A
* ABACUS :
The earliest form of computers, invented by the people of China 5000 years ago.
* ACCESS TIME :
The time interval between the instant at which data is called for a storage device and the instant delivery begins.
* ACCUMULATOR :
A local storage area, called a register , in which the result of an arithmetic or logic operation is formed.
* ADA :
A high level programming language named after Ada Augusta, a friend of Charles Babbage. It is a general purpose programming language developed at the U.S. Department of Defence for use in military applications.
* ADDRESS :
An identification, representation in the form of a name, label, or number for designating a particular location in storage area.
* ADDRESS REGISTER :
A local storage register which contains the address of the next instructions to be executed.
* ALGORITHM :
A sequence of precise and unambiguous instructions for solving a problem in a finite number of operations.
* ALPHANUMERIC :
Pertaining to a character set that contains letters, digits and usually other special characters such as the comma, dollar sign, plus sign etc.
* ALIGNMENT :
Formation of text to view it more clearly.
* ANALOG DISPLAY :
Devices also work like digital display and uses the RGB electron beam to construct various colors.
* ANALOG -TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER ( ADC ) :
A chip that converts an analog signal to digital values that a PC can manipulate.
* ANALOG /DIGITAL :
An analog signal is a continuous, varying electrical output, such as those created by microphones and sound amplifiers. A digital signal consists of discrete, separate values for input or output data.
* ANALYTICAL ENGINE :
A device invented by Charles Babbage, has the features of modern computers. i.e. it had input output and memory devices.
* ANIMATION :
Motion pictures in two or three dimensions.
* ANSI ( American National Standard Institute ) :
An U.S. based national organization that establishes uniform standards in several fields .
* ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE :
The program that inspect the master boot record, program files and macro code for the presence of viruses.
* APPLICATION SOFTWARE :
Design to perform specific task such as word processing, scientific analysis etc.
* ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT :
A part of CPU that does all the calculations and decision making.
* ARITHOMETER :
Invented by Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar, is a device for simple calculations.
* ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE :
A branch of computer science that deals with computers that process reasoning, learning and thinking capabilities that resemble that of human.
* ASCII :
The acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
* ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE :
Written in letter symbols called mnemonics.
* ASSEMBLY :
A program is translated from low -level language to machine code.
* AVI :
Abbreviation for audio / video interleave, one of the most common file formats that combines video and sound.
* AUDIO RESPONCE :
An output medium that produces verbal response from the computer system.
* AUXILIARY STORAGE :
A storage that supplements the primary internal storage of a computer. Often referred to as secondary storage, this section of the computers memory is characterized by low cost per bit stored, but it generally has an operating speed for slower than that of the primary storage.
B
* BACK UP :
Alternate facility of programs, data files, hardware equipment etc. that are used in case the original one is destroyed, lost or fail to operate .
* BAND WITH :
The range of frequencies available for data transmission. The Wider the bandwidth of a communication system, the more data can transmit in a given period of time.
* BASE :
The total number of digit ( symbols ) available to represent numbers in a positional number system.
* BASIC :
Beginners All -purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
* BATCH FILES :
Text file that contains a serious of commands carried out in MS-DOS.
* BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED :
An organisation that provides internet connections In short known as BSNL.
* BINARY NUMBER SYSTEM :
Consist of 1`s and 0`s which represent the electronic signals ON and OFF.
* BINARY :
Consist of only two integers -- 0 and 1. Binary math is the basis for manipulating all data in computers.
* BIOS ( Basic Input / Output System ) :
A collection of software codes built into a PC that handle some of the fundamental tasks of sending data from one part of the computer to anther.
* BIT :
Single 1 and 0, the smallest unit of data in a binary number system.
* BLOCK :
A group of related items (record, characters etc. ) handled as a unit during input and output . A section of program coding treated as a unit.
* BLOCKING FACTOR :
The number of logical record in a physical record .
* BOOLEAN ALGEBRA :
An algebra that deals with logical prepositions, which are either true or false, and to simplify such prepositions. This algebra is suitable for us with binary number system and is very useful in designing logic circuits used by the processors of computer system.
* BODY :
Contains the primitives or instructions to be given.
* BOMB :
A virus programs that waits for some specific event to occur .
* BOUD :
A unit for measuring data transmission speed. It is used to describe the capacity of a carrier, in general usages, boud is identical to bits per second.
* BROWSER :
A PC program that display pages from the internet.
* BUFFER :
A small storage area used to store information on a temporary basis for compensating the difference in rates of flow of data between various computer devices, For example, When data flows from an I/O device to the CPU, it passes through a buffer.
* BUG :
A flaw in software that causes the program to malfunction or freeze when it encounters specific situations.
