Computer Definition: A computer is an electronic machine that 1) takes in data and instructions (input) 2) works with the data (processing) 3) puts out information (output) Explanation: Computers are made of HARDWARE - input devices like the keyboard and mouse - the CPU and memory - storage devices like hard drives - output devices like printers and monitors and SOFTWARE (the instructions that tell the computer what to do) - system software - programs (application software) August 9, 2010

Monitor Definition: A monitor is the TV-like part of the computer that you look at to see information. Explanation: Monitors are sometimes called displays or screens. "Screen" refers to the glass front only, while "monitor" refers to the screen, the case and everything inside the case. Information on a monitor is displayed in pixels. Sentence: "Look at the monitor to see my slide show on volcanoes." August 16, 2010

CPU Definition: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the chip which is the brains of the computer. It is also known as the processor. Explanation: The CPU processes data and instructions. It does calculations and does what the software programs tell it to do. The CPU is the most important part of a computer. Sentence: "You might say that the CPU runs the computer!" August 23, 2010

Disk Drive Definition: A part of the computer that operates the disks that store information. Explanation: Disk drives are called "storage devices" because they store information on portable or permanent disks (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks and Zip disks). A disk drive spins the disk around at high speeds as it reads and writes data on the disk. Sentence: "Put your floppy in the floppy disk drive." August 30, 2010

Memory Definition: Memory is temporary storage space on chips in your computer. Explanation: Memory holds programs and data temporarily while you use them. RAM is the most important kind of memory, and "memory" usually refers to RAM. Sentence: "I have so much memory I can run several programs at once." September 7, 2010

Hardware Definition: The parts of a computer system that you can touch. Explanation: Examples of hardware are input devices like keyboards and mice, output devices like printers and monitors, storage devices like disk drives, and the computer itself. Sentence: "Let's take apart this old computer and look at its hardware." September 13, 2010

Peripheral Definition: A hardware device that is connected to a computer, usually by a cable. Explanation: Keyboards and mice are peripherals that help us "input" information. Printers and monitors are peripherals that "output" information. Sentence: "Does your computer have many peripherals connected to it?" September 20, 2010

Scanner Definition: A device that "takes a picture" of something and turns it into a computerized image. Explanation: When you scan a picture, the picture is digitized (turned into numbers in binary code) so the computer can show it on the monitor or print it out. Sentence: "You'll need to use the scanner to get your photo into your presentation." September 27, 2010

Modem Definition: A device that links a computer to other computers through a telephone line. Explanation: The modem lets a computer send and receive binary data over a telephone line by changing the bits into sound waves that can be sent over the phone lines. Sentence: "You can always use a faster modem." October 18, 2010

Hard Disk/Hard Drive Definition: The hard disk is a round, metal platter in the hard drive of the computer; it stores large amounts of information. Explanation: The hard disk has a magnetic coating. It is sealed into the hard drive and often installed inside the computer where you can't see it. Sentence: "Let's save our HyperStudio stack in the Student Folder on the hard drive." Important: Storage of files on the hard drive is permanent until you delete them, as opposed to storage in memory (RAM), which is temporary. October 25, 2010

CD-ROM Definition: A round, shiny portable disk that stores large amounts of software and information. Explanation: CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk - Read Only Memory. Years ago, you could only "read" information from most CD-ROMs. Now you can also "write" (save) information on them. Sentence: "Let's see if the Grolier CD-ROM has any information about earthquakes." November 1, 2010

Backup Definition: An extra copy of a document, file or program. Explanation: You should make backups of all important work. A backup of a file on the hard drive can be saved on a flash drive. A backup of a flash drive can be on the hard drive or another flash drive. Sentence: "Don't forget to make a backup of your book report!" November 8, 2010

Cable Definition: A cable is a long, rubber-coated bundle of wires, with plugs on either end, that connects computer parts. Explanation: You need a different cable for each device you hook up to your computer. Each end plugs into a port. Sentence: "My printer didn't work because one end of the cable wasn't plugged in." November 15, 2010

Software Definition: Software is the program that run on a computer. Explanation: Software is made up of instructions that tell the computer what to do. It is stored on disks in bits and bytes. ClarisWorks and KidPix are examples of software. Sentence: "Please load the ClarisWorks software on the computer." November 29, 2010

Icon Definition: An icon is a tiny picture on the screen that represents a program, file or folder. Explanation: Icons make it easy to find what you are looking for. To tell the computer to open a file, folder or program, double-click on the icon. To select an item, click only once on the icon. Sentence: "Double-click on the KidPix icon to launch the program." December 6, 2010

World Wide Web (WWW) Definition: The Web is the part of the Internet that consists of pages (documents) linked to each other around the world. These pages have pictures, sounds, and more. Explanation: A website can have many pages; the first is the Home Page. You use a browser to point and click your way to other pages or to do research. Sentence: "Do you have a site on the Web?" December 13, 2010

Network Definition: A network is a number of computers connected together to share information and hardware. Explanation: A Local Area Network (LAN) is small, perhaps a few computers sharing a printer. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is large, with many computers linked between towns or countries. The Internet is a network of networks that circles the globe. Sentence: "Let's get on the network and send An to Jane." January 3, 2011

Browser Definition: A browser is a software program that lets you explore the World Wide Web to find text, graphics, sound, movies, games, chats and more. Explanation: A browser helps you link to pages on websites around the world. To find a website, type in a URL (web address) or click a link or a button in the toolbar. Sentence: "What is your favorite browser, Firefox or Explorer?" January 10, 2011

