Final Project Topics for AP Exam Preparation

Server computers

Big computers made to talk and send information from other computers.

HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; the language that computers use to speak to each other.

IP address

A unique address assigned by your Internet service provider that identifies a device on the network.

Cloud computing

A method of delivering computing services—like storage, processing power, and software—through the internet instead of local machines.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service; provides virtualized computing resources.

PaaS

Platform as a Service; offers hardware and software tools over the internet.

SaaS

Software as a Service; allows users to use software applications online, usually by subscription.

Benefits of cloud computing

Reduces expenses, improves scalability, and renders sophisticated technologies more accessible.

Physical computing

Using electronic components to build a device that interacts with the real world and the environment.

Actuators

Devices that convert electrical directions to real actions that affect the environment.

Sensors

Devices that convert some phenomenon into an electrical impulse that determines the reading.

Controllers

Devices that read input from sensors and send commands to actuators.

Microcontroller

A small computer on a single integrated circuit, programmed to perform a specific task.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language; the language used to build web pages.

Browser

An application that reads HTML files and displays them as formatted web pages.

Markup Language

A system that uses special syntax (called tags) to define how content should be displayed.

Tags

The basic building blocks of HTML, written inside angle brackets (< >).

Opening tag

The first part of a tag that indicates the start of an element, e.g.,

.

Closing tag

The second part of a tag that indicates the end of an element, e.g., .

HTML page layout

A specific structure that includes elements like to indicate the version of HTML.

Tells the browser we're using HTML5 (not technically a tag).

Wraps everything in the HTML page.

Contains metadata, such as the page title, stylesheets, or scripts.

Contains the visible content of the page—headings, paragraphs, links, images, etc.

Paragraph. Separates large blocks of text.

tag

The tag, also known as the anchor tag, is used to create clickable links.

Cybersecurity

The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.

Encryption

Converting data into code to prevent it from being accessed.

Cyberattack

A malicious and deliberate attempt to breach the information system of another individual or organization.

Ransomware

A type of cyberattack that encrypts private files and demands a ransom for their freedom.

Malware

Software designed to get unauthorized access to your computer systems.

Firewalls

Gateway that monitors network traffic based on predetermined rules set in place.

DNS

Domain name system acts as a filter for fake websites.

Malware protection

When it detects malicious code, it quarantines and/or deletes that code to protect computer.

Zero trust protectal

The zero trust security model uses identity and context information to continually verify trust before granting least-privilege access.

Multi factor authentication

Requires user to go through multiple authentication processes to access the information they want.

Phishing

The practice of sending fraudulent emails that resemble emails from reputable sources.

Viruses

Code that attaches to files and spreads across other files encrypting or destroying them.

Adware

Most commonly called spam. Advertisements are shown on websites and when you click them it downloads malicious code into your computer.

Spyware

Monitoring your searches and sending them to other people without your permission.

Trojan

Malicious software designed to appear legitimate.

Social engineering

A tactic that adversaries use to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

Cryptography

The act of turning messages into secret codes so only the people with the right access can read them.

Encryption (in cryptography)

When you turn a regular message into a scrambled message.

Decryption

Turning the scrambled message back into something you can understand.

Digital certificates

Verify the identity of a person, device, or website.

Certificate authorities

Trusted organizations that issue the digital certificates.

Symmetric encryption

When one key is used for encryption and decryption and the sender and receiver have the same key.

Public key encryption

Asymmetric encryption using a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Authentication

Proving your identity to a computer system.

Strong password characteristics

12 characters (the more the better); a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols; doesn't use common words or personal information.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

When machines and computer systems work to simulate human intelligence, mimicking abilities like communication and decision-making.

Machine Learning

A subset of AI where computers learn patterns from data and improve without being told to.

Supervised learning

A type of machine learning where the model is trained on labeled data that includes inputs and outputs.

Unsupervised learning

A type of machine learning where the model finds patterns in data without labeled answers.

Model

A trained program that can make decisions based on data.

Email Spam Filtering

Supervised learning example where the model is trained using labeled emails marked as 'spam' or 'not spam.'

Loan Approval

Supervised learning example where AI reviews applicant data to predict risk based on past approval decisions.

Facial Recognition

Example of supervised and unsupervised learning trained on thousands of labeled facial images.

Social Media Feeds

Reinforcement and unsupervised learning that learns user behavior to adjust content shown.

Data Analysis

Process of collecting, cleaning, organizing, and interpreting data to find patterns, trends, and relationships.

Excel

Tool for data analysis that includes functions like SUM(), IF(), AVERAGE(), and charts.

Google Sheets

Tool for data analysis that includes features like filter, sort, and grading.

Python

Open source programming language used for data analysis, AI, with libraries, conditionals, and loops.

R

Programming language used for graphs, statistics, and visualizations.

Data

Information processed by computers.

Variables

Named storage for values.

Statistics

Tools to make sense of data.

Algorithm

Step-by-step solution method.

Importance of Data Analysis

Identifies market trends, shows customer behavior, helps with risk management, tracks performance, ensures compliance.

Step by Step Processes in Data Analysis

Includes collecting, cleaning, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and sharing data.

Real Life Example: Weather Forecasting

Uses historical weather data and satellite imagery to model atmospheric pressure, humidity, and wind speed.

Real Life Example: Sales Forecasting

Analyzes past trends to predict sales and optimize inventory and advertising timing.

Real Life Example: Healthcare

Detects patterns in patient symptoms for early diagnosis and optimizes treatments.

Real Life Example: Finance

Involves risk prediction for loans, analyzing stock trends, and detecting fraud.