The physical parts of a computer that we can touch and see.
Hardware
100
The main screen area which appears when the Windows operating system has loaded.
Desktop
100
A wireless technology that allows devices such as mice, printers and cellphones to communicate over a short distance
Bluetooth
100
Process of creating a copy of the file which is reduced in size compared to the original version of the file.
ZIP
100
The part of the computer that processes all data and carries out all instructions.
CPU
200
A small picture which represents a program or ‘place’ on the computer.
Icon
200
Sets of instructions (programs) that ‘tell’ a computer what to do
Software
200
A term used to describe using computers in a way that is sensitive to the environment
Green computing
200
Software that is fully functioning software that can be used, and copied without any restrictions
Freeware
200
A ........ connects to a computer and projects what is displayed on the monitor onto a screen or wall
Data Projector
300
Sequences of stored instructions to get the computer to perform specific tasks
Software
300
The interface, presented to the user in a graphical way with small pictures called icons and other visual ‘aids’
GUI
300
The main storage device of a computer located inside the computer box or system unit
Hard drive
300
Software that is owned by someone and may only be provided and used under a licence agreement.
Proprietary software
300
A large circuit board inside the computer ‘box’, containing slots and connections for all the components of a computer
Motherboard
400
The result of the processing of data and should be useful and meaningful
Information
400
The system software that controls all activities that take place in a computer. Examples include Windows, Apple OS X and Linux.
Operating system
400
Type of printer that works like a photo-copier, using toner instead of ink cartridges. Relatively expensive to buy but cheap to run and, of the two, best suited for higher volume printing.
Laser printer
400
Software that is often ‘time’ limited in that you can use it for a period of time. After this period or should you wish to get the ‘full’ version of the program with access to all its features, you will need to pay for it
Shareware
400
The unit in which the speed of a CPU is measured.
Gigahertz (GHz)
One GHz represents 1 billion cycles per second.
500
Windows 7
Examples of operating system
500
A group of programs that perform a specific task for us as users such as Excel/WORD. This is called .....sofware
Application
500
Technologies that allow us to simply plug in a new hardware device to the computer and for it to be set-up to run automatically.
Plug-and-play
500
Refers to the illegal installation, copying and distributing of proprietary software.
Software piracy
500
Devices which respond to finger touch. They double as both input and output devices.