cpt115studyguide

CPT 115 Studyguide

Chapter 2

An Internet service provider (ISP) is a business that has a permanent Internet connection and provides temporary connections to individuals and companies for free or for a fee.
A cable modem provides high-speed Internet connections through the cable telephone line.
Because all-numeric IP addresses are difficult to remember and use, the Internet supports the use of a text name that represents one or more IP addresses.
Like an IP address, the components of a domain name are separated by periods.
*To browse the Web, a Web browser and a computer that is connected to the Internet are needed.
A Web address consists of a protocol, domain name, and sometimes the path to a specific Web page or location on a Web page.
No single person, company, institution, or government agency controls or owns the Internet.
*A satellite modem provides Internet connections using high-speed radio waves
To attract more customers, some access providers also offer Web publishing services.
*Depending on the speed of the Internet connection and the amount of graphics involved, a Web page download can take from a few seconds to several minutes.
*With dial-up access, a computer, a modem, and a regular telephone line are used to dial into an ISP.
DSL provides high-speed Internet connections over a regular copper telephone line.
Although it is an easy and inexpensive way for users to connect to the Internet, a dial-up connection is slow-speed technology.
*Widely used Web browsers for personal computers include Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Netscape
*Fixed wireless Internet connections use an antenna to communicate with a tower, are high-speed, and use radio signals.
*An IP address is a number that uniquely identifies each computer or device connected to the Internet.
A domain name is the text version of an IP address.
In a Web address, http, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is a set of rules that defines how pages transfer on the Internet.
*A more common usage of the term, home page, refers to the first page that a Web site displays.
A Web page has a unique address, called a URL.
On the Web, a link can be a word, phrase, or image.
*Text links on a Web page usually are underlined and display in the same color as the rest of the document.
To activate a link on a Web page, point to it and then press the mouse button, or click the link.
*Search engines are particularly helpful in locating Web pages on certain topics or in locating specific pages for which the exact URL is not known.
*To reduce the number of hits when using a search engine, users should be more specific in the search.
Many portals also are Internet service providers or online service providers and offer search engines and directories.
*A URL consists of a protocol, domain name, and sometimes the path to a specific Web page or location on a Web page.
*Each hit in the list returned by a resource like Google has a link that, when clicked, displays the associated Web site or Web page.
A portal Web page, often called a portal, offers a variety of Internet services from a single location.
*When a user enters search text that contains multiple keywords, the search engine usually locates Web sites that contain all or most of the words.
To browse the Web, you need a computer that is connected to the Internet and that has a Web browser.
A link is a built-in connection to another related Web page or part of a Web page.
When viewing a Web page, pointing to, or positioning the pointer on, a link on the screen typically changes the shape of the pointer to a small hand with a pointing index finger.
Search engines are particularly helpful in locating pages about certain topics, require that you enter search text, and allow you to use operators to refine a search
A Web page that uses multimedia has much more appeal than one with text on a gray background.
To use graphics files on the Web, they must be saved in a certain format.
*On the Web, virtual reality (VR) involves the display of 3-D images that can be explored and manipulated interactively.
*Virtual reality (VR) often is used for games, but it has many practical applications as well.
*JPEG is a format that compresses graphics to decrease their file size, which means the file takes up less storage space
Smaller file sizes result in faster downloading of Web pages because small files transmit faster than large files
Of the graphics formats that exist on the Web, the two more common are JPEG and GIF formats because of their smaller file sizes.
*Streaming video allows users to view longer or live full-motion images as they download to their computers.
Many Web pages use animation, which is the appearance of motion created by displaying a series of still images in sequence.
Streaming audio enables users to listen to music as it downloads to their computers.
*The MP3 format reduces an audio file to about one-tenth of its original size, while preserving much of the original quality of the sound.
Streaming is the process of transferring data in a continuous and even flow, which allows users to access and use a file while it is transmitting.
VR (virtual reality) is the use of computers to simulate a real or imagined environment that appears as three-dimensional (3-D) space.
Internet access providers typically supply an e-mail program as a standard part of their Internet access services.
Large files on FTP sites often are compressed (zipped) to reduce storage space and download time.
*E-mail (electronic mail) is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network.
*A newsgroup is an online area in which users conduct written discussions about a particular subject.
Instant messaging (IM) is a real-time communications service that notifies users when one or more people are online and then allows them to exchange messages or files or join a private chat.
*The World Wide Web and e-mail are two of the more widely accessed Internet services.
*Downloading is the process of a computer receiving information, such as a Web page, from a server on the Internet.
A wiki is usually open to modification by the general public.
*A blog is an informal Web site consisting of time-stamped articles, or posts, in a diary or journal format, usually listed in reverse chronological order.
Today, e-mail is a primary communications method for both personal and business use.
*FTP is an Internet standard that permits file uploading and downloading with other computers on the Internet.
A chat is a real-time typed conversation that takes place on a computer.
*Spam is an unsolicited e-mail message or newsgroup posting sent to many recipients or newsgroups at once.
VoIP (Internet Telephony) is a conversation that takes place over the Internet using a telephone connected to a desktop computer, mobile computer, or mobile device.

