| A | B |
|---|
| Hardware | The physical nuts, bolts and wires of a computer that you can touch. (keyboard, monitor, disk drive, chips and circuits) |
| Software | Application programs or instructions that tell the computer what to do. |
| CPU | The brain of the computer (Central Processing Unit) |
| ROM | Read Only Memory. Permanent data that can't be erased from the computer or devices. |
| RAM | The computer's working memory, sometimes called Random-Accessed Memory. |
| Megabyte | A million bytes. |
| Gigabyte | A billion bytes (or 1,000 megabytes). |
| Input Device | Hardware that is used to pass information into the computer. |
| Output Device | Hardware that receives and dislplays information coming from the computer. |
| Modem | Device that allows your computer to talk to other computers over a telephone line. |
| Monitor | A video or computer display device. |
| Laser Printer | A printer that uses both laser and photographic technology to produce high quality output. |
| Printer | Hardware that provides printed output from the computer. |
| Hard Copy | A printed copy of computer output. |
| Compact Disc | A disc on which a laser has digitally recorded information (audio, video, or computer data.) |
| Hard Disk | A fixed, large-capacity magnetic storage medium for computer data. |
| Floppy Disk | A portable magnetic storage medium that has a rigid hard case surrounding a flexible disk that allows users to randomly access information. |
| Graphical User Interface | The use of graphical symbols instead of text commands to control common computer functions. |
| Icon | A little picture or symbol that represents a program,system, or file. |
| Ink-jet Printer | A type of printer that forms letters on the page by shooting tiny electrically charged droplets of ink. |
| Command | An instruction that causes a computer to perform a task |
| Cursor | Highlighted or bright (blinking) line or mark that shows where information is being input or the next character will appear. |
| Fonts | Design style sets of letters and characters for typing text. |
| Keyboard | A piece of hardware connected to a computer to enter information. |
| Menu | A list of commands from which to choose. |
| Mouse | Hand held device used to move/select items on the screen. |
| Network | Group of computers connected together to share information and/or hardware. |
| Load | To enter a program or file into a computer's memory. |
| Retreive | To find, open and load a file from a diskette or hard drive. |
| Internet | The "Net." Millions of computers connected around the globe that share information. |
| Memory | A place to store information (also RAM and ROM) |
| Abacus | The first counting and calculating machine invented by the Chinese (4000 years ago.) |
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Computer term used when a computer seems to be thinking like a human. |
| Computer | An electronic machine that does calculations and processing of information more accurately and faster than the human brain. |
| Fingers and toes | The first counting tools. |
| I.B.M. | International Business Machines is the largest computer company in the world. |
| Peripherals | Hardware devices connected to a computer (printer, modem, scanner, zip drive, keyboard, mouse) |
| Boot up | The process of loading the operating system software into memory to start up a computer. |
| Camcorder | Handheld video camera |
| CD-ROM | Compact Disk Read Only Memory |
| Computer Virus | A parasite computer program that can reproduce by changing other programs to include a copy of itself. |
| Download | Transferring information electronically from another computer to your computer. |
| File | A document or collection of related records in a database. |
| Hacker | Computer users who tinker with computers without permission to do so. |
| Log on | The act of connecting with a computer system by entering your user identification and password. |
| Log off | The act of signing off of and disconnecting from a computer system. |
| Print | To produce a copy of the document onto paper. |
| Save | To store a file on diskette or hard drive for future use. |
| Scanner | A peripheral device that converts pictures or text into digitized images that can be edited by the computer. |
| Upload | Sending a disk file from your computer to another computer. |
| Virtual Reality | A lifelike computer world where participants can become part of the action. |
| Digital Camera | A type of camera that does not use film, and is connected to the computer for processing. |
| Bit | A single number, (0s and 1s), used for counting in the binary number system. A single bit is gathered into groups of 8 to make a byte |
| Byte | A set of 8 bits that means something to a computer, like a letter, number, or punctuation mark. |
| Binary code | Computer language (electronic pulses On or Off/(Zeros or Ones) |
| Norton Utilities/Symantec | Virus Protection Software |
| Adaware & Spybot | Identity Protection & Virus Protection Software |
| Resolution | Size and amount of detail of a screen image. |
| Pixels | Colorful squares that make up a screen image. |
| Graphics | Electronic art and pictures. |
| Recycle Bin | Place where deleted files/trash go. |
| WPM | Words Per Minute |
