Essential Computer and Software Concepts - In-Person - audio recorded (copy)

Operating System (OS)

The software that manages computer hardware and software resources, acting as a traffic controller for input and output operations.

Microsoft Windows OS

The most widely used operating system for personal computers, first released in 1985.

Mac OSX

The operating system developed by Apple for its Macintosh computers, first released in 1984.

Linux

A free and open-source operating system primarily used for web servers.

Google Chrome OS

An operating system developed by Google, released in 2011 for Chromebook laptops.

Cloud Computing

The ability to access software and file storage on remote computers via the Internet, allowing for file sharing and collaboration.

Backup

A duplicate copy of a file stored in a different location to prevent data loss due to disasters or accidents.

Open Source

Software with available source code that allows programmers to modify and improve it, promoting peer review.

Shareware

Software distributed for trial use, requiring a fee for continued use after the trial period.

Freeware

Closed-source software that is freely available but has restricted usage rights, with copyright maintained by the author.

Public-Domain Software

Software that can be used without copyright restrictions, often available for free.

Commercial Software

Proprietary software that requires purchase and is subject to copyright protection.

Software Piracy

The illegal copying and distribution of software, leading to legal consequences and economic losses.

File Extensions

The three or four letters following a period in a file name that indicate the file type and associated program.

Data Encryption

The process of converting data into a secure format to prevent unauthorized access, requiring decryption for access.

Speech Recognition

Technology that translates spoken words into text, used in applications like Google Voice Search and Apple's Siri.

Task Manager

A utility in Windows that allows users to view and manage running applications, including closing nonresponsive programs.