BST110 Review Questions, pg. ECC 29

Key words

The monitor, keyboard, and mouse are ________ which are hardware components that are not part of the internal components of the computer

peripheral devices

The main parts that make a computer work

The main parts that make a computer work—like the brain (CPU), memory (hard disk), and other important pieces—are kept inside the big box (tower) of a desktop computer, or inside the screen if it’s an all-in-one computer.

Output

Is the results of the computer processing input

Monitor

Is the device that displays the output from a computer

Data or instructions you type into the computer

Input

Pointing Devices
Pointer
Most popular device is a ______

Pointing devices control the pointer, which is a small arrow that you use to select commands and manipulate text or graphics. The most popular device is a mouse

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Processor

The CPU is the part of the computer (that is mounted on the motherboard) that tells everything what to do. It helps the computer think and work, like the brain in your body. Without it, the computer wouldn’t know how to run programs or games.

The technical details about each component

Specifications

a set of storage locations on the motherboard

Memory

Hard disk drive (hard drive or hard disk)

Most common magnetic storage device

DVD

A DVD in a computer is like a disc that holds movies, music, or files. The computer can read it to play videos, show pictures, or open documents. It works kind of like a CD, but it can hold more stuff. 4.7GB - 17.1GB of data in dual layers on both sides

CD and Blu-ray discs

CD: Optical storage device that stores up to 700MB in a single layer on one side
Blu-Ray: optical storage device that stores up to 500GB of high-definition video on up to 20 layers

An opening on a computer connected to a card or to an appropriate place on the motherboard into which you can plug a connector.

Port

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

High-speed port used to connect many types of a peripheral devices to the computer

Electronic device that accepts information and instructions from a user, manipulates the information according to the instructions, displays the information in some way, and stores the information for retrieval later

Computer

Personal Computers (PCs)

computers typically used by one person in a home or an office. Used for general computing tasks such as word processing, manipulating numbers, photographs, emails, and accessing the internet

Designed to sit on a desk and run power from an electrical outlet

Desktop computers

All-in-one computers

All-in-one computers are desktop computers, but the motherboard and CPU are part of the monitor instead of a seperate tower

Laptop Computers (notebook computers)

small, lightweight, and designed for portability. They can run on a power supplied by an electrical outlet or battery power.

small computers that are designed to fit in the palm of your hand, run on batteries, limited capabilities than PCs

Mobile Devices

mobile device that is used to make and receive phone calls; send and receive text messages; video chat; maintain a contact list and Calander, etc.

Smartphone

Wearable Device

attaches to a person and is worn like a piece of jewelry or clothing. Example: fitness watches and smartwatches

Server

a server is Is a computer that stores programs and data for multiple users. Authorized users connect to the server to run programs and access files

Mainframe computers

used by larger businesses and government agencies to centrally store, process, and manage large amounts of data.

Supercomputers

First developed for high volume computing tasks such as weather prediction. (this example is owned by nasa). are also used by large corporations and government agencies when the tremendous volume of data would seriously delay processing on a mainframe computer. Super computers can cost millions.

Hardware

the physical components of a computer

Software

intangible (cannot be touched) components of a computer system

Programs

lists of instructions the computer needs to perform a specific task.

Modifying data and executing commands

Processing

Instructions to the computer on how to process the data

Commands

contains the processing hardware, the computers major electronic components which are located inside the computer.

Motherboard

Chip

integrated circuit embedded in semiconductor material(material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and insulator) that is mounted on the motherboard and is responsible for executing instructions to process data

Dual-core processor

Single-core processor

Quad-core processor

Cards (expansion cards)

circuit boards that are inserted into electrical connectors on the motherboard called slots

Slots (expansion slots)

expands capabilities of the motherboard

Input device

such as a keyboard or a mouse, to input data and issue commands, microphones

ergonomic

means that it has been designed to fit the natural placement of your hands and should reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries

scanner

transfers the content on a piece of paper into memory

assistive technology/assistive devices

people with physical impairments or disabilities can use computers because of technology that makes computers accessible

Output devices store or show you output

Common devices for displaying output are monitors and printers.

Flat screen monitor or flat panel monitor.
Some flat screen monitors use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology within a layer of liquid crystal, and require a backlight
Flat screen monitors labeled as LED (light emitting diode) monitors use LEDS to provide the backlight which is more energy efficient.

Screen size

diagonal measurement from one corner of the screen to the other
range from 18 - 32 inches
Most monitors on laptops are 15 - 17 inches

Monitor screens are divided into a matrix of small dots called ______

Pixels.

