History of Computing, Hardware, Software, Internet, and Digital Safety

Vocabulary flashcards covering key historical milestones, hardware, software, licenses, networking, digital rights, and cybersecurity concepts from the lecture notes.

Wilhelm Schickard (1642)

Created one of the first mechanical machines capable of performing calculations.

Pascaline (1662)

A mechanical device developed by Blaise Pascal, primarily used to perform addition and subtraction operations.

Analytical Engine (1837)

A machine designed by Charles Babbage, considered an antecedent of general-purpose computers.

Ada Lovelace

A programming pioneer who created instructions for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

Turing Machine (1936)

A theoretical concept presented by Alan Turing that is fundamental to computer science theory.

John von Neumann (1945)

Promoted the computer architecture model in which data and instructions are stored together in memory.

Intel 4004 (1970)

One of the first commercial microprocessors, notable for integrating processing functions into a single circuit.

IBM Personal Computer (1981)

A personal computer presented by IBM that helped establish personal computers for home and office use.

Motherboard

The main circuit board of a computer that connects and allows communication between all internal components.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The hardware component responsible for executing instructions and performing operations on data.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Temporary storage memory used by the computer to hold data needed while operating.

Hard Drive

A permanent storage device where files, programs, and the operating system are stored.

Operating System

A suite of programs that manages computer hardware resources and acts as an intermediary between the user and the system.

Free Software Movement

A movement promoted by Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation that provides freedoms to study, modify, use, and share software.

Freedom 0

The freedom to run or use the program for any purpose.

Freedom 1

The freedom to study how the program works and modify it.

Freedom 2

The freedom to redistribute copies of the program to help others.

Freedom 3

The freedom to improve the program and release those improvements to the public.

Proprietary Software

Software whose use is controlled by a license, featuring closed source code and restrictions on free modification and distribution.

ARPANET (1969)

One of the earliest computer networks, initiated under U.S. research projects during the Cold War.

TCP/IP (1983)

A fundamental set of communications protocols adopted to connect disparate computer networks.

NSFNET (1986)

A network created to support the expansion and growth of academic networking.

World Wide Web (1989)

An information system proposed by Tim Berners-Lee to enable access to interconnected web resources.

Web Browser

A software application used to access web pages, websites, and resources on the World Wide Web.

Digital Citizenship

The knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to properly and responsibly use digital media and services.

Right to Digital Disconnection

The recognized right of individuals to disconnect from digital work or activity outside specific designated hours.

Netiquette

A set of rules and social norms designed to maintain respectful communication on the Internet.

Digital Literacy

The ability to utilize technology tools, participate in digital environments, build critical thinking, and reduce the digital divide.

Malware

Software intentionally designed to perform harmful actions, such as altering systems, gaining unauthorized access, or stealing data.

Computer Virus

Malicious code that modifies or infects files and requires user action to spread.

Worm

A type of malware that can automatically replicate and propagate itself across a computer network.

Trojan

Malware disguised as legitimate software to allow unauthorized access or malicious actions.

Ransomware

Malware that encrypts or locks access to data and demands a ransom payment to restore access.

Spyware

Malware that secretly collects information about user activity without their knowledge or consent.

Adware

Software that automatically displays unwanted advertisements, such as pop-ups.

Antimalware

Security software that uses behavioral analysis and multiple detection methods to protect against known and unknown threats.