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Definition
| computer programs such as Norton Antivirus or MacAffee that end users typically install in their computers to guard against computer viruses |
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| computer software that performs specific tasks such as accounting tasks, spreadsheet tasks, marketing tasks, or word-processing tasks |
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| computer inputs that use sound frequencies. An alternate term is "speech recognition system" |
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| a device that interprets the familiar barcode stripes printed on merchandise packages, shipping labels, and similar documents, and inputs the data into a computer |
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| an acronym for "compact disk-read only memory." CD-ROM disks can store approximately 640 MB of data |
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Term
| Central processing unit (CPU) |
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Definition
| the component of a computer that performs the processing tasks of the system. the processor part of the CPU is typically a single silicon chip that can manipulate data-e.g. perform mathematical functions such as addition, as well as logic operations such as comparing text or number values |
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Definition
| an alternate to mainframe computing in which processing tasks are shared between a centralized host computer called the "server" and a smaller microcomputer called the "client" |
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| refers to a range of computing services on the internet-for example, access to computer software programs, backup and recovery file services, and even web-page development and hosting |
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| used to translate source code into the machine language that a computer understands |
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| a set of data fields about one file entry--for example, one employee, one inventory item, or one sales transaction. |
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| transmitting data to and from different locations. |
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| Data communications protocol |
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Definition
| the settings that create a communications standard for a specific dara communications application. examples of such settings include the transmission sped, parity bit, duplex setting, or synchronous-versus-asynchronous transmission type |
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Term
| Digital subscriber line (DSL) |
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Definition
| a set of technologies that enable users to send and recieve digital messages over telephone lines. Transmission rates range between 128 and 24,000 kbits per second |
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Term
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Definition
| an impact printer that uses a print head of tine wires, arranged in a grid (e.g., 5 wires in each of 7 rows) to create our familiar letters and other printing characters. Many cash registers still use dot-matrix printers today |
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| Electronic data interchange (EDI) |
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Definition
| a communications technique that allows organizations to transmit standard business documents over high-speed data communications channels. |
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Term
| Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software |
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Definition
| software (e.g., Oracle) that provides for integrationamong all of an organization's major business processes through the use of a central database; ERP II systems are extended with e-business and other front-office capabilities |
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| Event-driven programming language |
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Definition
| a computer programming language such as Visual Basic, that enables a computer to respond to specific events (e.g. clicking on a menu choice) |
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Definition
| a means of enabling selected outside users to access organizations' intranets |
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Definition
| a computer whose principle task is to store and output the contents of computer files. for example, most Internet applications use file servers to store and output Web page files. |
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| Graphical user interface (GUI) |
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Definition
| one or more visual computer screens that enable an end-user to communicate with a computer-typically by selecting items from menus or clicking on choices using a computer mouse. computer programs that did not use GUIs typically were command-driven systems that required users to memorize and type in system commands and instructions. |
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| a computer whose input speeds and/or output speeds are slower than its computational speed |
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| storing, manipulating, or outputting the graphical information that usually first appear on hard-copy documents such as contracts, architectural plans, machinery schematics, or real-estate photos. |
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Definition
| the hardware and software used in computerized information systems |
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Definition
| a printer that uses very small nozzles to spray ink onto blank pages to create printed outputs. an advantage of ink-jet printers over dot-matrix printers is their ability to print in color. but ink-jet printers are slower and more costly, per page, than laser printers |
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Term
| Input-processing-output cycle |
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Definition
| the three steps that a computer uses to process computer records-i.e., inputting a record, processing the information it contains, and outputting the results. a classic example is creating payroll checks from time-card data. |
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Term
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Definition
| (Integrated services digital network) an international data communications standard that transmits data, voice message, or images at a standard rate of 128 bps over the Internet |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of printer that uses a laser to sensitize certain portions of a rotating drum. these sensitized portions attract small graphite particles called toner that can then be transferred to a blank piece of paper and permanently "fixed" to the page with heat |
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Definition
| a business's older, customized computer system that typically runs on a mainframe computer and is often too large and expensive to replace |
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Definition
| a collection of microcomputers, printers, file servers, and similar electronic components that are physically located near one another-for example, in the same building-and connected together for communication purposes. |
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Definition
| a secondary storage device that enables a computer to store billions of bytes of information. unlike primary (RAM) memory, whose information is lost when its computer loses power, magnetic disk memory is permanent. |
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Definition
| a large, multi-user computer that enables large companies to centralize processing power in one single device |
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Definition
| documents such as academic test forms, surveys, and similar papers that user complete with simple pencils or pens but that can be read and evaluated by computerized input devices. |
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Definition
| the portion of a CPU that performs the arithmetic and logic tasks of a computer, and that also interprets and executes computer instructions |
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Definition
| a multi-user computer with less processing power than a mainframe but typically more power than a personal, or microcomputer |
