GFC: Computer Basics --What Is a Computer?

What is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data?

A computer

What is tall and sits next to the monitor or on the floor?

A tower case

Whats located inside the computer case, to display images and text on the screen?

A video card

What port was frequently used to connect peripherals like digital cameras, but it has been replaced by USB and other types of ports?

Serial Port

What is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it?

Software

What key erases the character to the left of the cursor?

The backspace key

What key executes commands?

The enter key

What allows you to change your monitor's display settings?

Control buttons

What lets you capture pictures and videos in a digital format?

Digital camera

What empty slots are where expansion cards are added to computers?

Expansion slots

What is designed to be worn throughout the day? For example fitness trackers and smartwatches.

Wearables

What is a type of input device that can record videos and take pictures?

Web camera or webcam

What is a dongle?

A USB adapter used to communicate by Bluetooth

What lies flat on a desk, and the monitor usually sits on top of it?

A desktop case

What is designed to be placed on a desk, and they're typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse?

A desktop computer

What is a specialized type of computer that is used for playing video games on your TV?

A game console

What is one of the main ways to communicate with a computer?

A keyboard

What is a battery-powered computers that are more portable than desktops, allowing you to use them almost anywhere?

A laptop

What is a network card?

A network card allows your computer to communicate over a network and access the Internet.

What allows you to copy a physical image or document and save it to your computer as a digital (computer-readable) image?

A scanner

What is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network? For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at something that's stored on it.

A server

What type of computer is a smartphone, wearables, game consoles, and TVs?

A specialized computers

What is a touch-sensitive pad that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your finger?

A touchpad

What has a ball that can rotate freely? Instead of moving the device like a mouse, you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the pointer.

A trackball

What come with the internal components built into the monitor, which eliminates the need for a separate case?

All-in-one computers

What keys are used for many different purposes, including moving the cursor, scrolling a document, and controlling a game?

Arrow keys

Whats on the front of the computer case that allow you to easily connect speakers, microphones, and headsets?

Audio In/Audio Out Ports

What is Bluetooth and how far can it connect?

Bluetooth is a technology for wireless communication over short distances, i.e. less than 30 feet.

What does CPU stand for?

Central Processing Unit

Whats on computer case that are made to fit specific devices?

Connection ports

What does the CPU (Central Processing Unit) do?

Considered the 'brain' of your computer, it is identified by manufacturer, model, and processing speed in megahertz (MHz).

What is an e-reader?

E-readers—also called e-book readers—are similar to tablet computers, except they are mainly designed for reading e-books (digital, downloadable books). Notable examples include the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Kobo.

What port looks a lot like the modem or telephone port, but it is slightly wider? You can use this port for networking and connecting to the Internet.

Ethernet Port

What are LEDs and LCDs often called?

Flat-panel displays

What is used to control computer games?

Game controllers, joysticks, mouse, and keyboard

What is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse?

Hardware

What is the most common type of computer, that typically includes the Microsoft Windows operating system?

IBM PC Compatible--PCs for short

What is a touch-sensitive screen?

Instead of typing on a physical keyboard, you use your fingers to interact with the display.

What are some major manufacturers of CPUs?

Intel, Motorola, Cyrix, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), and IBM.

What does LED stand for?

Light emitting-diode

What does LCD stand for?

Liquid crystal display

What was introduced in 1984, and it was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface? This computer is only made by Apple.

Macintosh computer--Macs for short

What mouse uses a rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work properly?

Mechanical mouse

What is a type of input device, or a device that receives information from a user?

Microphone

What can do a lot of things computers can do, including browsing the Internet and playing games?

Smartphones

What are output devices, which means they send information from the computer to the user—in this case, they allow you to hear sound and music?

Speakers/headphones

What now include applications—or apps—that let you access various types of online content? For example, you can stream video from the Internet directly onto it.

TVs

What is a handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops, using a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation?

Tablet computers or tablets

What key allows you to stop a function or action? For example, if a webpage is taking a long time to load, you can press the key to stop loading it.

The Escape key

What is the main part of the keyboard including the space bar?

The alphanumeric keys

What does Alt stand for?

The alternate key

What is the metal and plastic box that contains the main components of the computer, including the motherboard, central processing unit (CPU), and power supply?

The computer case

What does Ctrl stand for?

The control key

What keys are designed to work in combination with other keys?

The control, alternate, and shift keys.

What key erases the character to the right of the cursor?

The delete key

What keys are labeled F1 through F12? For example, some programs use these keys as shortcuts for common tasks.

The function keys

What is a hard drive?

The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you turn the computer off or unplug it.

What key moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line?

The home and end key

What key switches between insert mode (which inserts new text without deleting anything) and over type mode (which deletes text after the cursor as you type)?

The insert key

What works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to display images and text on the screen?

The monitor

What is the computer's main circuit board?

The motherboard

What is another important tool for communicating with computers? Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the screen, click on them, and move them.

The mouse

What button is used to power the computer on and off?

The power button

Where do you place the power cord to the computer?

The power socket

What key takes a picture of your screen (called a screenshot) that you can edit or save using a graphics program?

The print screen key

What is an audio or sound card?

The sound card—also called an audio card—is responsible for what you hear in the speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can upgrade to a dedicated sound card for higher-quality sound.

What is used to create indents in word processing programs?

The tab key

What can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras? They will often appear on the front and back of the computer.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port

What does USB stand for?

Universal Serial Bus

What is WiFi?

WiFi is a technology that uses radio waves to provide network connectivity.

What keypad resembles a calculator keypad?

Numeric keypad

What is often called a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive? This lets your computer read CDs and DVDs.

Optical Disc Drive

What are two main mouse types?

Optical and mechanical

What mouse uses an electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean?

Optical mouse

What ports are sometimes used for connecting the mouse and keyboard? On new computers, these ports have been replaced by USB.

PS/2 ports

What keys scrolls a document or webpage up or down?

Page up and page down key

What comes in two main styles: PC and Mac?

Personal Computers

What is used to print documents, photos, and anything else that appears on your screen?

Printer

How is RAM measured?

RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't have enough RAM, your computer may be sluggish when you have several programs open. You can add extra RAM to improve performance.

What is RAM?

RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed. This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off.