Chapter 3

*Application software serves as the interface between the user, the system software, and the computer’s hardware.
Before a computer can run any application software, the operating system must load from the hard disk (storage) into the computer’s memory.
*To use application software, a computer must be running system software, specifically, an operating system.
*Application software is used to assist with graphics and multimedia projects, to facilitate communications, and to support household activities, for personal business, or for education
*Each time a user starts a computer, the operating system loads (copies) from the computer’s hard disk into memory.
*Open source software is provided for use, modification, and redistribution, has no restrictions from the copyright holder, and usually can be downloaded from the Web at no cost.
*An application can be started by clicking its program name on a menu or submenu.
One of the major advantages of a GUI is that elements such as icons, buttons, and menus usually are similar across most applications.
*When the Start button is clicked, the Start menu is displayed on the Windows desktop.
*The user interface controls how data or instructions are entered into a computer and how information displays on the screen.
A button is a graphical element that a user activates to cause a specific action to take place.
*An icon is a small image displayed on the screen that represents a program, a document, or some other object.
*A dialog box is a special window that provides information, presents available options, or requests a response.
*A menu contains a list of commands from which a user makes selections.
A command is an instruction that causes a program to perform a specific action.
*A window is a rectangular area of the screen that displays data and information.
*A spelling checker compares the words in a document to an electronic dictionary that is part of the word processing software.
*A font is a name assigned to a specific design of characters.
Printing is the process of sending a file to a printer to generate output on a medium such as paper.
Most spreadsheet software has basic features to help create, edit, and format worksheets.
*In a spreadsheet file, each worksheet typically has 65,536 rows and 256 columns.
*When a new value is entered to change data in a worksheet cell, any value that is affected by the change is updated automatically and instantaneously.
Users can sort, or organize, a set of database records in a particular order, such as alphabetical or by date.
Presentation graphics software typically provides a variety of predefined presentation formats that define complementary colors for backgrounds, text, and other items on slides.
Project management software helps users track, control, and manage project variables, allowing them to complete a project on time and within budget.
*With accounting software, small and large business users perform accounting activities related to the general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, invoicing, job costing, and payroll functions.
Popular reference software includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, health/medical guides, and travel directories.
A major feature of groupware is group scheduling, in which a group calendar tracks the schedules of multiple users and helps coordinate appointments and meeting times.
*One of the more powerful features of spreadsheet software is its capability of recalculating the rest of the worksheet when data in a worksheet changes.
*With a PIM, users can take information previously tracked in a weekly or daily calendar and organize and store it on their computer.
*Video editing software usually includes audio editing capabilities.
*Educational software usually includes games or content to make the learning experience more fun.
*The find feature, in combination with the replace feature, allows existing characters or words to be substituted with new ones.
*Editing is the process of making changes to a document’s existing content.
*With most popular personal computer database software packages, a database consists of a collection of tables, organized in rows and columns.
*A query is a request for specific data from a database.
*A personal information manager (PIM) includes an appointment calendar that allows activities for a particular day and time to be scheduled.
*Legal software provides standard contracts and documents associated with buying, selling, and renting property; estate planning; marriage and divorce; and preparing a will or living trust.
*A videoconference is a meeting between two or more geographically separated people who use a network of the Internet to transmit audio and video data.
To edit a document means to make changes to its existing content.
*When computer users format a document, they change its appearance.
Spreadsheet software is software that allows users to organize data in rows and columns and perform calculations on the data.
*A cell is the intersection of a column and row in a worksheet.
*Most spreadsheet software includes a what-if analysis feature, where users can change certain values in a spreadsheet to reveal the effects of those changes.
Using database software, you can add, change, and delete data, sort and retrieve data, and create forms and reports.
*Accounting software enables users to write and print checks, track checking account activity, and update and reconcile balances on demand.
CAD software is a sophisticated type of application software that assists a professional user in creating engineering, architectural, and scientific designs.

Chapter 4

*In the machine cycle, fetching is the process of obtaining a program instruction or data item from memory.
*In the machine cycle, the term decoding refers to the process of translating instructions into signals the computer can execute.
*In the machine cycle, executing is the process of carrying out commands.
Together, four operations (fetching, decoding, executing, and storing) comprise a machine cycle.
*The combinations of 0s and 1s that represent characters are defined by patterns called a coding scheme.
*Most personal computers and minicomputers use the ASCII coding scheme.
The ASCII and EBCDIC coding schemes are not sufficient for Asian and other languages that use different symbols.
*A byte is informative because it provides enough different combinations of 0s and 1s to represent 256 individual characters.
*A megabyte (abbreviated MB) is equal to approximately one million bytes.
*One gigahertz (GHz) equals one billion ticks of the system clock per second.
*American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) is the most widely used coding scheme used to represent data.
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) is used primarily on mainframe computers and high-end servers.
*Unicode is a coding scheme capable of representing almost all of the world’s current written languages, as well as classic and historical languages.
The binary system is a number system that has just two unique digits, 0 and 1, called bits.
When 8 bits are grouped together as a unit, they form a byte.
*A kilobyte (KB or K) is equal to exactly 1,024 bytes, but computer users often round it down to 1,000 bytes to simplify memory and storage definitions.
*To access data or instructions in memory, the computer references the addresses that contain bytes of data.
When power to the computer is turned off, non- volatile memory does not lose its contents.
Volatile memory loses its contents when power is removed from the computer.
*RAM can hold multiple programs simultaneously, provided the computer has enough RAM to accommodate all the programs.
*Most RAM is volatile and loses its contents when the power is removed from the computer.
*The amount of RAM on the computer determines the amount of programs and data a computer can handle at one time, which affects overall performance.
*ROM chips contain data, instructions, or information that is recorded permanently.
*CMOS chips use battery power to retain information even when the power to the computer is off.
Similar to standard ROM, the computer can change information in CMOS.
The amount of RAM necessary in a computer is dependent upon the type of software used.
The access time (speed) of memory has a large effect on the overall performance of a computer.
*Memory stores the operating system and other system software that control the usage of the computer equipment, application programs that carry out a specific task, and the data being processed by application programs.
The data stored on ROM chips cannot be modified and is not lost when power to the computer is turned off.
*RAM is the most common type of volatile memory.
*Expansion cards, such as a sound card, modem card, video card, and network interface card, are circuit boards that add devices and capabilities to the computer.
*A circuit board used to add new devices or capabilities to a computer is referred to as a(n) card, expansion card, adapter, adapter card, interface card, board, expansion board, add-on or add-in
A sound card enhances the audio-generating capabilities of a personal computer by allowing sound to be input through a microphone and output through external speakers or headphones.
*A video card, also called a graphics card, converts computer output into a signal that travels through a cable to the monitor, which displays an image on the screen.
*A network card connects computers and peripherals to each other.
*An expansion slot is a socket on the motherboard that can hold an adapter card.
*A universal serial bus (USB) port can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices with a single connector type.
A musical instrument digital interface, or MIDI, port is a special type of serial port that connects the system unit to a musical instrument.
*A small computer system interface (SCSI) port is a special high-speed parallel port used to attach peripheral devices.
*An IrDA (Infrared Data Association) port allows wireless devices to transmit signals to a computer via infrared light waves.
*The COM port (short for communications port) on the system unit is one type of serial port.
*A FireWire port, previously called an IEEE 1394 port, is similar to a USB port in that it can connect multiple types of devices that require faster data transmission speeds.
*A serial port is a type of interface that connects a device to the system unit by transmitting data one bit
Unlike a serial port, a parallel port is an interface that connects devices by transferring more than one bit at a time.
*The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is a bus designed to improve the speed with which 3-D graphics and video transmit.
*A 32-bit bus can transmit 32 bits (4 bytes) at a time.
In most computers, the word size is the same as the bus width.
*A system bus is part of the motherboard and connects the processor to main memory.
*The universal serial bus (USB) and 1394 bus are high-speed buses that eliminate the need to install cards into expansion slots
*The system clock is one of the factors that influences a computer’s performance.
*Each processor on a multi-core chip generally runs at a slower clock speed than a single-core processor.
*Some computers use more than one processor chip.
A duo-core processor simulates the use of more than one processor chip.
*The mother board is the main circuit board of the system unit.
*An integrated circuit, which is etched on a computer chip, contains many microscopic pathways capable of carrying electrical current.
*Some computer and chip manufacturers use the term microprocessor to refer to a personal computer processor chip.
*An multi-core processor is a single chip with two or more separate processor capabilitiess.
*With pipelining, the processor begins fetching a second instruction before it completes the

