STONE RIDGE, N.Y. 12484
INSTRUCTOR: Karl Wick SEMESTER: All
| bit | A single true or false state represented by 1 or 0 |
| byte | one piece of information, usually represented by a fixed number of bits, such as 8, 16, or 32. |
| kilobyte | 1024 bytes |
| megabyte | 1024 kilobytes |
| gigabyte | technically 1024 megabytes, loosely 1000 megabytes |
| media | Something on which information is stored. |
| expansion slot | A place where a device or card is connected to a larger or 'mother' board to expand its capabilities |
| hardware | The physical, touchable parts of a computer. The electronics, cases, cords etc. |
| software | The instructions which a computer follows. Called software because you can't really touch them. |
| trace | A part of a circuit board, usually made of copper (sometimes gold) which electrically connects two or more points on the board. A trace takes the place of a wire. |
| chip | Industry slang for an Integrated Circuit which is actually a plastic or ceramic case containing a (carefully grown and cut) chip of silicone. |
| bay | A place in a console to hold a drive or other device. Usually front panel accessable. |
| bug | Industry slang for a part of a program which causes an unforeseen error in that (or another) program's execution. The earliest real computers used mechanical relays. Legend has it that a Bell Labs technician found an insect squashed between the contacts of a relay when he was trying to figure out why the machine wouldn't work. |
| savant | A man of learning, a sage or scholar. - Implies an unusual degree of knowledge. |
| MHz (mega-hertz) | One million cycles per second |
| mouse | A computer input device which works by sliding across a desktop. It positions a cursor on the screen. Clicking a button invokes an action. |
| directory | In DOS, a grouped collection of related items. |
| folder | In Windows, a grouped collection of related items. Usually represented by an icon looking like a manila folder. |
| sub-folder | A smaller folder contained within another folder. They can be as many levels of nesting as desired. |
| desktop | The name for the main operating system screen in Windows. |
| document | Any item stored in the computer or readable by it. This includes, text, graphics, video, and sounds. |
| boot or boot up | What a computer does when loading its operating system immediately after the power is turned on. |
| operating system | Software which is loaded in the computer at turn on. It coordinates hardware, input/output and programs. |
| kernel | The core part of an operating system's software. |
| kernel driver | A driver which is a part of the kernel and has direct access to hardware. |
| right click | Depress and release the right hand mouse button. ie: click the button. |
| left click (or click) | Depress and release the left hand mouse button. ie: click the button. |
| double click | Depress and release the left hand mouse button TWICE in rapid succession. |
| menu | A set of options from which one can be selected. A menu can "pull up", "pull down" or open to the side and up or down. |
| catch22 | A no win proposition where you need the result ahead of time to make the process work |
| MS-DOS Mode | A Windows controlled DOS environment. Not truely the same as DOS but close enough for most purposes. |
| Sector | A part of the data storage area of a disk drive. A sector is a subdivision of a track |
| Track | A part od the data storage area of a disk drive. A track is the largest division of a disk or platter. Ring shaped |
| RAM | Random Access Memory. The largest section of memory in a computer. Application programs use it. RAM is volitile. It will forget its data if the power is removed. It is temporary storage and very fast. |
| ROM | Read Only Memory. Permanent memory whose contents are fixed. ROM retains its data even without power. It usually contains the system BIOS and other system specific and critical information. |
| EEPROM | Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM. Like ROM but electrically erasable and re-programmable |
| POST | Power On Self Test routine of a computer system. Tests hardware for faults when turned on. |
| BIOS | Basic Input Output System. The lowest level of programming. It lets the Operating System coordinate and use syatem hardware resources such as memory and drives. |