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| Monitor | The TV-like screen which is also referred to as an output device. |
| USB port | Short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps. A single port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards. Also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging. |
| Mouse | A hand held input device. |
| Keyboard | An input device with keys--used to enter data. There are five parts: Numeric Keypad, Alpha Pad, Arrow Keys, Function Keys, Control (Command) Keys. |
| Arrow Keys | Keys used in place of the mouse to move the cursor to a new location. |
| Desktop | A metaphor used to portray file systems. Usually consists of pictures, called icons, that show cabinets, files, folders, and various types of documents (that is, letters, reports, pictures). You can arrange the icons -- moving them around, putting one on top of another, reshuffling them, and throwing them away. |
| Computer | A machine that performs four functions: input, processing, storage, and output. It can perform calculations and process a large amount of information accurately and much more rapidly than the human brain. |
| Icon | A small picture that represents an object or program. |
| Microprocessor | A chip that tells your computer to do these four functions: input, processing, storage, output |
| Processing devices | Devices that manipulate data in accordance with the instructions of the computer or a program. The main component is the central processing unit (CPU) or “brain” of a computer. It is the chip that performs all the information processing. The piece of hardware that contains the CPU is often called the CPU or system unit. |
| Booting | The process of loading the operating system software into memory to start up a computer. Also called starting. |
| Log On | connecting electronically with a computer system or service usually by entering your name and a password |
| File | A collection of data or information that has a name. Almost all information stored in a computer must be in this format. There are many different types: data, text, program, directory, etc. |
| Cursor | A highlighted mark (sometimes blinking) on the screen that indicates the user's location. It indicates where the next letter or character will appear when keyed. Sometimes it is a special picture or icon. |
| Retrieve | To find and bring back information that has previously been stored on a disk or hard drive. To load a file from a disk or hard drive. |
| Primary Storage--RAM RAM--Random Access Memory-- | A temporary memory to hold your data--(storage place inside your computer where 1s and 0s are kept until power is cut off--also holds the program that you are working on)—It is also referred to as primary storage. |
| Save | To copy data from a temporary area to a more permanent storage medium. A software feature used to store data on a hard drive or floppy disk. |
| Disk Drive | A device that reads data off a disk and/or writes data to a disk (hard or floppy). |
| Secondary Storage | Devices that can be used to permanently store your work (Ex: floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, flash drive). |
| Optical Storage Devices | Unlike floppy and hard disks, which use electromagnetism to encode data, these systems use a laser to read and write data. They have very large storage capacity, but they are not as fast as hard disks. In addition, the inexpensive ones are read-only. Read/write varieties are expensive. |
| Flash Drive | A small, portable memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB port and functions as a portable hard drive. |
| Bandwidth | The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time |
| Pixel | The smallest component of an image that can be transmitted or received in a video display system (tiny points of light that make up a picture). |
| Resolution | The quality of a picture on the screen (high or low). |
| Stand Alone Computer | (Non-networked computer) - The computers are not linked to other computers. To utilize resources such as a printer, a modem, a scanner, etc, each computer requires its own devices. |
| Networked Computers | A system of computers linked together to share data, software, and hardware. |
| Networks | A group of two or more computer systems linked together. |
| File Server | A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, it is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on this computer. |
| LAN | A group of computers, connected by cables, set up to communicate with one another. (Local Area Network) |
| WAN | A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a Wide Area Network consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs). |
| Network Resources | In many operating systems, the term resource refers specifically to data or routines that are available to programs. |
| Hardware | The physical parts of the computer. |
| Software | Computer programs that tell a computer what to do; instructions to the CPU to tell it what to do with the data it receives. |
| Download | Receiving a file from another computer. |
| Upload | Sending a file from one computer to another. |
| Port | The place on a computer where a cable can be attached. |
| Handheld/PDA | Short for personal digital assistant. This device combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical one can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. |
| Mobile Phones | An electronic telecommunications device, often referred to as a cellular or cell. They connect to a wireless communications network through radio wave or satellite transmissions. Most provide voice communications, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), and newer ones may also provide Internet services such as Web browsing and e-mail. |
| GPS | Short for Global Positioning System, a worldwide MEO satellite navigational system formed by 24 satellites orbiting the earth and their corresponding receivers on the earth. The satellites orbit the earth at approximately 12,000 miles above the surface and make two complete orbits every 24 hours. The satellites continuously transmit digital radio signals that contain data on the satellites location and the exact time to the earth-bound receivers. |
| Compact Disk | Known by its abbreviation, CD, is a polycarbonate with one or more metal layers capable of storing digital information. The most prevalent types of these are those used by the music industry to store digital recordings used to store computer data. |
| DVD | Short for digital versatile disc or digital video disc, a type of optical disk technology similar to the CD-ROM. It can hold a minimum of 4.7gigabytes (GB) of data, enough for a full-length movie. It is commonly used as a medium for digital representation of movies and other multimedia presentations that combine sound with graphics. |
| Hard Drive | The mechanism that reads and writes data on a hard disk. HDDs for PCs generally have seek times of about 12 milliseconds or less. Many improve their performance through a technique called caching. |
| Data | Distinct pieces of information, usually formatted in a special way. All software is divided into two general categories: This can exist in a variety of forms -- as numbers or text on pieces of paper, as bits and bytes stored in electronic memory, or as facts stored in a person's mind. |
| Input | Data entered into the computer. |
| Input device | The parts or a computer which are used to add data into a computer. (Ex: keyboard, mouse, scanner, touch screen, probeware device) |
| Scanner | A peripheral device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine pages, and similar sources for computer editing and display. (converts to data that is put into a computer) |
| Digital Cameras | A device that stores images digitally rather than recording them on film. Once a picture has been taken, it can be downloaded to a computer system, and then manipulated with a graphics program and printed. |
| Probeware | Computer peripherals that measure and report data directly to a computer program where it is stored. Used in scientific experimentation. |
| Output | The process of displaying, printing, or storing information produced by a computer. The information produced by a computer, as a result of processing, that is sent to devices that display, print, or store it. |
| Output device | Parts used to display data from a computer. (Ex: printer, monitor, speaker) |
| Peripheral | A device that can be attached (added on) to a computer. (Ex: printer, monitor, speaker, scanner) |
| Printer | An output device used to print on paper. (Ex: Laser, Dot Matrix, Ink Jet) |
| Print | A mark or impression made upon a surface by pressure or other means. |
| Printout | The output from a printer. (Ex: Laser, Dot Matrix, Ink Jet) |
| Speaker | An output device that produces sound. |
| File Extension | One or several letters at the end of a filename. These usually follow a period after a filename (.dot) and indicate the type of information stored in the file. Examples: .doc (Word Document), .xls (Excel Document), .ppt (PowerPoint Document) |
| FTP | Short for File Transfer Protocol, the protocol for exchanging files over the Internet. |
| CPU--Central Processing Unit | The main component of a computer which performs all of the processing--also known as a microprocessor or "brain" of the computer. |
