Information Technology General

• EPROM

  Erasable programmable read-only memory. Information is written to an EPROM chip after it is manufactured. An EPROM chip can be erased with exposure to UV light. Special equipment is required.
• PROM


  Programmable read-only memory. Information is written to a PROM chip after it is manufactured. A PROM chip cannot be erased or re-written.
• RAM


  Random Access Memory; temporary memory. RAM is expandable, and resides on the motherboard.
• ROM


  Read Only Memory- Permanent instructions that cannot be changed. It makes the BIOS function. Checks your OS(Operating Systems).
• Data


  Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
• Information


  Data converted into a meaningful and useful context
• Output devices


  printer, monitor, speakers
• Input devices


  keyboards, mouse, scanners, cameras, joysticks, microphone
• Programs


  A sequence of instructions that can be executed by a computer. A program is also known as software.
• Operating Systems


  the software that supports a computer's basic functions, such as scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals.
• Database


  a collection of organized data that allows access, retrieval, and use of data
• Storage


  the process of retaining encoded information over time
• Application Software


  computer software created to allow the user to perform a specific job or task
• LAN


  Local Area Network; a geographic network that covers a relatively small geographic area such as a building or a small campus - no more than a mile distance between computers
• WAN


  Wide Area Network; largest type of network in terms of geographic area; largest WAN is the Internet
• Cloud Storage


  Online storage that enables users to upload, store, and access their files via the Internet; users' files are maintained by a third-party at a remote database storage facility
• USB


  Universal Serial Bus. A type of connection used to attach devices such as flash drives, scanners, cameras, and printers to a computer.
• External Hard Drive


  removable hard drive located outside of the main computer tower
• menu-driven interface


  Interface that presents a series of pre-defined options to the user.
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)


  A visual display on a computer's screen that allows you to interact with your computer more easily by clicking graphical elements.
• command-driven interface


  one in which you enter commands to communicate with the computer system
• 3D printer


  A printer that can create a three-dimensional object made of various materials.
• laser printer


  uses a toner cartridge filled with fine powder and a heated fuser
• ink-jet printer


  uses liquid ink sprayed through tiny nozzles onto paper
• thermal printer


  generates images by pushing electrically heated pins against the heat-sensitive paper
• WLAN


  a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet
• MAN


  high-speed network designed to link together metropolitan size areas,

  campuses or school districts
• Internet


  A group of computers and servers that are connected to each other.
• Intranet


  a system for linking computers within a company
• Extranet


  A private electronic network that links a company with its suppliers and customers
• Ethernet


  a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network, with protocols to control the passing of information and to avoid simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.
• Types of bytes (in order of smallest to biggest)

  Byte

  Kilobyte

  Megabyte

  Gigabyte

  Terabyte

  Petabyte

  Exabyte
• What is a modem?


  Meaning 'Modulator / Demodulator'. Allows computers to connect to a network over a telephone line.
• domain name


  the part of a network address that identifies it as belonging to a particular domain.
• data mining


  the process of analyzing data to extract information not offered by the raw data alone
• uploading


  sending data, such as a music or video file, from a local computer system to another computer system or server
• browsing


  looking at different websites, with no particular goal
• downloading


  Receiving data, such as a music or video file, from a server or another computer system
• POS system


  A system in which the item is deducted from inventory as it is sold or dispensed.
• OCR


  Optical Character Recognition