Chapter 5

When the mouse is moved to the right, the pointer moves to the right on the screen.
For a right-handed user, the right mouse button usually is the secondary mouse button and the right mouse button is the primary mouse button.
*If limited desk space is available, a trackball is a good alternative to a mouse because the entire device stays stationary.
Some notebook and many handheld computers have touch screens that allow users to input data using a stylus.
The mouse pad protects the ball in a mechanical mouse from a build-up of dust and dirt, which could cause it to malfunction.
*An optical mouse that uses optical sensors can be placed on nearly all types of surfaces, eliminating the need for a mouse pad.
Macintosh users work with a mouse that has only one button.
The function of the mouse buttons and the wheel varies depending on the program.
*When drawing on a graphics tablet with a pen or cursor, the tablet detects and converts the movements into digital signals that are sent in a computer.
Gamepads can communicate with a game console or a personal computer via wired or wireless technology.
*The mouse is the most widely used pointing device on desktop computers.
As a mouse is moved, the pointer on the screen also moves.
*Right-click is a common mouse operation in which the secondary mouse button is pressed and released to display a shortcut menu.
*In addition to the mouse, other pointing devices include the trackball, touchpad, pointing stick, joystick, light pen, and touch screen.
*A trackball is a stationary pointing device with a ball on its top that is rotated to move the pointer.
A pointing device is an input device that allows a user to control a pointer on the screen.
Generally, the mouse is used to move the pointer on the screen to an object such as a button, and then users press a mouse button to perform a certain action on that object.
*Touchpads are found most often on notebook/laptop computers.
Kiosks often have touch screens.
*A joystick is a vertical lever mounted into a base that is moved in different directions to control the actions of a simulated vehicle or player.
PDAs ship with a basic stylus, which is the primary input device.
With many digital cameras, the images can be reviewed and edited while they are in the camera.
*With some digital cameras, to download pictures a cable is connected between the digital camera and a USB or firewire port on the computer and then special software included with the computer is used.
Once the pictures from a digital camera are on a computer, they can be edited with photo editing software, printed, faxed, sent via e-mail, included in another document, or posted to a Web site or photo community for everyone to see.
*With a digital camera, the more bits used to represent a dot, the more colors and shades of gray that can be represented.
*The higher a digital camera’s resolution is, the better the image quality and the more expensive the camera.
Manufacturers often use pixels per inch (ppi) to represent the resolution of a digital camera.
Devices that capture data directly from source documents include devices such as optical character recognition devices, optical mark recognition devices, and magnetic-ink character recognition readers.
*A flatbed scanner works similarly to a copy machine except that it creates a file of the document in memory instead of a paper copy.
*Optical mark recognition (OMR) devices read hand-drawn marks such as small circles or rectangles.
The most widely used biometric device today is a fingerprint scanner.
*With voice input, users can search the Web , participate in chat rooms, send and receive emails, and join in instant messages by speaking into a microphone on a desktop computer, mobile computer, or mobile device.
A scanner is a light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics and then translates the results into a form the computer can process.
*A bar code is an identification code that consists of a set of vertical lines and spaces of different widths.
Retail and grocery stores use the UPC (Universal Product Code) bar code.
*MICR is used almost exclusively by the banking industry for check processing.
Special-purpose terminals, such as POS terminals and automated teller machines, perform specific tasks and contain features uniquely designed for use in a particular industry.
*A biometric device translates a personal characteristic (the input) into a digital code that is compared with a digital code stored in the computer.

