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CPU ~ Central Processing Unit. The CPU controls the operation of a computer. Units within the CPU perform arithmetic and logical operations and decode and execute instructions. In microcomputers, the entire CPU is on a single chip.

Microprocessor ~ A computer with its entire CPU contained on one integrated circuit. The first microprocessor was created by Intel. The creation of microprocessors was the breakthrough that led to the development of personal computers. Microprocessors have, over time, acquired more and more of the features of large computers.

Microchip ~ Also called microelectronic or integrated circuit (IC). A microelectronic device comprising many miniature transistors and other electronic components on a single thin rectangle of silicon or sapphire, approximately 1/16" to 5/8" on a side, and 1/30" thick. A microchip can contain dozens, hundreds, or millions of electronic components.

Hard Drive ~ (HD) Hard disk drive. A disk drive that reads from and writes to a hard disk.

Floppy Drive ~ The disk drive where a floppy disk is inserted.

Bug ~ An error in a computer program or in the computer's hardware that causes repeated malfunctions.

Keyboard ~ A set of keys for computer input, which resembles a typewriter keyboard, but with a few extra keys for computer commands and usually a numeric keypad added. On a computer keyboard, hitting on a key sends an electrical signal to a microprocessor, which sends a scan code to the computer's basic input/output system.

Scanner ~ An input device that reads images or text and converts the data into digital signals. Graphical scanners read photos or other images into the computer and digitize them, producing bitmapped graphics files. Text scanners use optical character recognition software to read pages of text and produce editable text files. Bar code scanners, as used in stores, convert bar codes into digital information.

Monitor ~ Also called a display. A device that displays text and graphics generated by a computer. Desktop monitors are usually cathode-ray tubes, and laptop monitors are usually liquid crystal display. A monitor can be monochrome (black and white) or color. Color monitors may show either digital or analog color.

Ink Jet Printer ~ A printer in which the image is made by tiny ink droplets which are sprayed from a nozzle onto a piece of paper. Inkjet printers can produce high-resolution color or black and white images.

Laser Jet Printer ~ A high-speed, non-impact printer that uses a laser beam to form images on a page. Laser printers work like photocopiers to produce high-resolution, high-quality printouts.

Modem ~ A peripheral device that connects computers to each other for sending communications via the telephone lines. The modem modulates the digital data of computers into analog signals to send over the telephone lines, then demodulates back into digital signals to be read by the computer on the other end; thus the name "modem" for modulator/demodulator. Modems are used for sending and receiving electronic mail, connecting to bulletin board systems, and surfing the Internet.

Boot-up ~ To load a computer’s operating system.

DOS ~ Disk Operating System. More computers worldwide have DOS than any other operating system. There are different versions of it: PC-DOS for IBM PCs, MS-DOS for non-IBM PCs, plus Apple DOS, etc.

Windows 95 / Windows 98 ~ An operating system with graphical user interface from Microsoft, which can run 32-bit applications. Windows 95 was a major upgrade from earlier versions of Windows up to Windows 3.1, which simply provided a graphical user interface for DOS. Some features of Windows 95 are Plug and Play capability, threading, pre-emptive multitasking, and built-in networking. The user interface has icons and folders similar to Macintosh, and allows the use of long file names.

Folder (Directory) ~ On Macintosh and Windows 95 screens, files can be organized by placing them into folders that look like office file folders. These folders correspond to directories in DOS.

GUI ~ Graphical User Interface. An interface that has pictures as well as words on the screen. Originally invented by Xerox, the idea was expanded and popularized by Apple Computers. With windows, icons, pull-down menus, and the mouse, the graphical user interface is easier to learn and work with.

Icon ~ In a graphical user interface, a small picture on the screen which represents something. Files and programs have icons, and open when the user clicks twice on the icon. There is an icon to show which program is currently running. Moving and copying files is done by dragging their icons to the desired location. A file is deleted by moving its icon to the picture of a trash can.

Menu ~ An onscreen list from which the user may choose an operation to be performed. Items from the menu may be selected by keyboard commands or by pointing with a mouse.

