BU250: Computer Knowledge Pretest

hardware

the physical equipment used for the input, processing, output, and storage activities of a computer system

hardware components

central processing unit (CPU), primary storage, secondary storage, input technologies, output technologies, communication technologies

central processing unit (CPU)

manipulates the data and controls the tasks performed by the other components; performs the actual computation inside any computer

buses

data and instructions travel in the chip through electrical pathways called this

microprocessor

CPU, made up of millions of transistors embedded in a circuit on a silicon wafer or chip

control unit

part of the microprocessor; sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and control the flow of data to and from the arithmetic logic unit, the registers, caches, primary and secondary storage, and various output devices

arithmetic logic unit

part of the microprocessor; performs the mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons; receives data and instructions from the registers and makes the desired computation

binary form

data and instructions are translated into 0s and 1s; CPU can only process this type of data

bit

0 or a 1

byte

8-bit string to represent any character

primary storage

temporarily stores data and program instructions during processing; stores small amounts of data and information that will be used immediately by the CPU

primary storage is also called the

main memory

3

primary storage briefly stores how many types of information?

3 types of information the primary storage stores

* data to be processed by the CPU
* instructions for the CPU as to how to process the data
* operating system programs for managing computer’s operations

motherboard

chips mounted on the computer’s main circuit board where primary storage takes place

4

how many main types of primary storage are there?

registers

part of the CPU; have the least capacity, storing extremely limited amounts of instructions and data only immediately before and after processing

cache memory

type of high-speed memory that enables the computer to temporarily store blocks of data that are used more often and that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory (RAM)

where is cache memory located?

physically located closer to the CPU than RAM; blocks that are used less often remain in RAM until they are transferred to cashe; blocks used infrequently remain in secondary storage

random access memory (RAM)

part of primary storage that holds a software program and small amounts of data for processing; stores more information than registers but less information than secondary storage; temporary and volatile and lose contents if current is lost or turned off

read-only memory (ROM)

chip where certain critical instructions are safeguarded; nonvolatile, so it retains these instructions when the power to the computer is turned off; read-only designation means that these instructions can only be read by the computer and cannot be changed by the user

secondary storage

stores data and programs for future use; stores much larger amounts of data and information for extended periods; nonvolatile, takes more time to retrieve data from it than from RAM, cheaper than primary storage, use a variety of media each with its own technology

magnetic tape

secondary storage medium on a large open reel or in a smaller cartridge or cassette; cheapest storage medium and can handle enormous amounts of data; slowest method for retrieving data because all the data are placed on the tape sequentially

magnetic disks/hard drives/fixed disk drives

form of secondary storage on a magnetized disk divided into tracks and sectors that provide addresses for various pieces of data; most commonly used mass storage devices because of their low cost, high speed and large storage capacity

solid-state drives (SSDs)

data storage devices that serve the same purpose as a hard drive and store data in memory chips; use the same interface with the computer’s CPU as hard drives and serve as a replacement for hard drives; use less power, silent and faster, and product about 1/3 the heat of a hard drive; cost more than hard drives

optical storage devices

do not store data through magnetism; laser reads surface of a reflective plastic platter; slower than magnetic hard drives but less fragile and susceptible to damage; store a great deal of information; include CD-ROM and DVDs

compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)

storage device features high capacity, low cost, and high durability; read-only medium and cannot be written on

digital video disc (DVD)

5-inch disk with the capacity to store about 135 minutes of digital video; can person as computer storage disks, providing storage capabilities of 17 gigabytes

flash memory devices/memory cards

nonvolatile electronic storage decides that contain no moving parts and use 30 times less battery power than hard drives; smaller and more durable than hard drives; store less data than hard drives

thumb drive (memory stick, jump drive, flash drive)

popular flash memory device; devices fit into universal serial bus (USB) ports on personal computers and other devices and can store many gigabytes; have replaced magnetic floppy disks for portable storage

input technologies

accept data and instructions and convert them to a form that the computer can understand; allow people and other technologies to enter data into a computer

human data-entry devices

devices require a certain amount of human effort to input data; keyboard, mouse, pointing stick, trackball, joystick, touchscreen, stylus, and voice recognitionde

