Year 8 - Understanding Computers

Bit

The smallest piece of data represented on a computer

Byte

8 Bits

Kilobyte

1000 (1024) Bytes

Megabyte

1000 (1024) Kilobytes

Gigabyte

1000 (1024) Megabytes

Hard Drive

A way of storing files

Optical Storage

Light/Laser is used to read information from an object e.g. CD

Magnetic Storage

Magnets are used to detect data on magnetic storage. Each section of the metal plates are magnetised depening on if they are a 1 or a 0

Hardware

Physical pieces of a computer and it's accessories e.g Keyboard

Software

Programs you use on a computer e.g. Word Processor

Input

Something which inputs instructions into a computer

Output

Something which displays/prints information from a computer

Storage

Used to store files

CPU

The brain of the computer, this deals works out and carries out instructions given to it

Ram

Random Access Memory

Rom

Read Only Memory

Fetch

Gets the next instruction, "Load Microsoft word"

Decode

Works out what the instruction is - "This instruction wants me to open Microsoft word".

Execute

Carries out the instruction - "opens up Microsoft Word"

Hertz

Speed of the CPU - 1 hertz = 1 instruction

Binary

The ways in which computers communicate and their most basic level 1=on 0=Off

ASCII

A way of converting binary to characters

Denary

A 10 base number system (Human numbers)