Information Technology Chapter 6
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active display area
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The diagonal length of a monitor's viewing area
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active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED
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A monitor technology that has the benefits of lower-power consumption and longer battery life, as well as possibilities for much thinner displays.
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artificial intelligence (AI)
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A field of computer science that attempts to develop computer systems that can mimic or simulate human thought processes and actions.
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aspect ratio
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The width of a monitor divided by its height. Common aspect ratios for monitors are 4:3 (standard) and 16:10 (wide screen).
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bar code
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Code consisting of vertical zebra-striped marks printed on product containers, read with a bar code reader.
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bar code reader
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Photoelectric scanner that reads bar codes for processing.
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card reader
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A device that interprets the encoded information contained on credit, debit, access, and identification cards.
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carpal tunnel syndrome
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A repetitive strain injury consisting of damage to the nerves and tendons in the hands.
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cathode-ray tube (CRT)
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Desktop-type monitor built in the same way as a television set. The most common type of monitor for office and home use. These monitors are typically placed directly on the system unit or on top of a desk.
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clarity
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Indicated by the resolution, or number of pixels, on a monitor. The greater the resolution, the better the clarity.
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cloud printer
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A printer connected to the Internet that provides printing services to others on the Internet.
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combination key
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Keys such as the Ctrl key that perform an action when held down in combination with another key.
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contrast ratio
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Indicates a monitor's ability to display colors. It compares the light intensity of the brightest white to the darkest black.
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cordless mouse
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A battery-powered mouse that typically uses radio waves or infrared light waves to communicate with the system unit. Also known as wireless mouse.
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digital camera
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Similar to a traditional camera except that images are recorded digitally in the camera's memory rather than on film.
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digital media player
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Also known as digital music player; a specialized device for storing, transferring, and playing audio files.
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dance pad
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An input device for dance games where signals are sent via a pressure-sensitive mat.
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digital video camera
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input device that records motion digitally.
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digital whiteboard
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A specialized device with a large display connected to a computer or projector; interactive whiteboard
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monitor
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Output device like a television screen that displays data processed by the computer; display screen
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document scanner
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Similar to a flatbed scanner except that it can quickly scan multipage documents. It automatically feeds one page of a document at a time through a scanning surface.
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dot pitch
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Distance between each pixel. The lower the dot pitch, the shorter the distance between pixels, and the higher the clarity of images produced.
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dots per inch (dpi)
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Printer resolution is measured in dpi. The higher the dpi, the better the quality of images produced.
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duplex printing
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Allows automatic printing on both sides of a sheet of paper.
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e-book reader, e-reader
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Handheld, book-sized devices that display text and graphics. Using content downloaded from the Web or special cartridges, these devices are used to read newspapers, magazines, and books.
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ergonomics
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The study of human factors related to things people use.
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e-ink
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A black and white output from some e-book readers producing images that reflect light like ordinary paper.
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flat-panel monitor
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Or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. These monitors are much thinner than CRTs and can be used for desktop systems as well.
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flatbed scanner
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An input device similar to a copying machine.
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gamepad
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An input device designed to be held by two hands and provide a wide array of inputs including motion, turning, stopping, and firing.
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game controller
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A device that provides input to computer games.
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google cloud print
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A Google service that supports cloud printing.
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grayscale
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The most common black ink selection in which images are displayed using many shades of gray.
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handwriting recognition software
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Translates handwritten notes into a form that the system unit can process.
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hard copy
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Information presented on paper; also referred to as printer output.
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headsets
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Audio-output devices connected to a sound card in the system unit. The sound card is used to capture as well as play back recorded sound.
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high-definition television (hdtv)
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All-digital television that delivers a much clearer and more detailed widescreen picture.
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household robot
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Robot designed to vacuum or scrub floors, mow lawns, patrol the house, or simply provide entertainment.
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immersive experience
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Allows the user to walk into a virtual reality room or view simulations on a virtual reality wall.
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industrial robot
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Robot used in factories to perform a variety of tasks. For example, machines used in automobile plants to do painting and polishing.
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inkjet printer
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Printer that sprays small droplets of ink at high speed onto the surface of the paper, producing letter-quality images, and can print in color
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input
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Any data or instructions used by a computer.
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input device
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Piece of equipment that translates data into a form a computer can process. The most common input devices are the keyboard and the mouse.
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internet telephone
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Low-cost alternative to long-distance telephone calls using electronic voice delivery.
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joystick
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Popular input device for computer games. You control game actions by varying the pressure, speed, and direction of the joystick.
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keyboard
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Input device that looks like a typewriter keyboard but has additional keys.
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laser printer
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Printer that creates dotlike images on a drum, using a laser beam light source.
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liquid crystal display (LCD)
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A technology used for flat-panel monitors.
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magnetic card reader
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A card reader that reads encoded information from a magnetic strip on the back of a card.
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magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR)
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Direct entry scanning devices used in banks. This technology is used to automatically read the numbers on the bottom of checks.
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mobile digital television
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A technology that allows television stations to broadcast their programming directly to smartphones, computers, and digital media players.
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mobile robots
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Robots that act as transports and are used for a variety of different tasks.
