6:49 AM 8/24/2006definitions
1- computer-an electronic device that accepts data, performs computations, and makes logical decisions to produce information in a form useful to humans.
2- general purpose computers-computers where both computation input\output processing capabilities support a wide array of applications.
3- information- data in a form that humans can understand and use.
4- information data processing- the process of sharing information between humans and computers. It includes sparting, classifying, calculating, summarizing and comparing data.
5- information utilities- business or universaties that use large computers to store huge amounts of information about many subjects and make it available to the public.
6- application program- a program that instructs the computer to perform a specific, user-defined task.
7- computer system- a combination of hardware and software that interacts to acomplish a task.
8- hardware- the tangible, physical equipment of a computer.
9- input- data that enters the computer system via an input or storage device.
10- input device- a hardware device that enables the computer to acept data.
11- microminiturization- the ongoing technological proces of size reduction that enables an entire microprocessor to occupy the space of a tiny chip.
12- output- data that leaves the computer system via any output or storage device.
13- output device- a hardware device that reports information in an understandable form.
14- processing- activity within the computer's processor where detailed instructions tell the computer what to do to produce the desired information.
15- procesor- a hardware device that processes data into meaningful information.
16- program- a series of detailed, step-by-step instructions that tell the computer what to do.
17- raw data/original data- data fed into the computer for processing also called original data.
18- software- the non-physical electronic instructions that tell a computer what to do; software includes system and application programs.
19- source document- paper forms on which data may be written before being entered into the computer.
20- storage device- a hardware device that permits storage of data.
21- system program- a program that controls the computers circuitry and hardware devices.
22- information superhighway- a global network of computers that provides acces through digital, voice, and video communication to information resources anywhere in the world.
23- megahertz- one million cycles, or pulses, per second; this measurement is used to state the internal clock speed of a computer.
24- local area network (lan)- computer networks limited to a small area such as a school or an office building and generally connected with cables.
25- internet- the worlds largest wide area network. Begun by the U.S defence department, it is now worldwide and includes, governmental, educational, commercial, and personal users.
7:20 AM 8/24/2006
