Technology in Action Complete - Exam Review Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering computer concepts, hardware, operating systems, networking, databases, programming, and security based on Technology in Action (16th Edition).

What is the difference between data and information in computer terminology?

Data is a representation of a fact, figure, or idea, whereas information is data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion.

What rule of thumb predicts that the number of transistors on a central processing unit (CPU) chip will double roughly every two years?

Moore's Law

What are the four major functions of a computer system?

1. Input (gathers data)
2. Process (manipulates or organizes data)
3. Output (displays data/information)
4. Storage (saves data and information)

What is the crisis-mapping software tool created to collect and map reports from text messages, e-mails, and tweets during emergency situations?

Ushahidi

What term describes the gap in levels of Internet access and technical tools between different regions and demographics?

The digital divide

What is the distinction between a client computer and a server computer in the client/server model?

A client is a computer that requests data, whereas a server is a computer that receives the request and returns the data to the client.

What are the four stages of the CPU machine cycle in order?

1. Fetch (retrieves binary code from RAM)
2. Decode (translates code into commands)
3. Execute (performs work via ALU)
4. Store (saves results in registers)

What is the main difference between volatile and nonvolatile storage?

Volatile storage (such as RAM) loses its data when power is turned off, whereas nonvolatile storage (such as a hard drive or ROM) retains data permanently.

What are the seven layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model from top to bottom?

1. Application Layer
2. Presentation Layer
3. Session Layer
4. Transport Layer
5. Network Layer
6. Data Link Layer
7. Physical Layer

What is the function of a primary key in a relational database table?

A primary key is a field containing a unique value for each record in a table to prevent duplicate records and maintain data integrity.

What are the six phases of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in order?

1. Problem and opportunity identification
2. Analysis
3. Design
4. Development
5. Testing and installation
6. Maintenance and evaluation

How does a computer virus differ from a computer worm?

A virus requires a host file and human interaction to execute and spread, whereas a worm works independently of host file execution and spreads on its own over network connections.

What is the difference between private-key encryption and public-key encryption?

Private-key encryption uses a single shared code for both encoding and decoding, whereas public-key encryption uses a key pair (a public key for encoding and a private key for decoding).

What function does a Domain Name System (DNS) server perform on the Internet?

A DNS server functions like an Internet phone book, translating human-readable domain names (such as google.com) into numeric IP addresses.

What is the primary difference between a star topology and a bus topology?

In a star topology, nodes connect to a central switch so the failure of one computer does not affect others, whereas in a bus topology, nodes connect sequentially to a single cable.

What was the Altair 8800, introduced in 1975?

The first personal computer, sold as a do-it-yourself kit for around $400 or assembled for around $600.

What is the difference between data redundancy and data inconsistency in databases?

Data redundancy is the unnecessary duplication of data across multiple lists, whereas data inconsistency occurs when different versions of the same data appear in different lists.

How does a personal firewall protect a computer from hackers?

A firewall blocks unauthorized access to logical ports and uses network address translation (NAT) to keep the internal IP address secure.

What is the difference between a first-generation language (1GL) and a third-generation language (3GL)?

A 1GL is pure machine language (binary 1s and 0s), whereas a 3GL uses symbols and commands readable by humans (such as C++, Java, or BASIC).

What is the function of a network adapter inside a computing device?

A network adapter converts internal low-power signals into higher-powered signals to traverse transmission media, breaks data into packets/frames, and acts as a gatekeeper for incoming and outgoing data.