(See related pages)
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| Antivirus software | Detects and removes or quarantines computer viruses. (See page(s) 252) |
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| Application software | The software that enables you to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks. (See page(s) 243) |
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| Arithmetic/logic unit (A/L unit) | Performs all arithmetic operations (e.g., addition and subtraction) and all logical operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers). (See page(s) 258) |
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| ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) | The coding system that most personal computers use to represent, process, and store information. (See page(s) 253) |
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| Barcode reader | Captures information that exists in the form of vertical bars whose width and distance apart determine a number. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Barcode scanner | Reads information that is in the form of vertical bars, where their width and spacing represent digits (often used in point-of-sale (POS) systems in retail environments. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Binary digit (bit) | The smallest unit of information that your computer can process. (See page(s) 253) |
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| Biometric scanner | Scans some human physical attribute, like your fingerprint or iris, for security purposes. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Bluetooth | A standard for transmitting information in the form of short-range radio waves over distances of up to 30 feet, used for purposes such as wirelessly connecting a cell phone or a PDA to a computer. (See page(s) 264) |
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| Byte | A group of eight bits that represent one natural language character. (See page(s) 253) |
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| CD-R (compact disc-recordable) | Optical or laser disk that offers one-time writing capability with about 800 MB of storage capacity. (See page(s) 259) |
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| CD-ROM | Optical or laser disk that offers no updating capabilities with about 800 MB of storage capacity. Most software today comes on CD-ROM. (See page(s) 259) |
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| CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) | Offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the CD. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Central processing unit (CPU) | The actual hardware that interprets and executes the software instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Connectivity software | Enables you to use your computer to “dial up” or connect to another computer. (See page(s) 261) |
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| Control unit | Interprets software instructions and tells the other hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions. (See page(s) 258) |
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| Crash-proof software | Utility software that helps you save information if your system crashes and you’re forced to turn it off and then back on again. (See page(s) 253) |
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| CRT | A monitor that looks like a television set. (See page(s) 256) |
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| Desktop computer | The most popular choice for personal computing needs. (See page(s) 247) |
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| Digital camera | Captures still images or video as a series of 1s and 0s. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Digital still camera | Digitally captures still images in varying resolutions. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Digital video camera | Captures video digitally. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Disk optimization software | Utility software that organizes your information on your hard disk in the most efficient way. (See page(s) 253) |
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| Dot pitch | The distance between the centres of a pair of like-coloured pixels. (See page(s) 256) |
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| DVD-R | Optical or laser disk that offers one-time writing capability with upwards of 17 GB of storage capacity. (See page(s) 259) |
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| DVD-ROM | Optical or laser disk that offers no updating capabilities with upwards of 17 BG of storage capacity. The trend is now for movie rentals to be on DVD. (See page(s) 259) |
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| DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+RW | (all different names by different manufacturers) optical or laser disks that offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the DVD. (See page(s) 260) |
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| e-mail (electronic mail) software | Enables you to electronically communicate with other people by sending and receiving e-mail. (See page(s) 261) |
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| Expansion bus | A circuit board that you insert into an expansion slot. (See page(s) 262) |
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| Expansion card | A circuit board that you insert into an expansion slot. (See page(s) 262) |
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| Expansion slot | A long, skinny socket on the motherboard into which you insert an expansion card. (See page(s) 262) |
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| Flash memory | Device that plugs directly into the USB port on your computer and is small enough to fit on a key ring. (See page(s) 260) |
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| Flat-panel display | Thin, lightweight monitor that takes up much less space than a CRT. (See page(s) 256) |
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| Floppy disk | Storage device that is great for portability of information and ease of updating but holds only 1.44 MB of information. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Gigabyte (GB or gig) | Roughly 1 billion characters. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Gigahertz (GHz) | The number of billions of CPU cycles per second. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Hard disk | Storage device that rests within your system box and offers both ease of updating and great storage capacity. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Hardware | The physical devices that make up a computer (often referred to as a computer system). (See page(s) 243) |
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| High-capacity floppy disk | Storage device that is great for portability and ease of updating and holds between 100 MB and 250 MB of information. Superdisks and Zip disks are examples. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Horizontal market software | Application software that is general enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries. (See page(s) 250) |
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| Image scanner | Captures images, photos, text, and artwork that already exist on paper. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Information technology (IT) | Any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization. (See page(s) 243) |
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| Inkjet printer | Makes images by forcing ink droplets through nozzles. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Input device | A tool you use to capture information and commands. (See page(s) 254) |
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| IrDA (Infrared Data Association) port | Port for wireless devices that work in essentially the same way as the remote control on your TV. (See page(s) 264) |
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| Keyboard | Today’s most popular input technology. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Laser printer | Forms images using an electrostatic process, the same way a photocopier works. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Linux | An open-source operating system that provides a rich operating environment for high-end workstations and network servers. (See page(s) 252) |
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| Mac OS | The operating system for today’s Apple computers. (See page(s) 252) |
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| Mainframe computer (mainframe) | A computer designed to meet the computing needs of hundreds of people in a large business environment. (See page(s) 247) |
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| Megabyte (MD or M or meg) | Roughly one million bytes. (See page(s) 258) |
