SFTerminology

=System Fundamentals Terminology=

Data - Collection of raw unprocessed facts, figures, and symbols, processed by a computer to create information. In addition to words and numbers, data also includes sounds, images, and video.

Information - Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful to a particular user or group of users.

Hardware Components
Input devices - Any hardware component that allows a user to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer. Examples are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, pc camera, etc.

Output devices - Any hardware component that can convey information to a user. Examples are display devices, printers, speakers, fascimile machines, etc.

Processing - Transforms input data into output data.

Storage - Device that holds items such as data, instructions and information for future see. Storage is versatile meaning that items in storage remain intact even when power is removed from the computer.

Memory - Temporary storage place for data, instruction, and information, consisting of one or more chips on the motherboard or some other circuit board in the computer

RAM - Random Access Memory. Memory chips that can be read from and written to by the processor and other devices; a type of volatile memory meaning its contents is lost when computer is turned off.

ROM - Read-only memory. Memory chips storing data, instructions, or information that only can be read, not modified; the data is recorded permanently on the chips. ROM is non-volatile memory meaning its contents are not lost when power is removed from the computer.

MHz - Megahertz. One MHz represents one million cycles per second. The speed of microprocessors, called the clock speed, and is measured in megahertz

Dpi - Dots per inch, the number of pixels in an inch of the screen display.

bit - Short for binary digit, the smallest unit a computer can represent. A bit represents one of two values, on or off ( 0 or 1 ). Eight bits are grouped together to form a byte.

KB - Kilobyte. 1024 bytes

MB - Megabyte. Approximately 1 million bytes.

GB - Gigabyte. Approximately 1 billion bytes.

TB - Terabyte. Approximately 1 thousand billion bytes.

ASCII - American standard code for information interchange. Most widely used coding systems to represent data.

Compatibility - Designed to work with another device or system without modification.

OCR - Optical Character Recognition. Technology that includes typewritten, computer-printed, or handwritten characters from ordinary documents and translating the images into a form that the computer can read.

OMR - Optical Mark Recognition. Devices that read hand-drawn marks such as small circles or rectangles.

bar code - Product identification code that consists of vertical lines and spaces of different widths representing data that identifies a manufacturer and item.

Baud - indicates the number of bits per second that are transmitted.

Verification - Process of determining accuracy of information.

Validation - Process of comparing data to a set of rules or values to determine if the data is correct.

Encryption/Decryption - Process of converting readable data into unreadable characters to prevent unauthorized access.

Firewall - Security system consisting of hardware and/or software that prevents unauthorized access to data and information on a network.

Virus - Potentially damaging computer program that affects, or infects, a computer negatively by altering the way the computer works without a user's knowledge or permission, copying itself into other programs spreading through multiple computers.

Trojan horse - A destructive program that masquerades as a benign application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. One of the most insidious types of Trojan horse is a program that claims to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses onto your computer.

Worm - A malicious logic program that copies itself in memory or on a disk drive until no memory or disk space remains, causing the computer to stop working.

Logic bomb - Virus that activates when it detects a certain condition.

Platform - also called operating system. Set of programs containing instructions that coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources; also contains instructions that include starting the computer, providing a user interface, managing programs, managing memory, scheduling jobs, configuring devices, accessing the web, monitoring performance, and providing housekeeping services; some also control networks and administer security.

Peripheral - Any external device that attaches to the system unit.

More Terms Here:

=NetworksTerminology= • key terms— LAN WAN client server Ethernet access access permissions login password firewall sysadmin UPS EDI • types of intrusion, for example, viruses, hacking, phreaking • security measures • network types, for example, Intranet, Internet, VPN • encryption and SSL • e-commerce.

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