Chapter 6

*LCD monitors typically are more expensive than CRT monitors.
Mobile computers, such as notebook computers and Tablet PCs, and mobile devices, such as PDAs and smart phones, often have LCD displays.
*The quality of a monitor or display depends largely on its resolution, dot pitch, and refresh rate.
*Ideally, a monitor’s refresh rate should be fast enough to maintain a constant, flicker-free image.
Display devices include CRT monitors, LCD displays, televisions, and gas plasma monitors
Each dot of phosphor material on a CRT screen consists of a red, a green, and a blue phosphor.
Manufacturers state the resolution of a display device as dots, or pixels.
Displays with higher resolution use a greater number of pixels, providing a smoother image.
*Refresh rate is measured according to hertz, which is the number of times per second a screen is redrawn.
*VRAM (Video RAM), WRAM (Window RAM), and SGRAM (Synchronous graphics RAM) are all types of video memory used by video cards.
Two types of display devices are flat-panel and CRT displays.
*A monitor is measured in the same way as a television is measured, that is diagonally from one corner to the other.
*Monochrome means information appears on a monitor in one color on a different color background.
An LCD monitor is a desktop monitor that uses a liquid crystal display instead of cathode ray tube to produce images on the screen.
Mobile computers, such as notebook computers and Tablet PCs, and mobile devices, such as PDAs and smart phones, often have LCD screens.
Setting a monitor to display a higher resolution uses a greater number of pixels and thus provides a smoother image.
*HDTV is the most advanced form of digital television.
*Output that is presented on a display device is called soft copy.
Ink-jet printers produce text and graphics in both black-and-white and color on a variety of paper types.
Many photo printers have a built-in card slot so the printer can print digital photographs directly from a media card.
Most ink-jet printers have at least two print cartridges: one containing black ink and the other(s) containing colors.
When printing a document, laser printers process and store the entire page before they actually print it.
Impact printers are noisy because a mechanism strikes against an inked ribbon that physically contacts the paper.
Two commonly used types of impact printers are dot-matrix printers and line printers.
Laser printers, ink-jet printers, and thermal printers are commonly used types of nonimpact printers.
*Ink-jet printers have become the most popular type of color printer for use in the home because of their lower cost and letter-quality print.
Because laser printers process and store an entire page before they actually print it, they sometimes are called page printers.
*Plotters and large-format printers typically can handle paper with widths up to 60 inches because blueprints, maps, signs, posters and other such drawings and displays can be quite large.
Two commonly used audio output devices are speakers and headsets.
*A disadvantage of a multifunction device (MFD) is that if the MFD breaks down, the functions of all four devices are lost.
*Two special-purpose terminals are point-of-sale terminals and automated teller machines.
*A printer usually connects by a cable to a parallel port or USB port.
*A printout in landscape orientation presents its information printed across the widest part of the paper.
*A printout in portrait orientation presents its information printed across the shorter width of the paper.
*A nonimpact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually striking the paper.
An ink-jet printer is a type of nonimpact printer that forms characters and graphics by spraying tiny drops of liquid ink onto a piece of paper.
*Printer resolution is measured by the number of dots per inch (dpi) a printer can print.
A laser printer is a high-speed, high-quality nonimpact printer.
*A laser printer creates images using a laser beam and powdered ink called toner.
Plotters are used in specialized fields such as engineering and drafting and usually are very costly.
*Impact printers are ideal for printing multipart forms because they easily print through many layers of

Chapter 7

*(Secondary) Storage is non-volatile; items in storage are not lost when power is removed from the computer.
*Reading is the process of transferring data, instructions, and information from a storage medium into memory.
*Writing is the process of transferring data, instructions, and information from memory to a storage medium.
*Even if a file consists of only a few bytes, when it is saved it uses an entire cluster.
Users often partition a hard disk so they can install multiple operating systems on the same hard disk.
*A CD-ROM can contain audio or data.
*A faster CD-ROM drive results in smoother images or sounds.
Storage requirements among all kinds of users differ
When storage devices write data on storage media, they are creating output.
The access time of storage devices is slow, compared with the access time of memory.
On a magnetic disk, each cluster holds data from only one file.
External or removable hard disks transfer data at much slower rates than internal hard disks.
*Some optical discs are double-sided.
You can write one time, then read many times on with DVD-R, but you cannot erase any files.
*Manufacturers write, or record, the contents of standard CD-ROMs, and users only can read the contents of these discs.
Although the size and the shape of CD-ROM and DVD-ROM are different, a DVD-ROM stores data, instructions, and information very differently and thus achieves a higher storage capacity.
Although older computers used reel-to-reel tape drives, today’s computers use tape cartridges.
When writing or reading specific data, direct access is much faster than sequential access.
Examples of storage media include floppy disks, compact disks, and tape.
In order, from less expensive to more expensive and from slower to faster, storage media are tape, floppy disk, compact disc, hard disk.
*Today, the standard floppy disk is 3.5 inches wide and has a rigid plastic outer cover.
A track is a narrow recording band that forms a full circle on the surface of a disk.
A disk’s storage locations consist of pie-shaped sections, which break the tracks into small arcs called sectors.
A cluster is the smallest unit of space on a floppy disk that stores data.
Hard disks provide for greater storage capacities and much faster access times than floppy disks.
*The contents of CD-ROMs only can be read; that is, contents cannot be added or erased.
*With CD-RWs, the disc acts like a floppy or hard disk, allowing users to write and rewrite data, instructions, and information onto it multiple times.
Examples of nonvolatile storage media include floppy disks, microfiche, and PC Cards.
*A hard disk spins much faster than a floppy disk and usually spins constantly.
*A smart card, which is comparable in size to a credit card or ATM card, stores personal data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card.
Access time measures the amount of time it takes a storage device to locate an item on a storage medium.
A platter on a hard disk is made of aluminum, glass, or ceramic and is coated with an alloy material that allows items to be recorded magnetically on its surface.
A cylinder is a vertical section of track that passes through all platters on a hard disk.
*Advantages of portable hard disks and removable hard disks are that users can transport a large number of files, add storage space to a notebook computer or Tablet PC, and share a drive with multiple computers.
*If a personal computer has one floppy disk drive, it is named drive A.
Optical discs commonly store items in a single track that spirals from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc.
The process of writing on an optical disc is called burning.
The storage capacity of a DVD-ROM is greater than a CD, and a DVD’s quality far surpasses that of a CD because images are stored at higher resolutions.
*Storage techniques that a DVD-ROM can use to achieve a higher storage capacity than a CD-ROM include making the disc more dense by packing the pits closer together, using two layers of pits, and being double-sided.
Tape no longer is used as a primary method of storage but is used most often for long-term storage and backup.
*CDs, DVDs, and hard disks all use direct access.
One popular use of smart cards is to store a prepaid amount of money, as in a prepaid telephone calling card.
*Advantages of using microfilm and microfiche include greatly reducing the amount of paper firms must handle, they are inexpensive, and they have the longest life of any storage media
*Flash drives, thumb drives, pen drives, and jump drives are all examples of USB drives.

