Technology Guides 1-3

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Application
Software

A set of computer instructions that provide

more specific functionality to a user

ArithmeticLogic Unit

Performs mathematic calculations and

makes logical comparisons

3.

Binary Form

Only 0s and 1s

4.

Bit

0 or 1

5.

Byte

8 bits; storage capacity of a computer is

measured in bytes

6.

Cache Memory

A type of high-speed memory that a

processor can access more rapidly than
main memory (RAM)

Central
Processing Unit

Manipulates the data and controls the

tasks performed by the other components

Central
Processing Unit
(CPU)

Performs the actual computation or

"number crunching" inside any computer

Cloud
Computing

Tasks are performed bu computers that are

physically removed from the user

Communication
Technologies

Provide for the flow of data from external

computer networks to the CPU, and from
the CPU to computer networks

26.

Compact Disk,
Read-Only
Memory (CDROM)

Storage device that features high capacity,

low cost, and high durability; cannot be
changed later

Computer
Programs

Sequences of instructions for computers

Control Unit

Sequentially accesses program

instructions, decodes them, and controls
the flow of data to and from the ALU, the
registers, the caches, primary storage,
secondary storage, and various output
devices

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Digital Video
Disk (DVD)

A five-inch disk that can store about 135

minutes of digital video

Documentation

Written description of the program's

functions; helps users operate the
computer system

Flash Memory
Devices

Grid Computing

Input
Technologies

Nonvolatile electronic storage devices that

contain no moving parts and use 30 times
less battery power than hard drives;
smaller and more durable than hard drives
Combines the unused processing resources
of many geographically dispersed
computers in a network to form a virtual
supercomputer
Accept data and instructions and convert
them to a form that the computer can
understand

Laptop/Notebook
Computers

Small, lightweight microcomputers that

fit easily in a briefcase

Magnetic
Disks/Hard
Drives

Most commonly used mass storage

devices because of their low cost, high
speed, and large storage capacity

21.

Magnetic Tape

Kept on a large open reel or in a smaller

cartridge or cassette

22.

Mainframes

Remain popular in large enterprises for

extensive computing applications that
are accessed by thousands of users
simultaneously (airline reservation
systems, payrolls programs)

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Microcomputers

The smallest and least expensive

category of general purpose computers

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Microprocessor

Made up of millions of microscopic

transistors embedded in a circuit on a
silicon wafer or chip

25.

Minicomputers

Relatively small, inexpensive, and

compact computers that perform the
same functions of mainframe computers,
but to a more limited extent

Multimedia
Technology

Computer-based integration of text,

sound, still images, animation and
digitized motion video

27.

Netbook

A very small lightweight, portable

computer that is energy efficient and
relatively inexpensive

28.

Open Systems

Refers to a group of computing products

that work together; the same operating
system with compatible software is
installed on all computers that interact
within an organization

Open-Source
Software

Available at no cost to developers or

users; distributed with license terms that
ensures its source codes will always be
available

Operating
System (OS)

The director of your computer system's

operations

Optical Storage
Devices

Do not store data via magnetism (Laser);

Slower than magnetic hard drives, but
less susceptible to damage from
contamination

Output
Technologies

Present data and information in a form

that people can understand

Package

A computer program that has been

developed by a vendor and is available for
purchase in a prepackaged form

Personal
Application
Software

General Purpose, off-the-shelf programs

designed to help individuals users
increase their productivity

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Primary
Storage

Temporarily stores data and program

instructions during processing

Primary
Storage/Main
Memory

Stores 3 types of information for very brief

periods of time
Data to be processed by the CPU
Instructions for the CPU and how to
process the data
Operating system programs that manage
various aspects of the computer's operation

Proprietary
Software

Purchased software that has restrictions on

its use, copying, modification

Random Access
Memory (RAM)

Part of primary storage that holds software

programs and small amounts of data for
processing

Read-Only
Memory (ROM)

The place, the chip, where certain critical

instructions are safe guarded; nonvolatile

Registers

High-speed storage areas that store very

small amounts of data and instructions for
short periods of time

Secondary
Storage

Designed to store large amounts of data for

extended periods of time; nonvolatile, more
time needed to retrieve data, cheaper than
primary, consists of a variety of media

Secondary
Storage

Stores data and programs for future use

Server Farms

Massive data centers that contain

hundreds of thousands of networked
computer servers

Server
Virtualization

Uses software-based partitions to create

multiple virtual servers (virtual machines)
on a single physical server

ServerOrientated
Architecture

An IT architecture that makes it possible to

construct business applications using web
services

46.

Social Interface

Guides the user through computer

applications by using cartoonlike
characters, graphics, animations, and
voice commands

47.

Software

Stores instructions

SpeechRecognition
Software

Voice recognition; recognizes and

interprets human speech, either one word
at a time, or in a conversational stream

Supercomputer

Does not refer to a specific technology;

indicates the fastest computers at a given
time (Petaflop); are costly but fast

Systems
Software

Set of instructions that serves primarily as

an intermediary between computer
hardware and application programs

Tablet
Computer

A complete computer contained entirely in

a flat touch screen that users operate via a
stylus, digital pen, etc

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ThinClient
Systems

Desktop computer systems that do not offer the

full functionality of a PC or fat client; less
complex than fat client because they don't have
locally installed software

Utility
Computing

A service provider makes computing resources

and infrastructure management available to a
customer as needed

Web
Services

Applications delivered over the Internet that MIS

professionals can select and combine through
almost any device, from personal computers to
mobile phones