Computer Key Terms
Terms
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- Field
- a combination of one or more related characters or bytes, a field is the smallest unit of data a user accesses.
- Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- type of user interface that allows a user to interact with software using text, graphics, and visual images, such as icons
- Motherboard
- Main circuit board of the system unit, which has some electronic components attached to it and others built into it
- HTTP and HTTP's
- a set of rules that defines how pages transfer on the internet
- P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network
- simple, inexpensive network that typically connects fewer than 10 computers
- ASCII
- American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- Printers
- Output device that produces text and graphics on a phsyical medium such as paper or transparency (laser, inkjet, thermal)
- Access providers
- business that provides individuals and companies access to the internet free or for a fee
- Embedded computer
- special purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product
- Defragmenting
- Reorganizing a disk so the files are stored in continuous sectors, thus speeding up disk access and the performance of the entire computer
- Enterprise computing
- the use of computers in networks, such as LANs and WANs, or a series of interconnected networks that encompass a variety of different operating systems, protocols, and network architectures
- adware
- program that displays an online advertisement in a banner or pop-up window on Web pages, e-mail, or other Internet services (Bad)
- Dual-core processor
- a signel chip that contains two separate processors
- System unit
- Case that contains the electronic components of a computer that are used to process data
- DOS (Denial Of Service)
- Assault on a computer or network whose purpose is to disrupt computer access to on Internet service such as the Web or e-mail (Bad)
- Downward compatibility
- new versions of an operating system usually recognize and work with application software written for an earlier version of an operating system
- Conversion: Parallel
- conversion strategy where the old system runs along-side the new system for a specified time
- Streaming
- Process of transfering data in a continuous and even flow
- Programming language
- set of words, symbols, and codes that enables a programmer to communicate instructions to a computer
- Info processing cycle/communication
- series of input, process, output, and storage activities performed by a computer
- Worm
- program that copies itself repeadedly, using tip system resources and possibly shutting down the system (Bad)
- EBCDIC
- Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange
- Binary system
- number system used by computers that has just two inique digits, 0 and 1, called bits
- GPS (Global Positioning System)
- a navigation system that consists of one or more earth-based receivers that accept and analyze signals sent by satellites in order to determine the receivers geographic location
- Firewall
- hardware and/or software that protects a networks resources from intrusion by users on another network such as the Internet (Good)
- SQL (Structured Query Language)
- Query language that allows users to manage, update, and retrieve data in a relational DBMS
- Conversion: Direct
- conversion strategy where the user stops using an old system and begins using a new system on a certain data
- Smart card
- card, similar in size to a credit card or an ATM card, that stores data on a thin microprocessor embeded in the card
- Data vs. Info
- Data is raw facts and information is processed data that conveys meaning and is useful to people
- Business Process Management (BPM)
- Set of activities that enterprises perform to optimize their business professes, such as accounting and finance, hiring employees, and purchasing goods and services
- Virtual memory
- a portion of a storage medium, usually the hard disk, that the operating system allocates to function as additional RAM
- cookies
- small text file that a Web server stores on a computer (Bad)
- Info system (IS)
- collection of hardware, software, data, people, and procedures that work together to produce quality info
- Single-core processor
- a single chip that contains only one processor
- Online banking
- online connection to a bank's computer to access account balances, pay bills, and copy monthly transactions to a user's computer
- Operating system function
- set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer hardware devices
- Tablet PC
- Special type of notebook computer that resembles a letter-sized slate, which allows a user to write on the screen using a digital pen
- Software suites (MS office 2007)
- Collection of individual programs sold as a single package. Business software suites typically include word processing, spreasd sheets, e-mail, and presentation graphics software
- RAM
- Random Access Memory (volitile - one can lose it)
- MIS (Management Info System)
- info system that generates accurate, timely, and organized info, so managers and other users can make decisions, solve problems, supervise activities, and track progess
- Validity check
- check of alphabetic, numeric, range, consistency, and completeness
- Record
- group of related fields in a database
- Formating
- Changing of a documents appearance
- EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
- Set of standards that controls the transfer of business data and info among computers both within and among enterprises
- Disk controller
- special-purpose chips and electronic circuits that control the transfer of date, instructions, and info between a disk and the system bus and other components in a computer
- Application software
- program designed to make users more productive and/or assist them with personal tasks
- Object Oriented Database (OODB)
- Database that stores data in objects
- Conversion: Pilot
- conversion strategy where only one location in a company uses a new system - so it can be tested
- Star network
- type of network typology in which all computers and devices on the network connect to a central device, thus forming a star
- Spyware
- program placed on a computer without the users knowledge that secretly collects info about the user (Bad)
- Communication channel
- transmission media on which data, instructions, or info travel
- Data warehouse
- warehouse of data - one transaction after another piled together
- Spam
- unsolicited e-mail messages or newsgroups postings sent to many recipients or newsgroups at once (Bad)
- Memory cache
- Cache that helps speed the processes of a computer by storing frequently used instructions and data
- Resolution
- The number of horizontal and vertical pixels in a display device
- Machine cycle
- For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic operations which comprise a machine cycle; 1) fetching, 2) decoding, 3) executing, and 4) storing (if necessary)
- Systems analyst
- person responsible for designing and developing an info system (system developer)
- Turnaround document
- document that a user returns to the company that has created and sent it (document was turned around)
- Audio files
- music, speech, or any other sounds
- Backdoor-Firewall
- program or set of instructions in a program that allows users to bypass security controls when accessing a program, computer, or network
- Form
- windows on the screen that provides areas for entering or changing data in a database. Also called data entry form.
- Processor/control unit/ALU
- Electronic component on a computer's motherboard that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer (also called CPU, or Central Processing Unit)
- Biometric device
- device that authenticates a person's identity by translating a personal characterisitc, such as a finger print, into a digitial code that then is compared with a digital code stored in a computer verifying a physical or behavioral chacteristic
- Systems development
- set of activities used to build an info system, including; planning, analysis, design, implementation, and support
- ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
- type of DSL that supports transfer rates when receiving data (the downstream rate) than when sending data (the upstream rate)
- Link/Hyperlink
- Built in connection to another related Web page or part of a Weg page
- Output devices
- any hardware component that conveys info to one or more people
- Windows Vista
- Microsoft's fastest, most reliable and efficient operating system, offering quicker application start up, built-in diagnostics, automatic recovery, improved security, and enhanced searching and organizing capabilities
- System Bus
- Bus that is part of the motherboard and connects the processor to main memory
- Conversion: Phased
- conversion strategy used by larger systems with multiple sites where each location coverts at a separate time
- Multiprocessing (core)
- chip with two or more separate processors
- Optical discs
- type of storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written on and read by a laser (CD's)
- Data dictionary (database)
- A DBMS element that contains data about each file in a database and each field in those files. Also called a repository.
- Clip gallery
- Collection of clip art and photographs that often is included in application software
- Multitasking
- performing many tasks at same time
- Input devices
- any hardware component that allows users to enter data and instructions into a computer
- Networks
- collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via communications devices and transmission media allowing computers to share resources
- Zipped files
- type of compressed files that usually have a .zip extension
- Access time
- Measurement of the amount of time it takes the process to read data, instructions, and info from memory
- Imaging editing software
- application software that provides the capabilities of paint software and also includes the capability to enhance and midify existing images and pictures