Computer Systems, Software, and Emerging Technologies Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering hardware components, primary/secondary memory, software categories, operating system interfaces, device form factors, and emerging technologies.

Hardware

The physical parts that make up a computer system.

External Hardware

Peripheral hardware components located outside the computer casing, such as keyboards, monitors, and mice.

Internal Hardware

Hardware components located inside the computer casing.

Motherboard (System Board)

The main printed circuit board found in all computers that connects internal components, containing sockets and slots to allow hardware to function and communicate.

Video Card (Graphics Card)

An expansion card connected to the motherboard that allows the computer to send graphical information to a display device such as a monitor, TV, or projector.

Sound Card

An integrated circuit board that enables a computer to produce sound for speakers or headphones and record sound input from a microphone.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

A printed circuit board installed in a computer that allows it to connect to a network, either via a wired connection or wirelessly.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

A secondary storage device using solid-state technology with no moving parts, used to permanently store data, files, and system/application software.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

A single integrated circuit on the motherboard that interprets and executes commands from computer hardware and software.

Control Unit

A component of the CPU that sends control signals to manage the transfer of data and instructions within the CPU.

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

A component of the CPU that carries out calculations and makes logical decisions.

Registers

Small memory locations inside the microprocessor used for temporary storage of data, instructions, and results.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Volatile, temporary primary memory that can be read from and written to, used to store data, files, and operating system modules currently in use.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Non-volatile primary memory that permanently holds start-up instructions (such as BIOS) that cannot be altered.

Basic Input / Output System (BIOS)

System boot code stored in ROM that performs hardware checks when the computer starts up and loads the operating system into RAM.

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

A battery-powered non-volatile chip that stores system configuration settings, date, and time for the BIOS.

Solid State

A characteristic of an electronic hardware device that contains no moving mechanical parts.

Software

Programs designed to control the operation of a computer system or process electronic data.

Application Software

Programs that allow users to carry out specific tasks to provide services and solve user-specific problems.

Word Processing Software

Application software used for creating, editing, formatting, saving, and manipulating text-based documents.

Spreadsheet Software

Application software that organizes data in rows and columns and uses formulae to carry out numerical calculations, graphing, and modeling.

Database Management System (DBMS)

Application software used to organize data into structured tables, allowing users to query, update, report, and modify records.

Control Software

An automatic software system that controls external hardware devices to alter their physical environment.

Measurement Software

Software that interacts with physical sensors to collect, visualize, and analyze real-world environmental data.

Applets

Small applications embedded within web pages or larger applications that perform a single dedicated task inside a browser.

Apps

Small software programs designed to help users execute specific tasks on mobile or desktop platforms, such as streaming or banking.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Software used to create, modify, analyze, and optimize 2D drawings or 3D digital models before manufacturing.

Audio Editing Software

Software that enables users to edit, manipulate, convert formats, reduce background noise, and export sound tracks.

Video Editing Software

Software that allows users to manipulate video and audio clips, apply color corrections, add titles/transitions, and export completed video files.

Graphics Editing Software

Software used to manipulate bitmap images (pixel grid data) or vector graphics (lines, curves, and mathematical shapes).

System Software

Programs that enable computer hardware to function properly, manage resources, and provide a platform for application software to run.

Operating System (OS)

Background system software that manages hardware input/output operations, user accounts, program loading, error handling, and file security.

Compiler

A language translator that converts an entire high-level language program into machine code executable files all at once.

Interpreter

A language translator that converts and executes a high-level language program line by line, halting execution if an error is detected.

Linker

System software that combines multiple object files generated by a compiler into a single executable program.

Device Driver

System software that allows specific hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system.

Utilities

System software programs designed to help manage, maintain, optimize, and control computer resources (e.g., antivirus, defragmentation, cleanup).

Command Line Interface (CLI)

A user interface requiring users to type precise text commands using a keyboard, without graphical elements or icons.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

A visual user interface based on WIMP elements (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer) that allows intuitive user interaction.

Post-WIMP Interface

A touch-screen user interface used on portable devices that accepts multi-finger gestures such as pinching, rotating, and swiping.

Dialogue-Based User Interface

A user interface that relies on speech recognition software to convert human voice commands into system actions.

Gesture-Based User Interface

An interface that utilizes computer vision and motion sensors to interpret human hand, head, or body movements as input commands.

Desktop Computer

A stationary personal computer setup comprising a separate monitor, keyboard, mouse, and system unit.

Laptop Computer

A portable personal computer integrating the monitor, keyboard, pointing device, processor, and battery into a single unit.

Tablet Computer

A mobile, lightweight computer equipped with a touch screen, flash storage, front/back cameras, and integrated sensors.

Phablet

A hybrid mobile device sized between a smartphone and a tablet that offers smartphone capabilities with a larger screen.

Smartphone

A compact mobile communication device featuring cellular network access, a touch screen, built-in cameras, internet browsing, and app functionality.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Computer systems designed to simulate human intelligence, mimic human decision-making, and learn from past data.

Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated remotely or autonomously to perform tasks, survey areas, or gather data without risking human life.

Extended Reality (XR)

An umbrella term covering technologies that combine physical and digital virtual worlds, encompassing Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

Virtual Reality (VR)

A fully immersive, computer-generated 3D environment experienced through a head-mounted display that isolates the user from the real world.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Technology that overlays computer-generated digital information, images, or 3D models onto real-world environments in real time.