Computer Fundamentals and Emerging Technologies Flashcards

This set of 30 vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from computer fundamentals, number systems, hardware architecture, software, networking, security, and emerging technologies as presented in the lecture transcript.

Computer

An electronic device that accepts raw data (input), processes it according to a set of instructions (program), and produces meaningful results (output).

Data

Raw, unprocessed, and unorganized facts and figures (e.g., 42, "Nairobi").

Information

Data that has been processed, structured, and given context to make it meaningful (e.g., "The temperature in Nairobi is 28°C").

Firmware

Software that is permanently embedded directly into hardware chips (e.g., BIOS/UEFI).

GIGO

Stands for "Garbage In, Garbage Out"; the principle that errors in output are almost always due to human mistakes in inputting data or writing instructions.

Base (Radix)

The total number of unique symbols or digits available within a number system, which determines positional weights.

Bit

Short for Binary Digit (0 or 1); serves as the absolute foundational unit of storage in digital computing.

Hexadecimal

A Base 16 number system that uses digits 0–9 and letters A–F (where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15).

Motherboard

The primary Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that serves as the central communication backbone connecting all hardware units.

UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface; the modern standard for firmware that supports drives larger than $2\,\text{TB}$ and includes Secure Boot protection.

Data Bus

Bidirectional internal data highways whose width (32 or 64-bit) determines how much data moves per clock cycle.

Control Unit (CU)

The coordinator within the CPU that fetches instructions, decodes them, and issues synchronization signals using the system clock.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The mathematical engine of the CPU that handles all arithmetic ($+ , - , \times , \div$) and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT).

Registers

Small, ultra-fast memory cells within the CPU itself with approximately $0.25\,\text{ns}$ access times.

Program Counter (PC)

A register that holds the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched.

RAM

Random Access Memory; volatile main memory that serves as the temporary active workspace for the OS and application programs.

System Software

Software that operates directly at the hardware layer to manage system resources and provide a platform for user applications.

Sequential Access

A file access method where read and write operations occur strictly in chronological order and the file pointer advances automatically.

Acyclic Graph Directory

An advanced tree structure that allows files or folders to be shared across different paths using hard or symbolic links.

Jitter

The variation in packet arrival times in data communication which must be minimized to avoid choppy audio or video.

Protocol

A mutually agreed-upon set of rules governing data communication; without this, devices cannot understand each other.

IPv6

Uses a 128-bit address space written in hexadecimal, providing approximately $3.4 \times 10^{38}$ addresses.

E-commerce

A scope of digital business referring specifically to buying, selling, or exchanging goods, services, and information over electronic networks.

Digital Divide

The gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that don't.

Vulnerability

A weakness or loophole in a system's design, code, or physical setup that a threat can exploit.

Confidentiality

Ensuring sensitive data is hidden from unauthorized eyes, typically achieved via encryption and access controls.

Non-repudiation

Ensuring a party to a transaction or communication cannot deny their participation (e.g., digital signatures).

Blockchain

A decentralized, distributed digital ledger technology that securely records immutable transactions across a network of peer-to-peer computers.

SaaS

Software as a Service; fully completed end-user software applications accessed instantly via a web browser (e.g., Google Workspace).

Leapfrogging

The process where developing nations skip older, legacy technological stages and move directly to the latest, most advanced generation.