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I-Series Computing Concepts
Stephen Haag, University of Denver
Maeve Cummings, Pittsburg State University
Alan I Rea, Jr., Western Michigan University
A Consumer's Guide To Computer Systems

Glossary


Active matrix screens    have a separate transistor for every pixel, or dot, on the screen and update faster providing a higher-quality, crisper image.
Bay    is a place in the system unit reserved for a storage unit.
CD-R (compact disc - recordable)    is an optical disc to which you can write one time only.
CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory)    is an optical or laser disc whose information cannot be changed once it has been created.
CD-RW (compact disc - rewritable)    is a compact disc storage medium that allows you to save, change, and delete files. CD-RWs work in some CD-ROM drives.
Central processing unit (CPU or processor)    is the chip that carries out instructions it receives from your software.
Computer system    is a set of tools that helps you perform information-related tasks.
CRTs    are the monitors that look like TV sets. They're the most common type of monitors.
Docking station    is a small platform into which you can plug your whole notebook computer.
Dot pitch    is the distance between the centers of a pair of like-colored pixels.
DVD-R (DVD - recordable)    is an optical disc to which you can write one time only and which has a higher capacity than a CD.
DVD-ROM    is an optical storage medium whose information can't be changed, but which has a larger capacity than a CD-ROM.
DVD-RW (also called DVD-RAM, or DVD+RW by different manufacturers)    is an optical storage medium that allows you to save, change, and delete files but has a larger capacity than a CD-RW.
Ergonomics    deals with how you arrange and use your technology to reduce discomfort and adverse health affects.
Firewire connectors    are similar to USB connectors, except they're faster.
Flat-panel displays    are thin, light-weight monitors and take up much less space than CRTs.
Floppy disks    also called simply floppies or diskettes, are removable magnetic storage media.
Gas plasma displays    shine light through gas to make an image.
Gigabyte (GB or Gig)    is about 1 billion bytes.
Gigahertz (GHz)    is the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
Hard disk    is a magnetic storage medium, usually fixed inside the system unit, consisting of one or more thin platters or disks that store information.
Hot-swap    means that you can change, or swap out, cards without shutting your computer down.
Inkjet printers    make images by forcing ink droplets through nozzles.
IrDA (infrared data association) ports    are for wireless devices, and work in essentially the same way as the remote control to your TV does.
Kilobyte (KB or K)    is about 1,000 bytes (a kilobyte is exactly 1,024 bytes, but we round down to 1,000 for the sake of simplicity).
Laser printer    forms images using an electrostatic process - the same way a photo copier works.
LCD (liquid crystal display) screens    shine light through a layer of crystalline liquid to make an image.
Megabyte (MB or M or Meg)    is roughly 1 million bytes.
Megahertz (MHz)    is the number of millions of CPU cycles per second.
Megapixels    is the maximum number of dots, in millions, that make up the image in a digital camera.
Motherboard    also called the main board, or system board, is the large circuit board inside your system unit that holds the CPU, memory, and other essential electronic components.
Parallel connector    which plugs into a parallel port, has 25 holes, which fit into the prongs are in the port.
PC Card (which is an updated version of the traditional PCMCIA card)    is the expansion card you use to add devices to your notebook computer.
Pixels (picture elements)    are the dots that make up the image on your screen.
Plug and Play    you can add devices to your computer and the operating system will find and install the drivers automatically without your having to go through a manual installation.
RAM (random access memory)    is temporary memory that holds software instructions and information for the CPU.
Resolution of a printer    is the number of dots per inch (dpi) it produces.
Resolution of a screen    is the number of pixels it has.
Serial connector    which plugs into a serial port, usually has 9 pins but may have 25, which fit into the corresponding number of holes in the port.
System unit    is the case or box where the motherboard and storage units are housed.
Terabyte (TB)    is approximately 1 trillion bytes.
TFT (thin film transistor)    are flat panel displays with active matrix screens.
USB (universal serial bus)    connectors and ports are becoming the most popular means of connecting devices to computers.
Virtual memory    is the space on your hard disk space that holds software instructions for a program currently in use.




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