Integrated Software ~ Software with several applications integrated into one package; usually word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics and communications. Two examples are Microsoft Works and ClarisWorks. They are designed so that the user can move easily from one application to another, and transfer data easily from one application to another within the software package.

Spreadsheet ~ A table which displays numbers in rows and columns, used for accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, scientific applications, and other work with figures. Computerized spreadsheets have the advantage of being able to perform automatic calculations on changing data.

Database ~ 1. A large collection of data organized for rapid search and retrieval. 2. A program that manages data, and can be used to store, retrieve, and sort information. Examples are Lotus Approach, and Microsoft Access

Word Processing ~ The preparation of text documents, usually by means of a computer. Word processing is a stage of desktop publishing: the preparation of text, rather than the design or typography. Some features provided by word processing software include word wrap, text editing functions, type styling, page formatting, search and replace, spelling and grammar checking, style sheets, headers and footers, page numbering, sorting, and mail merge.

Desktop Publishing ~ (DTP) Using a desktop computer to produce camera-ready copy for printing. Desktop publishing makes use of word processing programs, page layout programs, and a printer. Sometimes a scanner is used for images, and draw or paint programs may be used to create artwork. Two programs used a lot in desktop publishing are PageMaker and QuarkXPress.

Network ~ A group of interconnected computers, including the hardware and software used to connect them.

Bit ~ Short for binary digit. The smallest unit of information a computer can hold. The value of a bit is 1 or 0.

Byte ~ The amount of memory space used to store one character, which is usually 8 bits. A computer that has 8-bit bytes (most large and small computers today) can distinguish 28 = 256 different characters.

Kilobyte ~ (k, KB, Kb; also Kbyte or K-byte). One thousand bytes (103) or 1024 (210) bytes. A unit of measurement used for computer file sizes.

Megabyte ~ (MB, mb, Mbyte, M-byte) 220 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes or 1,024 kilobytes. Used to measure computer memory. Sometimes used to mean 1 million bytes or 1,024,000 bytes (1,000 kilobytes).

RAM ~ Random Access Memory. The working memory of the computer. RAM is the memory used for storing data temporarily while working on it, running application programs, etc. "Random access" refers to the fact that any area of RAM can be accessed directly and immediately, in contrast to other media such as a magnetic tape where the tape must be wound to the point where the data is. RAM is called volatile memory; information in RAM will disappear if the power is switched off before it is saved to disk.

ROM ~ Read-Only Memory. Memory that can be read but not changed. Read-only memory is non-volatile storage; it holds its contents even when the power is turned off. Data is placed in ROM only once, and stays there permanently. ROM chips are used for storage of the essential software of the computer, called firmware. Some kinds of ROM are PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and CD-ROM.

CD-ROM ~ Compact Disc Read - Only Memory. An optical disc that is physically the same as an audio CD, but contains computer data. Storage capacity is about 680 megabytes. CD-ROMs are interchangeable between different types of computers.

Multimedia ~ Multimedia is communication that uses any combination of different media, and may or may not involve computers. Multimedia may include text, spoken audio, music, images, animation and video. The large amounts of data required for computer multimedia files makes CD-ROMs a good option for storage; but there are other ways of receiving multimedia communications, such as the World Wide Web. Multimedia programs are often interactive, and include games, sales presentations, encyclopedias, and more.

Internet ~ The biggest internet in the world. This worldwide information highway is comprised of thousands of interconnected computer networks, and reaches millions of people in many different countries. The Internet was originally developed for the United States military, and then became used for government, academic and commercial research and communications. The Internet is made up of large backbone networks (such as MILNET, NSFNET, and CREN), and smaller networks that link to them.

Computer Virus ~ A program that infects a computer by attaching itself to another program, and propagating itself when that program is executed. A computer can become infected by files downloaded over a network, or by the installation of new software or floppy disks that are infected with viruses. Some viruses are only pranks, and perform harmless actions like displaying a screen with a joke message on it. Others can destroy files or wipe out a hard drive.