Basic Computer Vocabulary

TERMS TO KNOW

PERSONAL COMPUTER

CPU

BIT & BYTE

HARDWARE

INPUT & OUTPUT

RAM & ROM

STORAGE DEVICE

SOFTWARE

OPERATING SYSTEM

NETWORK

PERSONAL COMPUTERS

• A personal computer is used by one person at a time. Includes desktop and laptop computers, MP3 players, PDA’s, etc.

• PC = Microsoft Windows OS (made by IBM, Dell, Gateway...)

• Mac = Mac OS (made only by Apple)

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

• CPU= computer’s brain

• The CPU performs calculations and carries out all the instructions you give to your computer

• CPU speed is measured in:

• Megahertz (MHz) - millions of CPU cycles per second

• Gigahertz (GHz) - billions of CPU cylcles per second

BITS & BYTES

• Computers can only process two numbers: 1 and 0.

• A bit is the smallest unit of information, always either a 1 or a 0.

• Eight bits make a byte

• 5 page paper = 40 KB (40,000 bytes)

• Movie on DVD = 5 GB (5 billion bytes)

HARDWARE•Hardware is the

collection of physical devices that make up your computer system. These devices are also called components.

INPUTS & OUTPUT PORTS

•Input = user enters information into a computer

•Output = computer delivers information back to a user

• Types of Ports:

• USB

• Firewire

• Compact Flash (CF Card)

• Secure Disk (SD Card)

•Is it an input or output?

• keyboard

• mouse

• printer

• scanner

• speakers

• digital camera

•Q: What are 3 hardware components that you can see outside the computer and what are 3 components hidden inside the computer?

Hmmm......

RAM & ROM

• A computer mainly uses 2 kinds of memory: RAM or ROM, depending on the task

• ROM = permanent information, long-term memory

• RAM = temporary information, short-term memory (erased when computer turns off)

RAM computer chips

STORAGE DEVICES

•A computer stores information in 3 main places: RAM, ROM, or storage device

•Before you save your work, the data is stored in RAM. When you save a file, you move the information from RAM to a storage device.

Storage devices:

* hard drive* flash drive

* CD’s, DVD’s, & Blue-ray

* floppy disk

How is RAM like short-term memory?

If you had a 1GB file, where could you

store it?

SOFTWARE

•Software is a set of instructions that makes it possible for your computer to perform tasks. It translates your commands into the language of binary numbers. Software can also be called a program or an application.

3 categories of software:* Operating System (OS)* Application* UtilityTypes of Software:* web browsers* email* word processing* spreadsheet* database* presentation

OPERATING SYSTEMS

• The operating system controls all the software programs and allows hardware to work properly.

Types of operating systems:

Microsoft Windows

Mac OS

Linux

Handheld OS (PDA’s MP3’s, Cell Phones, etc.MS-DOS = text

interface (“old school” way of input)

GUI = graphical user interface that allows

for point and click

Name 6 types of application software and describe what each one allows

you to do.

What types of software program controls all the other software on your

computer?

NETWORK•A computer network is a group

of computers connected together. Networks allow people to share information and resources such as printers, storage devices, and Internet connections.

•A network server is a powerful computer that lets users share storage space and applications

In a computer network, what do you call the computer that provides shared storage space and applications to other computers?

Why is it helpful for schools or companies to use a network?