Chapter 8

A warm boot is the process of restarting a computer that already is powered on.
*Each time a computer is booted up, the kernel and other frequently used operating system instructions are loaded, or copied from, the hard disk (storage) tothe computer’s memory (RAM).
*In most cases, the operating system is installed and resides on a computer’s hard disk.
When turning on a computer that has been powered off completely, users are performing a cold boot.
The boot process is the same for large and small computers.
*During the boot process, the POST results are compared with data in a CMOS chip on the motherboard.
*By default, if a PC has a floppy drive, during the boot process, the operating system will look first in drive A (the designation for a floppy disk drive) for the system files.
*Booting is the process of starting or restarting a computer.
The BIOS executes a series of tests, collectively called the POST, which check the various system components including the buses, system clock, adapter cards, RAM chips, mouse, keyboard, and drives.
A boot drive is the drive from which a personal computer starts.
*An operating system allocates, or assigns, data and instructions to an area of memory while they are being processed.
Because of spooling, users do not have to wait for the first print job to finish printing before they can send a second print job to the printer.
Each device on a computer, such as the mouse, keyboard, monitor, and printer, has a different set of commands and thus uses a different driver.
Today, installation of new hardware devices is easy because most devices or operating systems support Plug and Play.
With Plug and Play, a user can plug in a device, turn on the computer, and then use, or play, the device without having to configure the system manually.
*Different sizes of computers use different operating systems
*Command-line interfaces like DOS or UNIX give a user more control to manage detailed settings.
A multitasking operating system allows a single user to work on two or more applications at the same time.
The purpose of memory management is to optimize use of random access memory (RAM).
*While waiting for a device, such as a printer, to become idle, the operating system places items in buffers.
Multiple print jobs line up in a queue within the buffer.
*Two types of system software are operating systems and utility programs.
Networks, midrange servers, mainframes, and supercomputers allow hundreds to thousands of people to connect at the same time, and thus are multiuser.
An operating system is a set of programs containing instructions that coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources.
A cross-platform program is one that runs the same on multiple operating systems.
*The operating system that a computer uses sometimes is called the platform.
*The kernel is the core of an operating system that maintains the computer’s clock, starts applications, and assigns the computer’s resources, such as devices, programs, data, and information.
In a command-line interface like the one shown in Figure 8-3, a user types commands or presses special keys on the keyboard (such as function keys or key combinations) to enter data and instructions.
PDAs, smart phones, and other small computing devices often use a single user/single tasking operating system, which allows only one user to run one program at a time.
A multiprocessing operating system supports two or more processors running programs at the same time.
*With virtual memory, a page is the amount of data and program instructions that can swap at a given time.
*If a new device, such as a printer or scanner, is attached to a computer, its driver must be installed before the device can be used.
A driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a specific device.
*In some networks, the server is the computer that controls access to the hardware and software on the network and provides a centralized storage area for programs, data, and information
Client computers on a network often go to the server(s) for resources such as files, devices, processing power, and storage
A network administrator uses a network OS to add and remove users, computers, and other devices to and from a network
A network operating system records both successful and unsuccessful logon attempts in a file.
*Some operating systems allow a network administrator to assign passwords to files and commands, restricting access to only authorized users
*Stand-alone operating systems can operate with or without a network
Since its release, Apple’s Macintosh operating system has set the standard for operating system ease of use and has been the model for most of the new GUIs developed for non-Macintosh systems
*A network operating system typically resides on a server
UNIX commands are difficult to learn
*In addition to being a stand-alone operating system, UNIX also is a network operating system.
*Linux is open-source software, while Macintosh is proprietary software
*Linux is available in a command-line version as well as a GUI version
*A network OS organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share resources on a network.
*Active Directory (AD) is a feature of Windows Server (beginning with Windows 2000) that allows network administrators to manage all network information including users, devices, settings, and connections from a central environment.
*All of the following are examples of common stand-alone operating systems: DOS, Windows XP, Mac OS, OS/2 Warp Client, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows Millennium Edition.
The Windows 98 file manager, called Windows Explorer, also had a Web browser look and feel.
Apple’s Macintosh operating system was the first commercially successful GUI.
*All of the following are examples of network operating systems : NetWare, Windows Server 2008, OS/2 Warp Server for E-business , Solaris™, UNIX, and Linux.
Linux can be obtained by downloading it from the Web free of charge, buying a Linux book that includes a CD-ROM containing Linux, or purchasing a CD from a Linux distributor.
Windows Vista is an upgrade to Windows XP.
*Mac OS X includes features from previous Apple computer operating systems, such as large photo-quality icons, built-in networking support, and enhanced speech recognition.
Three popular GUIs available for Linux are GNOME, UNBUNTO, and KDE.
*Popular embedded operating systems include Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Linux, and Symbian OS
*To secure a computer, a screen saver can be configured so a user must enter a password to stop the screen saver
Files and disks should be backed up regularly in the event originals are lost, damaged, or destroyed
Fragmentation slows down disk access and thus degrades the performance of the entire computer
When an operating system stores a new data file on a disk, it places the data in the first available sector on the disk
*A physical disk problem is one with the media, such as a scratch on the surface of the disk
*A logical disk problem is one with the data, such as a corrupted file allocation table (FAT)
*Most operating systems include many utility programs
A file manager is a utility that allows users to display and copy the contents of a file.
Compressing files frees up room on storage media, reduces file transmission time, and improves system performance.
An uninstaller is a utility that removes an application, as well as any associated entries in the system files.
*A disk scanner is a utility that (1) detects and corrects both physical and logical problems on a hard disk or floppy disk and (2) searches for and removes unnecessary files.
*A screen saver is a utility that causes a monitor’s screen to display a moving image or blank screen if no keyboard or mouse activity occurs for a specified time period.
A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices.
*Utilities are system software that allow a user to perform maintenance-type tasks, usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs.
Utility programs included with most operating systems provide all of the following functions: managing files, viewing images, uninstalling programs, diagnosing problems, backing up files, and defragmenting disks
Defragmenting a disk, or reorganizing it so the files are stored in contiguous sectors, speeds up disk access and thus the performance of the entire computer.
A filter is a program that removes or blocks certain items from being displayed.
Compressed files, sometimes called zipped files, usually have a .zip extension.
A file compression utility is a utility that shrinks the size of a file(s).

