Vocabulary
Define Computer Science
The study of computers and computational systems, including their design, development, and applications.
What are the pillars of our society that computer science impacts?
Healthcare, Entertainment, Transportation, and Communication
Game Developer vs Web Developer
Game Developer: Designs and creates video games
Web Developer: Design and create websites
The Motherboard & CPU
CPU is the "brain" of the computer which performs the computer's task.
The CPU is located in the Motherboard which is the main circuit board that connects to all the hardware
What idea is this architecture based on?
It's based on the idea that a central unit will coordinate a set of instructions for the computer to execute.
Define Computer Software and Hardware
Software: Collection of programs, data, and instructions that enable a computer system to perform specific tasks or functions.
Hardware: Physical components of a computer system that can be touched and manipulated.
Positive computer impacts on entertainment
- Computer graphics and animation are at the core of most entertainment experiences.
- Social media platforms facilitate global connectivity.
- Streaming platforms use machine learning to provide personalized content.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer
Builds and deploys intelligent systems and algorithms.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and how it works
Responsible for all graphics on the computer screen. It offloads graphics from the CPU to allow the computer to process and represent the visuals smoothly.
What did this architecture simplify computer interaction into?
Input and Output Devices
Define Machine Learning
Involves training models on large datasets to recognize patterns, make inferences, and improve performance over time through experience.
Positive computer impacts on communication
- The internet revolutionized global communication.
- Encryption and cybersecurity technologies have allowed for secure e-commerce experiences.
- Natural language processing has allowed for global communication to be more accessible.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Protect computer systems and networks from potential threats and vulnerabilities
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Temporary storage space which stores contents until turned off.
It is volatile, meaning its contents delete when turned off.
What did this architecture introduce and what did this thing do?
It introduced memory as a place to store instructions and data.
True or False: A calculator is a computational device.
True.
Positive computer impacts on entertainment
- Computer graphics and animation are at the core of most entertainment experiences.
- Social media platforms facilitate global connectivity.
- Streaming platforms use machine learning to provide personalized content.
Software Engineer
Software engineers: design, develop, and maintain software applications
Input and Output Devices
Input: Allow the user to input information to the computer: keyboard, mouse, etc.
Output: Allow the computer to output information: monitor, printer, etc.
What sequential process does this architecture follow and how does this work?
The Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle
1. The CPU fetches an instruction from memory
2. Decodes it to understand the operation to be performed
3. Then executes the instruction
Define Computational System and Computational Device
Computational System: Combination of hardware, software, and data that work together to perform computational tasks.
Computational Device: Any device capable of performing computations or processing information.
Positive computer impacts on healthcare
- Mapping apps use algorithms to provide accurate route information.
- Traffic management systems help optimize traffic flow.
- Autonomous vehicles are being developed to enable safer and more efficient transportation.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists: Analyze and interpret large sets of data to extract insights and inform decision-making
Storage Devices (3 of them and what each does)
Hard Disk Drive (HDD): Provide long-term storage for programs, data files, and the operating system. They use magnetic disks to store and retrieve data.
Solid State Drive (SSD): Similar to HDDs but use flash memory technology for faster data access and improved reliability.
Optical Drives: Optical drives, such as CD/DVD drives, are used for reading and writing data on optical discs.
What is it?
A model that the structure and organization of virtually all modern computational devices are based.