1. Task 4 Glossary of Terms
Name: Lewis Brady
INPUT
Input is the term denoting either an entrance or
changes which are inserted into a system and which
activate or modify a process. It is an abstract concept,
used in the modelling, system design and system
exploitation.
OUTPUT
Output is the term denoting either an exit or changes
which exit a system and which activate/modify a
process. It is an abstract concept, used in the
modelling, system(s) design and system(s) exploitation.
PROCESSING
Processing is an open source programming language
and integrated development environment (IDE) built
for the electronic arts, new media art, and visual
design communities with the purpose of teaching the
2. fundamentals of computer programming in a visual
context.
CPU
A central processing unit (CPU), also referred to as a
central processor unit, is the hardware within a
computer that carries out the instructions of a
computer program by performing the basic
arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of
the system. The term has been in use in the computer
industry at least since the early 1960s.
RAM
Random-access memory is a form of computer data
storage. A random-access device allows stored data to
be accessed directly in any random order. In contrast,
other data storage media such as hard disks, CDs, DVDs
and magnetic tape.
STORAGE MEDIA
3. Storage media are devices that store application and
user information. The primary storage media for a
computer is usually the internal hard drive.
CACHE
In computer science, a cache is a component that
transparently stores data so that future requests for
that data can be served faster.
SINGLE CORE PROCESSOR
A chip with one CPU (one processing unit).
Microprocessors have been single core since their
inception in the early 1970s
DUAL CORE PROCESSOR
A dual core processor for a computer is a central
processing unit (CPU) that has two separate cores on
the same die, each with its own cache. It essentially is
two microprocessors in one.
DVD
4. DVD (sometimes explained as "digital video disc" or
"digital versatile disc"is a digital optical disc storage
format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony,
Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995.
UMD
The Universal Media Disc (UMD) is an optical disc
medium developed by Sony for use on their PlayStation
Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform.
ADDRESS BUS
An address bus is a computer bus (a series of lines
connecting two or more devices) that is used to specify
a physical address. When a processor or DMA-enabled
device needs to read or write to a memory location, it
specifies that memory location on the address bus (the
value to be read or written is sent on the data bus).
CAPACITOR
A capacitor (originally known as a condenser) is a
passive two-terminal electrical component used to
store energy electrostatically in an electric field.
5. OPTICAL DISK
In computing and optical disc recording technologies,
an optical disc (OD) is a flat, usually circular disc which
encodes binary data (bits) in the form of pits (binary
value of 0 or off, due to lack of reflection when read)
and lands (binary value of 1 or on, due to a reflection
when read) on a special material (often aluminium ) on
one of its flat surfaces.
MAGNETIC TAPE
Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording,
made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long, narrow
strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany,
based on magnetic wire recording.
TRANSISTOR
Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording,
made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long, narrow
strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany,
based on magnetic wire recording.
6. BINARY
In mathematics and computer science, the binary
numeral system, or base-2 numeral system, represents
numeric values using two symbols: typically 0 and 1.
More specifically, the usual base-2 system is a
positional notation with a radix of 2.
MHz
Abbreviation for megahertz. One MHz represents one
million cycles per second. The speed of
microprocessors, called the clock speed, is measured in
megahertz. For example, a microprocessor that runs at
200 MHz executes 200 million cycles per second.
GHz
Abbreviation for gigahertz. One GHz represents 1
billion cycles per second. The speed of
microprocessors, called the clock speed, often is
measured in gigahertz. For example, a microprocessor
that runs at 200 GHz executes 200 billion cycles per
second.
7. HARD DRIVE
A hard disk drive (HDD)is a data storage device used
for storing and retrieving digital information using
rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic
material. An HDD retains its data even when powered
off.
QUAD CORE PROCESSOR
A quad-core processor is a chip with four independent
units called cores that read and execute central
processing unit (CPU) instructions such as add, move
data, and branch.