| A | B |
|---|
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Info Interchange |
| Bit | in binary code, represents zero or one |
| Byte | another word for character, generally represents eight bits |
| CD ROM | disk that can store up to 680 MB of data, data can only be read from it |
| Central Processing Unit | CPU, also known as the microprocessor, the brains of the computer |
| Controller | device that controls the transfer of data from the computer to a peripheral device and vice versa |
| DVD | Digital Versatile Disk, video output, including full-length movies, can be stored on this medium |
| Execution cycle | e-cycle, the amount of time it takes the central processing unit to execute an instruction and store the results in RAM |
| hard disk drive | a data storage unit inside a computer that can store a large quantity of data (60 GB or more, ) but cannot easily be removed from the computer |
| impact printers | type of printers that use a mechanism that actually strikes the paper to form characters |
| input devices | these enable the user to input data and commands into the computer |
| instruction cycle | I-cycle, the amount of time it takes the central processing unit to retrieve an instruction and complete the command |
| keyboard | common input device for entering numeric and alphabetic data into a computer |
| main memory | also called RAM, it is like short term memory. It stores data while the computer is running. When computer is turned off or if there is a loss of power, any data in the main memory disappears. The computer can read from and write to this type of memory. |
| memory | where data is stored on the computer's motherboard |
| motherboard | a circuit board that contains all of the computer system's main components |
| mouse | a pointing device that serves as a faster, more effective alternative to the keyboard in communication instructions to the computer. |
| network drive | a disk drive located on another computer or server that provides space you can use for data storage |
| nonimpact printers | type of printer in which characters are formed without anything striking the paper |
| optical storage devices | devices that enable the computer to give the user the results of the processed data |
| output devices | enable the comptuer to give you the results of the processed data |
| plotter | an output device used to produce charts, engineering plans, and other large-size printed material with lines drawn by pens that move on rails. |
| pointer | on-screen object (whose shape changes depending on the function) that can be moved and controlled by the mouse. |
| random access memory RAM | where instructions and data are stored on a temporary basis. This memory is volatile. |
| read-only memory ROM | Permanent storage, instructions are burned onto chips by the manufacturer |
| scanner | an input device that can change images into codes for input to the computer |
| system clock | an electronic pulse that is used to synchronize processing, it controls the speed of the CPU |
