Central processing unit – (CPU) continually interprets and executes the commands

(instructions) that are stored in RAM

Random access memory – (RAM) hold the instructions and their related data that the
user has loaded and the processor will access when instructed to perform a task

Input device – a hardware device that is used to get data into the computer

Secondary storage – stores all the users programs and data permanently

Hardware – the collection of physical components attached to or form part of the

computer system

Software – the collection of non physical parts of the system

Volatile – the contents or data in RAM is constantly changing and is lost when the
computer is turned off

Non-volatile – permanent

Dynamic RAM – DRAM constantly needs to be refreshed

Mother board – large printed circuit board that houses many of the components in
the computer

Output device – any device that only receives information from the computer

Resolution - number of picture elements (pixels) on the screen

Operating system – a collection of many programs

Utilities – programs that are supplied with the operating system to assist the
operating system in performing its tasks

Device drivers – software that enables the operating system to interact with the
hardware

Application Software – carries out tasks for the computer users

Data – raw unorganised facts that need to be processed to make it useful and
meaningful

Information – processed data (organised)

ROM – (read only memory) chip on motherboard. Will store the programs and setting
to control and execute instructions

BIOS – (basic input output system)

-control start-up programs

-activate BIOS on other hardware cards

-provide low-level control to input and output devices

CMOS – stores customized settings

- system configuration settings – hardware information

- User settings – current date and time and the sequence of drives to be checked
when a computer is booted, ECT.

Static RAM – doesn’t need to be refreshed, faster than DRAM

Tracks – centric circles on hard drives

Sector – track divided into sectors

High definition – resolution of the pictures is much higher and the images (frames)
are produced at a much higher rate

Rendering – the creation of images

Parallel - a number of bits can be transferred at the same time

Serial – the bits are transferred one after the other along a single channel

Analogue – telephone lines as a mans to transfer data

Digital – communicate in 0s and 1s

Tower - the often large rectangular box that comes with your computer it contains all

the processers amd physical components of your computer.

Procceser speed (GHz) - Gigahertz a measure of the computantional power of your

computer.

Screen - the screen displays the images been interpreted by your tower. A computer
should have a graphics card that enables it to interpret images, the better your
graphics card the faster your computer can processe high resolution images.

Resolution - a measure of how detailed an images your screen can display the
higher the better

It Software Definitions

Cache - Cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests
for that data can be served faster. This causes a problem where the CPU was
waiting for data to process from slower RAM.

Tracks - Track (CD), consecutive set of sectors on the disc containing a block of data

Track (disk drive) - a circular path on the surface of a disk or diskette on which
information is recorded and read. The data is stored on the disk in binary and the
disk is divided into concentric circles called tracks.
Sectors - Disk sector, a physical subdivision of space on a computer disk-storage
medium, specifically a subdivision of a "track".

Data – Is the information processed or stored by a computer

Volatile - Data will be lost when the device is turned off

Dynamic RAM – Is memory that has to be refreshed

Resolution – Number of picture elements across display

System software- System software is computer software dedicated to the running of

your computer

Application software-computer software designed to help the user to perform

singular or multiple tasks

Operating System - The software that supports a computer's basic functions, such as
scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals.

Utilities – Assist in managing or fixing a problem on the computer

Control Unit - A control unit is circuitry that directs operations within the
computer's processor by directing the input and output of a computer system.

Registers - A, special, high-speed storage area within the CPU . All data must be
represented in a register before it can be processed.

Multi Core CPU- A CPU with more than 1 core

Rendering - Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model (or

models in what collectively could be called a scene file), by means of computer
programs. Also, the results of such a model can be called a rendering.

Parallel - A computer that can perform multiple processes simultaneously. See

parallel computing .

Serial Port - a personal computer interface for transferring data streams between
devices

Device Drivers - provides the operating system with information needed for it to work
with that device

Bit - A Bit is a digit in the binary number system. It can have two values, 0 or 1.

Byte - A byte is the smallest unit of storage in RAM or ROM. It holds exactly 8 bits.

Hexadecimal - Hexadecimal is base 16arithmetic where each digit is a value from 0

to 15, The decimal numbers after9 are represented by the letters A to F.

Binary- refers to base two arithmetic using the digits 0 and 1.

machine code - Machine code is the name for the Instructions that a CPU can
execute. It is in numbers.

