Topic 2

• Identify common features of applications

  Toolbars, Menus, Dialogue Boxes, GUI components
• Identify OS features


  Menu Bar, Buttons
• Identify application features


  specifics, pictures
• Define "bit"


  smallest unit of data
• Define "byte"


  8 bits
• Define "binary"


  The format in which numbers are transmitted and calculated in a computer system

  
  

  0 or 1 so it's base 2
• Define "denary"


  A numbering system that uses 0123456789; base 10
• Define "hexadecimal"


  numbering system that uses 0123456789ABCDEF; base 16
• Identify a use for hexadecimal


  to store large numbers, in colour representation
• Identify the components of the CPU

  CU, ALU, MAR, MDR
• Identify the purpose of the CU

  Controls the retrieval of instructions from the primary memory as well as the sequence of their execution.
• Identify the purpose of the ALU

  performs all the basic arithmetic, logical or input/output operations
• Identify the purpose of the MAR

  holds the memory address of the current instruction that is being used by the ALU; the address where data is to be transferred
• Identify the purpose of the MDR

  holds the data that is to be used by the ALU and then saved to the RAM
• Identify the purpose of the address bus

  connects MAR to primary memory to communicate
• Identify the use for RAM


  stores executing program's instructions or any data that is needed
• Identify the use for ROM


  used to store permanent instructions and data
• Identify the differences between RAM and ROM

  RAM is volatile, ROM is non-volatile: Data in RAM will be deleted if there is a loss of power or internet

  
  

  Noting can altered in ROM
• Identify the purpose of the data bus

  connects the MDR to RAM
• Define "primary memory"


  storage that is only directly accessible to the CPU
• Identify the purpose of cache memory


  holds the information from the RAM that is most actively used, or accessed most frequently
• Define the machine instruction cycle


  a sequence of steps the CPU goes through to execute a single instruction
• Describe the machine instruction cycle


  1. Fetch instruction from primary memory to CU

  2. Decode instruction in CU

  3. Execute instruction

  4. Store result and check for next instruction
• Describe secondary memory/persistent storage


  Can be written to, non volatile, slow
• Explain the need for secondary memory

  it is needed so a computer system can store data and instructions persistently
• Identify examples of secondary memory

  USB drive, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, Floppy Disk, SD card, Magnetic tape
• Define virtual memory


  the use of secondary storage as primary memory
• Explain the need for virtual memory

  The amount of RAM needed to store all the running data and programs may b greater than the amount of RAM available, so secondary storage is used to combat this issue.

  
  

  If the data in virtual memory is needed, it is transferred back to RAM and is slower.
• Define the term "operating system"


  software that controls a computer's hardware and provides services for computer programs
• Identify the main services for computer programs

  Memory management, Resource monitoring, Multitasking,

  Disk access, Data management, Security, Peripheral Communication
• Define the term "peripheral communication"

  communicates with peripheral devices
• Define the term "memory management"

  manages how memory is used by application
• Define "resource monitoring"


  responsible for the efficient allocation of resources
• Define "multitsking"


  applications may have to share the CPU time
• Define "networking"


  manages connections to and interactions with networks of other computer systems
• Define "disk access"


  structure storage of data so there is better use of space so it can be reliable and fast.
• Define "data management"


  it is important to keep track of the files and that they are not overwritten by other applications
• Define "security"


  provide authentication such as passwords or biometric data
• Define the term "application software"


  installed by the manufacturer to complete predefined tasks.
• Define "word processor"


  software application that is used for the production of any sort of document. includes tools for the editing, formatting and printing of documents