Computer Concepts Module 2 Vocab and Questions

IPOS

Input, Process, Output, Storage

Most popular type of battery in today’s digital devices?

Lithium Ion

Name of the set of instructions that loads the operating system into RAM?

Boot loader

What kind of processing is like a pizza oven conveyor belt?

Pipeline Processing

A bit-for-bit backup of every sector on a hard disk is called a….

Disk image

What two components are crucial if you want to play Fortnite?

Processor + Video Card

Computer

A multipurpose device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output, all according to a series of stored instructions

INPUT

Whatever is typed, submitted, or transmitted to a computer

OUTPUT

Result produced by a computer

MICROPROCESSOR

The CPU of most modern computers. An electronic component that can be programmed to process data.

MEMORY

Temporary holding areas. It’s just a burning memory.

What do computers store?

Data and the software that processes data

Where does sorting fit into the IPOS model?

Process

COMPUTER PROGRAM

Instructions that tell a digital device how to carry out processing tasks

STORED PROGRAM

Series of instructions for a computing task that can be loaded into a computer’s memory

THREE MAIN TYPES OF SOFTWARE?

Application software, System software, Development tools

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

A set of computer programs that helps a person carry out a task

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

The primary purpose of this is to help the computer system monitor itself in order to function properly

OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

An example of system software, essentially the master controller for all activities that take place within a computer

DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

Used for testing software applications, websites, operating systems, and utilities (like C++ and HTML)

Application Software Examples

Word processors, Mobile apps, Spreadsheet software

System Software Examples

Operating systems, CPU monitor, Device drivers

Development Tools Examples

Programming languages, Scripting languages, Debugging tools

High voltage signals are used for…

1 bits

Low voltage signals are used for…

0 bits

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC)

Set of microscopic electronic components etched onto a thin slice of semi conducting material

TERMS COMMONLY USED TO REFER TO INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

Computer chip, microchip, and chip

SEMICONDUCTORS

Substances with properties between those of a conductor (like copper) and an insulator (like wood).

DIPs

Dual in-line packages, have caterpillar like legs protruding from a black rectangular body

LGAs

Land-grid arrays, pin cushion like

SYSTEM BOARD

Houses all essential chips and provides connecting circuitry

FORM FACTOR

Size and dimensions of a device or components, such as circuit boards and system units

SYSTEM UNIT

Part of a digital device that holds the system board

FOUR components on a digital device that require maintenance

System unit, Keyboard, Screen, Battery

Today’s most powerful computers

Supercomputers, mainframes, and servers

SUPERCOMPUTERS

A computer that, at the time of construction, is one of the fastest computers in the world

MAINFRAME

Large and expensive computer capable of simultaneously processing data for hundreds or thousands of users

SERVERS

The purpose of them is to “serve” data to computer connected to a network

PERSONAL COMPUTER

Designed to meet the computing needs of an individual

DESKTOP

Fits on a desk and runs on power from an electrical wall outlet

PORTABLE

Runs on battery power. Its screen, keyboard, camera, storage devices, and speakers are fully contained in a single case.

LAPTOP

Small, lightweight personal computer designed like a clamshell with a keyboard as the base and a screen on a hinged cover

TABLET

Portable computing device featuring a touch-sensitive screen that can be used for input as well as for output

SMARTPHONE

Mobile devices that have features similar to tablet computers, but also provide telecommunications capabilities over cell phone networks

Average price of smartphone

$200-$900

Average price of desktop and laptop computers

Top tier: $1,200, Mid tier: $500-$1,200, Low tier: $500

THE STANDARD CHIP FAMILY SET FOR PROCESSORS

x86

PROCESSORS POPULAR FOR TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES

ARM

ALU

Arithmetic logic unit, part of the microprocessor that performs arithmetic operations, such as addition and subtraction

INSTRUCTION CYCLE

Refers to the process in which a computer executes a single instruction

GHz (Gigahertz)

Indicates the speed of the microprocessor clock—a timing device that sets the pace for executing instructions

