Introduction to Computer Systems

Practice flashcards covering computer components, software types, historical figures, and basic system functions based on the lecture notes.

Computer

An electronic device that manipulates information or data, which has the ability to store and retrieve.

Software

A series of instructions organized to perform specific tasks to operate a computer, directing all peripheral devices on a system.

GUI

Stands for Graphical User Interface; the interface through which users interact with software using images, graphics, and icons.

ICON

A miniature image representation of a program, instruction, or file.

System Software

Consists of programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices, including the Operating System and Utility software.

Operating System

The "master system" of programs that controls the use of hardware resources such as disk space, memory, and the CPU.

Utility Software

Programs that allow users to perform maintenance tasks, such as antivirus, compression utility, disk checkers, and debuggers.

Application Software

Any program capable of dealing with a user's specific task, such as word processing or spreadsheets.

Word Processing

Software used to manipulate and format text and documents.

Spreadsheet

Software used to manipulate calculations; first created by Dan Bricklin.

Presentation

Software used to show information and graphics in "slides."

Database

A collection of data related to any application.

Multimedia

The use of a combination of text, graphics, audio, and videos.

Abacus

The first concept of computing.

Charles Babbage

Known as the "Father of Computing."

Augusta Ada Lovelace

Recognized as the first programmer who wrote the 1st known computer program.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen

The pair who wrote a version of MICROSOFT BASIC.

Computer System

An electronic machine that accepts, gathers, and transforms data into information.

Data

A collection of independent and unorganized facts.

Information

Processed and organized data presented in a meaningful form.

Data Processing

The course of doing things in a sequence of steps.

Hardware

The tangible part of a computer system.

Peopleware

Refers to the people who use and operate the computer system and write computer programs.

Mainframe

Large general purpose computers.

Minicomputer

Computers that perform multi-tasking and allow terminals to be connected to their services.

Microcomputer

Also known as a Personal Computer (PC); widely used at home due to its affordable price and manageability.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The "Brain of the computer" which directs and controls the entire computer system and performs all calculations.

Memory Unit

The part of the computer where the programs and data are stored.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Contains the pre-programmed computer system known as BIOS.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Used to store the programs and data currently being run.

Input Device

A piece of equipment or hardware which helps enter data, such as a keyboard, mouse, or scanner.

Output Device

A piece of equipment or hardware which gives out the result of the entered input once it is processed, such as a monitor or printer.

Peripheral Devices

Also known as "auxiliary devices," these provide additional functionality to the system, such as flash drives or webcams.