COMP1401 – Week-01: Definitions

Computer Systems
Pervasive (Ubiquitous)
Computing The developing trend of setting computational ability into ordinary objects to
make them communicate in an effective manner and do helpful things.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Data Centers Data center is like a big group of networks connected servers which organizations
use it for the purpose to store, process, or share and distribute lot of data from a
distance.

Microcomputers A small computer or PC that contains a microprocessor or a chip as its central

World Wide Web An information system on the Internet that links various documents to other
documents and allows users to search for information.

Web Browser It is an application which gives access for various websites and internet.

Data Storage
Data storage refers to the process of storing and preserving digital information in
a way that allows it to be retrieved and used when needed.

Data Management It involves the practice of recording, storing, organizing, and maintaining
information and data created and gathered by an organization which helps in
improving productivity and effectiveness.

Data Backup
It involves copying data and information from a primary location to a secondary
location to protect the data in the event of a disaster or accident.

Data Recovery The process of retrieving lost, accidentally deleted, corrupted, or inaccessible
data.

Productivity Applications A category of application programs that assist users in creating information in the
form of documents, databases, worksheets, and presentations.

E-commerce Transactions It involves exchange of goods and services, or the transfer of funds or data,
through electronic networks, mainly the internet.
Gaming Communities
It is a group of people who connect and interact over the internet through the
games.

Big Data Huge informational sets of data that can be examined digitally to reveal examples
and patterns.

Machine Learning It is an application of AI which involves teaching computers to learn on their own
from experience, instead of telling them what exactly to do.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The ability of computers to think and learn on their own, so they can perform
tasks without telling each step to do.

IPOS Cycle A data processing computer operation.

Data
Data is information or facts collected and stored by a computer.

Information
It is the data that has been organized, which results into something relevant to
the user.

Hardware
Hardware is used to describe the internal and external devices which allows us to
perform various tasks such as processing and communication.

Internal Hardware
It is one of the computer’s installed devices.

External Hardware Items that have an external connection to the computer to control functions like
input or output.

Input Devices
It is a physical piece of hardware that connects to a computer that allows users to
enter data into a computer.

Processing Devices They are components in a computer that perform tasks like calculations and data
processing.

Output Devices Any type of computer hardware that converts data into a form that humans can
understand.

Storage Devices Any form of computing hardware that is used to store, port and extract data files
and objects.
Communication Devices
A hardware device which can transfer digital signal wirelessly, over a
communication wire or through the telephone.

Software
Instructions which are given to the computer to perform the necessary tasks.

System Software
A computer program developed to operate a computer’s hardware and other
application-based programs.

Operating System
It is software that manages how a computer works and that controls all the
hardware and software on the computer.

Graphical Objects A picture that can be chosen, moved, edited, or deleted in the symbol window.

Embedded Computers A computer that has a very specific task within a larger system. For example, a
smart TV, a digital camera, etc.

Mobile Devices A small, mobile electronic device that can link to the internet, like a smartphone
or tablet and can be used for phone calls.

Personal Computers They are multifunctional computers which are created to run software like an
internet browser and are mainly used by individuals.

Servers Servers are computers or software systems that provide services, resources, or
data to other computers called client, within a network.
Mainframe Computers Servers are high powered computers that can perform billions of basic
calculations and transactions in real time.

Supercomputers These computers are extremely powerful and general-purpose computers that
operate at their maximum capacity.