Computer Basics

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Computer Basics Terminology
MSBCS-BCSI-1 Students will identify computer
system components

• Study Guide Test 5
• 6th grade

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Bytes

• Megabyte (mb)
• A unit of computer memory or data storage
  capacity equal to one million bytes.
• Kilobyte (kb)
• A unit of computer memory or data storage
  capacity equal to one thousand bytes.
• Gigabyte (gb)
• A unit of computer memory or data storage
  capacity equal one billion bytes.
• Byte
• A sequence of adjacent bits operated on as a unit
  by a computer. A byte usually consists of eight
  bits. Amounts of computer memory are often
  expressed in terms of megabytes (1,048,576 bytes)
  or gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes).

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Peripheral

• An auxiliary device, such as a printer, modem, or
  storage system, that works in conjunction with a
  computer.

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CPU

• the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip)
  that does most of the data processing "the CPU
  and the memory form the central part of a
  computer to which the peripherals are attached"

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Printer

• an output device that prints the results of data
  processing

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Monitor

• display screen used to present output from a
  computer, video camera, VCR or other video
  generator

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Modem

• A device for transmitting usually digital data
  over telephone wires by modulating the data into
  an audio signal to send it and demodulating an
  audio signal into data to receive it.

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Software

• General term for the various kinds of programs
  used to operate computers and related devices

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Hardware

• the physical parts of a computer system,
  including the monitor, central processing unit,
  memory, storage disks, printers and scanners, and
  network equipment, such as routers and servers

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Flash Drive

• card that plugs into a computers USB port and
  functions as a portable hard drive
• Also known as thumb drive, pen drive, jump drive

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CD-ROM

• a compact disk that is used with a computer
  (rather than with an audio system) a large
  amount of digital information can be stored and
  accessed but it cannot be altered by the user

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Software Piracy

• The unauthorized copying of software. Most retail
  programs are licensed for use at just one
  computer site or for use by only one user at any
  time. By buying the software, you become a
  licensed user rather than an owner (see EULA).
  You are allowed to make copies of the program for
  backup purposes, but it is against the law to
  give copies to friends and colleagues.

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Email

• system for sending and receiving messages
  electronically over a computer network, as
  between personal computers.

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Internet

• computer network consisting of a worldwide
  network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP
  network protocols to facilitate data transmission
  and exchange

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Blogs, Chatrooms

• Blogs- read, write, or edit a shared on-line
  journal
• Chatrooms- A site on a computer network where
  online conversations are held in real time by a
  number of users.

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Instant Messaging

• the exchange of text messages through a a
  software application in real-time

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Video Conference

• A discussion between two or more groups of
  people who are in different places but can see
  and hear each other using electronic
  communications.

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Memory

• A device (as a chip) or a component of a device
  in which information especially for a computer
  can be inserted and stored and from which it may
  be extracted when wanted

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DVD

• digital video disc

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Mouse

• A device that controls the movement of the cursor
  or pointer on a display screen