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| Computer | An electronic device,operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that accepts data (Input), manipulates data (Process), produce information (Output), from the processing and stores the results for future use |
| Information Processing Cycle | The four general operations of the computer: Input, process, output, and storage |
| Data | Refers to raw facts, numbers, words, images, video and sound |
| Information | Data that is organized, has meaning, and is useful |
| Computer users | People who either use the computer directly or use the information it provides |
| Computer program | A detailed set of instructions given to a computer to perform its operations |
| Input devices | Any hardware components that allow you to enter data programs, commands,and user responses into a computer |
| Input device examples | Keyboard, mouse, scanners, digital cameras |
| Keyboard | Most commonly used input device |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | Contains the electronic circuits that cause processing to occur |
| Microprocessor | The CPU is designed into a chip |
| Random Access Memory | Consists of components that store data including numbers, letters of the alphabet, graphics, and sound |
| Byte | One character |
| Screen monitor | A television like display used by most computers |
| Pixel | The individual picture elements that the computer screen is made of |
| Auxiliary storage device | Also known as secondary storage devices, used in memory |
| Floppy diskette | Most common size is 3.5" |
| Formatting | Preparing the disk for reading & writing by organizing the disk into storage locations called tracks & sectors |
| Hard disk | Located permanently inside the computer |
| Multimedia | Combines text, graphics, animation, video & audio |
| CD-ROM | Stores more than 600 million bytes of data, used for multimedia |
| DVD-ROM | Stores 4.7-17 GB of data |
| Software categories | System & Application |
| System software | Consists of programs to control the operations of computer equipment |
| Operating system | Instructions that tell the computer how to perform the functions of loading, storing, and executing an application program |
| Web site | Collection of Web pages |
| Web browser | Software program used to access & view Web pages |
| Domain name | Identifies the Web site |
| Network | Collection of computers & devices connected together to share hardware, software, data and information |
| Local Area Network (LAN) | A network that connects computers in a limited geographic area such as a computer lab, office or group of buildings |
| Wide Area Network (WAN) | A network that covers a large goegraphical area such as connecting national corporation offices |
| Internet | World's largest network, used to send messages to other connected users, access information, shopping, and entertainment |
| Internet Service Provider (ISP) | Organization that supplies connections to the Internet for a monthly fee |
| On-line service | Provides Internet access for a higher fee, Ex. American Online & Microsoft Networks |
| Web page | Document that contains text, graphics, sound, or video,and has hyperlinks to other Web documents |
| Booting | When the operating system is loaded into the computer's memory from auxiliary storage |
| DOS (Disk Operating System) | Text-based operating system |
| Application software | Programs that tell a computer how to produce information,ex. word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation |
| Word Processing | Software used to create, edit, format & print documents |
| Spreadsheet software | Allows the user to add, subtract, and perform calculations on rows and columns of numbers |
| Database software | Allows the user to enter, retrieve, and up-date data |
| Presentation software | Allows the user to create documents called slides to use in making presentations |
| Purchasing a Computer | Consider speed of the processor, size & type of memory & storage, input/output devices, software, and cost of the system |
| Kilobyte | Equals approximately 1,000 memory locations |
| Megabyte | Equal approximately one million memory locations |
| Output | Devices that make the information from processing available for use |
| Output devices | Two common devices: printer & monitor |
| Impact printer | Prints by striking an inked ribbon against the paper, ex. dot matrix |
| Non-impact printer | Print a higher quality text & graphics and are quieter, ex. ink-jet & laser |
| Ink-jet printer | Sprays drops of ink onto the page to create characters, prints 1-8 ppm |
| Laser printer | Prints a high quality, black or color output, most expensive |
