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| facility housing computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications, storage, security systems, and backup power supplies. |
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| manages the resources and activities of the computer |
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| applies the computer to a specific task for an end user, such as processing an order or generating a mailing list. |
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| organizes, manages, and processes business data concerned with inventory, customers, and vendors. |
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| older transaction processing systems created for older computers that continue to be used to avoid the high cost of replacing or redesigning them. |
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| Use when working alone or with a few other people in a small business |
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| fits on a desktop but has more powerful mathematical and graphics-processing capabilities than a PC. |
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| specifically optimized to support a computer network, enabling users to share files, software, peripheral devices (such as printers), or other network resources. |
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| large capacity, high performance computer that can process large amounts of data very rapidly. |
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| specially designed and more sophisticated computer that is used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, millions of measurements, and thousands of equations. |
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| connecting geographically remote computers into a single network to create a "virtual supercomputer" by combining the computational power of all computers on the grid. |
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| Use of multiple computers linked by a communications network for processing |
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| all processing is accomplished by one large central computer. |
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| splits processing between "clients" and "servers". Both are on the network, but each machine is assigned functions it is best suited to perform. |
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| the user point of entry for the required function- normally a desktop or laptop. |
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| (N-tier) client/server architectures |
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| the work of the entire network is balanced over several different levels of servers, depending on the kind of service being requested. |
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| is responsible for locating and managing stored web pages. |
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| handles all application operations between a user and an organization's back-end business systems. |
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| storage, input and output devices that are outside the main computer system unit. |
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| most widely used secondary storage medium today. |
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Definition
| portable flash memory storage by plugging into a computer's USB port. |
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| RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) |
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Definition
| package more than 100 disk drives, a controller chip, and specialized software into a single, large unit delivering data over multiple paths simultaneously. |
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Definition
| use laser technology to store large quantities of data, including sound and images, in a highly compact form. |
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| CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) |
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Definition
| 4.75 inch compact disc that can store up to 660 megabytes. |
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| CD-RW (compact disc ReWritable) |
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| Digital video discs (DVD) |
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Definition
| optical discs the same size as CD-ROMs but of even higher capacity, storing a minimum of 4.7 gigabytes of data. DVDs are the favored technology for storing video and large quantities of text, graphics, and audio data. |
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Definition
| rewritable DVDs used widely in personal computer systems. |
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Definition
| an older storage technology that is used for secondary storage of large quantities of data that are needed rapidly but not instantly. Stores data sequentially and is relatively slow compared to the speed of other secondary storage media. |
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| Storage area networks (SANS) |
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Definition
| connect multiple storage devices on a separate high-speed network dedicated to storage. |
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Definition
| gather data and convert them into electronic form for use by the computer. |
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| display data after they have been processed. |
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| principal method of data entry for text and numerical data |
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Definition
| handheld device with point and click capabilities for controlling a cursor's position on a computer display screen and selecting commands. Trackballs and touch pads often are used in place of the mouse as pointing devices on laptop PCs. |
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Definition
| device that allows users to interact with a computer by touching the surface of a sensitized display screen. Used in kiosks in airports, retail stores, and restaurants and in multitouch devices such as iPhone, IPad, and multitouch PCs. |
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Term
| Optical character recognition |
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Definition
| Device that can translate specially designed marks, characters, and codes into digital form. The most widely used optical code is the bar code. The codes can include time, date, and location data in addition to identification data. |
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| Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) |
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Definition
| technology used primarily in check processing for the banking industry. Characters on the bottom of a check identify the bank, checking account, and check number and are preprinted using special magnetic ink, for translation into digital form for the computer. |
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Definition
| handwriting-recognition devices, such as pen-based tablets, notebooks, and notepads, that convert the motion made by an electronic stylus pressing on a touch sensitive tablet screen into digital form. |
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| device that translates images, such as pictures or documents, into digital form. |
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| Voice input devices that convert spoken words into digital form for processing by the computer. Microphones and tape cassette players can serve as input devices for music and other sounds. |
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Definition
| devices that collect data directly from the environment for input into a computer system. For instance, today's farmers can use sensors to monitor the moisture level of the soil in their fields to help them with irrigation. |
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Definition
| Display screen consisting of a flat-panel display or (in older systems) a cathode ray tube (CRT). |
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Definition
| devices that produce a printed hard copy of information output. They include impact printers (dot matrix) and nonimpact printers (laser, inkjet, and thermal transfer printers) |
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Definition
| Voice output devices that convert digital output data back into intelligible speech. Other audio output, such as music, can be delivered by speakers connected to the computer. |
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Definition
| small, low-cost lighweight subnotebooks called netbooks optimized for wireless communication and internet access. |
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Definition
| Uses individual atoms and molecules to create computer chips and other devices that are thousands of times smaller than current technology permits. |
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Definition
| process of presenting a set of computing resources (such as computing power or data storage) so that they can all be accessed in ways that are not restricted by physical configuration or geographic location. |
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| a model of computing in which computer processing, storage, software, and other services are provided as a pool of virtualized resources over a network, primarily the internet. |
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Definition
| consumers can obtain computing capabilities such as server time or network storage as needed automatically on their own. |
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| Ubiquitous network access |
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Definition
| Cloud resources can be accessed using standard network and internet devices, including mobile platforms. |
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| Location independent resource pooling |
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Definition
| Computing resources are pooled to serve multiple users, with different virtual resources dynamically assigned according to user demand.The user generally does not know where the computing resources are located. |
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Definition
| Computing resources can be rapidly provisioned, increased, or decreased to meet changing user demand. |
