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Intro to Technology - Chapter 2
A Closer Look at Hardware and Software
70
Computer Science
9th Grade
04/20/2012

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Term
Bit
Definition
The smallest unit of data a digital computer can recognize; represented by a 0 or a 1.
Term
Byte
Definition
A group of 8 bits.
Term
Kilobyte (KB)
Definition
Approximately 1 thousand bytes (1,024 bytes to be precise).
Term
Megabyte (MB)
Definition
Approximately 1 million bytes.
Term
Gigabyte (GB)
Definition
Approximately 1 billion bytes.
Term
Terabyte (TB)
Definition
Approximately 1 trillion bytes.
Term
Petabyte (PB)
Definition
Approximately 1,000 terabytes.
Term
Decimal numbering system
Definition
The numbering system that represents all numbers using 10 symbols (0–9).
Term
Binary numbering system
Definition
The numbering system that represents all numbers using just two symbols (0 and 1).
Term
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
Definition
A fixed-length, binary coding system used to represent text-based data for computer processing on many types of computers.
Term
Unicode
Definition
An international coding system that can be used to represent text-based data in any written language.
Term
Input device
Definition
A piece of hardware that supplies input to a computer.
Term
Keyboard
Definition
An input device containing numerous keys that can be used to input letters, numbers, and other symbols.
Term
Pointing device
Definition
An input device that moves an on-screen pointer, such as an arrow, to allow the user to select objects on the screen.
Term
Mouse
Definition
A common pointing device that the user slides along a flat surface to move a pointer around the screen and clicks its buttons to make selections.
Term
Stylus
Definition
An input device that is used to write electronically on the display screen.
Term
Touch screen
Definition
A display device that is touched with the finger to issue commands or otherwise provide input to the connected device.
Term
Scanner
Definition
An input device that reads printed text and graphics and transfers them to a computer in digital form.
Term
Barcode
Definition
A machine-readable code that represents data as a set of bars.
Term
Barcode reader
Definition
An input device that reads barcodes.
Term
RFID tag
Definition
A device containing a tiny chip and a radio antenna that is attached to an object so it can be identified using RFID technology.
Term
RFID reader
Definition
A device used to read RFID tags.
Term
Biometric reader
Definition
A device used to input biometric data, such as an individual’s fingerprint or voice.
Term
Digital camera
Definition
An input device that takes pictures and records them as digital images.
Term
System unit
Definition
The main box of a computer that houses the CPU, motherboard, memory, and other devices.
Term
Motherboard
Definition
The main circuit board of a computer, located inside the system unit, to which all computer system components connect.
Term
Central processing unit (CPU)
Definition
The chip located on the motherboard of a computer that performs the processing for a computer. Also called the processor.
Term
Microprocessor
Definition
A central processing unit (CPU) for a personal computer.
Term
Multi-core CPU
Definition
A CPU that contains the processing components or core of more than one processor in a single CPU.
Term
Dual-core CPU
Definition
A CPU that contains two separate processing cores.
Term
Quad-core CPU
Definition
A CPU that contains four separate processing cores.
Term
Random access memory (RAM )
Definition
Chips connected to the motherboard that provide a temporary location for the computer to hold data and program instructions while they are needed.
Term
Volatile
Definition
A characteristic of memory or storage in which data is not retained when the power to the computer is turned off.
Term
Output device
Definition
A piece of hardware that presents the results of processing in a form the user can understand.
Term
Display device
Definition
An output device that contains a viewing screen.
Term
Monitor
Definition
A display device for a desktop computer.
Term
Display screen
Definition
A display device built into a notebook computer, netbook, UMPC, or other device.
Term
Pixel
Definition
The smallest colorable area in an electronic image, such as a scanned image, a digital photograph, or an image displayed on a display screen.
Term
Printer
Definition
An output device that produces output on paper.
Term
Laser printer
Definition
An output device that uses toner powder and technology similar to that of a photocopier to produce images on paper.
Term
Ink-jet printer
Definition
An output device that sprays droplets of ink to produce images on paper.
Term
Speakers
Definition
Output devices that provide audio output.
Term
Storage medium
Definition
The part of a storage system where data is stored, such as a DVD disc.
Term
Storage device
Definition
A piece of hardware, such as a DVD drive, into which a storage medium is inserted to be read from or written to.
Term
Hard drive
Definition
The primary storage system for most computers; used to store most programs and data used with a computer
Term
Magnetic hard drive
Definition
A hard drive consisting of one or more metal magnetic disks permanently sealed, with an access mechanism and read/write heads, inside its drive.
Term
Solid-state drive (SSD)
Definition
A hard drive that uses flash memory media instead of metal magnetic hard disks.
Term
Hybrid hard drive
Definition
A hard drive that contains both a large amount of flash memory and magnetic hard disks.
Term
Optical disc
Definition
A type of storage medium read from and written to using a laser beam.
Term
CD disc
Definition
A low capacity (typically 650 MB) optical disc that is often used to deliver music and software, as well as to store user data.
Term
DVD disc
Definition
A medium capacity (typically 4.7 MB or 8.5 GB) optical disc that is often used to deliver software and movies, as well as to store user data.
Term
Blu-ray Disc (BD)
Definition
A high-capacity (typically 25 GB or 50 GB) that is often used to deliver high-definition movies, as well as to store user data.
Term
Flash memory
Definition
Nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for storage by the computer or user; can be built into a computer or a storage medium.
Term
Flash memory card
Definition
A small, rectangular flash memory medium, such as a CompactFlash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) card; often used with digital cameras and other portable devices.
Term
USB flash drive
Definition
A small storage device that plugs into a USB port and contains flash memory media.
Term
Remote storage
Definition
A storage device that is not directly connected to the computer being used, such as one accessed through a local network or the Internet.
Term
Online storage
Definition
Remote storage devices accessed via the Internet; also called cloud storage.
Term
Smart card
Definition
A credit card-sized piece of plastic containing a chip and other circuitry that can store data.
Term
Communications device
Definition
A piece of hardware that allows one device to communicate with other devices via a network or the Internet.
Term
Network adapter
Definition
A network interface, such as an expansion card or external network adapter.
Term
Modem
Definition
A device that enables a computer to communicate over analog networking media, such as connecting to the Internet via telephone lines.
Term
Software license
Definition
An agreement, either included in a software package or displayed on the screen during installation, that specifies the conditions under which a buyer of the program can use it.
Term
Installed software
Definition
Software that must be installed on a computer in order to be used.
Term
Web-based software
Definition
Software that is delivered on demand via the Web; also referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloudware.
Term
Ribbon
Definition
A feature found in recent versions of Microsoft Office that uses tabs to organize groups of related commands.
Term
Editing
Definition
Changing the content of a document, such as inserting or deleting words.
Term
Formatting
Definition
Changing the appearance of a document, such as changing the margins or font size.
Term
File
Definition
Something stored on a storage medium, such as a program, a document, or an image.
Term
Filename
Definition
A name given to a file by the user; it is used to retrieve the file at a later time.
Term
Folder
Definition
A named place on a storage medium into which files can be stored to keep the files stored on that medium organized.
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