INSY 2303 Exam 1 UTA

AAC

(Advanced Audio Coding )

A file format that provides highly compressed audio files with very little loss of sound quality and is promoted by Apple on its iTunes Web site.

ALU

(Arithmetic Logic Unit)

The part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations on the numbers stored in its registers.

ARPANET

(Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) One of the first packet switching computer networks using TCP/IP, and the prototype for the Internet.

ASCII

(American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

A code that represents characters as a series of 1s and 0s. Most computers use ASCII code to represent text, making it possible to transfer data between computers.

Bandwidth

The data transmission capacity of a communications channel. Digital signals are measured in bits per second; analog signals in hertz.

Binary

The representation of data using two states, such as off-on or 1-0.

BMP

(File Extension .bmp)

The native bitmap graphics file format of Microsoft Windows.

BN

(Backbone Network)

high-speed network that connects many networks.

Broadband

A term used to refer to communications channels that have bandwidth that equals or exceeds 25 Mbps.

CISC

(Complex Instruction Set Computer)

A general-purpose microprocessor chip designed to handle a wider array of instructions than a RISC chip.

Compression Types

Core

A core is part of a CPU that receives instructions and performs calculations, or actions, based on those instructions. A set of instructions can allow a software program perform a specific function. Processors can have a single core or multiple cores.

CPU

(Central Processing Unit)

The main processing circuitry, or "chip," within a computer that contains the ALU, control unit, and registers.

Data Bus

An electronic pathway or circuit that connects electronic components (such as the processor and RAM) on a computer's system board.

Device Driver

A type of system software that provides the computer with the means to control a peripheral device.

DNS Spoofing

(Domain Name System)

A malicious attack on the domain name system in which the IP address corresponding to a Web site is changed in order to redirect users to different locations.

Dynamic Address

Temporarily assigned IP addresses usually provided by an ISP.

Form Factor

The configuration of a computer's system unit; examples include tower, mini-tower, and cube.

GIF

(Graphics Interchange Format)

A bitmap graphics file format, popularized by CompuServe, for use on the Web.

Handshake

A process where a protocol helps two network devices communicate.

IPv4

(Internet Protocol version 4)

Internet addresses that are 32-bit IP addresses.

(Base 10)

IPv6

(Internet Protocol version 6)

Internet addresses that are 128-bit IP addresses.

(Base 16)

JPEG

(Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A format that uses lossy compression to store bitmap images. JPEG (pronounced "JAY-peg") files have a .jpg extension.

LAN

(Local Area Network)

An interconnected group of computers and peripherals located within a relatively limited area, such as a building or campus.

Laser Printer

A printer that uses laser-based technology, similar to that used by photocopiers, to produce text and graphics.

LCD

(Liquid Crystal Display)

Technology used for flat panel computer screens typically found on laptop computers.

LED

(Light Emitting Diode)

Either a display technology that uses LEDs to produce an image on the screen, or one that uses LEDs as backlighting.

MAC address

(Media Access Control Address)

A unique identifier similar to a serial number assigned to networking equipment at the time of manufacture.

Machine Language

A low-level language written in binary code that the computer can execute directly.

Magnetic Storage

A technology for recording data onto disks or tape by magnetizing particles of an oxide-based surface coating.

MAN

(Metropolitan Area Network) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN).

Microprocessor Clock

A timing signal that sets the pace for executing instructions in a microprocessor.

e.g. 3.4GHz

OCR

(Optical Character Recognition)

The ability of a device or software to digitize text from printed sources.

MPEG

(Moving Picture Experts Group)

A family of highly compressed container file formats and codecs for digital multimedia; MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4.

Network Topology

The physical structure (layout) of a network including its devices and connections.

Niche Device

Device with a limited function or purpose??

e.g. Smart watch

OCR

(Optical Character Organization)

The ability of a device or software to digitize text from printed sources.

OS

(Operating System)

The software that controls the computer's use of its hardware resources, such as memory and disk storage space.

Optical Storage

A technology that records data as light and dark spots on a CD, DVD, or other optical media.

Packet

A small unit of data transmitted over a network.

PAN

(Personal Area Network)

An interconnected group of personal digital devices located within a range of about 30 feet.

Pixelation

Describes the effect of increasing the size of an image until smooth edges become jagged.

PNG

(Portable Network Graphics)

A type of graphics file format similar to but newer than GIF and JPEG.

RAM

(Random Access Memory)

Computer memory circuitry that holds data, program instructions, and the operating system while the computer is on.

RAW

(File Extension .RAW)

In the context of digital graphics, a file that contains unprocessed image data directly from a digital camera's sensors.

RFID

(Radio Frequency Identification)

A short-range wireless network technology commonly used to track products containing RFID tags.

ROM

(Read Only Memory)

Refers to one or more integrated circuits that contain permanent instructions that the computer uses during the boot process.

Samping Rate

The number of times per second a sound is measured during the recording process.

Server

A computer or software on a network that supplies the network with data and storage.

SSD

(Solid State Drive)

A data storage device that utilizes erasable, re-writable circuitry.

MAN

(Metropolitan Area Network) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN).

TCP

(Transmission Control Protocol)

The protocol within TCP/ IP that is responsible for establishing a data connection between two hosts and breaking data into packets.