7) Digital – Digital can be described as a system of encoding information that allows it to be easier to store or manipulate. Digital, which is the opposite of analog, reduces information into 0’s and 1’s, which makes it easier for computers and other electronics to re-interpret and then convert into an analog format, such as sound or picture. Things such as movies and music, though analog formats, cannot be placed in electronics in their original format and so are broken down, to be interpreted later on by an appropriate device, i.e. MP3 player, DVD player. Binary is the key system used to interpret information into digital format, which breaks it up into series of 0’s and 1’s. Everyone who works with electronics equipment should understand what the term digital means and at least a have a basic comprehension of what occurs when digital information is processed.
Ÿ It is any continuous signal where the variable of the signal is a representation of another varying capacity
Ÿ Small fluctuations in the signal are meaningful
Ÿ Contrast to digital in which values must be discrete
Ÿ Uses some property of the medium to convey a signal’s information
Ÿ It is important because these signals are measured responses to changes in sound, light, temperature, position, or pressure
Ÿ This is important to music producers, physicists, and possibly chemists
Ÿ http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/Tutorials/AnalogvsDigital
Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/163278/digital-computer & http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/d/digital.html
Ÿ Analog is the process of taking a video or audio signal and converting it into electronic pulses
Ÿ Analog lines support standard phones, fax machines, and modems
Ÿ These lines are likely to be found around the home or in small offices
· An integrated circuit is a miniaturized electron circuit that is made of a semiconductor. Some other names for an integrated circuit are microcircuit, microchip, silicon chip, and chip. Integrated circuits are very important to the way technology and electronics have developed, and without them electronics would not consist of what it does today. Hybridized integrated circuit is a miniature version of it and integrated circuits are used in almost all of electronics today. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit) It is said that two people developed the integrated circuit at the same time but no aware of this so they both eventually received credit for it. It is also said that the public did not see the importance of the chip and pushed it aside, but then years later they found its real potential and is currently used in almost every electronic devise. http://www.pbs.org/transistor/background1/events/icinv.html
Concept: microprocessor
Definition: a single integrated circuit that incorporates most of the functions of a central processing unit.
Importance: allows the functions of a unit to be a single circuit that can be used as the functional unit of a large computer or a small calculator.
To whom it is important: the microprocessor is important to people who own electrical accessories such as laptop or desktop computers that have a microprocessor, but are especially important to the manufacturers. For example, in 2003 about $44 billion dollars worth of microprocessors were manufactured and sold.
Who should know about it: All computer users should have general knowledge about this.
Source: Wikipedia (Microprocessor)
What it is and/or what it means
Abbreviation for central processing unit, and pronounced as separate letters. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the central processor ,but more commonly called processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system.
On large machines, CPUs require one or more printed circuit boards. On personal computers and small workstations, the CPU is housed in a single chip called a microprocessor.
The CPU itself is an internal component of the computer. Without the CPU, you’d have no computer
Why is it important
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) performs the actual processing of data. The data it processes is obtained, via the system bus, from the main memory. Results from the CPU are then sent back to main memory via the system bus. In addition to computation the CPU controls and co-ordinates the operation of the other major components.
To whom it is important
Any persons that require the use of a computer
Who should know about it
People that work in a computer type tech support, engineers.
Source
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CPU.html
http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~pjbk/pathways/cpp1/node8.html
An arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) is the part of a computer processor (CPU) that carries out arithmetic and logic operations on the operands in computer instruction words. In some processors, the ALU is divided into two units, an arithmetic unit (AU) and a logic unit (LU). Some processors contain more than one AU - for example, one for fixed-point operations and another for floating-point operations. (In personal computers floating point operations are sometimes done by a floating point unit on a separate chip called a numeric coprocessor.)
The design of the ALU is obviously a critical part of the processor and new approaches to speeding up instruction handling are continually being developed.
http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci213771,00.html
A coprocessor is a special set of circuits in a microprocessor chip that is used to supplement the function of the Central Processing Unit. In other words, the coprocessor is specialized in its function and does not perform many tasks. Rather, it performs its designated tasks with speed. The coprocessor has many different types including the mathematics coprocessor and the graphics coprocessor. The mathematics coprocessor enables the user to perform calculations more quickly. The graphics coprocessor enhances the graphics on the screen. The coprocessor is important because of the efficiency in which it performs and accomplishes tasks and enhances images and sounds. Coprocessors are important to people who wish to perform specific tasks rapidly, such as mathematicians and statisticians. Also, the coprocessor is important to people who wish to play games on the computer so their graphics and sounds can be as sharp as possible. Gamers, game developers and those performing complex mathematical equations should be aware of the benefits of the coprocessor.
Sources:
“Coprocessor” Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprocessor
“Coprocessor” Whatisit?
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci1146711,00.html
“Coprocessor” The Free Dicitonary
http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Co-processor
8. Clock Cycle
A clock cycle is the time between adjacent pulses of an oscillator. It is important because it sets the tempo of the computer processor. Typically, a processor only executes one instruction per cycle. However, the faster the clock, the more instructions the processor can execute per second. Although the clock cycle of a computer may affect typical users, it is more important that people undergoing larger projects know about it because they may choose to use a computer that can accomplish more instructions per cycle. It is also important that computer developers have extensive knowledge of it so that they can make a processor that can carry out functions efficiently within a cycle.
