CD-ROM vs. Hieroglyphics

CD-ROM's can last from 50- 200 years. That time depends on how the disk is stored and what the quality is. Hieroglyphics can last for thousands of years, also depending on how they are stored.

How Has Computer Technology Changed?

When I was younger, computer technology was very different. Computers were much bigger and slower than they are now. When i was in elementary school, we used old Apple computers. They were pretty slow. We used to have one computer in my house. I used to think it was so fast. But now i remember using it; and I say "How could I have lived with such a slow computer?" My iPod is smaller and probably faster than that computer was. It shows how far computer technology has come in only a few years. At this rate, imagine what we will have 10 years from now!

System Clock

A device that sends out a steady high frequency signal to synchronize the computer's components.

Scanner

A device that creates a digital copy of an image and puts it in the computer.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Memory that can be accessed but not changed by the computer.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

It is the place in the computer where the operating system and programs in use are kept so that they can quickly be accessed by the processor.

Pointer

The cursor on a computer screen that is movable and is used to highlight and click on things.

Plotter

An output device that draws graphs or pictures.

Output Device

Devices that receive data from a computer. Monitors and printers are output devices.

Optical Storage Device

A storage device that is read optically by a computer. A CD-ROM is optical storage.

Non- Impact Printers

A type of printer that does not use mechanical strikes. Inkjet printers are non- impact printers.

Mouse

An electronic device that controls the cursor on a computer screen. It is used to input commands into the computer.

Motherboard

It's the main PCB of a computer. It contains the computers vital components like the CPU.

Main Memory

A computers primary memory. This does not include external memory.

Instruction Cycle

It is the time needed to execute the fastest instruction on a processor.

Input Device

A device that can put data into a computer. An example is a keyboard.

Impact Printers

A printer that uses mechanical impacts to print.

DVD

Digital Versatile Disk. It is a digital recording of something that is on an optical disk. They can be played on computers or DVD players.

Controller

A chip that interfaces with a peripheral device. It "controls" the device.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The part of the computer that does most of the processing. It's like the brain of the computer.

CD-ROM

It is a compact disk that holds information for computers. It is read only memory.

Byte

Also a unit of measurement for information. It is a sequence of 8 bytes.

Bit

A unit of measurement for information. It is the smallest unit.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)

A code for exchanging information between computers made by different companies. It is a string of 7 binary digits.

What is an Input, Output and Storage Device?

1) An input device is a device that can be used to put data into a computer.
2) An output device is a peripheral that receives data from a computer.
3) A storage device is a device that holds information for later retrieval.

What Are the Parts of a Computer?

The parts of a computer are the heat sink, the power supply, the motherboard, the graphics card, the hard drive, the RAM, the CPU and the CD-ROM drive. Five types of computers are the desktop, the notebook, the netbook, the mainframe and the supercomputer.

What is a Computer?

A computer is a device in which you can input data, process that data and get a result.

My Expectations

I expect my teacher to show me what I need to know for the class in a way i will easily understand. I expect my peers to encourage me to do well and help me with anything i might be having trouble with. I expect myself to pass the class with above an 85% and learn what I need to know. I expect the course to teach me how to use a computer better and to help me understand how a computer works.