Chapter 9

A client/server network is a complex, expensive network that typically connects more than 10 computers together
Each computer on a client/server network stores files on the server computer’s central storage device
Sharing software via a network usually costs less than buying individual copies of the software package for each computer
*A client/server LAN is a network in which one computer acts as a server and the other computers on the network request services from the server
*In a client/server LAN, the major difference between the server computer and the client computers is the server has more storage space and power.
*In a star network, if one device (except for the hub) fails, only that device is affected.
*In a star network, if the hub fails the entire network is inoperable until the hub is repaired.
*In a networked environment, any authorized computer user can access data and information stored on other computers on the network.
Although it can connect a larger number of computers, a peer-to-peer network most often provides an efficient means to connect 10 or fewer computers.
*Star networks are very easy to install and maintain.
*Advantages of using a network include sharing hardware, software, data, and information, and facilitating communications.
On a star network, all of the computers and devices (nodes) on the network connect to a central device.
*A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area, such as a home, school computer laboratory, or office building.
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a high-speed network that connects networks in an area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region.
*A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area, such as a city, country, or the world, using a communications channel that combines many types of media.
*On a client/server network, a server computer controls access to the hardware, software, and other resources on the network and provides a centralized storage area for programs, data, and information.
A bus network is a network topology that consists of a single central cable, to which all computers and other devices connect.
On a star network, if one node fails only that node is affected.
The token ring standard specifies that computers and devices on the network share or pass a special signal, called a token, in a unidirectional manner and in a preset order.
*Each networked computer in a house can share a single high-speed Internet connection, access files and programs on other computers in the house, and share peripherals such as a printer, scanner, external hard disk, or DVD drive
If two computers on an Ethernet network attempt to send data at the same time, a collision occurs, and the computers must attempt to send their messages again.
Ethernet is based on a bus topology, but Ethernet networks can be wired in a star pattern.
The original Ethernet standard was much slower than today’s standards.
*In the token ring LAN technology, the device with the token can transmit data over the network.
*Many vendors offer home networking packages that include all the necessary hardware and software to network a home.
*A dedicated line is a permanent connection that uses one or more digital telephone lines for communications.
*A dedicated line is a connection that always is established between two communications devices.
The word, modem, is derived from a combination of the words, modulate, to change into an analog signal and, demodulate, to convert an analog signal into a digital signal.
*The quality and consistency of the connection on a dedicated line are better than a dial-up line because dial-up lines provide a temporary connection.
*A disadvantage of DSL is that the user’s location (and DSL modem) and the telephone company’s DSL modem must be located within a specified distance from each other.
*An analog signal consists of a continuous electrical wave.
*Cable modems currently transfer data at speeds that are much faster than either a dial-up modem or ISDN.
Broadband media transmits multiple signals simultaneously.
Baseband media transmits only one signal at a time.
Ethernet is a LAN technology that allows personal computers to contend for access to the network.
*WAP allows wireless mobile devices to access the Internet and its services such as the Web and e-mail.
According to the definition of a modem (to convert from analog to digital signals and vice versa), the use of the term modem in the context of digital modem is not correct.
*Today, Ethernet is the most popular LAN technology because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to install and maintain.
When a computer sends data over the Internet, the data is divided into small pieces, or packets.
Mainframe computers, servers, desktop computers, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and PDAs can serve as sending and receiving devices in a communications system.
GPS is a navigation system that consists of one or more earth-based receivers that accept and analyze signals sent by satellites in order to determine the receiver’s geographic location.
TCP/IP is a network technology that defines how messages are routed from one end of a network to the other, ensuring the data arrives correctly by dividing it into packets.
TCP/IP has been adopted as a network standard for Internet communications.
*One popular use of the Wi-Fi network standard is in hot spots that offer mobile users the ability to connect to the Internet with their wireless computers and devices.
*Bluetooth technology uses short-range radio waves to transmit data between two devices.
WiMAX is a newer network standard developed by IEEE that specifies how wireless devices communicate over the air in a wide area.
ISDN is a set of standards for digital transmission of data over standard copper telephone lines.
DSL transmits at fast speeds on existing standard copper telephone wiring, but requires that the user’s location and the telephone company’s modem be located within a certain distance of each other.
Although cable television (CATV) lines are not a type of standard telephone line, they are very popular ways for the home user to connect to the Internet.
*DSL requires a special network card and a DSL modem.
The NIC for wired transmission requires that one end of a cable plug into the modem or hub and the other end into the NIC
Wireless transmission media send communications signals through the air or space using radio, microwave, and infrared signals
Many business are using fiber-optic cables in high-traffic networks or as the main cable in a network
Many handheld computers have IrDA ports, allowing data to be transferred to another handheld computer or network wirelessly
*With Wi-Fi, in open or outdoor areas free from interference, the computers or devices should be within 100 feet of each other
All sizes of networks can benefit from routers
One of the more widely used transmission media for network cabling and telephone systems is twisted-pair cable
Cable television (CATV) most often uses uses coaxial cable
*Fiber-optic cables have the capability of carrying significantly more signals than wire cables
*Wireless transmission media are often used when it is inconvenient or impossible to install cables
Physical transmission media used in communications include twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.
*Twisted-pair cable consists of one or more twisted-pair wires bundled together.
*The core of a fiber-optic cable consists of dozens or hundreds of thin strands of glass or plastic that use light to transmit signals.
*When compared to cables that use wire, such as twisted-pair and coaxial cables, all of the following are advantages of fiber-optic cables: less susceptibility to noise (interference) from other devices; faster data transmission; and, better security for signals during transmission.
Wireless transmission media used in communications include broadcast radio, cellular radio. communications satellites, microwaves, and infrared.
Microwave transmission is used in environments where installing physical transmission media is difficult or impossible and where line-of-sight transmission is available.
*Bluetooth printing is more convenient than infrared printing because Bluetooth devices do not have to be aligned but must be within an approximate 30-foot range.
A 3G network uses cellular radio technology to provide users with high-speed Internet connections, as long as they are in the network’s range.
*A GPS receiver is a handheld, mountable, or embedded device that contains a radio receiver, an antenna, and a processor.
A WLAN is a LAN that uses no physical wires.
A NIC is an adapter card, PC Card, or flash card that enables a computer or devices to access a network.
For smaller business and home networks, a router allows multiple computers to share a single high-speed Internet connection simultaneously such as through a cable modem or DSL modem.

