Information System: Technology, Software & Hardware

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering information systems, input/output peripherals, primary and secondary storage, CPU architecture and operation cycles, and basic data representation.

Technology

The use of knowledge and tools to solve problems and manage information.

Software

Programs and applications that instruct the computer what to do.

Hardware

The physical and visible components of a computer system, such as a monitor, CPU, keyboard, and mouse.

Input Devices

Hardware devices whose primary purpose is to allow insertion of data and giving commands to a computer.

Keyboard

The main input device for keying-in data, featuring $104$ keys as the de facto standard.

Mouse

A handheld input device used to control a cursor displayed on the computer screen to select text, files, folders, and icons on a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

The process of capturing an image of text and converting it into data that a computer recognises as text.

Output Devices

Hardware peripherals used to send processed data from a computer to another device or user in the form of audio, video, or physical reproductions.

Monitor

Also referred to as a Video Display Unit (VDU), an output device that displays video images to computer users.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

A flat-panel monitor screen that uses liquid crystals and a backlight (typically LED) to display images.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

The technology applied in the first generation of computer monitors.

Printer

An output device that retrieves stored data from a computer or other devices and generates a hard-copy.

Impact Printer

A type of printer that functions by making physical contact with an ink ribbon before striking the paper (e.g., daisy wheel, dot matrix, and line printers).

Non-impact Printer

A printer that prints without making physical contact with the paper, operating quieter and more efficiently than impact printers (e.g., inkjet and laser printers).

Braille Display Printer

An electronic device that permits a blind user to "read" a document displayed on a computer screen.

Speech Generating Device (SGD)

An electronic output device used to assist individuals who have serious speech impairments or difficulty in communicating.

Primary Storage Devices

Main or internal memory directly accessed by the CPU that temporarily holds data and instructions currently in use with faster performance and smaller capacity.

Secondary Storage Devices

Auxiliary or external non-volatile memory not directly accessed by the CPU that stores data permanently with larger capacity.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

A volatile primary storage memory that temporarily stores data while programs are running, providing fast access speed.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

A non-volatile primary storage memory that stores permanent instructions (e.g., BIOS/firmware) retaining data even when power is off.

Magnetic Storage Devices

Devices operating on magnetic charge principles that use magnetic heads to write and read data to and from a magnetisable medium.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A non-volatile memory storage device that permanently stores data using rigid, metallic platters stacked on top of one another.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

A non-volatile memory storage device with no moving parts that delivers faster access times and lower latency than HDDs.

Track and Sector (Hard Disk)

A track is a circular concentric ring on a magnetic platter, while a sector is a pie-slice section of a track used to organize data.

Head Crash

A disastrous occurrence in a Hard Disk Drive when the read/write head touches or hits the surface of the spinning platter, causing physical damage and potential data loss.

Optical Storage Devices

Standard storage devices (Optical Disk Drives) that use lasers and lights to read data from and write data to media like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Flash Memory Devices

Storage devices that retain data without constant power by storing it in integrated circuit memory chips.

Cloud Storage

Storage space provided on remote or network servers that users access or download data from through the Internet.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The processor or 'brain' of a computer, consisting of complex electronic circuitry that manages hardware, processes data, and executes software instructions.

Control Unit (CU)

The CPU component that supervises computer operations, controls and coordinates activities, and commands other system elements.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The CPU component that carries out arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and evaluates logical operations.

Registers

Storage locations built into the CPU that temporarily hold data currently being processed by the ALU.

Fetch Step

The first step in the CPU operation cycle, where the Control Unit fetches the next instruction or data from memory.

Decode Step

The second step in the CPU operation cycle, where the Control Unit decodes the instruction to determine what action needs to be taken.

Execute Step

The third step in the CPU operation cycle, where the ALU performs the required arithmetic or logical operation.

Store Step

The fourth step in the CPU operation cycle, where the result is written back into memory or a storage device.

Bit

A binary digit, which is the smallest unit of data in computing, represented by a value of $0$ or $1$.

Byte

A unit of data made up of eight ($8$) bits, used to represent one alphanumeric character.

Nibble

A unit of data consisting of four ($4$) bits, or half a byte.