The number of pixels the monitor displays is called the _________

Screen resolution. The higher the numbers are, the smaller the objects appear because more objects can fit on the screen at once

viewing angle

how far to the side you can be and still see the images on the screen clearly

Printer

produces a paper copy of the text or graphics processed by the computer.

Hard copy

Printed computer output is called a hard copy because it is more tangible than the electronic version found in the computer or on the monitor.

Laser Printers

use the same technology as a photocopier to create a temporary image on paper and then spray it with a powdery substance called toner

Speed of which laser printers is measured in pages per minute (PPM)

Laser printers are a popular choice for businesses because they produce high-quality output quickly and efficiently

inkjet printers (all-in-one)

spray ink onto paper. the speed of inkjet printers is also measured in PPM. Ink in inkjet printers needs to be replaced more often than the toner for laser printers

Dot matrix printers

transfer ink to the paper by striking a ribbon with pins. Dot matrix printers are most often used to print a large number of pages fairly quickly, or multipage
Dot matrix printers are measured in Characters per second (cps)

Ports on a typical desktop pc

Monitors are connected to computers through display ports…

HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and DisplayPort ports transmit video and audio digitally
VGA (video graphics array) ports transmit analog video
Speakers and microphone connect to a computer via ports on the sound card
Older style wired keyboards and mice connect via PS/2 ports; most wired keyboard and mice that you buy now connect via USB ports
Ethernet Ports allow data to be transmitted at high speeds, so they are used to connect computers to one another or to the internet

USB port

To connect a device to a USB port, you need a USB connector, which is a metal tab attached to a cable, wireless transmitter, or flash drive that inserts into the USB port.

USB cables usually have two ends—

one plugs into the computer (type A USB),

and the other plugs into a device like a printer or phone (type B USB).

A newer kind, called USB (type C USB), is faster and fits into special type C ports. These ports are found on newer devices like the latest Chromebooks and MacBooks. Some computers have several USB ports, and a few of them are high-speed for quicker data transfer.

Data

refers to the words, numbers, figures, sounds, and graphics that describe people, events, things, and ideas
1 represents on, 0 represents off each of these numbers are called binary digits or bits: the smallest piece of data a computer can process

Byte

A series of eight bits (the smallest piece of data a computer can process) is called a byte. Processing capacity, storage capacity, and file sizes are all measured in bytes
Kilobyte (KB or K) is 1024 bytes, or approx. one thousand bytes.

Megabyte (MB) is 1,048,576 bytes or about one million bytes

Gigabyte (GB) is 1,073,741,824 or about one billion bytes
Terabyte (TB) is 1024GB, or approx. one trillion bytes
Petabyte (PB) is approx. 1000 terabytes

Random Access Memory (RAM)

consists of chips on cards that plug into the motherboard, temporarily holds programs and data while the computer is on and allows the computer to access that information randomly
RAM doesn’t need to access data in the same sequence in which it was stored
RAM is volatile memory or temporary memory because it constantly changes while the computer is on and clears when the computer is turned off
RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB)
Makes computers faster!!!

a special, high-speed memory chip on the motherboard or CPU.

Cache memory (RAM cache or CPU cache)

Read-only memory (ROM)

Chip on the motherboard prerecorded with instructions the computer uses to check its components to ensure they are working, and to activate the software that provides the computers basic functionality when you turn it on

BIOS (basic input/output system)

tells the computer to initialize the motherboard, how to recgonize devices connected to the computer, and to start the boot process

Set of events that occurs between the moment you turn on the computer and the moment you can begin to use the computer.
(which is why when turning on the computer they call it booting up)

Boot process

Nonvolatile Memory or Permanent Memory

ROM never changes and remains intact when the computer is turned off is nonvolatile memory aka permanent memory.

ROM: Chip on the motherboard prerecorded with instructions the computer uses to check its components to ensure they are working, and to activate the software that provides the computers basic functionality when you turn it on

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory

chip installed on the motherboard that is activated during the boot process and identifies where essential software is stored. CMOS changes every time you add or remove hardware
CMOS is often reffered to as semipermanent memory.

A _______ is a named collection of stored date

File

______Contains the instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task; for instance, the files used when the computer starts are executable.

Executable file

A _________ is created by a user; for instance, a report you write with a word-processing program can be saved as a _________

Data file

Magnetic Storage Media

Stored data as magnetized particles on a surface. A common Magnetic Storage Media is a hard disk.

