Lesson 1: Introducing Computers

REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA

 

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Key Terms

After you study the terms and their definitions here, you can complete the online Crossword Puzzle for Lesson 1.

·         Channel: Media, such as telephone wire, coaxial cable, microwave signal, or fiber-optic cable, that carry or transport data communication messages.

·         Computer: Electronic device that receives data, processes data, stores data, and produces a result.

·         Computer system: Hardware, software, and data working together.

·         Data: Information entered into the computer to be processed that consists of text, numbers, sounds, and images.

·         Data communications: Transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data from one machine to another.

·         Hardware: The tangible, physical equipment that can be seen and touched.

·         Internet: The largest network used as a communication tool.

·         Local area network (LAN): A series of connected personal computers, workstations, and other devices, such as printers or scanners, within a confined space, such as an office building.

·         Mainframe computers: Large, powerful computers that are used for centralized storage, processing, and management of very large amounts of data.

·         Microcomputer: Sometimes called a personal computer; used at home or at the office by one person; can fit on top of or under a desk.

·         Microprocessors: An integrated circuit silicon chip that contains the processing unit for a computer or a computerized appliance.

·         Minicomputers: Type of computer that is designed to serve multiple users and process significant amounts of data; larger than a microcomputer, but smaller than a mainframe.

·         Network: Connects one computer to other computers and peripheral devices.

·         Notebook computer: Similar to a microcomputer; however, it is smaller and portable.

·         People: Users of the computers who enter the data and use the output.

·         Protocol: Standard format for transferring data between two devices. TCP/IP is the agreed-upon international standard for transmitting data.

·         Receiver: Computer that receives a data transmission.

·         Sender: Computer that sends a data transmission.

·         Software: Intangible set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.

·         Supercomputers: Largest and fastest computers, capable of storing and processing tremendous volumes of data.

·         Wide area networks: Computer networks that cover a large geographical area. Most WANs are made up of several connected LANs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R. Stewart Braswell, Webmaster
Last Updated: 20 April 2012