Download Computer Basics: Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Computer Science in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Computer DEFINITION 1 - General purpose programmable device capable of : receiving processing storing input producing, displaying, and storing output TERM 2 RAM ( Random Access Memory) DEFINITION 2 - an area of a computer that holds everything that is waiting to be processed, to be stored on permanent basis, or to be output Volatile - when the power turns off, all its contents are wiped TERM 3 Computer System DEFINITION 3 CPU/ ProcessorMemoryStorageInput/Output TERM 4 Bits and Bytes DEFINITION 4 - computer work with the digits 1 and 0, each digit is called a bit, 8 bits comprise 1 byte TERM 5 CPU DEFINITION 5 - microprocessor-ALU ( arithmetic logic unit) & Control unit , directs and coordinates processing TERM 6 Microprocessor Performance Factors DEFINITION 6 - clock and its speed- word size (number of bits that a processor can manipulate at one time)- Cashe ( high speed memory that allows access to data faster than from RAM- Instruction Set ( preset operations a CPU can understand/ execute) TERM 7 Underlying Technology DEFINITION 7 Integrated Circuit - an electronic board with transistors and other electronic components etched into it , controls flow of currentTransistor - a device that can amplify, regulate, and switch current TERM 8 Motherboard DEFINITION 8 all electronic components are mounted and connected together by a system board- Adapter Cards, CPU, Memory Slots, Memory Cards TERM 9 3 Main Storage Technologies DEFINITION 9 Magnetic - hard drive, floppy Optical - CD, DVD Solid State ( Non Volatile) - Camera Cards, Flash Drives, Cell Phones) TERM 10 Optical Technologies DEFINITION 10 ROM - Read only Memory R - Recordable RW - Rewritable TERM 21 Encryption uses DEFINITION 21 Public Key Private Key TERM 22 Public Key DEFINITION 22 - need to use both keys- shared with others who use it to encode their messages, only the owner of a private key can decode them- public encryption, private decryption TERM 23 Private Key DEFINITION 23 For best :- random- as large or greater than plain text- never reused in whole or in part TERM 24 Two Encryption types DEFINITION 24 Transactional - involves encrypting or decrypting on each side of an insecure channelResource based - the encryption of an entire resource of data, such as laptop or portable disk - data is stored in an encrypted form TERM 25 Unencrypted Data DEFINITION 25 - not sent in human readable format, can be read using codesex. Caesar Cipher TERM 26 3 Major parts of computer DEFINITION 26 Hardware Software Data TERM 27 Hardware DEFINITION 27 electronic and mechanical devices TERM 28 Software and Data DEFINITION 28 Non Tangible, stored in electronic formats (files) TERM 29 Software DEFINITION 29 Computer programs, sets of detailed, step by step instructions that tell a computer how to solve a problem or carry out a task TERM 30 Data DEFINITION 30 - the electronic representation of symbols that a computer uses to store facts and ideas, which is manipulated by software programs TERM 31 File DEFINITION 31 named block of informationtwo parts:Filename & Filename extension TERM 32 Software Types DEFINITION 32 - System Software & Application Software System - operating system, utilities , device drivers, programming languages Application - word processing, spreadsheet analysis, database management, other TERM 33 Operating System Responsibilities DEFINITION 33 - manages processor- manages memory- controls input and output devices-establishes basic elements of the user interface- keeps track of storage TERM 34 Processor Management DEFINITION 34 - operating system- ensures that each process receives its share of microprocessor time and ensures that it is not idle while it could be working on some other processing tasksEx. Round Robin TERM 35 Memory Management DEFINITION 35 - Operating System- must continually move programs between RAM and disk storage when multiple windows are open-must protect from one area of memory invading another program allocated memory