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monitor
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Output device like a television screen that displays data processed by the computer.
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motion sensing device
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An input device that controls games with user movements.
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mouse
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Device that typically rolls on the desktop and directs the cursor on the display screen.
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mouse pointer
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Typically in the shape of an arrow.
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multifunctional devices (MFD)
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Devices that typically combine the capabilities of a scanner, printer, fax, and copying machine.
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multitouch screen
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Can be touched with more than one finger, which allows for interactions such as rotating graphical objects on the screen with your hand or zooming in and out by pinching and stretching your fingers.
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notebook keyboard
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A keyboard widely used on notebook computers, including netbooks.
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optical-character recognition (OCR)
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Scanning device that uses special preprinted characters, such as those printed on utility bills, that can be read by a light source and changed into machine-readable code.
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optical-mark recognition (OMR)
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Device that senses the presence or absence of a mark, such as a pencil mark. As an example, an OMR device is used to score multiple choice tests.
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optical mouse
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A type of mouse that emits and senses light to detect mouse movement.
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optical scanner
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Device that identifies images or text on a page and automatically converts them to electronic signals that can be stored in a computer to copy or reproduce.
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output
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Processed data or information.
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output device
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Equipment that translates processed information from the central processing unit into a form that can be understood by humans. The most common output devices are monitors and printers.
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perception system robot
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Robot that imitates some of the human senses.
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personal laser printer
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Inexpensive laser printer widely used by single users to produce black-and-white documents.
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photo printer
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A special-purpose ink-jet printer designed to print photo-quality images from digital cameras.
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pixel (picture elements)
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Smallest unit on the screen that can be turned on and off or made different shades. Pixels are individual dots that form images on a monitor. The greater the resolution, the more pixels and the better the clarity.
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pixel pitch
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The distance between each pixel on a monitor.
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platform scanner
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Handheld direct-entry device used to read special characters on price tags. Also known as wand reader.
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plotter
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Special-purpose output device for producing bar charts, maps, architectural drawings, and three- dimensional illustrations.
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pointing device
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A device that provides an intuitive interface with the system unit by accepting pointing gestures and converting them into machine-readable input.
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pointing stick
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Device used to control the pointer by directing the stick with your finger.
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portable media player
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Also known as digital media player; a specialized device for storing, transferring, and playing audio files.
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portable scanner
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A handheld device that slides across an image to be scanned, making direct contact.
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printer
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Device that produces printed paper output.
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resolution
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A measurement in pixels of a monitor's clarity. For a given monitor, the greater the resolution, the more pixels and the clearer the image.
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RFID (radio-frequency identification) reader
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A device used to read radio-frequency identification information.
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RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag
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Microchips that contain electronically stored information and can be embedded in items such as consumer products, driver's licenses, passports, etc.
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robot
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Robots are computer-controlled machines that mimic the motor activities of living things, and some robots can solve unstructured problems using artificial intelligence.
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robotics
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Field of study concerned with developing and using robots
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scanning devices
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Conversion of scanned text and images into a form that the system unit can process.
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shared laser printer
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More expensive laser printer used by a group of users to produce black-and-white documents. These printers can produce over 30 pages a minute.
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skype
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An audio and video communication service that does not require any dedicated hardware.
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soft copy
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output from a monitor
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speakers
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Audio-output devices connected to a sound card in the system unit. The sound card is used to capture as well as play back recorded sound.
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stylus
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Pen like device used with tablet PCs and PDAs that uses pressure to draw images on a screen. A stylus interacts with the computer through handwriting recognition software.
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technical writer
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Prepares instruction manuals, technical reports, and other scientific or technical documents.
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telephony
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Communication that uses the Internet rather than traditional communication lines to connect two or more people via telephone.
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thermal printer
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Printer that uses heat elements to produce images on heat-sensitive paper.
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thin film transistor (TFT) monitor
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Type of flat-panel monitor activating each pixel independently.
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thumb keyboard
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Small thumb-operated keyboard for smartphones and other portable devices. Designed primarily for texting and connecting to the web.
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toggle keys
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These keys turn a feature on or off like the CAPS LOCK key
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touch pad
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Used to control the pointer by moving and tapping your finger on the surface of a pad.
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touch screen
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Monitor screen allowing actions or commands to be entered by the touch of a finger.
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trackball
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Device used to control the pointer by rotating a ball with your thumb. Also called a roller ball.
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traditional keyboard
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Full-sized, rigid, rectangular keyboard that includes function, navigational, and numeric keys.
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Universal Product Code (UPC)
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A barcode system that identifies the product to the computer, which has a description and the latest price for the product.
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virtual keyboard
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Display an image of a keyboard on a touch screen device. The screen functions as the actual input device, which is why the keyboard is considered virtual.
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Voice over IP (VoIP)
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Transmission of telephone calls over networks. See also telephony.
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voice recognition system
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Using a microphone, sound card, and specialty software, the user can operate a computer and create documents using voice commands.
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wand reader
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special-purpose handheld device used to read OCR characters.
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webcam
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Specialized digital video camera for capturing images and broadcasting to the Internet.
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wheel button
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Some mice have a wheel button that can be rotated to scroll through information displayed on the monitor.
