Vocabulary Week 1 Computer Technology & Applications

Please copy terms & definitions Data—a collection of raw facts, figures, and symbols given to a computer during the input operation. Information—data that is organized, meaningful, and useful. User—anyone who uses the computer directly or the information it provides.

Software—a specific set of instructions that tells the computer exactly what to do. Primary Components—input devices, processor, memory, output devices, storage devices, and communication devices. Processor—interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer.

RAM (random access memory)—stores instructions waiting to be executed by the processor and data needed by those instructions. Motherboard—the main circuit board in the computer to which all components are attached. Gigabyte--a unit of computer information storage equal to 1billion bytes. One gigabyte can hold 5000 pages of text.

Output devices—make the information resulting from processing available for use such as printers and monitors. LCD Monitor—(flat panel) uses a liquid display crystal to produce images on the screen. Pixels—individual picture elements that are illuminated to form characters on a screen. Formatting—the process of preparing a disk or hard drive for reading and writing by organizing it into storage locations called tracks or sectors.

ROM—(Read Only Memory) Long term memory on the hard drive that can not be altered by the user. CD-R—(compact disc recordable) A disk on which you can record your own items. CD-RW--(compact disc-rewritable) An erasable disc you can write on multiple times. Operating system—tells the computer how to perform the functions of loading, storing, and executing an application. Controls the booting process.

Network—a collection of computers and devices connected via telephone lines, cables, and modems. Local Area Network—(LAN) a network that connects computers in a limited geographical area such as a school, office, or group of buildings. Uniform Resource Locator—(URL) the unique address associated with a web page.