Chapter 2: Hardware and Software
contactless card
a card with an embedded chip that only needs to be held close to a terminal to transfer its data; no PIN number needs to be entered
software suite
a collection of single programs packed together in a bundle
compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)
a common form of optical disc on which data cannot be modified once it has been recorded
application service provider (ASP)
a company that provides the software, support, and computer hardware on which to the run the software from the user's facilities over a network
portable computers
a computer small enough to carry easily
server
a computer used by many users to perform a specific task, such as running network or Internet applications
digital audio player
a device that can store, organize, and play digital music files
sequential access storage device (SASD)
a device used to sequentially access secondary storage data
magnetic disk
a direct access storage device, with bits represented by magnetic areas
pixel
a dot of color on a photo image or a point of light on a display screen
random access memory (RAM)
a form of memory in which instructions or data can be temporarily stored
mainframe computer
a larger, powerful computer often shared my hundreds of concurrent users connected to the machine via terminals
thin client
a low-cost, centrally managed computer with essential but limited capabilities and no extra drives (such as CD or DVD drives) or expansion slots
redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID)
a method of storing data that generate extra bits of data from existing data, allowing the system to create a "reconstruction map" so that if the hard drive fails, the system can rebuild lost data
multicore microprocessor
a microprocessor that combines two or more independent processors into a single computer so that they share the workload and improve processing capacity
service-oriented architecture (SOA)
a modular method of developing software and systems that allows users to interact with systems and systems to interact with each other
workstation
a more powerful personal computer used for mathematical computing, computer-assisted design, and other high-end processing, but still small enough to fit on a desktop
read-only memory (ROM)
a non-volatile form of memory
laptop computer
a personal computer designed for the use by mobile users; it is small and light enough to sit comfortably on a user's lap
smartphone
a phone that combines the functionality of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, camera, Web browser, e-mail tool, and other devices into a single handheld device
tablet computer
a portable, light weight computer with no key card that allows you to roam the office, home, or factory floor carrying the device like a clipboard
green computing
a program conceded with the efficient and environmentally responsible design, manufacture, operation, and disposal of IS-related products
desktop computer
a relatively small, inexpensive, single-user computer that is highly versatile
direct access
a retrieval method in which data can be retrieved without the need to read and discard other data
sequential access
a retrieval method in which data must be accessed in the order in which it is stored
clock speed
a series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time
blade server
a server that houses many individual computer motherboards that include one or more processors, computers memory, computer storage, and computer network connections
Software as a Service (SaaS)
a service that allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business application software by paying a monthly derive charge or a per-use fee
handheld computer
a single-user computer that provides ease of portably because of its small size
storage area network (SAN)
a special-purpose, high-speed network that provides high-speed connections among data-storage devices and computers over a network
virtual tape
a storage device for less frequently needed data so that it appears to be stored entirely on the tape cartridges, although some parts of it might actually be located on faster hard disks
digital video disc (DVD): a storage medium used to store software, video, games, and movies
a storage medium used to store software, video, games, and movies
radio frequency identification (RFID)
a technology that employs a microchip with an antenna to broadcast its unique identifier and location to receivers
chip-and-PIN card
a type of card that employs a computer chip that communicates with a card reader using radio frequencies; it does not need to be swiped at a terminal
magnetic stripe card
a type of card that stores a limited amount of data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based particles contained in a band on the card
plasma display
a type of display using thousands of smart cells (pixels) consisting of electrodes and neon and xenon gases that are electronically turned into plasma (electronically charged atoms and negatively charged particles) to emit light
magnetic tape
a type of sequential secondary storage medium, now used primarily for storing backups of critical organizational data in the event of a disaster
command-based user interface
a user interface that requires you to give text commands to the computer to perform basic activities
nettop computer
an inexpensive desktop computer designed to be smaller, lighter, and consume much less power than a traditional desktop computer
digital camera
an input device used with a PC to record and store images and video in digital form
application program interface (API)
an interface that allows applications to make use of the operating system
graphical user interface (GUI)
an interface that displays pictures (icons) and menus that people use to send command to the computer system
direct access storage device (DASD)
device used for direct access of secondary storage data
byte (B)
eight bits that together represent a single character of data
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display
flat display that uses a layer of organic material sandwiched between two conductors, which, in turn, are sandwiched between a glass top plate and a glass bottom plat so that when electric current is applied to the two conductors, a bright electroluminescent light is produced directly from the organic material
LCD display
flat display that uses liquid crystals— organic, oil-like material placed between two polarizers— to form characters and graphic images on a backlit screen
speech-recognition technology
input devices that recognizes human speech
propriety software
one-of-a-kind software designed for a specific application and owned by the company, organization, or person that uses it
unity program
program that helps to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system
computer programs
sequences of instructions for the computer
programming languages
sets of keywords, symbols, and rules for constructing statements that people can use to communicate instructions to a computer
notebook computer
smaller than a laptop computer, an extremely lightweight computer that weighs less than 7 pounds and can easily fit in a briefcase
off-the-shelf software
software mass-produced by software vendors to address needs that are common across businesses, organizations, or individuals
middleware
software that allows various systems to communicate and exchange data
storage as a service
storage as a service is a data storage model where a data storage service provider rents space to individuals and organizations
user interface
the element of the operation system that allows people to access and command the computer system
supercomputer
the most powerful computer system with the fastest processing speeds
arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
the part of the CPU that performs mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons
control unit
the part of the CPU that sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in and out of the ALU, the register, the primary storage, and even the secondary storage and various output devices
central processing unit (CPU)
the part of the computer that consists of three associated elements: the arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas
hardware
the physical components of a computer that perform the input, processing, storage and output activities of the computer
parallel computing
the simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors to obtain results faster
multiprocessing
the simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time
netbook computer
the smallest, lightest, least expensive member of the laptop computer family
grid computing
the use of a collection of computers, often owned by multiple individual or organizations, to work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem
