ComSci Principles: Unit 1 Vocabulary

Bit

A contraction of "Binary Digit"; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 and 1

Byte

8 bits

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options

Overflow Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large

Round-off Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.

Analog

Term used to mean something with continuous representation

Analog Data

Data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time. Some examples of analog data include music, colors of a painting, or the position of a sprinter during a race

Digital Data

Data that changes discreetly through a finite set of possible values

Sampling

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals called samples

Lossless Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information. This process is reversible.

Lossy Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away. This process is not reversible.

Copyright

Law gives several "creator's rights" to people producing creative work. When you create something, you get to decide who can: make copies, distribute, display or perform the work in public and make derivatives

Fair Use

Is an important part of copyright that allows us to use copyright protected work, without owner/creator

Public Domain

Is a vast body of creative work that belongs to the public because the copyright has expired or never applied in the first place

Intellectual Property

A work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a piece of writing or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc

Creative Commons

A collection of public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work, used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created

Analog Image

Made with traditional tools (pen, pencil, ink) and traditional media (paper, paint, canvas)