Basic Computer Glossary

Legend

BD means brainstorm definition
FD means formal definition
S means source of the formal definition

A B C D F G H I K M O P R S U

Application Software: A program which allows us to apply ourselves to a particular task such as editing a image, accessing Internet resources or playing a game.; Source:
ASCII: The American STandard Code for Information Interchange; an international standard for encoding characters into 7-bit bytes; ASCII is the basis of the more modern Unicode standard.; Source: http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/ASCII_Code_Chart.svg/350px-ASCII_Code_Chart.svg.png
Binary Code: BD: A scheme for encoding data which uses only the digets 0 and 1. Binary code can be used to encode text, images, sounds and programs amongst other data.; Source: http://stdcarriers.com/twocan/MatrixBinaryCode.jpg
Bit: Contradition of the term "binary dit"; either 0 or 1.; Source: http://0.tqn.com/d/osteoarthritis/1/0/7/0/-/-/true_false_44008.jpg
Booting: The process by which a computer loads it‘s operating system into primary storage, from secondary storage using the instructions found in ROM; Source: http://www.canefire.net/Images/File_icon.gif
Byte: Contradition of the term “binary term” the smallest unit of information which can be accessed directly by a computer. Most modern microcomputers use 8-bit, 16 bit and 32 bit bytes.; Source: http://flylogic.net/chippics/st16601/st16301b_large.jpg
Character: A single letter on diget or a specific symbole like punctuation marks, the dollar sign and a blank space.; Source: http://i.msdn.microsoft.com/9hxt0028.Local_-567447678_vc38qp1(en-US,VS.80).gif
Computer: A programmable electronic device for the processing of information.; Source: http://www.personal.psu.edu/aes284/twtc/images/computer.jpg
CPU: It is the central processing unit, a miniaturized electronic component which controls the execution of a computer and which programs basic arithmetic and logical operations. It is colloquially called the computer's brain.; Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cboHg3JvsXE/R0-isirFkuI/AAAAAAAAAA0/FBUA3ZE7wcw/s1600-R/CPU1.jpg
Directory: A logical collection of files, stored under a single name.; Source: http://www.filebuzz.com/software_screenshot/full/5399-Directory_.png
File: A logical collection of information stored under a single time.; Source: http://www.canefire.net/Images/File_icon.gif
Firewire: The firewire is used to connect devices to the computer; Source: http://fasteasycomputerrepair.com/images/firewire.jpg
Gigabyte: 2 ^ of 30 bytes; approximately 1 million bytes.; Source: http://flylogic.net/chippics/st16601/st16301b_large.jpg
Hardware: The physical parts of the computer. Any part of the computer which can be seen and touched. (See, also, software).; Source: http://www.redgrassinternet.co.uk/demostore1/images/categories/pc-hardware-overview-1[1].jpg
Information: Words, Pictures, and sounds which have meaning to us.; Source: http://www.acoos.org/Badarak_Book_Words.jpg
Internet: A worldwide system of computer networks.; Source: http://imeetingscomm.com/images/browser_icons.jpg
Input Devices: Devices used to put information into a computer. Common examples are mouses, drives, keyboards, modems. (See, also, output devices); Source: http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Putting-the-key-back-in-PC-2.jpg
Kilobyte: 2 ^ 10 bytes; approximately one billion bytes.; Source: http://flylogic.net/chippics/st16601/st16301b_large.jpg
Megabyte: BD: 2^10bytes; approximately 1 million bytes.; Sources: http://flylogic.net/chippics/st16601/st16301b_large.jpg
Monitor: A visual display device on which a computer displays information about its internal state, allowing people to monitor the activities of the computer.; Source: http://webdevster.com/magento-demo-templates/girly-store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/1/9/19-widescreen-flat-panel-lcd-monitor.jpg
Open source software: Software that allows people to view other websites source codes with permission.; Source: http://www.linux4windows.com/Articles/open_source_software_companies_in_business_home_software.gif
Operating System: BD: A set of programs which tells a computer how to perform its most basic tasks, such as “reading” and “writing” informating to output devices. Launching application software, and executing the instructions of launched software.; Source: http://newtech.aurum3.com/images/microsoft-windows-7-logo.jpg
Output Devides: Devices used by a computer to put out information; common examples are monitors, speakers, printers, data projectors, drives, and modems. (See, also, input devices.); Source: http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/roller_printer2.jpg
Peripheral: Parts of a computer, except for the CPU or the working memory.; Source: http://www.kaiserpower.co.in/full-images/691945.jpg
Primary Storage: A miniaturized electronic component which provides temporary storage of information. Primary storage is volatile and relatively expensive, but is used because it is fast, and (with few exceptions). The only storage which the CPU can access directly. The single example of primary storage is RAM; Sounce: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/422983488_54ab3a96f1_o.jpg
Programmable: Capable of performing viable and different tasks. Limited only by the sophistication of the program provided.; Sounce: ?http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content09/programmable-lab-on-a-chip.jpg
Program: A set of instructions written in a language the computer understands which tells the computer what to do and when to do it.; Source: http://arkandas.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/405_thumb_cd-rom-black.jpg
RAM: Random Access Memory. see primary storage.; Source: http://arkandas.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/405_thumb_cd-rom-black.jpg
ROM: Read Only Memory. A miniaturized electronic component which provides permanent storage of information. In most cases, the information in RAM is “written” only once, at the factory. Thereafter, ROM can be used only to “read from”, and not to write to.; Source: http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/catalog/RAM_details.jpg
Root: Short for “root directory”. The main directory in a hierarchial directory structure, which (logically) contains all other directories. In DOS- and Windows based systems. The root directory is represented by a backslash (\). In Mac OS, Unix, and Linuz systems, the root directory is represented by a forward slash (/); Source: http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/hostvms/62450/HTML/default/images/fig1-1.gif
Secondary Storage: Any storage medium which provides (relatively) permanent storage for information. Secondry storage is non-volatile and relatively inexpensive, but it's slow. With few exceptions, secondary storage cannot be accessed directly by the CPU. The most common example of secondary storage are magnetic and optical discs and magnetic tape. Optical discs are DVDs and CD-ROM. Magnetic discs include floppy disks and hard disks.; Source: http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/list/823/1250hard_disc_drive.jpg
Software: Software is the synonym of program; Source: http://www.testpreppractice.net/GRE/free-gre-downloads/gre-software.jpg
String: A collection of like units, treated as a whole, for example; a string of characters, a string of bits; Source: http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/_ASCHART.GIF
System Unit: A plastic or metal box which contains the principal park of a computer; the CPU, RAM, ROM and various connecting cables, and a AC/DC converter. In modern microcomputers, it is common to find peripherals. Examples include disc drives and modems.; Source: http://kathreenglaiza.blogsome.com/wp-admin/images/unit.jpg
USB: The USB is used to transfer information between two or more computers.; Source: http://www.keyghost.com/usb%20keylogger/KeyGhost-USB-512KB-Plugs.jpg

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