COMPUTER CONCEPTS Vocabulary

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COMPUTER CONCEPTSVocabulary

• Chapter 6
• The Computer Marketplace

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Benchmark test

• A set of tests used to measure computer hardware
  or software performance.

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Level 1 cache (Ll cache)

• Cache memory built into a microprocessor chip. Ll
  cache can typically be read in one clock cycle.

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Level 2 cache (L2 cache)

• Cache memory that is located in a chip separate
  from the microprocessor chip.

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SDRAM

• Short for synchronous dynamic RAM, it is a type
  of RAM that synchronizes itself with the CPU,
  thus enabling it to run at much higher clock
  speeds than conventional RAM.

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Controller

• A circuit board in a hard drive that positions
  the disk and read-write heads to locate data.

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DMA

• Short for direct memory access, DMA refers to
  specialized circuitry that transfers data between
  drives and RAM, bypassing the CPU.

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EIDE

• Short for enhanced integrated drive (or device)
  electronics, EIDE is a disk drive technology
  formally known as ATA.

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SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

• An interface standard used for attaching
  peripheral devices such as disk drives.
  Pronounced "scuzzy."

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Ultra ATA

• A disk drive technology that is an enhanced
  version of EIDE. Also referred to as Ultra DMA or
  Ultra IDE.

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Touchpad

• A touch-sensitive input device that allows the
  user to control an on-screen pointer by moving
  the fingertips over the pad's surface.

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Track point

• A small pencil-eraser-shaped device embedded
  among typing keys that controls an on- screen
  pointer when the user pushes the track point up,
  down, left, or right.

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Trackball

• A pointing device consisting of a ball that is
  rotated in a frame to move a pointer around a
  computer screen.

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Wavetable synthesis

• A MIDI standard that creates music by playing
  digitized sound samples of actual instruments.

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CRT (cathode ray tube)

• A display technology that uses a large vacuum
  tube, similar to that used in television sets.
  Although CRT technically refers to the vacuum
  tube, it is often used to refer to the entire
  monitor.

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LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

• A type of flat panel computer screen, typically
  found on notebook computers.

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Viewable image size (vis)

• A measurement of the maximum image size that can
  be displayed on a monitor screen.

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Dot pitch

• The diagonal distance between colored dots on a
  display screen. Measured in millimeters, dot
  pitch helps to determine the quality of an image
  displayed on a monitor.

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Maximum resolution

• The maximum number of pixels a monitor can
  display, measured in number of horizontal pixels
  x number of vertical pixels.

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Accelerated graphics card

• A type of graphics card that contains special
  circuitry to increase the speed at which graphics
  can be displayed.

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Active matrix screen

• A type of LCD technology that produces a clear,
  sharp image because each pixel is controlled by
  its own transistor.

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Color depth

• The number of bits that determines the range of
  possible colors that can be assigned to each
  pixel. For example, an 8-bit color depth can
  create 256 colors.

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Passive matrix screen

• A display found on older notebook computers that
  relies on timing to ensure that the liquid
  crystal cells are illuminated.

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SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array)

• SVGA typically refers to 800 x 600 resolution.

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Video memory

• Memory chips located on a graphics card that
  store images as they are processed. More video
  memory allows a computer to display images at
  higher resolutions and color depth.

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XGA (Extended Graphics Array)

• XGA usually refers to 1024 x 768 resolution.

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External bay

• An opening in the computer case that allows the
  user to install a device, such as a floppy disk
  drive, that must be accessed from out- side the
  case.

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Internal bay

• A location inside the system unit case where
  devices that do not need to be accessed from
  outside the case can be installed.

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PCMCIA card

• A small credit card-sized circuit board used to
  connect a modem, memory, network card, or storage
  device to a notebook computer.

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PCMCIA slot

• A PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
  International Association) slot is an external
  expansion slot typically found on note- book
  computers.

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Part replicator

• A device that connects to a note- book computer,
  by means of a bus connector plug, and contains a
  duplicate of the notebook computer's ports for
  connecting devices such as an external monitor,
  mouse, or keyboard.

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Hot swap

• Switching batteries or other plug-in devices
  while the computer is on.

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Dpi

• Dpi refers to the resolution of an image. Images
  with more dots per inch (dpi) appear more
  realistic than images with fewer dots per inch.

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Duty cycle

• The amount of output that can be expected from a
  printer, typically measured in pages per month.

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Ink jet printer

• A non-impact printer that creates characters or
  graphics by spraying liquid ink onto paper or
  other media.

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Laser printer

• A printer that uses laser-based technology,
  similar to that used by photocopiers, to produce
  text and graphics.

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PostScript

• A printer language, developed by Adobe Systems,
  which uses a special set of commands to control
  page layout, fonts, and graphics.

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Printer Control Language (PCL)

• The unofficial standard language used to send
  page formatting instructions from a PC to a laser
  or ink jet printer.

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Dot matrix printer

• A printer that creates characters and graphics by
  striking an inked ribbon with small wires called
  pins, generating a fine pattern of dots.

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Multifunction printer

• An output device that combines printing
  capability with other functions, such as
  scanning, faxing, copying, and answering machine.
  

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Computer industry

• The corporations and individuals that supply
  goods and services to people and organizations
  that use computers.

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Vaporware

• Software that is announced but not produced.

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Alpha test

• One of the first phases of software testing,
  usually conducted by the software publisher's
  in-house testing team.

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Beta test

• A testing phase near the and of the software
  development process in which a software product
  is tested in real-world computer environments,
  often by and-users.

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Revision

• An updated form (indicated by x) of a software
  program, incorporating minor enhancements and
  eliminating bugs found in the most recent
  version.

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Software publisher

• A company that produces computer software.

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Version

• A new or totally redesigned product (for example,
  in the identifying number 6.1, the 6 is the
  version number).

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Competitive upgrade

• A special price offered to consumers who switch
  from one company's software product to the new
  version of a competitor's product.

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Street price

• The average discounted price of a product.

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Version upgrade price

• A special price for a new version of a software
  package, offered to owners of an earlier version.
  

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Computer retail store

• A store that typically sells several brands of
  computers from a store-front location, such as a
  mall or shopping center.

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Mail-order supplier

• A merchant that takes orders by telephone or from
  an Internet site, then ships orders by mail or
  other courier service.

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Manufacturer direct

• The selling of products by hardware manufacturers
  directly to consumers, by means of a sales force
  or mail order. create a system designed to meet
  the needs of specific customers or industries.

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Computer-related jobs

• Jobs in the computer industry that are similar to
  jobs in other industries (computer sales,
  high-tech recruiting, etc.).

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Computer-specific jobs

• Jobs that are unique to the computer industry
  (computer programmer, Webmaster, etc).

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Computer-use jobs

• Jobs that require the use of computers to
  accomplish tasks in fields other than computing
  (laboratory technician, accountant, etc.).

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Computer engineering

• A career that focuses on the design and
  development of computer hardware and peripheral
  devices.

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Computer science

• A career field that focuses on developing fast
  and efficient computers, from their construction,
  to their programming and operating systems.

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Information system

• Refers to a computer system that stores data and
  supplies information, usually within a business
  context. Also refers to the career field that
  focuses on developing such systems.

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• Prepared by James Q. Jacobs