DEFINITION OF COMPUTER TERMS

1. Address – a number that represent a unique location in memory
2. ALU – Arithmetic Logic Unit, part of a microprocessor. It does all arithmetic functions and calculation in the CPU.
3. ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange, code representing the character symbols possible for specific hexadecimal codes.
4. BIOS – Basic Input/Output System, the part of the operating system that controls the input and output functions.
5. Bit – the single smallest unit of data in a computer.
6. Board – a shortened reference to a printed circuit board or the insulated surface on which circuit components are mounted and soldered in place.
7. Boot – a term meaning to load DOS or an operating system. Byte – comprised of 8 bits to form a word
8. Character – the equivalent meaning of byte formed.
9. Chip – a complete electronic circuit which may contain miniature resisters, transistors, diodes, and related circuitry all integrated into a miniature silicon base and mounted in a common housing.
10. Computer – an electronic device designed to make rapid, accurate computations from data programmed into it.
11. Control Unit – decodes each instruction that enters the computer. It then generates the necessary pulses to carry out the functions specified.
12. CP/M – Control Program for Microprocessors, the first operating system developed for microcomputers.
13. CPU – Central Processing Unit, the heart of a system. It controls all data transfer and devices in a microcomputer system.
14. DMA – Direct Memory Access, data transfer involving large blocks of information directly between the memory and disk drives. DMA is controlled by another processors which speeds up data transfer and unloads the central processors of this function.
15. DOS – Disk Operating System, a software program used to set certain parameters involving the operation of the computer system. To start it up especially data transfer and the disk drives.
16. Hardcopy – a print out or a visual copy on paper.
17. I/O – short for Input/Output, any operation or device that sends or receives data from or to the CPU.
18. IC – short for Integrated Circuit, building blocks of a computer system or other electronics devices comprising many electronics parts such as transistors, resistors, etc. in a single package.
19. Interrupt – an input signal to the processors that sets the order to initialize all system devices for operation.
20. Kilo – prefix which means 1,000 units
21. LSI – Large Scale Integration, describes the intensity of integration commonly used in microprocessors, comprising many ICs. Mainframe computers – the largest and most expensive computers designed specifically to serve business, industry, and government in applications that require mass storage and fast retrieval. Example: Banks, airlines, and the Internal Revenue Service use mainframe Computers
22. Mega – prefix which means 1,000,000 units
23. Memory – the part of a computer that stores vital information for the computer’s operation.
24. Microcomputers – the smallest and least expensive computers, designed for desktop or portable use by an individual at home, yet versatile enough for applications in business, industry, and government. Example: Microcomputers enjoyed early popularity in the home for both educations and playing electronic games, but as microcomputers expand in powers such as multi-tasking and multi-user applications, their use in business and industry increases.
25. Microprocessor – the arithmetic logic unit, registers, and timing and decoding circuitry usually contained in a single integrated circuit that controls computer activities.
26. Minicomputers – medium-sized and medium-priced computers that rival the storage capacity and operating speed of smaller main-frames, and are used in business, industry, and government where they perform mostly dedicated or single-task activities. Example: Food processors, laboratories, and hospitals use minicomputers Peripheral – any device or accessory such as a disk drive, printer, modem, or video display added to a microcomputer to provide increased capacity for handling, storing, or presenting data.
27. POR – Power On Reset, or power on routing, term to describe the sequence of operations of a machine during power up.
28. Programs – contain the instructions that tell the computer what to do. It is a sequential set of instructions to solve a particular problem.
29. Prototype – the first of its kind, the original from which later models are patterned.
30. RAM – Random Access Memory, data can either be read from or written to (read/write).
31. Read – to get data from a device.
32. Reset – a short pulse during power up of perform control function in computer, used to initialize all system devices for operation.
33. ROM – Read Only Memory, data can only be read from this type of memory. It cannot be altered and contains the basic operating instruction of the computer.
34. Unix – the operating system used by the IBM PC, having a more powerful command structure and greater expandability than CP/M
35. Write – to put data into a device.