Tech in Action 2

Megabyte

(MB) A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1 million bytes.

Laser printer,

A nonimpact printer known for quick and quiet production and high-quality printouts.

Interactive whiteboard,

An input/output device that projects the computer’s display onto a surface, which allows users to interface with the board and computing device.

High-definition multimedia interface port, (HDMI)

A compact audio–video interface standard that carries both high-definition video and uncompressed digital audio.

Port

An interface through which external devices are connected to the computer.

Hard drive,

The computer’s nonvolatile, primary storage device for permanent storage of software and data.

Microprocessors, The chips that contain a central processing unit (CPU, or processor).

Binary digit, (bit) A digit that corresponds to the on and off states of a computer’s switches. A bit contains a value of either 0 or 1.

Pixels, A single point that creates the images on a computer monitor. Pixels are illuminated by an electron beam that passes rapidly back and forth across the back of the screen so that the pixels appear to glow continuously.

DisplayPort, A digital display interface used to connect computing devices to display devices. Has backward compatibility with HDMI and DVI.

Flatbed scanners, Used to create a digital image from a tangible image (like a paper photo).

Mechanical keyboards, A keyboard that features spring-loaded switches under each key instead of rubber membranes.

Mainframe, A large, expensive computer that supports hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously and executes many different programs at the same time.

Cold boot, The process of starting a computer from a powered-down or off state.

Power supply, Regulates the wall voltage to the voltages required by computer chips; it’s housed inside the system unit.

Inkjet printers, A nonimpact printer that sprays tiny drops of ink onto paper.

Expansion cards, (or adapter cards) A circuit board with specific functions that augment the computer’s basic functions and provide connections to other devices; examples include sound cards and video cards.

Voice recognition, Software that allows you to control your computing devices by speaking into the microphone instead of using a keyboard or mouse.

Stylus, (Word) A pen-like device with which you can write on a computer or tablet with a touchscreen. (TIA) A pen-shaped device used to tap or write on touch-sensitive screens.

Operating system, (OS) The system software that controls the way in which a computer system functions, including the management of hardware, peripherals, and software.

Embedded computer, A specially designed computer chip that resides inside another device, such as a car. These self-contained computer devices have their own programming and typically neither receive input from users nor interact with other systems.

Sensor, Any device that detects or measures something. Computing devices, especially smartphones, contain many sensors.

Light-emitting diode, (LED) An energy-efficient technology used in monitors. It may result in better color accuracy and thinner panels than traditional LCD monitors.

Surround-sound system, A system of speakers set up in such a way that it surrounds an entire area (and the people in it) with sound.

Binary language, The language computers use to process data into information, consisting of only the values 0 and 1.

Resolution, The clarity or sharpness of an image, which is controlled by the number of pixels displayed on the screen.

Peripheral device, A device such as a monitor, printer, or keyboard that connects to the system unit through a data port.

Digital convergence, The use of a single unifying device to handle media, Internet, entertainment, and telephony needs.

Gigabyte, (GB) About a billion bytes.

Input device, A hardware device used to enter, or input, data (text, images, and sounds) and instructions (user responses and commands) into a computer.

Laptop computer, (or notebook) A portable computer with a keyboard, a monitor, and other devices integrated into a single compact case.

Hardware, Any part of a computer or computer system you can physically touch.

Sound card, An expansion card that attaches to (or is integrated into) the motherboard inside the system unit and that enables the computer to produce sounds; also provides a connection for the speakers and microphone.

Ergonomics, How users set up their computer and other equipment to minimize risk of injury or discomfort.

Organic light-emitting diode displays, (OLED) Displays that use organic compounds to produce light when exposed to an electric current. Unlike LCDs, OLEDs do not require a backlight to function and therefore draw less power and have a much thinner display, sometimes as thin as 3 mm.

Processing, Manipulating or organizing data into information.

Assistive technologies, (adaptive) Any device, software feature, or app that is designed to improve the functional capabilities for individuals with disabilities.

Output device, A device that sends processed data and information out of a computer in the form of text, pictures (graphics), sounds (audio), or video.

Touch screens, A type of monitor (or display in a smartphone or tablet computer) that accepts input from a user touching the screen.

Sleep mode, A low-power mode for computing devices that saves electric power consumption and saves the last-used settings. When the device is “woken up,” work is resumed more quickly than when cold-booting the device.

Webcam, A small camera that sits on top of a computer monitor or that’s built into a computing device and is used to generate live video.

Intelligent personal assistants, Software designed to perform tasks or services for individuals.

Information, (Excel) Data that is organized in a useful manner. (Access) Data that is accurate, timely, and organized in a useful manner. (TIA) Data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion; the result, or output that users require at the end of a job.

Large-format printer, A printer that prints on oversized paper. Often used for creating banners and signs.

Byte, Eight binary digits (bits).

Hibernate, A power-management mode that saves the current state of the current system to the computer’s hard drive.

Display screen, (monitor) A common output device that displays text, graphics, and video as soft copies (copies that can be seen only on screen).

Kilobyte, (KB) A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1,000 bytes.

Nonvolatile storage, Permanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM).

Touch pad, (trackpad) A small, touch-sensitive surface at the base of a laptop keyboard that’s used to direct the cursor.

Bluetooth, A type of wireless technology that uses radio waves to transmit data over short distances often used to connect peripherals such as printers and keyboards to computers or headsets to cell phones.

Mouse, A hardware device used to enter user responses and commands into a computer.

Data, (Excel chapter 01) Text or numbers in a cell. (Excel chapter 10) Facts about people, events, things, or ideas. (Access) Facts about people, events, things, or ideas. (TIA) Numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that represent facts, figures, or ideas; the raw input that users have at the start of a job.

Desktop computer, A computer that is intended for use at a single location. A desktop computer consists of a case that houses the main components of the computer, plus peripheral devices.

Thunderbolt ports, A high-speed input/output port.

Universal serial bus port, (USB) A port that can connect a wide variety of peripheral devices to the computer, including keyboards, printers, mice, smartphones, external hard drives, flash drives, and digital cameras.

2-in-1 PC, A laptop computer that can convert into a tablet-like device.

All-in-one printer, A device that combines the functions of a printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine.

Solid-state drives, (SSD) A storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives use but that can reach data in only one-tenth of the time a flash drive requires.

Cloud storage, (OF) A system that enables you to store your files on the internet instead of on your own computer so that you can access your files from anywhere; examples include Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Apple iCloud. (TIA) A service that keeps files on the Internet (in the cloud) rather than storing files solely on a local device.

Random access memory, (RAM) The computer’s temporary storage space or short-term memory. It’s located in a set of chips on the system unit’s motherboard, and its capacity is measured in megabytes or gigabytes.

Smartphones, Phone with features of a computer including a wide assortment of apps, media players, high-quality cameras, and web connectivity.

Computer, A data-processing device that gathers, processes, outputs, and stores data and information.

Green computing, (green IT) A movement that encourages environmentally sustainable computing (or IT).

Software, The set of computer programs or instructions that tells the computer what to do and that enables it to perform different tasks.

Flash drive, (PPT) A compact removable drive that plugs into the USB port of the computer. (TIA) (jump drive, USB drive, or thumb drive) A drive that plugs into a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer and that stores data digitally.

All-in-one computer, A desktop system unit that houses the computer’s processor, memory, and monitor in a single unit.

Tablet computer, A mobile computer, such as the Apple iPad, integrated into a flat multi-touch-sensitive screen. It uses an onscreen virtual keyboard.

Connectivity port, A port that enables a computing device to be connected to other devices or systems such as networks, modems, and the Internet.

Warm boot, The process of restarting a computing device while it’s powered on.

Read-only memory, (ROM) A set of memory chips, located on the motherboard, that stores data and instructions that cannot be changed or erased; it holds all the instructions the computer needs to start up.

Liquid crystal display, (LCD) The technology used in flat-panel computer monitors.

Integrated circuits, (or chips) Tiny regions of semiconductor material that support a huge number of transistors.

Aspect ratio, (PPT) The relationship between width and height of images. (TIA) The width-to-height proportion of a monitor.

Video card, (video adapter) An expansion card that’s installed inside a system unit to translate binary data (the 1 s and 0 s the computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor.

Refresh rate, The amount of times per second a monitor refreshed the pixels.

Supercomputer, A specially designed computer that can perform complex calculations extremely rapidly; used in situations in which complex models requiring intensive mathematical calculations are needed (such as weather forecasting or atomic energy research).

3D printer, Used to print three-dimensional models.

Motherboard, A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processing unit, the memory (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards; all of the other boards (video cards, sound cards, and so on) connect to it to receive power and to communicate.

Chromebook, Any laptop or tablet running the Chrome OS as its operating system.

Ultrabooks, A full-featured but lightweight laptop computer that features a low-power processor and a solid-state drive; it tries to reduce its size and weight to extend battery life without sacrificing performance.

System unit, The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer together, including the computer’s processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards that help the computer function.

Central processing unit, (CPU or processor) The part of a computer that is responsible for data processing; it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. The CPU controls all the functions performed by the computer’s other components and processes all the commands issued to it by software instructions.

Volatile storage, Temporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is turned off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.