Chapter 1 - Computers and Digital Basics
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92 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 ALU | (Arithmetic Logic Unit) The part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations on the numbers stored in its registers.31 |
| Analog data | Data that is measured or represented on a continuously varying scale, such as a dimmer switch or a watch with a sweep second hand.22 |
| Anonymizer tools | Software and/or hardware that cloaks the origination of an e-mail or Web page request. 10 |
| Application software | Computer programs that help you perform a specific task such as word processing. Also called application programs, applications, or programs. 16 |
| ASCII | (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) A code that represents characters as a series of 1s and 0s. Most computers use ASCII code to represent text, making it possible to transfer data between computers. 24 |
| Authentication protocol | Passwords, user IDs, and biometric measures used to verify a person's identity. 34 |
| Binary number system | A method for representing numbers using only two digits: 0 and 1. Contrast to the decimal number system, which uses ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 23 |
| Biometrics | The use of physical attributes, such as a fingerprint, to verify a person's identity. 34 |
| Bit | The smallest unit of information handled by a computer. A bit is one of two values, either a 0 or a 1. Eight bits constitute a byte, which can represent a letter or number. 23 |
| Blogs | (WeB LOG) A publicly-accessible personal journal posted on the Web. Blogs often reflect the personality of the author and are typically updated daily. 6 |
| Brute force attack | A method of breaking encryption code by trying all possible encryption keys. 37 |
| Bulletin boards | One of the original communications and social network technologies used on the Internet. 6 |
| Byte | An 8-bit unit of data that represents a single character. 26 |
| Case sensitive | A condition in which uppercase letters are not equivalent to their lowercase counterparts. 35 |
| Central processing unit | (CPU)The main processing circuitry within a computer or chip that contains the ALU, control unit, and registers. 15 |
| Character data | Letters, symbols, or numerals that will not be used in arithmetic operations (name, Social Security number, etc.). 24 |
| Chat groups | A discussion in which a group of people communicates online simultaneously. 6 |
| Client | A computer or software that requests information from another computer or server. 18 |
| Compiler | Software that translates a program written in a high-level language into low-level instructions before the program is executed. 30 |
| Compute-intensive | Refers to any task, problem, or product that is able to handle massive amounts of data and complex mathematical calculations. 19 |
| Computer | A device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output according to a stored program. 14 |
| Computer network | A collection of computers and related devices, connected in a way that allows them to share data, hardware, and software. 7 |
| Computer program | A detailed set of instructions that tells a computer how to solve a problem or carry out a task. 15 |
| Control unit | The part of the microprocessor that directs and coordinates processing. 31 |
| Convergence | In the context of technology, the melding of digital devices into a single platform that handles a diverse array of digital content, such as cell phones which also play digital music and display digital video. 8 |
| CPU | (Central Processing Unit) The main processing circuitry within a computer or chip that contains the ALU, control unit, and registers. 15 |
| Cyberspace | A term coined by William Gibson and now used to refer to information and other resources offered in virtual "worlds" based on computer networks and the Internet. 7 |
| Data | In the context of computing and data management, data refers to the symbols that a computer uses to represent facts and ideas. 15 |
| Data representation | The use of electronic signals, marks, or binary digits to represent character, numeric, visual, or audio data. 22 |
| Dictionary attack | A method of discovering a password by trying every word in an electronic dictionary. 36 |
| Digital data | Text, numbers, graphics, or sound represented by discrete digits, such as 1s and 0s. 22 |
| Digital divide | A gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do not. 12 |
| Digital revolution | A set of significant changes brought about by computers and other digital devices during the second half of the 20th century. 4 |
| Digitization | To convert non-digital information or media to a digital format through the use of a scanner, sampler, or other input device. 7 |
| Download | The process of transferring a copy of a file from a remote computer to a local computer's storage device. 8 |
| EBCDIC | (Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code) A method by which digital computers, usually mainframes, represent character data. 25 |
| E-mail | Messages that are transmitted between computers over a communications network. Short for electronic mail. 6 |
| Extended ASCII | Similar to ASCII but with 8-bit character representation instead of 7-bit, allowing for an additional 128 characters. 24 |
| File | A named collection of data (such as a computer program, document, or graphic) that exists on a storage medium, such as a hard disk or CD. 15 |
| Gigabit (Gb or Gbit) | Approximately one billion bits, exactly 1,024 megabits. 26 |
| Gigabyte (GB) | Approximately one billion bytes; exactly 1,024 megabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes). 26 |
| Globalization | A group of social, economic, political, and technological interdependencies linking people and institutions from all areas of the world. 12 |
| Handheld computer | A small, pocket-sized computer that is designed to run on its own power supply and provide users with basic applications. 19 |
