Introduction to Computing - Vocabulary Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental computing concepts, computer evolution, hardware organization and architecture, number systems, and software/operating systems based on the lecture slides.

Computer

An electronic device that accepts data as input, processes data according to instructions, produces output, and stores data and information for future use.

Computing

The broader field and activity of using and studying computers and computational systems to process information, solve problems, and accomplish tasks.

Data

Raw facts, observations, symbols, or values that can be processed by a computer.

Information

Data that has been processed, organized, or interpreted so that it becomes meaningful and useful.

Hardware

The tangible physical components that make up a computer system.

Software

Programs, instructions, and related data that tell computer hardware what to do and how to perform tasks.

Computer Network

A group of interconnected computers and devices that communicate and share resources, such as files, internet access, and printers.

Information System

An organized combination of resources (people, processes, data, hardware, software, and networks) that collects, processes, stores, and distributes information to support organizational activities.

Computer Science (CS)

A major computing discipline focusing on computation, algorithms, programming, data structures, and the theoretical foundations of computing.

Information Technology (IT)

A major computing discipline focusing on the implementation, operation, maintenance, infrastructure, and support of computing technologies.

Information Systems (IS)

A major computing discipline focusing on the interaction among people, processes, data, and technology to support organizational needs.

Abacus

One of the earliest manual calculating tools, used for basic arithmetic operations.

Pascaline

An early mechanical calculator invented by Blaise Pascal that performed addition and subtraction.

Leibniz Step Reckoner

An early mechanical calculating machine that extended mechanical calculation to support multiplication and division.

Jacquard Loom

A mechanical loom that used punched cards to control textile patterns, demonstrating the early concept of programmable instructions.

Difference Engine

An early mechanical computing machine proposed by Charles Babbage designed to perform mathematical calculations automatically.

Analytical Engine

A proposed general-purpose mechanical computing machine designed by Charles Babbage that incorporated structural concepts similar to modern computers.

Ada Lovelace

A pioneer who developed an algorithm intended for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine and is recognized for early computer programming concepts.

Herman Hollerith

The inventor who developed an electromechanical tabulating system using punched cards to process large volumes of census data.

ENIAC

Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer; a First Generation electronic computer designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, commissioned by the U.S. Army to calculate artillery firing tables.

UNIVAC I

Universal Automatic Computer 1; the first commercial computer introduced in March 1951 by Remington Rand, designed by Eckert and Mauchly.

Vacuum Tubes

The primary electronic switching component used in First Generation computers, characterized by large physical size, high electricity consumption, and significant heat generation.

Transistor

The semiconductor component that replaced vacuum tubes in Second Generation computers, offering smaller size, lower power consumption, less heat, and faster processing.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

The primary technology of Third Generation computers that allowed multiple electronic components to be combined onto a single small chip.

Microprocessor

The main technology of Fourth Generation computers that integrates major processing functions onto a single compact chip, spurring personal computing.

Ubiquitous Computing

The integration of computing technology into everyday objects and environments, such as smart watches, smart TVs, and IoT sensors.

Cloud Computing

A computing model that provides scalable access to shared computing resources (storage, processing, applications) over a network infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Computing systems designed to perform tasks commonly associated with human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, image recognition, and decision support.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The primary internal hardware component responsible for retrieving instructions, executing calculations, and processing data in a computer.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The CPU component responsible for performing arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT, comparisons).

Control Unit (CU)

The CPU component that directs, interprets, and coordinates the activities and instruction execution of all processor components.

Processor Registers

Extremely fast, small storage locations internal to the CPU used to temporarily hold data, instructions, or addresses needed for immediate processing.

Cache Memory

High-speed memory located near the CPU that holds frequently accessed data and instructions to reduce processor wait times.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Fast, temporary, volatile main working memory that holds currently running programs, active data, and operating system resources.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Non-volatile computer memory containing permanent low-level instructions or firmware that persists even when system power is turned off.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A secondary storage device that records and retrieves data magnetically using mechanical spinning disks.

Solid-State Drive (SSD)

A secondary storage device that stores data persistently using solid-state electronic flash memory without moving mechanical parts.

System Unit

The primary enclosure containing the internal computer hardware components, including the motherboard, CPU, power supply, and RAM.

Motherboard

The main circuit board inside a computer that provides electrical connections and communication pathways among the CPU, memory, storage, and expansion cards.

Bus

A internal communication pathway used to transmit data, memory addresses, and control signals between computer components.

Computer Organization

The operational structure and physical arrangement of hardware components working together to implement a computer system.

Computer Architecture

The conceptual design and functional characteristics of a computing system that define how it processes computation and executes instructions.

Number System

A structured mathematical method of representing numeric values using a standardized set of digits or symbols.

Base (or Radix)

The total number of unique symbols or digits available in a specific positional number system.

Decimal System

A base-$10$ positional number system that uses ten unique digits: $0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9$.

Binary System

A base-$2$ positional number system that uses only two digits: $0$ and $1$.

Octal System

A base-$8$ positional number system that uses eight unique digits: $0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7$.

Hexadecimal System

A base-$16$ positional number system that uses sixteen symbols: digits $0$–$9$ and letters $A$–$F$ (where $A=10$ through $F=15$).

Bit

Short for binary digit; the smallest fundamental unit of data in computing, holding a value of either $0$ or $1$.

Nibble

A unit of digital information storage consisting of $4$ consecutive bits.

Byte

A unit of digital information storage consisting of $8$ consecutive bits.

System Software

Software responsible for managing computer hardware and providing a operational platform for application software to run.

Application Software

Software programs created to assist end users in performing specific end-user tasks, activities, or problem-solving operations.

Operating System (OS)

Core system software that manages hardware and software resources, provides system services, and mediates interaction between users, applications, and hardware.

Process Management

An operating system function that manages active programs, allocates processor CPU time, and schedules execution among multiple processes.

Memory Management

An operating system function that allocates and deallocates main RAM space to active applications and prevents unauthorized memory access.

Device Driver

A specialized software program that enables the operating system to communicate directly with a specific hardware peripheral device.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

A visual interface that allows users to interact with a computer system using graphics, icons, menus, windows, buttons, and a pointing device.

Command-Line Interface (CLI)

A text-based interface where users interact with the computer operating system by typing explicit text commands.

Utility Software

System software designed to maintain, configure, optimize, protect, or manage computer resources and data files.

Open-Source Software

Software distributed with its source code made publicly available under a licensing agreement allowing users to study, modify, and redistribute it.

Proprietary Software

Commercial software owned solely by an individual or company, distributed under restrictive licenses that forbid source code modification or unauthorized copying.

Freeware

Proprietary software available for use at zero cost, but whose original source code is not shared or permitted to be altered.