Ch. 4
Application Software
Application Software
Ch. 5
System Software
System Software
Ch. 6
Hardware
Hardware
Ch. 7
Networking
Networking
100
This type of software is owned by an individual or a company and is not available for free.
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is owned by a single entity, which restricts the use, modification, and distribution of its source code.
100
This is an essential system software that manages a computer or device's hardware and software resources.
Operating System (OS)
Common operating systems include Microsoft Windows (proprietary), Mac iOS (proprietary), Chrome OS (proprietary), and Linux (open source).
100
Located on the motherboard, this processes instructions, performs calculations, and manages the flow of information.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The CPU acts as the "brain" of the computer, executing the fetch-decode-execute cycle to run the operating system and applications.
100
A system that connects computing devices to share resources and information is referred to as this.
Computer network
200
This is a pre-release version of software that is made available for testing before the final release.
Beta version
Beta versions contain most major features but may still have bugs, and the purpose of releasing them is to gather user feedback to identify and fix issues, ensure stability, and improve the final product.
200
This type of computer memory allows applications/software works properly and quickly.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
When you open an application or file, it is loaded from your long-term storage (like an SSD or hard drive) into RAM for faster access.
200
A small amount of high-speed memory located inside or near the CPU to store frequently accessed data and instructions.
Cache memory
To "clear your cache" means to delete the temporary files that websites and apps store on your device to help them load faster. It's a way to fix loading or formatting issues on websites, free up storage space, and improve performance.
200
Any device connected to a network, including computers, peripherals, and network devices, are referred to as this.
Node
300
This type of software is available for use at no monetary cost, but the creator retains the copyright and other rights.
Freeware
It is free to use for an unlimited time and typically includes all features, though it is not necessarily open-source. Common examples include Adobe Reader, VLC Media Player, GIMP, and LibreOffice.
300
Devices like printers, mice, keyboards, etc., managed by the operating system are called this.
Peripheral devices
They can be input devices (like a keyboard or scanner), output devices (like a monitor or speakers), or both.
300
This type of memory requires power to maintain the stored information, such as RAM.
Volatile Storage
The opposite is nonvolatile storage, which retains stored info even when powered down (ROM).
300
This term refers to the maximum speed at which data can be transmitted over a network.
Bandwidth (aka "data transfer rate")
400
This is the process of installing software directly onto a computer or device.
Local installation
To perform a local installation, you typically need to download an installer file and run it, which sets up the software and its dependencies on your machine.
400
This type of user interface allows users to interact with a program or system by selecting options from on-screen menus, which leads to subsequent menus until a task is complete (hint: you'll find this on an ATM, or self-checkout register).
Menu-Driven Interface
These interfaces are user-friendly, especially for less experienced users, because they don't require users to memorize commands and offer a clear, visual structure to navigate a system's functions.
400
This specialized processor is designed to accelerate graphics rendering.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Unlike a Central Processing Unit (CPU), which handles a few complex tasks at a time, a GPU uses a massively parallel architecture to perform many simple, repetitive calculations simultaneously. This makes GPUs essential for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming and video editing.
400
A network that connects computers within a limited area, such as a home or office.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Common examples include your home Wi-Fi network, a school computer lab, or an office's internal network.
500
This is a software distribution model where applications are hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Examples include web-based email like Gmail, and collaboration tools like Google Workspace.
500
A type of interface where users type text commands to interact with the computer; requires knowledge of specific commands (hint: Windows Command Prompt)
Command-line interface
Unlike graphical user interfaces (GUIs), which utilize visual elements and mouse interactions, command-line interfaces operate solely through text commands and require users to have knowledge of specific commands and their syntax to perform tasks.
500
The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, leading to an increase in computing power.
Moore's Law
This trend has driven the development of faster, smaller, and cheaper computers and enabled major technological advancements.
500
This network architecture allows for each device to act as both a client and a server.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network
This is a decentralized system where computers, called "peers", connect and share resources directly with each other without a central server. A client-server network is more robust and easier to manage, while P2P is cheaper to set up and can be more resilient to single points of failure.