Computer Concepts Vocab – Flashcards
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Digital Revolution
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an ongoing process of social, political, and economic change brought about by digital technology, such as computers and the internet
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Digitalization
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the process of converting text, numbers, sounds, photos, and video into data that can be processed by digital devices
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Data Processing
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based on an input-processing-output cycle
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Personal Computing
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characterized by small, standalone computers powered by local software
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Local Software
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any software that is installed on a computer's hard drive
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Computer Network
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a group of computers linked together to share data and resources
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Internet
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a global computer network originally developed as a military project, and was then handed over to the National Science Foundation for research and academic use
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Web
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a collection of linked documents, graphics, and sounds that can be accessed over the internet
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Cloud Computing
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provides access to information, applications, communications, and storage over the Internet
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Convergence
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a process by which several technologies with distinct functionalities evolve to form a single product
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Social Media
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cloud-based applications designed for social interaction and consumer-generated content
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Anonymizer tools
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cloak a person's identity online
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Open Source
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promote copying, free distribution, peer review and user modification
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Globalization
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the worldwide economic interdependence of countries that occurs as cross-border commerce increases and as money flows more freely among countries
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Digital Divide
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the gap between people who have access to technology and those who do not
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Computer
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a multipurpose device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output, all according to a series of stored instructions
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Input
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whatever is typed, submitted, or transmitted to a computer system
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Output
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the result produced by a computer
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Data
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the symbols that represent facts, objects, and ideas
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Processing
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manipulation of data
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CPU
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central processing unit
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Microprocessor
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an electronic component that can be programmed to perform tasks based on data it receives
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Memory
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an area of a computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed, stored, or output
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Storage
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the area where data can be left on a permanent basis when it is not immediately needed for processing
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File
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a named collection of data that exists on a storage medium, such as a hard disk
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Computer Program
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the series of instructions that tells a computer how to carry out processing tasks
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Software
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sets up a computer to do a specific task
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Stored Program
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a series of instructions for a computing task can be loaded into a computer's memory
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Application Software
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a set of computer programs that helps a person carry out a task
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Apps
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software applications
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System Software
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help the computer system monitor itself in order to function efficiently
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Operating System
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the master controller for all the activities that that place within a computer
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Personal Computer
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a micro-processor-based computing device designed to meet the computing needs of an individual
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Workstation
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an ordinary personal computer that is connected to a network; powerful desktop computers used for high-performance tasks
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Server
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serve computers on a network by supplying them with data
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Client
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any software or digital device that requests data from a server
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Download
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the process of copying a file from a server to your own client computer
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Upload
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the process of copying files from your client computer to a server
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Main-frame Computer
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a large and expensive computer capable of simultaneously processing data for hundreds or thousands of users
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Supercomputer
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fastest computers in the world
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Computive-intensive
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problem that requires massive amounts of data to be processed using complex mathematical calculations
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Handheld Computer
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a handheld device that allows you to install applications
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Microcontroller
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a special-purpose microprocessor that is built into the machine it controls
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Data Representation
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the form in which data is stored, processed and transmitted
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Digital Data
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text, numbers, graphics, sounds, and video that have been converted into discrete digits such as 1s and 0s
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Analog Data
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represented using an infinite scale of values
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Binary Number System
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0s and 1s
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ASCII
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American Standard Code of Information Interchange
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EBCDIC
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Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code
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Unicode
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uses sixteen bits and provides codes for 65,000 characters
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Byte
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group of eight bits
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Integrated Circuit
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a super-thin slice of semiconducting material packed with microscopic circuit elements, such as wires, transistors, capacitors, logic gates, and resistors
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Semiconducting Materials
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substances with properties between those of a conductor and an insulator
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System Board
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houses all essential chips and provides connecting circuitry between them
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Source Code
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the human-readable version of a program
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Compiler
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converts all statements in a program in a single batch
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Object Code
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the resulting collection of instructions after compiling
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Interpreter
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converts and executes one statement at a time while the program is running
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Machine Language
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the list of codes for a microprocessor's instruction set
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Machine Code
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a set of machine language instructions for a program
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Op Code
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a command word for a an operation
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Operand
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specifies the data, or the address of the data, for the operation
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ALU
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part of the microprocessor that performs arithmetic operations
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Registers
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used by the ALU to hold data that is being processed
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Control Unit
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fetches each instruction
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Manual Calculator
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a device that assists in the process of numeric calculations, but requires the human operator to keep track of the algorithm
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Abacus
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a manual calculator used in ancient Rome, Greece, India, china, and Japan
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Napier's Bones
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another manual calculator invented by John Napier, the Scottish Laird of Merchiston
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Slide Rule
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evolved from Napier's Bones, essential for students, engineers, and scientists in the 60s
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Hollerith Tabulating Machine
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first electronic punched card tabulating device
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Prototype
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an experimental device that must be further developed and perfected before going to production and becoming widely available
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Atanasoff-Berry Computer
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the first computer to use vacuum tubes instead of mechanical switches for processing circuitry
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Z3
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invented by German engineer Konrad Zuse, built in Nazi Germany during WWII, designed to work with binary numbers
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Havard Mark
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result of plan to integrate 73 IBM machines into a single unit in 1939, the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator
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Colossus
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an electronic device designed to decode messages encrypted by the German Enigma machine, 1943
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ENIAC
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general-purpose electronic computer, Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, designed to calculate trajectory tables for U.S. Army 1945
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UNIVAC
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considered to be the first commercially successful digital computer, Echert-Mauchly Computer Corp.
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First-generation computers
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characterized by their use of vacuum tubes to store individual bits of data
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Vacuum tube
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an electronic device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum
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Second-generation Computers
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characterized by transistors instead of vacuum tubes
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Transistors
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regulate current or voltage flow and act as a switch for electronic signals
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Third-generation Computers
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1958, Jack Kirby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor, integrated circuits
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RCA Spectra 70 and IBM 360
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two of the first computers to incorporate integrated circuits
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DEC PDP-8
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the first commercially successful minicomputer, Digital Equipment Corp, 1965
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IBM AS/400
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few remaining devices that could be classified as a minicomputer, term then fell into disuse
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Fourth-generation Computers
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faster, smaller, and even less expensive than third-generation computers, 1971
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Mark-8
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one of the first personal computer systems based on integrated circuit and microprocessor technologies
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MITS Altair
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first commercial microcomputer
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First personal computers
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Apple 1, Apple II, IBM PC, IBM PC XT
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Apple Lisa
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graphical user interface, easier for average user to operate
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Xerox Alto
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basis for graphical interface idea
