Chapter 1 Key Terms

application software The set of programs on a computer that helps a user carry out tasks such as word processing, sending e-mail, balancing a budget, creating presentations, editing photos, taking an online course, and playing games. artificial intelligence (AI) The science that attempts to produce computers that display the same type of reasoning and intelligence that humans do. binary digit (or bit) A digit that corresponds to the on and off states of a computers switches. A bit contains a value of either 0 or 1. binary language values 0 and 1. byte The language computers use to process information, consisting of only the

Eight binary digits (or bits).

central processing unit (CPU) The part of the system unit of a computer that is responsible for data processing (or the brains of the computer); it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. It controls all the functions performed by the computers other components and processes all the commands issued to it by software instructions. computer information. A data processing device that gathers, processes, outputs, and stores data and

computer fluent Describes a person who understands the capabilities and limitations of computers and knows how to use them to accomplish tasks efficiently. computer forensics The application of computer systems and techniques to gather potential legal evidence; a law enforcement specialty used to fight hightech crime. data Numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that represent facts or ideas.

data mining The process by which great amounts of data are analyzed and investigated to spot significant patterns or trends within the data that would otherwise not be obvious. embedded computers Specially designed computer chips that reside inside other devices such as your car. These are selfcontained computer devices that have their own programming and typically do not receive input from you, nor do they interact with other systems. gigabyte (GB) hardware About a billion bytes. Any part of the computer you can physically touch.

information Data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion.

input device Hardware device used to enter, or input, data (text, images, and sounds) and instructions (user responses and commands) into a computer; input devices include keyboards, mice, scanners, microphones, and digital cameras. instructions The steps and tasks the computer needs to process data into usable information. kilobyte (KB) Approximately 1,000 bytes.

mainframes Large, expensive computers that support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. megabyte (MB) About a million bytes.

memory A component inside the system unit that helps process data into information; memory chips hold (or store) the instructions or data that the central processing unit (CPU) processes. motherboard A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processing unit (CPU), the memory (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards. It is the largest printed circuit board; all of the other boards (video cards, sound cards, and so on) connect to it to receive power and to communicate. nanoscience The study of molecules and nanostructures whose size ranges from 1 to 100 nanometers (one billionth of a meter). nanotechnology The science revolving around the use of nanostructures to build devices on an extremely small scale. operating system (OS) System software that controls the way in which a computer system functions, including the management of hardware, peripherals, and software. output device A device that sends processed data and information out of a computer in the form of text, pictures (graphics), sounds (audio), or video. patient simulator A computer-controlled mannequin that simulates human body functions and reactions. Patient simulators are used in training doctors, nurses, and emergency services personnel to simulate dangerous situations that would normally put live patients at risk. platform The combination of a computers operating system and processor. The two most common platform types are the PC and the Apple Macintosh. processing Manipulating data into information.

server A computer that provides resources to other computers on a network.

software The set of computer programs or instructions that tells the computer what to do and enables it to perform different tasks. storage devices Devices such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, and CD drives used for storing data and information. supercomputers Specially designed computers that can perform complex calculations extremely rapidly. They are used in situations in which complex models requiring intensive mathematical calculations are needed (such as weather forecasting or atomic energy research). system software The set of programs that enables a computers hardware devices and application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs. system unit The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer together, including the computers processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards that help the computer function.

Chapter 2 Key Terms

active-matrix displays With an LCD monitor using active-matrix technology, each pixel is charged individually, as needed. The result is that an active-matrix display produces a clearer, brighter image than a passive-matrix display. Alt key One of the keys on a standard PC computer keyboard used in conjunction with other keys for shortcuts and special tasks. cathode-ray tube (CRT) A picture tube device in a computer monitor; very similar to the picture tube in a conventional television set. A CRT screen is a grid made up of millions of pixels, or tiny dots. The pixels are illuminated by an electron beam that passes back and forth across the back of the screen very quickly so that the pixels appear to glow continuously. CD-ROM drive CD-RW drive A drive for reading compact discs (CDs). A drive that can both read and write data to CDs.

central processing unit (CPU) The part of the system unit of a computer that is responsible for data processing (or the brains of the computer); it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. It controls all the functions performed by the computers other components and processes all the commands issued to it by software instructions. cold boot Starting a computer from a powered down or off state.

