| A | B |
|---|
| abacus | ancient counting device using beads |
| Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) | the part of the CPU that handles math operations |
| applications software | commercially produced programs such as Microsoft Word |
| American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) | the code used for representing characters in the computer |
| bit (binary digit) | a single 0 or 1 |
| binary | number system used by all computers |
| byte | a group of 8 bits |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | the device which electronically controls the functions of the computer |
| chips | tiny integrated circuits etched into blocks of silicon |
| data | information entered or produced by the computer |
| debug | to remove errors from a computer program |
| Electronic Numerical Integration and Calculator (ENIAC) | Finished in 1946, it was the first true computer because it could make decisions |
| file | collection of data stored on a disk in a form the computer can read |
| hardware | physical devices which make up the computer and its peripherals |
| input | data used by the computer |
| integrated program | a single program that performs multiple applications |
| kilobyte (K) | measurement of computer capacity, 1024 bytes |
| keyboard | device resembling a typewriter used for inputting data into a computer |
| machine language | computer program written in binary code, just 0s and 1s |
| memory | electronic storage used by the computer |
| microprocessor | CPU on a single chip |
| monitor | televison-like device used to display computer output |
| nanosecond | billionths of a second |
| output | data produced by a computer program |
| peripheral | secondary hardware device connected to a computer such as a printer, monitor or disk drive |
| program | series of instructions written in a special language directing the computer to perform certain tasks |
| Personal Computer (PC) | a small computer using a microprocessor |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | memory which the computer can both read and write |
| Read Only Memory (ROM) | memory from which the computer can only read |
| software | computer programs |
| terminal | keyboard and monitor combination |
