Introduction to Computer Engineering - EPYC Program

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts, definitions, and types of computer systems and their components as introduced in the lecture.

Computer

A device that can perform computations and make logical decisions billions of times faster than human beings.

Supercomputer

A computer that offers the fastest speed and highest performance for high-speed processing, such as science and technology calculations.

General-Purpose Computer

A computer designed for both office processing and science and technology calculations.

Office Computer

A specialized computer used for office processing in corporations.

Workstation

A high-performance computer used for specialized work, mainly connected to LANs and used as servers.

Input Unit

Devices used to assign instructions and data to a computer.

Keyboard

A standard device for inputting characters, numbers, and symbols by pressing the keys.

Mouse

A pointing device for inputting positional information such as icons by moving the pointer on the screen.

Digitizer/Tablet

A device that uses a coordinate indicator to input a position on a flat surface, used for design plans and drawings.

Touch Screen

A device that inputs data by touching fingers against icons or buttons shown on the display.

Image Scanner

An image input device that captures photographs and printed materials as digital data.

Digital Camera

A device that photographs scenery and people, capturing images as digital data.

Barcode Reader

A device that optically reads barcodes placed on products for input into systems.

Optical Character Reader (OCR)

A device that optically reads handwritten and printed characters.

Sound Input Device

A device that uses a microphone to input data or operate a computer by voice.

Magnetic Card Reader

A device that reads information from magnetic stripes on cards like credit or debit cards.

Output Unit

Devices that retrieve information from a computer in a manner easy for humans to understand.

LCD Display

A display device that uses Liquid Crystal Display technology to show images.

Laser Printer

A page printer that uses a laser beam to deposit toner on paper, primarily used in offices.

Inkjet Printer

A serial printer that sprays ink droplets onto paper, suited for consumer use.

Thermal Transfer Printer

A printing device that uses thermal heat to transfer ink from a ribbon.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

A volatile type of memory that loses contents when power is turned off, used as main memory.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

A non-volatile type of memory that retains content after power is turned off.

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

Part of the computer that performs calculations and makes decision mechanisms.

World Wide Web (WWW)

A service used to view and search information from ‘Web pages’ on the Internet.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

A convention for displaying a Web page address.