Chapter 10

*Because information is created from data, a company must manage and protect its data resources just as it would any other resource.
A database includes a group of related data files.
*File maintenance procedures include adding records to, changing records in, and deleting records from a file.
Companies that use databases typically have security settings to define who can access, add, change, and delete the data in a database.
It often is easier and faster to develop programs that use the database approach.
When data are entered, the data dictionary verifies that the entered data matches the field’s data type.
To ensure that data is accessible on demand, a company must manage and protect its data just as it would any other resource.
*For a computer to produce correct information, the data that is input into a database must have integrity.
Two different people may need the same information presented in a different manner.
Most information is not equally important to all people and groups of people.
A database is a group of related files
Whereas a relational database table is made up of two-dimensions, a multidimensional database table can store more than two dimensions.
Three popular data models in use today are relational, object-oriented, and multidimensional.
While it has many advantages, the database approach does have the disadvantages of greater complexity.
*A movie file might use Movie ID as a key field because it uniquely identifies each movie.
Verifiable information can be proven as correct or incorrect.
*A personal trainer with read-only privileges to the e-mail addresses in a fitness club database could view the addresses but not change them.
To ensure privacy, members would have no access privileges to the data in a fitness club database.
In a relational database, each row has a primary key and each column has a unique name.
With a DBMS, users create a computerized database; add, change, and delete data in the database; sort and retrieve data from the database; and create forms and reports from the data in the database.
*Accurate information is error free.
*Timely information has an age suited to its use.
Organized information is arranged to suit the needs and requirements of a decision maker.
*A database contains files, a file contains records, a record contains fields, and a field is made up of characters.
A bit is the smallest unit of data a computer can process.
In a database, the data type specifies the kind of data a field can contain and how the field is used.
*In a database, a record is a group of related fields.
*In a database, a key field is a field that uniquely identifies each record in a file.
*If the lowest annual fee at a discount warehouse is $20.25 and the highest is $55.50, a range check on the Annual Fee field ensures it is a value between $20.25 and $55.50.
A consistency check tests the data in two or more associated fields to ensure that the relationship is logical.
*A completeness check verifies that a required field contains data.
A numeric check is a validity check performed to ensure users enter only numeric data into a field.
A front-end program interacts with a DBMS, which in turn interacts with the database.
When compared with a file processing system, a database offers reduced data redundancy, easier access to data, shared data, and reduced development time.
Commonly used methods to retrieve and maintain data include report generators, forms, query languages, and query by example
Most DBMSs include a QBE feature which has a graphical user interface to assist users with retrieving data.
*A checkout clerk with read-only privileges to the e-mail addresses in a discount warehouse database could view the addresses but not change them.
Popular data models in use today include relational. object-oriented, and multidimensional.
A user of a relational database refers to a file as a table.
A user of a relational database refers to a record as a row.
A user of a relational database refers to a field as a column.
*In a relational database, a relationship is a connection within the data.
*SQL is a query language that allows users to manage, update, and retrieve data.
A data warehouse is a huge database that stores and manages the data required to analyze historical and current transactions.

Chapter 11

Computer communications can include text, graphics, sound, and video
*Today, educators are turning to computers to assist with the learning process
Some educators use computer-based training and Web-based training along with or as a replacement for their lecture presentations
On the Web, images of fine art can be viewed in online museums, galleries, and centers
Instead of driving to the music store or video store to purchase music or movies, they can be bought on the Web
*The advantage of Web-based online banking is that account information can be accessed from anywhere in the world
If a driver plans to travel somewhere and is unsure of the path to take to the destination, directions and a map can be printed from the Web
It is not legal to download copyrighted music unless the song’s copyright holder has granted permission for users to download and play the song
*Businesses often provide goods or services to other businesses, so much e-commerce takes place between businesses
You cannot assume that because information is on the Web, it is accurate
*Anyone with access to a computer, an Internet connection, and a means to pay for purchased goods or services can participate in e-commerce.
Workers telecommute for all of the following reasons: implementing a flexible work schedule, reducing time and expense spent traveling, eliminating travel during unsafe weather conditions, and providing a convenient, comfortable work environment.
*Architects use Virtual Reality to show clients previews of buildings and landscapes.
*Frequently discussed areas of computer ethics are unauthorized use of computer systems, codes of conduct, software theft, intellectual property rights, information privacy, and information accuracy
Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce consists of the sale of goods and services by a company to the general public.
Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) e-commerce occurs when one consumer sells directly to another consumer, such as in an online auction.
Most e-commerce actually takes place between businesses, which is called Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce.
*A cookie is a small text file that a Web server stores on a user’s computer.
Web sites use a session cookie to keep track of items in a user’s shopping cart.
Protective measures, or safeguards, can be taken to minimize or prevent the consequences of the more common computer security risks
*A time bomb activates on a particular date or time
Most multiuser (networked) operating systems require that users correctly enter a user name and a password before they can access the data, information, and programs stored on a computer or network.
*Longer passwords provide more security than shorter ones
In the encryption process, the encrypted, unreadable data is called ciphertext
*Companies use firewalls to deny network access to outsiders and to restrict employee’s access to sensitive data such as payroll or personnel records
Computers can get a virus through e-mail
Users with broadband Internet connections are more susceptible to attacks from a hacker
Thieves often target notebook computers of company executives, so they can use the stolen computer to access confidential company information illegally
Authentication verifies that an individual is the person he or she claims to be
Identification verifies that an individual is a valid user
A corrupt individual stealing credit card numbers to make fraudulent purchases is an example of information theft
Digital signatures often are used to ensure that an imposter is not participating in an Internet transaction
To remove spyware, users need to obtain a special program that can detect and delete it
Spam is an unsolicited e-mail message or newsgroup posting sent to many recipients or newsgroups at once
It is legal for employers to use software programs that monitor employees
A worm is a malicious-logic program that copies itself repeatedly in memory or on a disk drive until no memory or disk space remains/
*A polymorphic virus modifies its program code each time it attaches itself to another program or file.
*To prevent virus infection, take each of the following precautions: check all downloaded programs for viruses, never open an e-mail attachment unless it is from a trusted source, and enable macros only if a document is from a trusted source
*Encryption is the process of converting readable data into unreadable characters to prevent unauthorized access.
A computer security plan should do all of the following: identify all information assets of an organization. identify all security risks that may cause an information asset loss, and for each risk, identify the safeguards that exist to detect, prevent, and recover from a loss
*The term cybercrime refers to online or Internet-based illegal acts.
Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses deliver their payload on a computer when a user opens an infected file, runs an infected program, or boots the computer with an infected disk in a disk drive.
*Examples of biometric devices and systems include fingerprint scanners, hand geometry systems, voice recognition systems, face recognition systems, signature verification systems, and iris recognition systems
*To help reduce the chance of hardware theft (non-mobile devices), physical controls such as locked doors and cables usually are adequate to protection equipment.
*A Trojan horse is malware that hides within or looks like a legitimate program, such as an animation file.
The term, computer virus, describes a potentially damaging computer program that affects, or infects, a computer negatively by altering the way the computer works without the user’s knowledge or
A virus signature is a known specific pattern of virus code.
Unauthorized access is the use of a computer or network without permission.
*In addition to access controls, a computer should maintain an audit trail that records both successful and unsuccessful access attempts.
Each character added to a password significantly increases the number of combinations and the length of time it might take for someone or for a hacker’s computer to guess the password.
A possessed object is any item that must be carried to gain access to a computer or computer facility.
A biometric device authenticates a person’s identity by translating a personal characteristic into a digital code that then is compared with a digital code stored in the computer verifying a physical or behavioral characteristic.
Software piracy continues for all of the following reasons: in some countries, legal protection for software does not exist; software piracy is a fairly simple crime to commit; and, many buyers believe they have the right to copy software they have paid for.
In its simplest form, an encryption key is a programmed formula that the recipient of encrypted data uses to decrypt the ciphertext.
*A digital signature is an encryption code that a person, Web site, or company attaches to an electronic message to verify the identity of the message sender.
A Web site that uses encryption techniques to secure its data is known as a secure site.
*A copyright gives authors and artists exclusive rights to duplicate, publish, and sell their materials.

