sits a microprocessor. Microprocessors also control the logic of almost all digital devices, from clock radios to fuel-injection systems for automobiles.

Private Cloud

A virtual private cloud is an on-demand configurable pool of shared computing resources allocated within a public cloud environment, providing a certain level of isolation between the different organizations using the resources

byte

Abbreviation for binary term, a unit of storage capable of holding a single character. On almost all modern computers, a byte is equal to 8 bits

Application Software

An application is any program, or group of programs, that is designed for the end user. Applications software (also called end-user programs) include such things as database programs, word processors, Web browsers and spreadsheets.

BIOS

BIOS is an acronym for basic input/output system, the built-in software that determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol

What is the difference between a modem and a router?

In order for devices on the network to connect to the Internet, the router must be connected to a modem. Therefore, most routers have a specific Ethernet port that is designed to connect to the Ethernet port of a cable or DSL modem. A modem is a device that provides access to the Internet (see below).

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

What is the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0?

It is the "writable" phrase of the World Wide Web with interactive data. Unlike Web 1.0, Web 2.0 facilitates interaction between web users and sites, so it allows users to interact more freely with each other. Web 2.0 encourages participation, collaboration, and information sharing

1 megabyte

1000 kilobytes, 10,000,000, bytes 0.000001 terabytes

bytes in a gigabyte? megabyte? terabyte?

1e+9, 1e+6, 1e+12

What is the job of the Operating System? List 3 Operating Systems.

An operating system has three main functions: (1) manage the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives, and printers, (2) establish a user interface, and (3) execute and provide services for applications software ios, mac, linux, windows

Trojan

Appears useful but damages system, requires human action to run, do not self-replicate.

Virus

Attaches to an executable file, requires human action to spread.

Worms

Can replicate itself on system, does not require human action to spread.

CPU

Central Processing Unit; the brain of the computer.

data

Data is distinct pieces of information, usually formatted in a special way.

What is the difference between digital footprints and digital fingerprints?

Digital footprints are data trails we leave intentionally. Digital fingerprints are data trails of which we are unaware that were left.

Dual/Quad Core Processor

Dual-core refers to a CPU that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor

How does RAM affect a computer's performance?

Generally, the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed. With faster RAM, you increase the speed at which memory transfers information to other components. Meaning, your fast processor now has an equally fast way of talking to the other components, making your computer much more efficient.

differnce between rom and ram

RAM is the memory available for the operating system, programs and processes to use when the computer is running. ROM is the memory that comes with your computer that is pre-written to hold the instructions for booting-up the computer. RAM requires a flow of electricity to retain data (e.g. the computer powered on). ROM will retain data without the flow of electricity (e.g. when computer is powered off). RAM is a type of volatile memory. Data in RAM is not permanently written. When you power off your computer the data stored in RAM is deleted. ROM is a type of non- volatile memory. Data in ROM is permanently written and is not erased when you power off your computer.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification Short for radio frequency identification, RFID is a technology similar in theory to bar code identification. With RFID, the electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the RF portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to transmit signals.

RAM

Random Access Memory

ROM

Read Only Memory

hardware

Refers to objects that you can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips.

Secondary Storage

Secondary memory (or secondary storage) is the slowest and cheapest form of memory. It cannot be processed directly by the CPU . It must first be copied into primary storage (also known as RAM ).

sequential access

Sequential access is the reading or writing of data records in sequential order, that is, one record after the other.

USB

Short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps.

bit

Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. The term was first used in 1946 by John Tukey, a leading statistician and adviser to five presidents. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1

Input/Output

Short for input/output (pronounced "eye-oh"). The term I/O is used to describe any program, operation or device that transfers data to or from a computer and to or from a peripheral device.Every transfer is an output from one device and an input into another.