source- data automation

input data with minimal human intervention; speed up data collection, reduce errors, and gather data at the source of a transaction or other event; bar code readers

gesture recognition

technologies that enable computer to interpret human gestures; initial step in designing computers that can understand human body language; creates a richer interaction between machines and humans

output technologies

present data and information in a form people can understand; transmit output generated by a computer to the user

examples of output technologies

monitors, printers, plotters, and voice

virtual reality

information technologies that use software to provide realistic, three-dimensional, computer-generated environment that replicates sight, though, hearing, and in some cases, smell; brings the user into the virtual environment by removing outside stimuli

communication technologies

provide for the flow of data from external computer networks (the Internet and intranets) to the CPU, and from the CPU to computer networks

moore’s law

stated that microprocessor complexity would double approximately every two years

supercomputer

fastest computers available; used by large organizations to execute computationally demanding tasks involving very large data sets; support military, scientific, and some business applications

mainframe computers

used for transaction processing and business applications; support thousands of users at one time; provide a secure, robust environment in which to run strategic, mission-critical applications

midrange computers (minicomputers)

perform the same functions as mainframe but to a more limited extent

microcomputers (micros, personal computers)

smallest and least expensive general-purpose computers (desktops, thin clients, notebooks and laptops, netbooks, and tablets)

laptop computers (notebook computers)

small, easily transportable, lightweight microcomputers; provide users with access to processing power and data outside an office environment

thin client

computer that does not offer the full functionality of a PC (google chromebook); easier and less expensive to operate and support than fat clients; fast application deployment, centralized management, lower cost of ownerships, and easier installation, management, maintenance, and support; users can do very little without network connection

fat client

computer that has the ability to perform many functions without a network connection

augmented reality

live, direct, or indirect, view of physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented, or enhanced, by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data; enhances the user’s perception of reality

software

set of computer programs that enables the hardware to process data

computer programs

sequences of instructions for the computer

programming

process of writing, or coding, software programs

documentation

written description of the functions of a software program; helps other programmers understand what the program does and how it accomplishes its purpose

2

how many major types of software is there?

systems software

class of computer instructions that serve as the intermediary between computer hardware and application programs; provides important self-regulatory functions for computer systems

systems software functions

* controls and supports the computer system and its information-processing activities


* enables computer systems to perform self-regulatory functions by loading itself when computer is first turned on
* provides commonly used sets of instructions for all applications
* helps user and IT personnel program, test, and debug their own computer programs
* supports application software by directing the computer’s basic functions

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operating system

main system control program within the systems software; supervises the overall operation of the computer including monitoring the computer’s status, scheduling operations, managing the input and output process; allocates CPU time and main memory to programs; provides an interface between the user and hardware

graphical user interface

systems software that allows users to have direct control of the hardware by manipulating visible objects and actions; replaces the complex commands with visible objects (icons)

natural user interfaces

within the systems software; combines haptic interfaces, social interfaces, and touch-enabled gesture-control interfaces

haptic interfaces

allows the user to fell a sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user

social interfaces

guides the user through computer applications by using cartoonlike characters, graphics, animations, and voice commands

touch-enable gesture-control interfaces

motion control gaming consoles (ex. Wii); includes Microsoft Surface and Apple Iphone

application software

set of computer instructions that directs a computer system to perform specific processing activities; provide more specific functionality to a user; may be developed or purchased

software package/suite

a computer program (or group of programs) that has been developed by a vendor and is available for purchase in a prepackaged form (Microsoft Office)

software defects (bugs)

a software issue when it is unreliable; good software should be usable, defect free, cost effective, and maintainable

licensing

software issue; a person must have the manufacturer’s explicit permission to make copies of software or else it is illegal

open systems

a common software issue; concept refers to a group of computing products that work together

open-source software

software issue; source code should be available at no cost to developers and users

proprietary software

purchased software that has restrictions on its use, copying and modifications

speech-recognition (voice recognition)

software that recognizes and interprets human speech, either one word at a time (discrete speech) or in a stream (continuous speech)

personal application software

general-purpose, off-the-shelf application programs designed to help individual users increase their productivity