D. Beecroft Fremont High School Types of Computers & Computer Hardware

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Basic Terminology Computer An electronic device capable of interpreting and executing program instructions and data and performing the required operations to produce the desired results. Hardware All of the physical devices or equipment that make up a computer system. Software Programs containing instructions that direct the operation of the computer system and the written documentation that explains how to use the programs. Network A group of two or more computers, software, and other devices that are connected by means of one or more communications media. Peripheral devices Used to expand the computer’s input, output and storage capabilities.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Basic Terminology Input Data that is read into a computer or other device. Data Raw, unprocessed information. Information Data that has been processed so as to make it useful for a specific purpose. Output Information that is written or displayed as a result of computer processing or the act of writing or displaying such data. Information Processing Cycle A cycle during which information is entered, processed, outputted, and/or stored by a computer. Memory A place for storage, temporary or permanent, of data, programs, or instructions.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Types of Computers

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Desktop Microcomputer Implies stationary use.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Laptop or Notebook Computer A portable computer.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Workstation A computer (and often the surrounding area) that has been configured to perform a certain set of tasks, such as photo editing, audio recording, or video production.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Supercomputer The fastest, most powerful computer designed for multiple uses.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Mainframe A large computer capable of accommodating multiple users.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Server Storage; memory; accessed remotely by users.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Handheld Fits in your hand; i.e., palm pilot.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Computer Hardware

D. Beecroft Fremont High School System unit The main part of a personal computer system that contains the motherboard and other components necessary for processing information.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School CPU (Central Processing Unit) The part of a computer that interprets and carries out instructions that operate the computer and manages the computer’s devices and resources.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Input Device Any hardware component that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer system. Keyboards, point-and-click devices, and scanners are among the more popular input devices.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Keyboard An electronically controlled hardware component used to enter alphanumeric data (letters, numbers, and special characters.)

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Mouse An input device that, when moved about on a flat surface, causes a pointer on the screen to move in the same direction.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Sound Card A plug-in card that records and plays back sound.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Modem A hardware device that translates signals from digital to analog and from analog to digital; making it possible for digital computers to communicate over analog telephone lines.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Output Devices Any peripheral that presents output from the computer. Typical output devices are the monitor, speakers, and the printer.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Monitor The screen, or display, on which computer output appears.. Resolution A measurement of the sharpness of an image displayed on a computer monitor or other output device; resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi), both vertically and horizontally, with higher resolution achieved by more dots per inch. Pixels The smallest picture element that a computer monitor or other device can display and from which graphic images are built.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Input AND Output ~ I/O Transferring data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input into another. Examples: Disk drives (all types) Modem Touch screen monitor

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Printer The most common type of hard-copy output device that produces output in a permanent form.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Speakers Computer devices that produce warning sounds to alert the user to errors or other matters that require attention and, with a computer equipped a powerful sound card can output high-quality sound from CD- ROMs, MIDI keyboards, or the Internet.

D. Beecroft Fremont High School Resources Fuller, Floyd. Computers: Navigating Change. EMC Paradigm, Parsons, June Jamrich, and Dan Oja. Computer Concepts. Boston: Course Technology - Thompson Learning,