connectivity port A port that enables the computer (or other device) to be connected to other devices or systems such as networks, modems, and the Internet. control keys The set of special keys on a keyboard, generally marked by arrows, that move the cursor one space at a time, either up, down, left, or right. Other cursor control keys move the cursor up or down one full page or to the beginning or end of a line. cursor The flashing | symbol on a computer monitor that indicates where the next character will be inserted. data projectors viewing screen. Devices that are used to project images from your computer onto a wall or

dot-matrix printer The first type of computer printer, which has tiny hammer-like keys that strike the paper through an inked ribbon. dot pitch The diagonal distance, measured in millimeters, between pixels on the screen. A smaller dot pitch means that there is less blank space between pixels, and thus the image is sharper and clearer. drive bays Special shelves inside computers designed to hold storage devices.

DVD drive A drive that enables the computer to read digital video discs (DVDs). A DVD-R W drive can write DVDs as well as read them. DVD-RW drive A drive that enables the computer to read and write to DVDs.

Dvorak keyboard A leading alternative keyboard that puts the most commonly used letters in the English language on home keys, the keys in the middle row of the keyboard. It is designed to reduce the distance your fingers travel for most keystrokes, increasing typing speed. ergonomics Refers to how a user sets up his or her computer and other equipment to minimize risk of injury or discomfort. Ethernet port A port that is slightly larger than a standard phone jack and transfers data at speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps). It is used to connect a computer to a cable modem or a network. expansion cards (or adapter cards) Circuit boards with specific functions that augment the computers basic functions as well as provide connections to other devices. FireWire port (previously called the IEEE 1394 port) A port based on a standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), with a transfer rate of 400 megabits per second (Mbps). Today, it is most commonly used to connect digital video devices such as digital cameras to the computer. FireWire 800 One of the fastest ports available, moving data at 800 megabits per second (Mbps). flash drive Drives that plug into a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer and store data digitally. Also called USB drives. flash memory card A form of portable storage. This removable memory card is often used in digital cameras, MP3 players, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). floppy disk drive A drive bay for a floppy disk.

function keys Shortcut keys that perform special tasks; they are sometimes referred to as the F keys because they start with the letter F followed by a number. gaming keyboard Keyboards that are optimized for playing specific video games and that contain special keys that perform special functions. hard disk drive (or hard drive) inside the system unit. hardware Holds all permanently stored programs and data; is located

Any part of the computer you can physically touch.

hibernation When a computer is in a state of deep sleep. Pushing the power button awakens the computer from hibernation, at which time the computer reloads everything to the desktop exactly as it was before it went into hibernation. impact printers Printers that have tiny hammer-like keys that strike the paper through an inked ribbon, thus making a mark on the paper. The most common impact printer is the dotmatrix printer. inkjet printer A nonimpact printer that sprays tiny drops of ink onto paper.

input device Hardware device used to enter, or input, data (text, images, and sounds) and instructions (user responses and commands) into a computer; input devices include keyboards, mice, scanners, microphones, and digital cameras. keyboard Used to enter typed data and commands into a computer.

laser printer A nonimpact printer known for quick and quiet production and high-quality printouts. liquid crystal display (LCD) Technology used in flat-panel computer monitors.

microphone A device for capturing sound waves (such as voice) and converts to an electrical signal. modem card A device that provides the computer with a connection to the Internet via conventional phone lines. modem port A port that uses a traditional telephone signal to connect a computer to the Internet. monitor (or display screen) A common output device that displays text, graphics, and video as soft copies (copies that can be seen only on-screen). motherboard A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processing unit (CPU), the memory (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards. It is the largest printed circuit board; all of the other boards (video cards, sound cards, and so on) connect to it to receive power and to communicate. mouse A device used to enter user responses and commands into a computer. multifunction printer A device that combines the functions of a printer, scanner, fax machine, and copier into one machine. network interface card (NIC) connect with a network. An expansion (or adapter) card that enables a computer to

nonimpact printers Printers that spray ink or use laser beams to make marks on the paper. The most common nonimpact printers are inkjet and laser printers. nonvolatile storage Permanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM). numeric keypad Section of a keyboard that enables a user to enter numbers quickly.