Sources:
http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid1_gci555039,00.html
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/clock_speed.html
Clock speed is defined as the frequency that a processor executes instructions or that data is processed and is measured in millions of cycles per second or megahertz (MHz). The clock itself is actually a quartz crystal that vibrates at a certain frequency when electricity is passed through it. Each vibration sends out a pulse or beat, like a metronome, to each component that's synchronized with it. Clock speed is important to CPU manufacturers because they want to make the fastest computer they can.
Sources: http://www.pccomputernotes.com/clockspeed/clockspeed.htm
Nanosecond is a billionth of a second. The speed of memory chips are measured in nanoseconds. It is abbreviated as ns. Many computer operators deal with this.
What it is and/or what it means
A gigahertz a system unit equal to 1,000,000,000 Hertz (Hz). A Hertz is a measure of frequency per time. Gigahertz is used to measure how fast the computer is processing. It can also be used to measure the speed of the RAM and backside cache, which store memory. The speeds of these components reflect on how well the computer is performing.
Why is it important?
Gigahertz is important when figuring out the speed of the different parts and the computer as a whole. The more gigahertz you have the better because that means you will have more speed in your computer.
To whom is it important?
All computer buyers should be interested in gigahertz when purchasing a computer. Computer developers also find gigahertz a very important part of any computer. There are many things to consider when buying and using a computer, but one should start off while knowing how much memory they want and how fast they want their computer. Anyone who works with computers as an occupation find gigahertz important to know about.
Who should know about it?
IT techs, developers, users and everyone else that comes in contact with a computer should know about gigahertz. They determine how fast the computer runs and everyone wants a fast computer, so they should know about what makes it faster.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/gigahertz
MIPS: abbreviation for millions of instruction per second. It is a measure of processing speed. Really, only computer engineers would need to know this term.
What it is and/or what it means
Stands for: Million Floating-Point Operations Per Second
A general definition would be the number of full word-size operations that can be performed per second (the M stands for 'Million')
A common measure of the speed of computers used to perform floating-point calculations
Why is it important
Memory Bandwidth- A fast CPU may sound impressive, but in reality a CPU’s best performance depends on the rate at which it can access data from various kinds of memory. A CPU in a system with low memory bandwidth will not perform anywhere near its theoretical peak.
To whom it is important
Those who understand computer based mathematics, measurement and functions
Who should know about it
Computer Developers
Computer Technicians
Engineers
Source
http://bugclub.org/beginners/math/mflops.html
memory (see RAM) (anyone who needs to use different programs on their computer)
- Memory, also known as RAM, which programs are loaded onto in order to run. When a program is loaded into the memory, the CPU gains direct access to the program.
- All computers require memory to function, therefore memory is not only important it is a necessity, which any computer user should know about. Especially, anyone who needs to use various programs on their computer, because there is a limit to the amount of space one has.
- http://www.computerhope.com/help/memory.htm. Computer Hardware: Information about computer memory. 1998-2009. Computer Hope (tm). –
http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~pjbk/pathways/cpp1/node10.html
7. RAM (see Memory)
RAM is random access memory, is a temporary storage area used by the CPU. Random meaning that any memory cell can be accessed at will, and does not have to be accessed sequentially. When power is lost, the information is lost too! RAM is important to every computer user and every user should know about it. This is because RAM can affect the speed at which the computer runs. If the user has noticed the computer is slow, it may have too many things stored in the RAM, and may need an upgrade.
Sources:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-random-access-memory.htm
Motherboard (System Unit)
*A motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer, and attached to it is the CPU, memory RAM expansion slots, PCI slots, and USB ports. Also, it includes controllers for things such as the keyboard and mouse, video and sound. The motherboard is responsible for allowing all parts of a computer to communicate with each other and function together.
· Motherboards are important in that they keep a computer running efficiently and effectively.
· It is important to computer engineers because a proper motherboard must be built in order for a computer to function correctly and efficiently.
· Proffesionals who fix computers should also know about the motherboard because it is necessary for a computer to function.
*Motherboards are important to all computer users. Without them, computers would hardly be able to function.
Source:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/motherboard
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherboard
Concept 8: ASCII
v ASCII is a coding standard that can be used for interchanging information, if the information is expressed mainly by the written form of English words.
v It is essential in the transport of information, for instance transferring information for computer to computer.
v Many use ASCII when on a computer without knowing it, for example the transfer of files to another computer.
v www.AsciiTABLE.com". March,19, 2009 <http://www.asciitable.com/>.
Unicode is an international coding standard that is useful for many different languages and symbols. It assigns each letter, symbol and digit a unique number. This number is used in a wide variety of programs to refer to that same letter, digit or symbol. This development is important because it creates a digital based language that can tie the different languages and cultures of the world together into one, numeric language. This is important for programmers and developers so that they can develop programs and pages using the code to ensure that other languages are represented. It is especially important for those working with and for other countries that speak alternate languages. The use of Unicode helps with the making software international in operating systems, search engines, websites and applications.
