2.4: Computer Concepts Terminology
- Page ID
- 61596
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Computer Concepts Summary
- The worldwide presence of information systems in daily life by emphasizing their impact on various activities and their strategic importance for businesses.
- It defines information systems as interrelated components facilitating data collection, processing, storage, and distribution in organizations.
- Components include technology (hardware, software, data), networking communication, people, an processes.
- The five major components—technology (hardware, software, data), networking communication, people, and process—are explored, with technology detailed in subsequent chapters.
- The evolution of information systems, from the mainframe era to the post-PC world, highlights key milestones such as the PC revolution, client-server architecture, and the rise of the internet, the World Wide Web, and e-commerce.
- The chapter addresses the question of whether information systems bring competitive advantage, referencing Nicholas Carr's argument in "Does IT Matter?" and illustrating success with Walmart's innovative use of information systems.
- The concluding emphasis is on understanding information system components for organizational competitiveness, setting the stage for further exploration in the book.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| “Killer” App | highly desirable application that drives purchases. |
|
Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA) |
an experimental network that eventually became known as the Internet. |
| Analog signals | continuous signals represented by wave patterns. |
| Android | mobile operating system developed by Google. |
| Application Software | allows the user to perform tasks such as creating documents, recording data in spreadsheets, or messaging a friend. |
| AutoSave | saves continuously while editing. |
| Backstage view | file management interface in applications. |
| Binary | base-2 numeral system using 0 and 1. |
| Bit | smallest unit of data. |
| blind carbon copy (Bcc) | recipient in email; the recipient will receive the same email as recipients in the Cc and To fields but will not be known to those recipients |
| Bluetooth | wireless technology for short-range data exchange. |
| Bus | electrical connection between computer components. |
| Byte | group of eight bits. |
| carbon copy (Cc) | recipient in email; the recipient who is Cc’d on the email will receive the same email as the recipient in the To field, but the Cc recipient will be known to all other recipients |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | carries out commands from software. |
| Cloud Computing | the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data. |
| Collaborative Systems | enable users to work together remotely. |
| command | process the user selects; located on the toolbar, on the ribbon, or in a menu |
| command group | group of related commands that are placed together in one area of the ribbon |
| communication applications | software that facilitates communication between individuals or groups |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | manages customer interactions. |
| Data (computers) | data is any sequence of one or more symbols. |
| database applications | software that organizes and manages large amounts of data, which could be textual or numeric |
| Database Management System (DBMS) | stores and retrieves application data. |
| Desktop Software | applications installed on a personal computer. |
| dialog box | window that appears within a software program prompting the user to choose or enter information for a task |
| Digital Devices | electronic devices using discrete data. |
| Download | save/export a file. |
| Electronic Waste | used electronics for disposal or recycling. |
| electronic messaging. | |
| file | stored data or program. |
| file compression | process of reducing the size of one or more files by removing unnecessary data |
| file format | way data is encoded based on the application that the computer will use to read the file |
| folder | defined area of a computer that stores files and subfolders |
| graphical user interface (GUI) | user interaction interface. |
| Hard Disk | stores data when the computer is off. |
| Hardware | includes the physical parts of the computer. |
| Hertz | measure of processing speed. |
| Information Security | the state of being protected against unauthorized use of information. |
| Information Systems (IS) | a system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. |
| Information Technology (IT) | computer-based tools used to support information processing needs. |
| Input Devices | provide data to a computer. |
| Integrated Computing | embedding computing into everyday products. |
| Internet of Things (IoT) | network of physical devices that collect and share data. |
| iOS(iPhone OS) | mobile OS by Apple. |
| LINUX/UNIX | operating systems used on computers. |
| Local Area Network (LAN) | interconnects computers within a limited area. |
| Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP) | information system for manufacturing businesses. |
| Memory | device storing information temporarily or permanently. |
| menu bar | screen display of software commands that can be arranged in tabs and often at the top of the screen; also called a ribbon |
| Mobile Applications | software for smartphones/tablets. |
| Moore’s Law | transistor counts double approximately every two years. |
| Motherboard | main circuit board connecting components. |
| Network | system that enables computers to share resources. |
| Network Connection | provides connectivity to networks or internet. |
| Open Source | software that can be freely modified and shared. |
| Operating Systems | software that provides interface between hardware and applications. |
| Output Devices | send data from computer to user. |
| People | role of people in development or use of computer systems. |
| Portable Document Format (PDF) | file format designed for publishing documents; maintains the same text and object alignment when read in different software versions of .pdf readers |
| presentation application | software used to create slides that combines text and visuals to be shared in a presentation |
| Private Cloud | secure cloud environment for one client. |
| Process | series of steps to achieve a goal. |
| Productivity Software | workplace tools like spreadsheets. |
| Read Access Memory (RAM) | working memory for active processes. |
| Removable Media | portable storage devices. |
| ribbon | area at the top of the application window where all commands are housed; organized into tabs |
| Rich Text Format (RTF) | older text file format that is plainer and less sophisticated than .docx |
| Save | way of saving a document that resaves the file with its existing name |
| Save a Copy | command that creates a duplicate version of an existing file |
| Save As | way of saving a document that enables you to rename the file or save it in another format |
| Share | allow collaboration. |
| Software | instructions and programs that allow user interaction with a computer. |
| Software as a service (SaaS) | subscription-based software. |
| Solid State Drive (SSD) | fast storage using flash memory. |
| spreadsheet application | software that is used to work with data, especially numerical data |
| status bar | feature that shows the computer’s progress in loading a website and is often found at the bottom of the software screen |
| Storage Devices | store digital data. |
| tabs | sections of the ribbon that refer to related processes, organized by labels |
| Tangible | physical objects. |
| template | preformatted file, designed to save the user time in document formatting |
| toolbar | bar of icons that are used in the program to perform functions; often found below the menus in the program |
| Version history | access previous versions. |
| videoconferencing | allows you to communicate with individuals over the internet using sound and video |
| Virtualization | creation of virtual computing resources. |
| Windows | Microsoft operating system. |
| word processing application | software that is used to create text-based documents such as memos, letters, and reports |
| World Wide Web | collection of webpages accessed over the internet. |