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Definition
| charges for cloud resources are based on amount of resources actually used. |
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| Cloud infrastructure as a service |
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Definition
| customers use processing, storage, networking and other computing resources from cloud service providers to run their information systems. |
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| Cloud platform as a service |
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Definition
| customers use infrastructure and programming tools supported by the cloud service provider to develop their own applications. |
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| Cloud software as a service |
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Definition
| Customers use software hosted by the vendor on the vendor's cloud infrastructure and delivered over a network. |
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Definition
| owned and maintained by a cloud service provider, and made available to the general public or industry group. |
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Definition
| operated solely for an organization. |
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Definition
| purchase computing services from remote providers and pay only for the amount of computing power they actually use or are billed on a monthly or annual subscription basis. |
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Definition
| practices and technology for designing, manufacturing, using and disposing of computers servers, and associated devices such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communication systems to minimize the impact on the government. |
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Definition
| integrated circuit to which two or more processor cores have been attached for enhanced performance, reduced power consumption and more efficient simultaneous processing of multiple tasks. |
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Definition
| industry wide effort to develop systems that can configure themselves, optimize and tune themselves, heal themselves when broken, and protect themselves from outside intruders and self destruction. |
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Definition
| system software that manages and controls computer's activities. |
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| graphical user interface (GUI) |
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Definition
| make extensive use of icons, buttons, bars and boxes to perform tasks. |
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Definition
| allow you to use one of more fingers to perform special gestures to manipulate lists or objects on a screen without using a mouse or keyboard. |
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Definition
| Improvement over earlier Windows operating systems such as Vista and XP, including enhanced usability, faster performance, a new taskbar, support for multitouch interfaces, and additional security enhancements. |
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Definition
| Optimized for touch, but works equally well with a mouse and keyboard. |
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Definition
| lightweight operating system for cloud computing using a Web-connected computer or mobile device (Google) |
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Definition
| open source operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google. |
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Definition
| multiuser, multitasking operating system developed by Bell Laboratories in 1969 to connect various machines together and is highly supportive of communications and networking. |
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Definition
| UNIX-like operating system that can be downloaded from the internet free of charge or purchased for a small fee from companies that provide additional tools for the software. |
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Definition
| all computer uses have free access to its program code, so they can modify the code to fix errors or to make improvements. |
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Definition
| newer version of C that has all the capabilities of C plus additional features fro working with software objects. |
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| combines data and procedures |
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Definition
| widely used visual programming tool and environment for creating applications that run on Microsoft windows operating systems. |
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| visual programming language |
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Definition
| allows users to manipulate graphic or iconic elements to create programs. |
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| Fourth generation languages |
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Definition
| consist of a variety of software tools that enable end users to develop software applications with minimal or no technical assistance or that enhance professional programmers' productivity. |
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Definition
| software tools that provide immediate online answers to requests for information that are not predefined |
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Definition
| prewritten, precoded, commercially available set of programs that eliminates the need for individuals or organizations to write their own software programs for certain functions. |
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Definition
| stores text data electronically as a computer file rather than on paper. |
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Definition
| organizes data into a grid of columns and rows. When you change a value(s) all other related values on the spreadsheet will be automatically recomputed. |
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Definition
| has facilities for creating files and databases and for storing, modifying, and manipulating data for reports and queries. |
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| Users can create professional quality graphics presentations |
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Definition
| bundled office productivity tools. Microsoft Office 2010 is the latest version. |
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Definition
| online suite includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, calendar, and email. |
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Definition
| easy to use software tools used for displaying Web pages and for accessing the Web and other Internet resources. |
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Definition
| operating system-independent, processor-independent, object-oriented programming language that has become a leading interactive programming environment for the Web. |
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| Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) |
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Definition
| page description language for specifying how text, graphics, video and sound are placed on a Web page and for creating dynamic links to other Web pages and objects. |
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Definition
| next evolution of HTML that makes it possible to embed images, audio, video, and other elements directly into a document without processor-intensive add ons. |
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Definition
| set of loosely coupled software components that exchange information with each other using universal Web communication standards and languages. |
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| XML (Extensible Markup Language) |
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Definition
| developed in 1996 by W3C as a more powerful and flexible markup language than HTML for Web pages. |
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| service-oriented architecture (SOA) |
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Definition
| set of self-contained services that communicate with each other to create a working software application |
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| Software as a service (SaaS) |
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Definition
| services for delivering and providing access to software remotely as a Web-based service. |
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Definition
| mix and match software components to create customized applications and to share information. |
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Definition
| small pieces of software that run on the internet, on your computer, or on your mobile phone or tablet and are generally delivered over the internet. |
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Definition
| process of predicting when a computer hardware system becomes saturated. |
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Definition
| ability of a computer, product or system to expand to serve a large number of users without breaking down. |
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| total cost of ownership (TCO) |
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Definition
| used to analyze these direct and indirect costs to help determine the actual cost of owning a specific technology. |
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Definition
| external vendors handle the maintenance of IT infrastructures and development of new systems. |
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Definition
| maintains a large Web server, or a series of servers, and provides fee-paying subscribers with space to maintain their Web sites. |
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| offshore software outsourcing |
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Definition
| when firms outsource software work outside their national borders |
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Term
| service level agreement (SLA) |
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Definition
| formal contract between customers and their service providers that defines the specific responsibilities of the service provider and the level of service expected by the customer. |
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