AS Level IT - key words

Flashcards in vocabulary style, created from the lecture notes.

Digital Device

A piece of physical equipment that sends, receives, stores, or processes digital data.

Peripheral Device

An internal or external device that connects directly to a computer and helps enhance access and use of functionalities.

Input Device

A type of peripheral device such as a keyboard or touch screen.

Output Device

A type of peripheral device such as headphones or 3D printers.

Storage Device

A type of peripheral device such as a hard disk or SD card.

Portability

The ease of carrying a device from one place to another, often associated with lightweight, small size, and battery operation.

Performance

How well a device performs its intended purpose, such as opening applications quickly.

Media Support

The ability of a device to use storage media like memory cards or USB drives and play various media formats.

Storage Expansion

Allows users to increase available storage by adding memory cards.

Data Portability

Users can remove SD cards or USB drives and use them with other devices, making file sharing easy.

Optical Disks

Fragile and prone to wear and tear (CD ROM - have data only written on it once.).Used for data archiving access and supports businesses in accessing old data.

Storage

A piece of hardware that is used to store data.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

An example of a piece of hardware that is used to store data.

Solid-State Drive (SSD)

A device that stores data on silicon chips.

RAID 0

A type of storage used for increasing the performance of computers.

RAID 1

A type of storage used for protecting data, likely having a live backup.

Capacity

Refers to how much data the storage device can hold.

Speed

SSDs offer faster read/write speeds than HDDs, improving overall performance, especially for booting up and running applications.

User Interface

The part of a device that a person uses to interact with the device; can be voice or graphical (icons, windows).

Energy Consumption

Allows the device to be used for a long period of time.

Expansion Capability

Adding more drives, which is useful in data intensive tasks (e.g. data mining).

Data Mining

The process of analysing large databases to find the patterns and trends.

Security

Storage systems may include security features (e.g. encryption) especially when handling sensitive data.

Biometric Devices

A type of security device that uses biological data as a form of password.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A satellite navigation system used to pinpoint locations.

Touchscreen

A type of input device that allows a user to touch a screen to input data and see the data.

Sensor

A type of input device that captures data from its immediate surroundings (light, motion, temperature).

Read Only Memory (ROM)

A type of non-volatile memory in a computer that is used to store start-up instructions.

Non-Volatile Memory

Computer storage that retains its data when the power is removed.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

A type of volatile memory in a computer that stores currently running data and programs.

Volatile Memory

Computer storage that loses its data when power is removed.

Miniaturisation

Is when more transistors are fitted onto an integrated circuit (IC).

Transistors

A very small component in a computer that controls the flow of electricity.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

A set of small electronics circuits that are built onto a single electronic chip. They are used in devices like embedded systems.

Embedded Systems

A type of system that has a dedicated purpose.

Processor

Processes all data and instructions that are input into the device.

RFID

RFID tags can be included in devices to keep track of them.

NFC

Can use NFC between their mobile phones to share data such as photos.

Quick Response (QR) Code

A type of barcode that can store data such as a link to a website.

Technological Convergence

It’s when two or more devices are combined to create a single device, product or service.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Is the everyday home devices (fridge, washing machine, toaster) and sensors (temperature sensor) are connected to the internet.

Microprocessor

A mini version of a CPU used in embedded systems. It processes input data and carries out basic instructions.

Firmware

It's the basic instructions that allow a system to function.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

A set of instructions that initialises hardware during boot-up and prepares it for system use.

Bootloader

A small program that loads the operating system into memory once the BIOS completes its tasks.

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be transferred from one drive to another in a set amount of time.

Jitter

A measure of the distribution that occurs when data is transmitted across a network.

Ethernet

Type: wired protocol connects devices in a LAN via cables.

Bluetooth

It's a type of wireless data transmission that uses radio waves to transmit data between two devices that are in close range (within 10m).

TCP/IP Model

It's a protocol that is used to transmit data across the internet