URL Definition: A URL is the address of a website on the World Wide Web. Explanation: To visit a website, you type the URL into a browser. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Other Internet resources have URL's, too, but if the URL starts with " then you know it's on the World Wide Web. Sentence: "The URL for the NASA website is January 18, 2011

HTML Definition: HTML, known as "the language of the Web," is the set of codes used to make Web pages. Explanation: HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the coded instructions that tell a browser how and where to place information, graphics and links on a web page. Sentence: "I changed the HTML to put a link to NASA at the top of my web page." January 24, 2011

Definition: is a way of sending messages from one computer to another. Explanation: stands for "electronic mail." You send a message to someone, with attachments such as photos or files, using a modem or network. The message waits in another computer until the person goes online to get it. Sentence: "I got from Aunt Sue in Hawaii." January 31, 2011

Download Definition: To download a file is to get it from someone else's computer, over a network, and save it on your own computer or floppy disk. Explanation: Download means "receive." You can download many kinds of files from the Internet, including images and software. Sentence: "Let's download the image of Lincoln." February 7, 2011

Virus Definition: A virus is a computer program that was written to purposely damage computer systems. Explanation: Your computer can get a virus from another computer, through modems, networks or disks. You can protect your computer from viruses by using virus protection software, and by only downloading programs from sources you trust. Sentence: "My computer got a virus from the game I downloaded from the Internet." February 14, 2011

Chat Definition: Chat is a way people in different places can "talk" to each other by typing their words into a computer. Explanation: People chat on the Internet and on commercial services. Many people can chat at once in a "chat room." Sentence: "I had a chat with Aunt Sue over the Internet." Note: Did you know that people can surf the Web or play games while they chat? Many websites let you play checkers or bridge, race cars, browse the web, build space cities, or even play Pictionary, while you chat with the people doing these things with you. February 21, 2011

Cursor Definition: A blinking line or shape on the screen that tells you where the next character will go. Explanation: In the example above, the I-beam is used to put the cursor in place. The definition of cursor is changing; I-beams and other pointers are often called cursors. Sentence: "Put the cursor before the letter N." February 28, 2011

Database Definition: A database is an organized collection of information. It is like a box of 3x5 cards that you can search, sort and analyze rapidly with a database program. Explanation: A database program lets you add, delete and change data in the database. You can create reports, lists, labels, etc. Sentence: "I have my recipes on a database." March 7, 2011

Field Definition: In a database, a field holds exactly one type of information about an item or subject. It is like one line written on an index card in an index card file. Explanation: There are many fields on a record. In the example shown, there are 4 fields on each address record: the Name field, Address field, City field and Phone Number field. Sentence: "Enter 'Jane Doe' in the Name field." March 28, 2011

Cell Definition: A cell is the "box" where a column and a row intersect, in a spreadsheet. Explanation: Each cell can contain words, a number, or a formula. Each cell has an address, based on the column and row. For example, the cell highlighted above has the address C3. Sentence: "Click in the cell to type your formula." April 4, 2011

Pixel Definition: A pixel is a tiny dot of light on the monitor. Explanation: "Pixel" stands for Picture Element. It is the smallest part of every image you see on the monitor. The color of a pixel is partly determined by how many bits (on/off units) are used to store the pixel. Sentence: "This icon is 32 pixels wide by 32 pixels tall. It contains a total of 1024 pixels." April 11, 2011

(Micro) Processor Definition: The processor is the chip which is the brains of the computer. It is also know as the CPU (Central Processing Unit). Explanation: Processors have their name because they process data and instructions. The processor is the most important part of a computer. Sentence: "How fast is the processor in your new computer?" April 18, 2011

Definition: RAM, also called memory, is temporary storage space on chips in your computer. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Explanation: RAM holds files and programs temporarily while you use them. When you turn off the power to the computer, everything in RAM "disappears." Sentence: "I need 16MB of RAM to run Netscape." RAM April 25, 2011

Spreadsheet Definition: A spreadsheet is a document which helps you organize data in rows and columns of cells. Explanation: Each cell can contain words, a number, or a formula. A formula does calculations with the numbers in other cells. You can make charts and graphs automatically. Sentence: "We analyzed our survey results with a spreadsheet." May 2, 2011

Megabyte Definition: A megabyte is a unit of measure equal to 1,048,576 bytes, which is about a million bytes. Explanation: "Mega" means "million." Measuring the number of megabytes tells you how big a file, a hard drive or your memory capacity is, by counting millions of bytes. Sentence: "The Home Page program is 1.6 megabytes." May 9, 2011

Kilobyte Definition: A kilobyte is a unit of measure equal to 1,024 bytes, which is about a thousand bytes. Explanation: "Kilo" means "thousand." Measuring the number of kilobytes tells you how big a file, a hard drive or your memory capacity is, by counting thousands of bytes. Sentence: "My Jupiter drawing is 48 kilobytes." May 16, 2011

Bit Definition: A bit is an electronic signal which is either on (1) or off (0). It is the smallest unit of information the computer uses. Explanation: Bit stands for Binary Digit. Computers use the binary system to work with data. All data is stored in binary code as 1's and 0's (bits). A bit might be called the "on/off" unit of information. Sentence: "There are eight bits in one byte." May 23, 2011

Byte Definition: A byte is a group of 8 bits, strung together. Explanation: A bit is either a 1 or a 0. Each byte (8 bits) means something to the computer. The byte " " means the capital letter A. The byte " " means the capital letter B. Sentence: "The phrase 'Hello World' is 11 bytes long." May 31, 2011