| A | B |
|---|
| Hardware | The physical equipment of the computer |
| Monitor | The visual display unit that looks like a television screen |
| Mouse | The input device that allows you to input information by clicking. |
| Keyboard | The input device that allows you to input letters, numbers, and symbols. |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit or brains of the computer. |
| Laptop | A compact, portable computer system including keyboard, display unit, and CPU |
| Peripheral | Equipment that is externally connected to a computer, such as a printer or scanner |
| Anti-Virus Program | A program that finds and removes viruses. |
| Back-up | To make a copy of the computer files separate from the hard drive. |
| Bug | A small defect in a program. |
| Program | Software that operates on a PC |
| RAM | Random Access Memory |
| ROM | Read Only Memory |
| WWW | World Wide Web |
| Memory | Storage of information on the computer |
| Windows | A program to control the operating system of a PC. |
| Virus | An unauthorized program that can damage a computer. |
| Bit | The smallest piece of information a computer uses. |
| Byte | A combination of 8 bits that represents a letter, number, or symbol. |
| Modem | Equipment that allows the sending/receiving of digital information through telecommunications |
| CD-ROM, Drive | A disk that looks like an audio CD and the drive used for reading the disk. |
| Internet | International network of computers. |
| Boot | To turn on a computer and wait for it to perform a diagnostic of the system and prepare to function. |
| e-mail | Electronic messages sent from one computer to another. |
| Browser | A software program to view the Internet |
| Hard Drive C: | The main computer drive inside the computer, used to store programs and information. |
| Scanner | Equipment for converting paper documents to electronic ones. |
| KB, MB, GB | Units that measure computer memory or storage; kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte. |
| Icon | A small picture on a computer that is a symbol for starting programs or performing functions. |
| Floppy Disk Drive A: | A 3-1/2" disk and the drive that holds it, used for retreiving and storing information |
| Flash Drive or Jump Drive | A small portable storage device. |
| Surge Protector | An electrical device your computer plugs into to protect against surges in electricity. |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface. This allows the user to instruct thte computer using graphics and icons. |
| Screen Saver | A function of the computer that provides a moving picture to protect the screen colors from burning out. |
| Search Engine | A web site that provides the ability to search for web pages on the Internet. |