| Identity theft | An illegal practice in which a criminal obtains enough information to masquerade as someone. 36 |
| Input | As a noun, the information that is conveyed to a computer. As a verb, to enter data into a computer. 15 |
| Instruction cycle | The steps followed by a computer to process a single instruction; fetch, interpret, execute, then increment the instruction pointer. 32 |
| Instruction set | The collection of instructions that a CPU is designed to process. 30 |
| Integrated circuit | (IC) A thin slice of silicon crystal containing microscopic circuit elements such as transistors, wires, capacitors, and resistors; also called chips and microchips. 27 |
| Intellectual property | A legal concept that refers to ownership of intangible information, such as ideas. 11 |
| Internet | The worldwide communication infrastructure that links computer networks using TCP/IP protocol. 6 |
| Interpreter | A program that converts high-level instructions in a computer program into machine language instructions, one instruction at a time. 30 |
| Kilobit (KB) | Approximately 1,000 bytes; exactly 1,024 bytes. 26 |
| Kilobyte | (KB) 26 |
| Machine code | Program instructions written in binary code that the computer can execute directly. 30 |
| Machine language | A low-level language written in binary code that the computer can execute directly. 30 |
| Mainframe computer | A large, fast, and expensive computer generally used by businesses or government agencies to provide centralized storage, processing, and management for large amounts of data. 18 |
| Megabit (Mb or Mbit) | 1,048,576 bits. |
| Megabyte (MB) | Approximately one million bytes; exactly 1,048,576 bytes. |
| Memory | The computer circuitry that holds data waiting to be processed. 15 |
| Microcontroller | A special purpose microprocessor that is built into the device it controls. 20 |
| Microprocessor | An integrated circuit that contains the circuitry for processing data. It is a single-chip version of the central processing unit (CPU) found in all computers. 15 |
| Numeric data | Numbers that represent quantities and can be used in arithmetic operations. 23 |
| Object code | The low-level instructions that result from compiling source code. 30 |
| Online social networks | Web sites that provide ways for people to communicate and socialize. Facebook is a popular example. 6 |
| Op code | (Short for operation code) An assembly language command word that designates an operation, such as add (ADD), compare (CMP), or jump (JMP). 31 |
| Open source | An approach to developing and licensing software in which source code remains public so it can be improved and freely distributed. 12 |
| Operand | The part of an instruction that specifies the data, or the address of the data, on which the operation is to be performed. 31 |
| Operating system | The software that controls the computer's use of its hardware resources, such as memory and disk storage space. Also called OS. 16 |
| Output | The results produced by a computer (for example, reports, graphs, and music). 15 |
| Password | A special set of symbols used to restrict access to a user's computer or network. 35 |
| Password manager | Software that keeps track of sites at which a user has registered and the password that corresponds to each site. 40 |
| PDA | (Personal Digital Assistant) A shirt-pocket sized computer originally designed to keep track of appointments. 19 |
| Personal computer | A microcomputer designed for use by an individual user for applications such as Web browsing and word processing. 17 |
| Portable media players | Small, lightweight, battery-powered devices designed to store and play audio, video, or image files stored in such formats as MP3 and AAC. 20 |
| Processing | The manipulation of data by a computer's microprocessor or central processing unit. 15 |
| Programming language | A set of keywords and grammar (syntax) that allows a programmer to write instructions that a computer can execute. 29 |
| Registers | A sort of "scratch pad" area of the microprocessor into which data or instructions are moved so that they can be processed. 31 |
| Semiconducting materials | (Semiconductors) Substances, such as silicon or germanium, that can act either as a conductor or an insulator. Used in the manufacture of computer chips. 27 |
| Server | A computer or software on a network that supplies the network with data and storage. 18 |
| Smartphone | A handheld device that integrates the functions of a mobile phone, PDA, portable music player, or other digital device. 20 |
| Sniffing | In the context of computer hacking, a technique that uses packet sniffer software to capture packets as they are sent over a network. 37 |
| Software | The instructions that direct a computer to perform a task, interact with a user, or process data. 15 |
| Source code | Computer instructions written in a high-level language. 29 |
| Storage | The area in a computer where data is retained on a permanent basis. 15 |
| Stored program | A set of instructions that resides on a storage device, such as a hard drive, and can be loaded into computer memory and executed. 16 |
| Supercomputer | The fastest and most expensive type of computer, capable of processing trillions of instructions per second. 18 |
| System board | The main circuit board in a computer that houses chips and other electronic components. 28 |
| System software | Computer programs, such as an operating system or utility software, that help the computer carry out essential operating tasks. 16 |
| Unicode | A 16-bit character-representation code that can represent more than 65,000 characters. 25 |
| User ID | A combination of letters and numbers that serves as a user's "call sign" or identification. Also referred to as a username. 34 |
| Videogame console | A computer specifically designed for playing games using a television screen and game controllers. 17 |
| Workstation | (1) A computer connected to a local area network. (2) A powerful desktop computer designed for specific tasks. 17 |
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