Sources:
Unicode Home Page
“Unicode” Oxford Online Dictionary
Is a specific place for being physically connected to some other device, usually with a socket and plug of some kind. Typically, a personal computer is provided with one or more serial ports and usually one parallel port. The serial port supports sequential, one bit-at-a-time transmission to peripheral devices such as scanners and the parallel port supports multiple-bit-at-a-time transmission to devices such as printers.
Concept: IrDA port
Definition: Infrared Data Association; a port that allows two computers or a computer and a device to communicate data with each other without the use of wires through infrared light measured in terahertz.
Importance: allows for the communication between a computer and another device without the use of wires; used in TV remote controls, laptop and palm computers and mobile phones. IrDA plays an important role in wireless data communication. For the devices to communicate via IrDA they must have a direct line of sight similar to a TV remote control. Most laptops and phones also offer Bluetooth but it is now becoming more common for Bluetooth to simply replace IrDA in new versions of products.
-In a computer it is an electronic device that keeps the processor cool, using a fan or a peltier device. They may either be active, requiring power, or passive, which have no mechanical components.
- these are important because they are incorporated into every computer, and allow the computer to function not only at a safe heat, but at a high speed. Computers generate a lot of heat in order to run, and every owner/user should be aware of this and make sure that their computers are well ventilated. It produces a better running computer and a safer environment.
- http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/heatsink.htm. Heat Sink. 1998-2009. Computer Hope ™.
8) Bus – In computers, the bus is a set of wires that transfers information from one part of the computer to another. The bus connects varying parts of the computer and acts as a central “highway” through which information travels. It is an important part of a computer as it determines how quickly data is sent from one part to another, thusly affecting the time it takes for certain things to register in the system. The bus handles several pieces of information at a given time to ensure there is no congestion or mixed data flows. All computers users should know what the bus is, especially when deciding to buy a new computer. The higher the Mhz, the faster information is transferred and boosts computer performance.
Source: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552366/Bus_(computer).html
Parallel processing is the processing of program instructions by dividing them among multiple processors with the objective of running a program in less time. It makes programs run faster because there are more engines (CPUs or cores) running it. With single-CPU, single-core computers, it is possible to perform parallel processing by connecting the computers in a network. However, this type of parallel processing requires very sophisticated software called distributed processing software. In the search for cheaper computing alternatives parallel processing provides a viable option. Also, the idle time of processor cycles across network can be used effectively by sophisticated distributed computing software. This process is very important to computer programmers.
Parallel processors are used by a wide array of people, such as bioinformatics to do protein folding, economics to solve calculations, and many other things.
Sources: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid80_gci212747,00.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_processing (viewed March 16, 2009, last updated March 10, 2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_computing
· Parallel processing is when many things can be carried out at the same time in a synchronizing way. It is a form of computing that the computer uses and it helps divide tasks up so they can be completed faster and they are all solved together as one. Parallel processing has become in recent years very important to computer architecture in the form of multicore processors.
· Is the overlapping of instruction executions in order for multiple instructions to be completed in less time. It can be compared to a factory with multiple assembly lines constructing different things simultaneously. Although all the steps of the instructions cannot be completed at the same time, the time it takes for multiple instructions is reduced.
· This technique is important because it allows several processes to be completed simultaneously. In Intel’s Pentium chip, pipelining allows up to six instructions to be processed at one time.
· It is important to computer chip developers because sufficient utilization of this technique is necessary for the chip to process information in a timely manner.
· Computer developers and computer engineers should know about pipelining because the technique needs to be applied correctly in order for them to benefit. If too many instructions are processed at once, the technique will not work. Also, if more instructions are being processed, it usually means more parts are needed, like circuit elements and computer memory. It is up to the developer to find a happy balance between price and efficiency.
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipelining
What it is and/or what it means
A tablet PC is combination of a notebook PC (laptop) and a personal digital assistant (PDA). It is a portable PC in the shape of a slate. The user inputs data by tapping or simply writing straight on the screen with a stylus. It can connect to wireless Internet. Tablet PC’s are intended to provide the power of a notebook in handheld form. It can be placed in a docking station so a keyboard and mouse can be connected to it. The tablet PC weighs about two to three pounds so it is very portable.
Why is it important?
The tablet PC is important because it broadens the workplace to virtually anywhere. One can do work on the tablet PC at home, at the park, in the bathroom, on the train, etc. It works just like a normal sized computer and is equipped with all of the same computers as a normal computer; the only difference is that it is a handheld device. Since people today are so busy and dependent on technology they need more places to be able to get their work done. The tablet PC makes life easier and more convenient.
To whom is it important?
The tablet PC can be helpful to doctors because the medical field deals with so much paperwork that it would just be easier to carry around all of those charts in your pocket. Business professionals can take this on conferences and have all of the information they need at the palm of their hand. Many more people can benefit from the tablet PC too.
Who should know about it?
Everybody should know about the tablet PC, but not everybody has to use them. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-tablet-pc.htm