optical mouse A mouse that uses an internal sensor or laser to control the mouses movement. The sensor sends signals to the computer, telling it where to move the pointer on the screen. output device A device that sends processed data and information out of a computer in the form of text, pictures (graphics), sounds (audio), or video. parallel port A port that sends data between devices in groups of bits at speeds of 92 kilobits per second (Kbps). Parallel ports were commonly used to connect printers to computers. passive-matrix displays Computer monitor technology in which electrical current passes through a liquid crystal solution and charges groups of pixels, either in a row or a column. This causes the screen to brighten with each pass of electrical current and subsequently to fade. peripheral devices Devices such as monitors, printers, and keyboards that connect to the system unit through ports. pixels Illuminated, tiny dots that create the images you see on a computer monitor. Pixels are illuminated by an electron beam that passes back and forth across the back of the screen very quickly so that the pixels appear to glow continuously. plotters Large printers that use a computer-controlled pen to produce oversize pictures that require precise continuous lines to be drawn, such as in maps or architectural plans. port An interface through which external devices are connected to the computer.

power supply Used to regulate the wall voltage to the voltages required by computer chips; it is housed inside the system unit. printer A common output device that creates tangible or hard copies of text and graphics.

QWERTY keyboard A keyboard that gets its name from the first six letters on the topleft row of alphabetic keys on the keyboard. random access memory (RAM) The computers temporary storage space or shortterm memory. It is located as a set of chips on the system units motherboard, and its capacity is measured in megabytes and gigabytes.

read-only memory (ROM) A set of memory chips located on the motherboard that stores data and instructions that cannot be changed or erased; it holds all the instructions the computer needs to start up. refresh rate (or vertical refresh rate) The number of times per second an electron beam scans the monitor and recharges the illumination of each pixel. resolution The clearness or sharpness of an image, which is controlled by the number of pixels displayed on the screen. serial port A port that enables the transfer of data, one bit at a time, over a single wire at speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second (Kbps); it is often used to connect external modems to the computer. sound card An expansion card that attaches to the motherboard inside the system unit that enables the computer to produce sounds. Stand By mode When a computers more power-hungry components, such as the monitor and hard drive, are powered down to save energy. stylus A device used to tap or write on touch-sensitive screens. system unit The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer together, including the computers processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards that help the computer function. thermal printer A printer that works by either melting wax-based ink onto ordinary paper (in a process called thermal wax transfer printing) or by burning dots onto specially coated paper (in a process called direct thermal printing). toggle key A keyboard key whose function changes each time its pressed; it toggles between two or more functions. touchpad A small, touch-sensitive screen at the base of the keyboard. To use the touchpad, you simply move your finger across the pad to direct the cursor. trackball mouse A mouse with a rollerball on top instead of on the bottom. Because you move the trackball with your fingers, it doesnt require much wrist motion, so its considered healthier for your wrists than a traditional mouse. trackpoint device of your finger. USB A small, joystick-like nub that enables you to move the cursor with the tip

See universal serial bus (USB) port

USB 2.0 External bus that supports a data throughput of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). These buses are backward compatible with buses using the original universal serial bus (USB) standard. video card (or video adapter) An expansion card that is installed inside a system unit to translate binary data (the 1s and 0s your computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor. volatile storage Temporary storage, such as in random access memory (RAM); when the power is off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out. warm boot The process of restarting the system while its powered on.

Windows key A function key specific to the Windows operating system. Used alone, it brings up the Start menu; however, its used most often in combination with other keys as shortcuts. Zip disk A portable storage medium with storage capacities ranging from 100 megabytes (MB) to 750 MB.