Primitive data type - basic data types provided by programming languages to store
characters, real numbers and integers, they all have different amounts of bits
allocated to one another.

Network Key - password which allows you to access the router and make changes to
the router's network settings

Bandwidth - maximum amount of data that a communication channel can transfer

Biometrics- A way of uniquely recognising humans based on their physical

Characteristics.ie finger print.

Optical character recognition- used to convert text to a text file so it can be edited
and altered

BIOS- Basic Input Output System. Controls start up tasks when computer is started,
controls POST

ROM- Read only Memory. Will store programs and settings to control and execute
instructions for the device.

EEPROM- Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. Will store the
programs and setting to control and execute instructions for the device.

CMOS- chip that contains the System configuration settings, i.e. amount of RAM,
and user settings

cross talk - (UTP) Signals on wires close together corrupt each other

fibre optic backbone - When several LAN(local area networks) segments hang off
one fibre optic cable

Geostationary - Satellites are in fixed position above the Earth and rotate with and at
the same speed as the Earth.

low orbit - satellites that revolve around the Earth

attenuation - The signal in copper wires loses strength over a distance

file server - A server with a large disc capacity to store many files which can be
accessed by network users

print server - A sever has a high-speed expensive printer attached that can be
shared by computers on the network

Network – consists of 2 or more computers connected by some type of

communications channel. Node – Any device connected to a network. Central File
Server – Files saved on a network that can be accessed by a user of different
computers. Synchronised – Updating files and applications from a device to another
device online or locally.
PAN (Personal Area Network) – Communication between an individual’s devices.
LAN (Local Area Network) – A network setup in a limited physical location. MAN
(Metropolitan Area Network) – Many LANs interconnected using high speed
connections across a city. WAN (Wide Area Network) – Interconnected LANs and
MANs across different cities or different countries. GAN (Global Area Network) – A
World Wide WAN (the internet)

Kernel - Smallest part of the OS that is in memory at all times.

Imbedded OS - an operating system in a ROM chip which is embedded in the device

. When the device is started the OS automatically starts running. If OS can be can be
changed or updated an EEPROM or flash memory is used.

Viruses - Self replicating programs illegally loaded onto a computer that causes
damage to the system.

OS - Collection of many programs on a device.

Int – Name for the integer primitive data type which is 4 bytes in size.

Double – Name for the real number data type which is 8 bytes in size.

Boolean – Name for the data type which stores either a true or false and is 1 byte in
size.

Ascii – (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Computers can only
understand numbers, so an ASCII code is the numerical representation of a
character such as 'a' or '@'or an action of some sort.

Pdf – (Portable Document Format) A file format used to represent documents in a

manner independent of application software , hardware , and operating systems .

RSI – (Repetitive Strain Injury) Damage to tendons, nerves, muscles and other body
tissues from repeated physical movements, like using the keyboard or mouse.

POS – (Point of Sale) The point at which a customer makes a payment for an
exchange of goods or services.

Shareware – Software you can use on a trial basis before you pay for it.

Freeware – Is software that is copy righted but given away by the author without any
cost for a user to use but not resell

Registry – Data base that stores application settings and preferences

plug and play – Feature that detects new hardware as soon as it is connected to the
computer system

Modem – A device that is becoming obsolete and can transfer data at 56Kbps

Router – A networking device that forwards data from one network to another
ADSL – Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line is a type of high speed internet access
service that uses telephone lines to transmit data

Analogue - A device or system that represents changing values as continuously

variable physical quantities

Digital - Any system based on discontinuous data or events. Computers are digital
machines because at their most basic level they can distinguish between just two
values, 0 and 1, or off and on

Proxy server: server maintained by an Internet Service Provider or business

through which all web content passes. It intercepts all traffic, checks it and disallows
access to any unauthorized users. It provides caching for web documents that have
been previously accessed.

Network Operating System: specific purpose of supporting a network. It can

support different operating sizes of networks.

Peer to peer network: a smaller network, usually any co0mputers set aside as
servers. All the computers have equal status and users can access all shared
hardware& software on all connected computers.

Client server network: a computer which shares resources with other computers in
a network.

UTP: (Unshielded Twisted Pair) is the most common bounded media cabling in small
LAN’s. It consists of several pairs of twisted wires in an outer protective plastic cover.

STP: (Shielded Twisted Pair) has twisted pairs of wires enclosed in protective foil.
This type of cable is less affected than UTP by interference and crosstalk.