MULTI-CORE PROCESSOR

A processor that contains circuitry for more than one processing unit

SERIAL PROCESSING

The processor must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction

PIPELINE PROCESSING

When a processor begins to execute an instruction before it completes the previous instruction

PARALLEL PROCESSING

Executes more than one instruction at a time

WORD SIZE

The number of bits that a microprocessor can manipulate at one time

Types of instruction sets for a microprocessor

CISC (complex) and RISC (reduced)

RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)

Temporary holding area for data, application program instructions, and the operating system

CAPACITORS

Microscopic electronic parts that hold the bits that represent data in RAM

VOLATILE

What most RAM is, means it requires electrical power to hold data

DYNAMIC RAM (DRAM)

RAM that is volatile is called this

VIRTUAL MEMORY

If a program exceeds its allocated space, the operating system uses an area of the hard disk or other storage medium as…

ROM (READ-ONLY MEMORY)

Type of memory circuitry that is housed in a single integrated circuit on the system board. Contents remain in place even when the device is turned off.

THREE COMMON TYPES OF STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES

Magnetic, Optical, Solid state

MAGNETIC STORAGE

Represents data by magnetizing microscopic particles on a disk or tape surface

HARD DISK DRIVE

Contains one or more platters and their associated read-write heads

HARD DISK PLATTER

Flat, rigid disk made of aluminum or glass and coated with magnetic iron oxide particles

READ-WRITE HEAD

Mechanism in the disk drive that magnetizes particles to write data and senses polarities to read data

ACCESS TIME

Average time it takes a computer to locate data on the storage medium and read it

REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM)

Hard disk drive speed is sometimes measured in this

DATA TRANSFER RATE

Amount of data storage device can move per second from the storage medium to RAM

OPTICAL STORAGE

CD, DVD, and Blu-ray (BD) technologies are classified as this

SOLID STATE STORAGE

Sometimes called flash memory, stores data in erasable, rewritable circuitry, rather than on spinning disks or streaming tape

MEMORY CARD

Flat, solid, state storage medium commonly used to transfer files from digital cameras

CARD READER

Device that reads and writes data on solid state storage

REMOTE STORAGE

Housed on an external device that can be accessed from a network

CLOUD STORAGE

When storage is available as an Internet service

RECOVERY DRIVE

Also called system repair disc, contains parts of the operating system necessary to boot your computer and diagnose system problems after a hard drive failure or software malfunction

DATA BUS

Main circuits that carry data

HOT-PLUGGING

When a peripheral device is connected or disconnected while the host device is operating

BLUETOOTH

Common wireless technology for connecting peripherals

RANGE OF BLUETOOTH

30 feet

SPEED OF BLUETOOTH

3 Mbps

DEVICE DRIVER

Software that helps a peripheral device establish communication with its host device

LCD

Liquid crystal display, produces an image by filtering light through a layer of liquid crystal cells

LED

Light emitting diode

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT IMAGE QUALITY?

Screen size, Response rate, Dot pitch, Screen resolution

DOT PITCH

Distance in millimeters between like-colored LEDs

RESPONSE RATE

Time it takes for one pixel to change from black to white then back to black. Measured in milliseconds

SCREEN RESOLUTION

Number of horizontal and vertical pixels

SCREEN SIZE

Measurement in inches from one corner of the screen diagonally across the opposite corner

Touchscreens are built with either

Resistive or capacitive technology

INK JET PRINTER

Has a nozzle-like print head that sprays ink onto paper to form characters and graphics

LASER PRINTER

Uses the same technology as photocopier to paint dots of light on a light sensitive drum

POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA)

Filament that is versatile and biodegradable because it is made from corn starch

ACRYLONITRIE BUTADIENE STYRENE (ABS)

Filament that is durable and heat resistant, suitable for printing objects that need to withstand some wear and tear

What file format do 3D printing models get stored in?

STL

Filaments cost about…

$10 per pound

MOST POPULAR SENSORS

Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer

SENSE-PLAN-ACT ALGORITHMS

Gather data, analyze it, then carry out the required actions. Autonomous vehicles use these.