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Term
| Modem (modulator/demodulator) |
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Definition
| a device for converting the digital data that a computer uses into sound pitches that can be transmitted over phone lines |
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Term
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Definition
| graphics, audio information, and animation |
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Term
| Near field communications (NFC) |
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Definition
| a means of enabling mobile devices such as cellphones. PDAs, and laptop computers to communicate with similar devices containing NFC chips. |
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Term
| Object-oriented programming language |
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Definition
| computer programming languages that have strict rules (particularly "inheritance" and "encapsulation") that govern the properties, attributes, and operations of language objects (such as variables and form controls). OOP also includes the developer's ability to create new objects with these characteristics that can be used by other procedures and programs. |
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Definition
| a set of software programs that helps a computer run itself as well as the application programs designed to run under it. examples include: Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Unix |
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Term
| Optical character recognition (OCR) |
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Definition
| an older technique that enables computer input devices to interpret machine-printed (and to a limited extent, hand-written) data using optical technology. |
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Term
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Definition
| devices such as keyboards, display monitors, and printers that typically physically surround a computer processor. |
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Term
| Personal data assistant (PDA) devices |
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Definition
| a computerized device that includes such functions as calculator, address book, memo storage, daily planner, and perhaps even provides wireless internet access |
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Term
| Personal productivity software |
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Definition
| software that typically runs on microcomputers (e.g., word processing and spreadsheet programs) and that helps individuals perform their jobs faster, easier, and more accurately |
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Term
| Picture elements (pixels) |
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Definition
| the tiny dots that a monitor uses to create a complete screen image. for example, a monitor might have a pixel resolution of 1024 x 768, meaning the ability to display 1,024 pixels across the screen by 768 pixels down the screen |
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Term
| Point-of-sale (POS) device |
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Definition
| an input device such as a barcode reader that enables a user to input data directly into a computer form a checkout stand in a supermarket or merchandise store and avoid manual keystrokes. |
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Definition
| the internal random access memory or RAM that a computer uses to temporarily store computer programs and immediate data. |
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Term
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Definition
| a language such as Java or Visual Basic that enables a programmer to create instructions (called "code") that a computer can understnad |
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Term
| Radio frequency identification (RFID) |
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Definition
| enables businesses to identify pallets and even individual items without unpacking them from shipping crates. |
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Term
| Redundant array of independent disks (RAIDs) |
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Definition
| a set of magnetic disks that act as a single hard drive |
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Term
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Definition
| computer equipment that store data permanently (e.g., hard disks, CD-Roms, and USB drives) |
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Term
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Definition
| computer output on video screens, billboards, and similar devices. the opposite of hard copy (printed)output |
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Term
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Definition
| a piece of paper or an electronic form that becomes the source of subsequent computer records and processing activities. Examples pf source documents include time cards in payroll systems, employee application forms, doctor medical diagnoses, insurance claim forms, and personal bank checks |
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Term
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Definition
| a computer that is faster and more powerful than a mainframe, and capable of performing trillions of operations per second |
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Definition
| a hard copy document such as a bank check or confirmation slip that a business creates, sends to a second party for completion pr approval, and then receives back for further processing. for convenience, most turnaround documents are computer readable |
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Term
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Definition
| computer programs that are typically included with computer operating systems, but which perform specific end-user tasks. examples include: programs that format disks, transfer file data from one medium to another, or test emails for viruses |
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Definition
| a computer operating system technique that uses magnetic disk storage as a virtual extension of primary storage |
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Term
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Definition
| a computer program that rogue programmers embed in other programs, emails, or computer files, and that (when executed) typically perform such destructive acts as erasing files, disrupting emails, or interfering with operating system functions. |
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Term
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Definition
| computer hardware and software that enables a computer to hear and interpret voice commands |
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Term
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Definition
| computer memory that becomes inoperative when it loses power. |
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Term
| Wireless application protocol (WAP) |
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Definition
| a data communication protocol mostly used by mobile phones and PDAs to connect to the internet |
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Term
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Definition
| computer networks spanning regional, national, or global geographic areas. |
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Term
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Definition
| transmitting voice-grade signals or digital data over wireless communication channels. |
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Term
| Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) |
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Definition
| technology that allows transmission and receipt of voice and data messages remotely without hard-wired connections to a phone line |
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Term
| Worm (write-once, read many) |
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Definition
| a program that disrupts normal data processing and is usually able to replicate itself onto other files, computer systems, or networks. examples of these viruses are boot sector viruses, worm programs, Trojan horse programs, and logic bomb programs |
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