Solid state media

Stores data as 1s and 0s that are turned on and off with electrical signals

Solid state drives (SSDs)

hard drives that are faster and tend to be more reliable than magnetic hard drives —> much more expensive

small, portable cards encased in hard plastic to which data can be written and rewritten using electrical signals. They are used in digital cameras, mobile devices, and video game controllers, etc.

Flash memory cards

—> inexpensive, some people use them as permanent storage for things like pictures or videos and purchased a new one when it fills up.

USB flash storage device (USB drive / flash drive)

A popular type of flash memory
USB drives plug directly into the PC; the computer recognizes the device as another disk drive

Optical storage devices

polycarbonate discs coated with a reflective metal on which data is recorded as a trail of tiny pits or dark spots on the surface of the disc.
The data that these pits of spots represent can then be “read” with a beam of laser light
(such as CDs and DVDs)
Optical storage media are very durable but not indestructible.

CD-R (compact disc recordable) or CD-RW (compact disc rewritable)

To store data on a CD you need to record it on CD-R or CR-RW
After the data is recorded and finalized, you cannot erase or modify it- but you can re-record with a CD-RW

CDs that you buy with software or music already on them are ______

CD-ROMs (compact disc read-only memory), you can read them, but you cannot record additional data onto them.

Recordable DVD’s vs Rerecordable DVDs

Recordable DVDs: DVD-R and DVD+R

Rerecordable DVDs: DVD-RW and DVD+RW

BD-RE vs BD-R

BD-RE are Blu-ray discs that you can record to multiple times.

BD-R are Blu-ray discs that you can record once

Network

connects one computer to other computers and peripheral devices, enabling you to share data and resources with others.

Each computer that is part of the network must have a ________

Network Adapter to create a communications connection between the computer and the network

Network software

establishes the communications protocols that will be observed on the network and controls the “traffic flow” as a data flows throughout the network

A network consisting of computers dependent on a server is called a _____

client/server network
The dependent computers are the clients.
A client/server network is a way computers share stuff. One computer, called the server, stores files and programs. Other computers, called clients, connect to the server to use those files or programs. It’s like one big helper computer and a bunch of smaller ones asking for help.

peer-to-peer network

When a network does not have a server, all the computers are essentially equal, and the programs and data are distributed among them

Router

Connects devices on a network and controls traffic between the devices so all the devices can access the network

In a ________ computers and peripheral devices are located relatively close to each other, generally in the same building

Local area network (LAN)

In a _______ consists of multiple LANs connected together. The internet is the largest example of a WAN

Wide area network (WAN)

Wireless local area network (WLAN)

computers and peripherals use high-frequency radio waves instead of wires to connect in a network

Personal area network (PAN)

a network that allows two or more devices located close to each other to communicated or to connect a device to the internet

Data communications

The transmission of data from a computer to a peripheral device or from one computer to another
The four essential components of data communications are a sender, a receiver, a channel, and a protocol

The computer that originates the message is the ______

sender

Channel

The message is sent over some type of channel, such as a telephone or coaxial cable, a microwave or radio signal, or optical fibers

The computer or device at the message’s destination is called the _______

receiver

the rules that establish an orderly transfer of data between the sender and the receiver are _____

protocols

Bluetooth and Certified Wireless USB

two common ways to transmit data wirelessly over short distances are Bluetooth and certified wireless usb, which both use short-range radio waves to connect one device to another.
Newest versions of Bluetooth allow the devices to be up to 300 feet from each other

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity)

is a standard radio frequency established by the institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) that allows you to transmit data wirelessly over medium-range distances.
Distance can range from 100 to 900ft.

WiMAX (Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access)

allows computer users to connect over many miles

3G and 4G

the standards used by cell phone companies to transmit data

LTE (long-term evolution)

A newer wireless standard used by some cell phone companies to deliver access to their 4G networks
To access 3G and 4G networks you need to have a contract with a cell phone provider

Internet

Internet is the largest network in the world

people use the internet to send emails: messages sent from one user’s computer to another user’s computer

the Web is a huge collection of information stored on network servers around the world

the information is stored as a type of file called a webpage which can include text, graphics, sound, animation, and video

a collection of webpages is a website

a Hyperlink, or link is a text, a graphic. or another object on a webpage programmed to connect to another webpage or file on any web server in the world

a web browser is a software that you use to navigate the web

DSL (digital subscriber line)

DSL: high-speed connection over phone lines, or over cable connection

high speed connections are often called broadband connections!