IS 310 Computing overview 1

Mainframe

High-performance computer with large memory used to support large-scale applications.

Supercomputer

High-performance computer used primarily for scientific applications that need very high speed.

Cloud computing

A set of computing resources virtually configured to allow flexible capacity.

Desktop computer

Computer designed primarily for individual users.

Laptop/PC

Computer that supports most desktop functions but is designed to be portable.

Tablet

Very portable computer with more limited performance.

Embedded computer

Computer that is an integral component of another device and has a focused purpose.

ALU

Arithmetic/logic unit that performs arithmetic and Boolean logical calculations.

Control Unit (CU)

Controls the processing of instructions and movement of data within the CPU.

Interface Unit

Moves instructions and data between the CPU and other hardware components.

Bus

A bundle of wires that carries signals and power between different components.

Input

Data or commands entered into a computer using devices such as a keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, or touch screen.

Processing

The CPU executing the computer program.

Output

Information produced by devices such as a monitor, printer, or speaker.

Storage

Holds data using devices or services such as hard drives, optical media, disks, or cloud storage.

Hardware

Processes data by executing instructions and provides and controls input, output, and storage components.

Software

Applications and system software containing instructions that tell hardware what tasks to perform and in what order.

Data

Fundamental representation of facts and observations.

Communications

Sharing data and processing among different computer systems.

High-level language

Programming language such as Java, C, or Python.

Assembly language

Interface between high-level language and machine code that may be direct or translated.

System software

Controls process execution and system resources.

Machine level

Instruction set architecture specific to the computer.

Control level

Level where the control unit decodes and executes instructions and moves data through the system.

Digital circuit level

Lowest architecture level that is dependent on the computer chip.

Application server

Support service that listens for requests such as HTTP requests.

Container platform

Bundles applications together to provide platform independence.

Connectivity

Middleware that connects business systems.

Database

System used to store and organize data, such as Oracle or MySQL.

Operating system

System software that manages computer resources and provides services for applications.

API

Application program interface.

Kernel

Core part of an operating system involved in functions such as memory management, resource scheduling, communication, and security.

Network module

Operating system component that supports network communication.

Communication channel

Physical connection between computer systems.

Ethernet cable

Physical communication channel used to connect computer systems.

Fiber optic cable

Communication channel that transmits data using light.

Radio waves

Wireless transmission method used by technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Interface hardware

Hardware that handles communication between a computer and a communication channel.

Modem

Interface hardware used for communication between a computer and a channel.

NIC

Network interface card that handles communication between a computer and a network.

Communication software

Establishes connections, controls data flow, and directs data to applications.

Standard

A rule created to ensure universal compatibility of data formats and protocols.

De facto standard

A standard that becomes accepted because of widespread popular use.

ASCII

Character set standard.

Unicode

Character set standard.

EBCDIC

Character set standard.

Protocol

Common ground rules for communication between computers, I/O devices, and software programs.

HTTP

Protocol used between Web servers and Web browsers.

TCP/IP

Protocols used between computers on the Internet and local area networks.

SATA

Protocol used between storage devices and computers.

XML

Protocol or data format developed to meet communication and data exchange needs.

Clock speed

Measure of how fast a processor clock operates.

Core

Individual processing unit within a CPU.

Thread

Sequence of instructions that can be processed by a CPU.

MOPS

Memory operations per second.

MIPS

Million instructions per second.

Memory capacity

Amount of data computer memory can hold.

Display resolution

Number of pixels a display can show.

Frames per second

Number of image frames displayed each second.

Drive access speed

Measure of how quickly data can be accessed from a drive.

I/O ports

Connections used for transferring data between a computer and external devices.

Kilo (K)

1 thousand, 10^3, or in binary-related capacity 2^10.

Mega (M)

1 million, 10^6, or in binary-related capacity 2^20.

Giga (G)

1 billion, 10^9, or in binary-related capacity 2^30.

Tera (T)

1 trillion, 10^12, or in binary-related capacity 2^40.

Peta (P)

1 quadrillion, 10^15, or in binary-related capacity 2^50.

Exa (E)

1 quintillion, 10^18, or in binary-related capacity 2^60.

Hertz

Clock cycles per second.

Megahertz (MHz)

1,000,000 Hertz.

Byte

Unit of storage used for memory and storage devices.

Kilobyte (KB)

2^10 or 1,024 bytes.

Megabyte (MB)

2^20 or 1,048,576 bytes.

Gigabyte (GB)

2^30 bytes.

Milli (m)

One thousandth, or 10^-3.

Micro (μ)

One millionth, or 10^-6.

Nano (n)

One billionth, or 10^-9.

Pico (p)

One trillionth, or 10^-12.

Microprocessor

The brain of the computer system that executes program instructions.

RAM

Random access memory that can be accessed directly.

Cache

Temporary memory that can be accessed faster than RAM.

L1 cache

Smaller cache that is generally faster than L2 cache.

L2 cache

Larger cache that is generally slower than L1 cache.

Disk capacity

Determines the amount of data and size of programs that can be stored.

RPM

Rotational speed of a disk.

SSD

Solid-state drive used for computer storage.

SATA

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, describing how a hard disk interfaces with other system components.

Port

Connection that allows movement of data between a computer system and external devices.

Serial port

Sends data as a series of pulses along one or two data lines.

Parallel port

Sends data as a single pulse along at least eight data lines.

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect, a dedicated I/O bus.

PCIe

PCI Express connection used for devices such as video and sound cards.

Pixel

Picture element that makes up part of a display image.

Monitor resolution

Determines the amount of text and graphics a monitor can display.

Video card

Contains memory and programs that support the monitor.

Card reader

Allows transfer of data from external media.

Bluetooth

Wireless communication technology using radio waves.