| A | B |
|---|
| American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) | (Pronounced haskey). An agreed method for pairing letters and numbers with binary codes used in computers. |
| application | A program that helps the user accomplish a specific task (a word processing or spreadsheet, etc. program) |
| arithmetic logic unit | The portion of the microprocessor used for numerical and logical calculations. |
| binary | Anything that has only two states such as on/off or yes/no. |
| bit | A binary digit, a 0 or a 1. |
| bug | An error in the code of a program or in the design of a hardware component. |
| byte | A byte is 8 bits; one byte can represent a single character. |
| chip | An integrated circuit. A thin piece of silicon that contains all the components of an electronic circuit. |
| conductor | A material that in its pure form allows the flow of an electrical charge to pass through it easily. |
| control unit | The circuits on the microprocessor that tell the microprocessor to carry out the instructions and the timing of the instructions. |
| CPU (central processing unit) | The "brain" of the computer that performs most computing tasks. In a PC, the CPU is on a single chip. |
| current | The flow of electrons. |
| decode | Translation of information from a code into a form that has meaning to the microprocessor. |
| drive | A very fast input/output device that consists of one or more spinning magnetic disks. |
| electron | Any of the negatively charged particles that form a part of all atoms. |
| embedded processor | A chip designed with a specific set of usable instructions. The user cannot change the instructions |
| execute | To carry out an instruction after it has been decoded. |
| fetch | The portion of the microprocessor dedicated to requesting and receiving instructions. |
| gate | The post of a transistor that receives the current used to turn the switch on, completing the circuit so electricity can flow. |
| gigabyte | 1024 megabytes, or one billion bytes. Abbreviated GB, Gbyte or G-byte. |
| information processing | Capturing, storing, updating, and retrieving data and information. |
| input | The data that is entered into a computer. The act of entering data into a computer. |
| insulator | A material that does not allow an electrical charge to pass through it. |
| integrated circuit | A complete circuit on a chip, built by a chip fabrication process. |
| JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) | A format for storing high-quality color and grayscale photographs in bitmap form. |
| megabyte (MB) | Equals 1,048,576 bytes, or 1024 kilobytes (a million bytes) |
| megahertz (MHz) | A measure of speed, 1 million cycles per second. |
| memory | The part of a computer system that is used to run programs. |
| microelectronics | A branch of electronics that deals with the miniaturization of electronic circuits and components. |
| microprocessor | The main processing unit of a computer or information processing device; the "brains |
| Moore's Law | The hypothesis that says that the complexity (processing speed, capacity, power) of chips doubles every two years. |
| operating system | The main control program of a computer that schedules tasks, manages storage, and handles communication with peripherals. |
| PDF (portable document format) | A platform-independent PostScript-based file format; part of Adobe Acrobat*. |
| pixel | Short for picture element. The smallest unit used to build an image. |
| processing | The manipulation of data by a microprocessor or embedded processor according to instructions given to it by a program or embedded in the chip itself. |
| program | The set of instructions needed to accomplish a given task. |
| RAM (random access memory) | The memory that is available on a computer for storing data and programs currently being processed. |
| ROM (read only memory) | A system's permanent, stored instructions, which are never changed; it holds its contents even when the power is turned off. |
| semiconductor | A material that when combined with some other material can be turned into an insulator or a conductor. |
| software | The programs and data that make computer hardware function. |
| transistor | A type of switch that contains no moving parts and uses electricity to turn itself on and off. |
| URL (uniform resource locator) | The address for an Internet Web site, generally beginning: http://. |