Chapter 12

The development of an information system should use phases, involve the users, and develop standards.
The disadvantage of direct conversion is that it is extremely risky and can disrupt operations seriously.
The disadvantage of parallel conversion is that it is costly (or impossible) to operate two systems at the same time.
In addition to having some technical skills, a systems analyst must be familiar with business operations, have excellent communications skills, and have excellent interpersonal skills.
A Gantt chart, developed by Henry Gantt, is a bar chart that uses horizontal bars to show project phases or activities.
The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine the exact nature of a problem or improvement and decide whether it is worth pursuing.
*A data flow shows the input or output of information into or out from a process.
*A prototype is a working model of a proposed system.
*The advantage of a prototype is that users can work with the system before it is completed — to make sure it meets their needs.
*Parallel conversion consists of running the old system alongside the new system for a specified time.
With direct conversion, a user stops using the old system and begins using the new system on a certain date.

Chapter 13

A proper program, each of its modules, and each of its control structures has no dead code, no infinite loops, one entry point, and one exit point
If program logic is restricted to the three basic control structures, the programs naturally will follow the single entry and single exit point rule
Misspelling a command, leaving out required punctuation, or typing command words out of order all will cause syntax errors
A low-level language is a programming language that is machine dependent and runs on one particular computer
Third-generation languages are procedural languages, meaning they require the program instructions tell the computer what to accomplish and how to do it
*Although COBOL programs often are lengthy, their English-like statements make the code easy to read, write, and maintain
C is a powerful programming language that requires professional programming skills
*C++ includes all the elements of the C language and has additional features for working with objects, classes, events, and other object-oriented concepts
*HTML is not actually a programming language, but it has specific syntax rules for defining the placement and format of text, graphics, video, and sound on a Web page
*A machine-independent language can run on many different types of computers and operating systems
Although COBOL programs always are long, their clear, English-like statements make the code easy to read, write, and maintain
*HTML code can be written using any text editor, such as Notepad
*Most programmers agree that HTML is not a full-blown programming language
In top-down design, a programmer begins with a large, general design, then expands toward details
*A syntax error occurs when the code violates the syntax, or grammar, of the programming language.
*A logic error is a flaw in the design of a program that causes inaccurate results
Test data should include both valid (correct) and invalid (incorrect) data
Top-down design breaks down the original set of program specifications into smaller, more manageable sections.
An infinite loop is a set of instructions that repeats continuously.
A program flowchart graphically shows the logic in a solution algorithm, using a set of standards published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Machine and assembly languages are low-level languages.
*When choosing software, all of the following factors should be considered : standards of the organization, interface with other programs, and suitability to the application.
The CGI (common gateway interface) is the communications standard that defines how a Web server communicates with outside sources.
A programming language is a set of words, symbols, and abbreviations that enables a programmer to communicate instructions to a computer.
Machine language, known as the first generation of programming languages, is the only language a computer directly recognizes.
The C programming language, was originally designed for writing system software, but today is also used for writing application software.
Java is an object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems.
*Widely used object-oriented languages that the industry recognizes as standards include Java, C++ and C#.
C++ is an object-oriented programming language that is an extension of the C programming language
*Visual Basic is an event-driven programming language that allows programmers easily to build complex task oriented object-based programs.
The purpose of C# is to take the complexity out of C++ and still provide an object-oriented programming language.
SQL is a popular 4GL query language that allows users to manage, update, and retrieve data in a relational DBMS.
*Examples of HTML tags are <b> to bold text, <p> to indicate a new paragraph, and <hr> to display a horizontal rule across the page.
*Director, from Adobe Systems, is a popular multimedia authoring program with powerful features that allow developers to create highly interactive multimedia applications.
In structured design, a section of a program that performs a single function is a module
*A sequence control structure shows one or more actions following each other in order.
*A selection control structure tells the program which action to take, based on a certain condition.
*The repetition control structure enables a program to perform one or more actions repeatedly as a loop as long as a certain condition is met.
*Syntax errors will be caused by misspelling a command, typing command words out of order, or by leaving out required punctuation.
Dead code is any program instructions that a program never executes.