Computer Basics and Microsoft Office Study Guide

A comprehensive vocabulary review covering computer hardware, history, internet protocols, and Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) based on the IBOT Final Study Guide.

Hardware

The physical parts of a computer that allow it to perform functions.

Software

The digital programs that run on a computer's hardware.

Input

The data or instructions that are entered into a computer program to make it run.

Output

Any information processed by and sent from a computer or electronic device.

1890

Hollerith's Tabulating Machine.

1947

First Transistor Developed.

1959

Invention of the Microchip.

1977

The Personal Computer Revolution.

1994

The World Wide Web.

2007

Smartphones.

Web browsers

Software application that allows you to find websites; examples include Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.

Search Engines

A program that identifies items in a database that correspond to keywords or characters specified by the user to find websites.

Internet of Things

The interconnection of devices to send data via the internet, such as QR codes, Traffic Cameras, and Bar codes.

Intranet

A private, restricted, and local network, such as Columbia High School.

WWW

Stands for World Wide Web.

(VOIP) Voice over Internet Protocol

Phone calls are made through a network connection rather than through a standard phone line.

(URL) Universal Resource Locator

A link to a unique webpage.

The Internet

A collection of many different networks owned by many different entities that all share information and communicate together, including websites, networking hardware and physical computing devices.

(Wi-Fi) Wireless Fidelity

Technology that provides wireless internet connectivity through wireless routers.

(HTTP) Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Adds an additional layer of encryption (safety) to make data transfer more secure on a website; indicated by the lock image in the address bar.

Ribbon

Designed to help you find and execute commands efficiently on Microsoft Word.

Attachments/Enclosures

Additional documents included with your block letter.

Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT)

A presentation software application used to create and deliver presentations using slides, text, images, audio, and video.

Animation

Special effects to help your audience pay close attention to particular ideas elements in your presentation.

Transitions

Visual effect that plays when you move from one slide to the next during a presentation.

Slide Master

Make layout changes to all the slides in your presentation at once.

Slide Pane

Central window that displays a close-up view of your active slide.

Auto Sum

$$\Sigma$$

Multiplication Symbol

$$*$$

Division Symbol

$$/$$

Spreadsheet

Combination of columns and rows; also called Workbook, Sheet, or Excel.

Columns

A collection of cells aligned vertically in a table, identified by letters.

Rows

A collection of cells aligned horizontally in a table, identified by numbers.

Cell

The intersection of a row and a column, such as $B7$.

Active Cell

The current cell the user is typing or entering data into.

Range

Collection of cells grouped together, such as $B7:H10$.

Fill handle

Used to identify patterns in Microsoft Excel.