Chapter 3 Key Terms

adware Programs that download on your computer when you install a freeware program, game, or utility. Generally, adware enables sponsored advertisements to appear in a section of your browser window or as a pop-up ad box. aggregator Software programs that go out and grab the latest update of Web material (usually podcasts) according to your specifications. Bookmark A feature in some browsers that places a marker of a Web sites Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in an easily retrievable list (called Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer). Boolean operators Words used to refine logical searches. For Internet searches these words AND, NOT, and OR describe the relationships between keywords in the search. breadcrumb list A list that shows the hierarchy of previously viewed Web pages within the Web site that you are currently visiting. Shown at the top of some Web pages, it provides an aid to Web site navigation. broadband connections High-speed Internet connections, including cable, satellite, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). buddy list A list of contacts set up in an instant messaging program.

business-to-business (B2B) E-commerce transactions between businesses. business-to-consumer (B2C) consumers. E-commerce transactions between businesses and

cable Internet connection A data transmission line that transmits data at high speeds along coaxial or fiber-optic cable. cable modem A device that enables a computer to send data over cable lines. A modem modulates and demodulates the signal into digital data and back again. chat room An area on the Web where people come together to communicate online. The conversations are in real time and are visible to everyone in the chat room. client A computer that requests information from a server in a client/server network (such as your computer when you are connected to the Internet). client/server network A network that consists of client and server computers, in which the clients make requests of the server and the server returns the response.

consumer-to-consumer (C2C) online sites such as eBay.com.

E-commerce transactions between consumers through

cookies Small text files that some Web sites automatically store on a client computers hard drive when a user visits the site. data transfer rate The maximum speed at which data can be transmitted between two nodes on a network, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). dial-up connection A connection to the Internet using a standard telephone line.

dial-up modem A device that converts (modulates) the digital signals the computer understands to the analog signals that can travel over phone lines. In turn, the computer on the other end also must have a modem to translate (demodulate) the received analog signal back to a digital signal that the receiving computer can understand. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) A technology that uses telephone lines to connect your computer to the Internet and provides high bandwidth throughput. DSL enables phone and data transmission to share the same telephone line. domain name Part of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Domain names consist of two parts: the sites host and a three-letter suffix that indicates the type of organization. (Example: popsci.com) DSL modem See Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem electronic commerce (e-commerce) Conducting business online for purposes ranging from fund-raising to advertising to selling products. e-mail (electronic mail) correspond. Internet-based communication in which senders and recipients

e-mail client Software programs running on your computer that are used to send and receive email through your ISPs server. Favorites A feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer that places a marker of a Web sites Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in an easily retrievable list in the browsers toolbar. (Called Bookmarks in most other browsers.) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) A protocol used to upload and download files from one computer to another over the Internet. History list A feature on a browsers toolbar that shows all the Web sites and pages visited over a certain period of time. hits A list of sites (or results) that match an Internet search.

home page host

The main or opening page of a Web site.

Organization that maintains the Web server on which a particular Web site is stored.

hyperlinks Specially coded text that, when clicked, enables a user to jump from one location, or Web page, to another within a Web site or to another Web site altogether. HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) The protocol a browser uses to send requests to a Web server; created especially for the transfer of hypertext documents over the Internet. instant messaging (IM) services with others who are also online. Programs that enable users to communicate in real time

Internet A network of networks and the largest network in the world, connecting millions of computers from more than 100 countries. Internet 2 An ongoing project sponsored by more than 200 universities (supported by government and industry partners) to develop new Internet technologies and disseminate them as rapidly as possible to the rest of the Internet community. The Internet2 backbone supports extremely high-speed communications (up to 9.6 gigabits per second [Gbps]). Internet backbone The main pathway of high-speed communications lines over which all Internet traffic flows. Internet cache A section of your hard drive that stores information that you may need again for surfing (such as IP addresses, frequently accessed Web pages, and so on). Internet Explorer (IE) A graphical browser from Microsoft Corporation for displaying different Web sites, or locations, on the Web; it can display pictures (graphics) in addition to text, as well as other forms of multimedia, such as sound and video. Internet hoaxes E-mail messages or Web sites that contain information that is untrue. A protocol for sending data between computers on the Internet. Companies that connect individuals, groups, and other

Internet Protocol (IP)

Internet service providers (ISPs) companies to the Internet.

keywords (1) Specific words a user wishes to query (or look for) in an Internet search. (2) The set of specific words that have predefined meanings for a particular programming language. Large Scale Networking (LSN) A program created by the U.S. government, the objective of which is to fund the research and development of cutting-edge networking technologies. Major goals of the program are the development of enhanced wireless technologies and increased network throughput.