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| Megahertz (MHz) | The number of millions of CPU cycles per second. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Microphone | For capturing live sounds such as a dog barking or your voice (for automatic speech recognition) (See page(s) 254) |
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| Microsoft Windows XP Home | Microsoft’s latest upgrade to Windows 2000 ME, with enhanced features for allowing multiple people to use the same computer. (See page(s) 252) |
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| Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Windows XP Pro) | Microsoft’s latest upgrade to Windows 2000 Pro. (See page(s) 252) |
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| Minicomputer (mid-range computer) | Designed to meet the computing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium-size business environment. (See page(s) 247) |
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| Mouse | Today’s most popular “pointing” input device. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Multifunction printer | Scans, copies, and faxes, as well as prints. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Multitasking | Allows you to work with more than one piece of software at a time. (See page(s) 251) |
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| Network | Two or more computers connected so that they can communicate with each other and possibly share information, software, peripheral devices, and/or processing power. (See page(s) 260) |
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| Notebook computer | A fully functional computer designed for you to carry around and run on battery power. (See page(s) 246) |
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| Operating system software | System software that controls your application software and manages how your hardware devices work together. (See page(s) 244) |
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| Optical character reader | Reads characters that appear on a page or sales tag (often used in point-of-sale (POS) systems in retail environments. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Optical mark reader | Detects the presence or absence of a mark in a predetermined spot on the page (often used for true/false and multiple choice exam answers). (See page(s) 255) |
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| Optical mark recognition (OMR) | Detects the presence or absence of a mark in a predetermined place (popular for multiple choice exams). (See page(s) 254) |
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| Output device | A tool you use to see, hear, or otherwise accept the results of your information-processing requests. (See page(s) 255) |
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| Parallel connector | Has 25 pins, which fit into the corresponding holes in the port. Most printers use parallel connectors. (See page(s) 264) |
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| Personal digital assistant (PDA) | A small handheld computer that helps you surf the Web and perform simple tasks such as note taking, calendaring, appointment scheduling, and maintaining an address book. (See page(s) 245) |
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| Personal productivity software | Helps you perform personal tasks – such as writing a memo, creating a graph, and creating a slide presentation – which you can usually do even if you don’t own a computer. (See page(s) 249) |
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| Point-of-sale (POS) | For capturing information at the point of a transaction, typically in a retail environment. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Pointing stick | Small rubberlike pointing device that causes the pointer to move on the screen as you apply directional pressure (popular on notebooks). (See page(s) 254) |
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| Port | The plug-in found on the outside of your system box (usually in the back) into which you plug a connector. (See page(s) 263) |
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| RAM (random access memory) | Temporary storage that holds the information you’re working with, the application software you’re using, and the operating system software you’re using. (See page(s) 257) |
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| Resolution of a printer | The number of dots per inch (dpi) it produces, which is the same principle as the resolution in monitors. (See page(s) 256) |
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| Resolution of a screen | The number of pixels it has. Pixels (picture elements) are the dots that make up an image on your screen. (See page(s) 256) |
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| Scanner | Captures images, photos, and artwork that already exist on paper. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Serial connector | Usually has 9 holes but may have 25, which fit into the corresponding number of pins in the port. Serial connectors are often most used for monitors and certain types of modems. (See page(s) 264) |
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| Software | The set of instructions that your hardware executes to carry out a specific task for you. (See page(s) 243) |
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| Software suite (suite) | A group of applications sold together by a software company. (See page(s) 250) |
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| Storage device | A tool you use to store information for use at a later time. (See page(s) 243) |
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| Supercomputer | The fastest, most powerful, and most expensive type of computer. (See page(s) 247) |
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| System bus | Consists of the electronic pathways which move information between basic components on the motherboard, including between your CPU and RAM. (See page(s) 262) |
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| System software | Handles tasks specific to technology management and coordinates the interaction of all technology devices. (See page(s) 244) |
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| Tablet PC | A pen-based computer that provides the screen capabilities of a PDA with the functional capabilities of a notebook or desktop computer. (See page(s) 246) |
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| Telecommunications device | A tool you use to send information to and receive it from another person or location. (See page(s) 243) |
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| Telephone modem | (or modem) a device that connects your computer to your phone line so that you can access another computer or network. (See page(s) 260) |
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| Terabyte (TB) | Roughly one trillion bytes. (See page(s) 259) |
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| Touch pad | Another form of a stationary mouse on which you move your finger to cause the pointer on the screen to move (popular on notebooks). (See page(s) 254) |
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| Touch screen | Special screen that lets you use your finger to point at and touch a particular function you want to perform. (See page(s) 254) |
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| Trackball | An upside-down, stationary mouse; using it, you move the ball instead of the device (mainly for notebooks). (See page(s) 254) |
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| Uninstaller software | Utility software that you can use to remove software from your hard disk that you no longer want. (See page(s) 253) |
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| USB (universal serial bus) | Becoming the most popular means of connecting devices to a computer. Most standard desktops today have at least two USB ports, and most standard notebooks have at least one. (See page(s) 263) |
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| Utility software | Software that provides additional functionality to your operating system. (See page(s) 244) |
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| Vertical market software | Application software that is unique to a particular industry. (See page(s) 250) |
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| Web browser software | Enables you to surf the Web. (See page(s) 261) |
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| Webcam | Captures digital video to upload to the Web. (See page(s) 255) |
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| WiFi (wireless fidelity or IEEE 802.11a, b, or g) | A standard for transmitting information in the form of radio waves over distances up to about 300 feet. (See page(s) 264) |