Term
| Arithemetric logic unit (ALU) |
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Definition
| A digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations. |
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Definition
| An insulated board on which interconnected circuits and components such as microchips are mounted or etched. |
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| An electronic device containing data buffers and logical circuitry, situated between the computer channel and the input/output device, and controlling data transfers and such operations as tape rewind. |
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Definition
| A rigid disk coated with magnetic material, on which data and programs can be stored. |
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Definition
| Information stored in binary form that a computer can understand. Text, graphics, and sound are all stored as 1s and 0s in a computer. |
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Definition
| A pocket-sized computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. In the case of the personal digital assistant (PDA) the input and output are often combined into a touch-screen interface. |
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Definition
| A battery- or AC-powered personal computer generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and conveniently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, in libraries, temporary offices, and at meetings. |
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| Memory that can be read but not changed. |
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Definition
| The program or set of programs that tell a computer what to do. |
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Definition
| A wireless personal computer (PC) that allows a user to take notes using natural handwriting with a stylus or digital pen on a touch screen. |
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Term
| central processing unit (CPU) |
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Definition
| Controls the operation of a computer. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electronic device that has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data, and can be programmed with instructions that it remembers. |
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Definition
| Information; raw facts. Data can be input into a computer and processed in various ways. |
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Definition
| The hardware is the physical part of a computer system; the machinery and equipment. |
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Definition
| The working space used by the computer to hold the program that is currently running, along with the data it needs, and to run programs and process data. |
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Term
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Definition
| The main circuit board inside a computer that everything in the computer plugs into and contains the central processing unit, the bus, memory sockets, expansion slots, and other components (the CPU, RAM and cache all plug into the motherboard). |
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Term
| random access memory (RAM) |
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Definition
| Computer storage that resides on silicon chips; Chips that can store and retrieve data quickly; Code and data that changes while the computer is running. |
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Definition
| A system that provides network service such as disk storage and file transfer, or a program that provides such a service. |
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Definition
| A very fast and powerful computer, outperforming most mainframes, and used for intensive calculation, scientific simulations, animated graphics, and other work that requires sophisticated and high-powered computing. |
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Definition
| Compact file storage devices to save your information externally. |
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