listserv Electronic mailing lists of e-mail addresses of people who are interested in a certain topic or area of interest. Live bookmark A bookmark that delivers updates to you as soon as they become available, using Really Simple Syndication (RSS). malware Software that is intended to render a system temporarily or permanently useless or to penetrate a computer system completely for purposes of information gathering. Examples include spyware, viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. meta search engine A search engine that searches other search engines rather than individual Web sites. multimedia Anything that involves one or more forms of media plus text.

netiquette General rules of etiquette for Internet chat rooms and other online communication. network interface card (NIC) connect with a network. An expansion (or adapter) card that enables a computer to

newsgroup (or discussion group) An online discussion forum in which people post messages and read and reply to messages from other members of the newsgroup. path (or subdirectory) Resource Locator (URL). The information following the slash or colon in a Uniform

PC cards (or PCMCIA, short for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Credit cardsized cards that enable users to add fax modems, network connections, wireless adapters, USB 2.0 and FireWire ports, and other capabilities primarily to notebook computers. phishing The process of sending e-mail messages to lure Internet users into revealing personal information such as credit card or social security numbers or other sensitive information that could lead to identity theft. plug-in (or player) A small software program that plugs in to a Web browser to enable a specific function; for example, to view and hear certain multimedia files on the Web. podcast A clip of audio or video content that is broadcast over the Internet using compressed audio or video files in formats such as MP3s. pop-up window Windows that pop up when you install freeware programs or enter Web sites. They often offer useful information or tout products.

portal A subject directory on the Internet that is part of a larger Web site that focuses on offering its visitors a variety of information, such as the weather, news, sports, and shopping guides. satellite Internet A way to connect to the Internet using a small satellite dish, which is placed outside the home and connects to a computer with coaxial cable. The satellite company then sends the data to a satellite orbiting the earth. The satellite, in turn, sends the data back to the satellite dish and to the computer. search engine A set of programs that searches the Web for specific words (or keywords) you wish to query (or look for) and then returns a list of the Web sites on which those keywords are found. server A computer that provides resources to other computers on a network. social networking A system of connections between people, supported by electronic tools such as e-mail, instant messaging, and file transfer. spam Unwanted or junk e-mail. spam filter An option you can select in your e-mail account that places known or suspected spam messages into a folder other than your inbox. spider (or crawler or bot) A program that constantly collects information on the Web, following links in Web sites and reading Web pages. Spiders get their name because they crawl over the Web using multiple legs to visit many sites simultaneously. spyware An unwanted piggyback program that downloads with the software you want to install from the Internet and then runs in the background of your system. streaming audio Technology that enables audio files to be fed to a browser continuously. This lets users avoid having to download the entire file before listening to it. streaming video Technology that enables video files to be fed to a browser continuously. This lets users avoid having to download the entire file before viewing it. subject directory A structured outline of Web sites organized by topics and subtopics.

top-level domain (TLD) The three-letter suffix in the domain name (such as .com or .edu) that indicates the kind of organization the host is. Uniform Resource Locator (URL) AWeb sites unique address, such as www.microsoft.com. video log (vlog or video blog) Personal online journals that use video as the primary content in addition to text, images, and audio.

Voice over IP (VoIP) The transmission of phone calls over the same data lines and networks that make up the Internet. Also called Internet telephony. Webcast The broadcast of audio or video content over the Internet. Unlike podcasts, webcasts are not updated automatically. Weblog (or blog) Web browser Web site Personal logs, or journal entries, that are posted on the Web. Software that enables a user to access the Web and display Web pages. A location on the Web.

wiki A type of Web site that allows anyone visiting the site to change its content by adding, removing, or editing the content. wildcards Symbols used in an Internet search when the user is unsure of the keywords spelling or when a word can be spelled in different ways or can contain different endings. The asterisk (*) is used to replace a series of letters and the percent sign (%) to replace a single letter in a word. World Wide Web (WWW or Web) The part of the Internet used the most. What distinguishes the Web from the rest of the Internet is (1) its use of common communication protocols (such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP) and special languages (such as the HyperText Markup Language, or HTML) that enable different computers to talk to each other and display information in compatible formats, and (2) its use of special links (called hyperlinks) that enable users to jump from one place to another in the Web. worm A program that attempts to travel between systems through network connections to spread infections. Worms can run independently of host file execution and are active in spreading themselves.