* BUS TOPOLOGY :
The devices are connected to a central cable or backbone.
* BYTES :
Group of eight bits.
C
* CABLE :
A collection of wires separated by insulation that carry electrical signals between components .
* CACHE :
A primary storage device in which a small section the high speed RAM is used to keep frequency needed information.
* CACHE MEMORY :
A small high speed memory, which is used to increase the speed of processing by making current programs and data available to the CPU at a rapid rate.
* CAD ( Computer Aided Design ) :
Used of computer to automatic design operators.
* CALL STATEMENT :
A program statement , which transfer program control to a subroutine.
* CHIP :
A thin wafer of silicon on a which integrated electronic component are deposited .
* CAM ( Computer Aided Manufacturing ) :
Use of computer to automate manufacturing operators.
* CARD READER :
An input device that converts data coded onto punched cards into a binary formats for entry into main storage. It transfers data contained on a computer cards to the computer system.
* CD ROM :
A secondary storage device that stores large amount of information upto 650 MB.
* CD ROM DISK DRIVE :
An output device in which a disk drive is used as a compact disk technology for information storage.
* CELL :
Formed by the intersection of a raw and a column.
* CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT :
The brain of a computer in which data entered is processed. This unit is divided into control unit , Memory Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit.
* CHARACTER :
A symbol or sign made up of alphabets, numbers and other symbols.
* CHARACTER MAP :
An accessory in Windows used to insert special characters in documents.
* CHARACTER USER INTERFACE :
A kind of operating system in which system commands are entered through the keyboard e.g. MS DOS.
* CHATTING :
Sending instant message received by the other person in a second's time .
* CLIENT :
A computer or software that depends on another computer a server for data, other programs, of the processing of data. Part of a client / server network .
* CLIP ART :
A set of non- copy righted or public domain graphical images, photographs, maps or line art, on computer disk, in MS - Word, used in desk top publishing program, or presentation graphics program or in other documents.
* CLIP GALLERY :
The complete folder containing clip art.
* CLOSE BUTTON :
A button at the top corner of the Window, used to close the screen.
* CMOS :
A special type of memory clip that uses a small battery to retain information about PC's hardware configuration even while the computer is turned off .
* COBOL :
Common Business Oriented language developed in 1974 suitable for business applications.
* CODE :
A set of rules outing the way in which data may be representation within a computer system.
* CODING :
The process of writing computer instructions in a programming language.
* CODING SHEET :
The form on which programming instructions are written. Each programming language has its own unique coding sheet.
* COLOUR GRAPHIC ADAPTER ( CGA ) :
A CGA card displays both text and graphics but the graphics is not very sharp.
* COMMUNICATIONAL CHANNEL :
A medium through which data is transfer from one location to another.
* COMPILER :
Translates the entire program written in a high level language to machine language.
* COMPILING :
In compiling, a program written in high level language is translated into machine code. It produces the complete translation of the program in a single operation.
* COMPUTER GRAPHICS :
The art of computer science which is concerned with the generation, manipulation and display of pictures with the aid of a computer.
* COMPUTER LANGUAGE :
It is the medium of communication between user and computer.
* COMPUTER VIRUSES :
These are mini programs that duplicate themselves and attach their replies to other programs and documents.
* COMPUTER :
An electronic device that accepts inputs through keyboard store it in its memory by performing arithmetic and logical operations and finally displays the result.
* COMPUTER SYSTEM :
The various components of a computer integrated together to perform the steps called for in the program being executed .
* CONSOL :
The part of a computer system that enables human operator to a communicate with the computer.
* CONSTANT :
A value, written in to a program instruction that does not change during the execution of the program.
* CONTROL MENU :
At the top left corner of the window. It display the command for moving, sizing, minimizing, closing and maximizing the window.
* CONTROL UNIT :
A part of C.P.U. that regulates all the activities of a computer.
* COUNTER :
A device, register location for storing integers that are suitably incremented or decremented to represent the number of occurrences of an event.
* CPU :
An abbreviation of Central Processing Unit , it is the brain of a computer.
* CRT ( Cathode Ray Tube ) :
An electronic tube with a TV like screen upon which information may be displayed.
* CURSOR :
A special character on a display screen will appear when it is typed.
* CUT :
Command used to edit the text in word processing.
* CYBERNETICS :
The use of computer coupled with automatic machinery to carry out complex operation.
* CYCLE TIME :
The time interval between the instant at which a read / write command is given to memory and the instant when the next such instructions can be issued to the memory.
D
* DATA :
A collection of facts in raw from that become information after proper organization or processing .
* DATABASE :
A collection of data files integrated and organized into a single comprehensive file system, which is arranged to minimize duplication of data and to provide convenient access to information within that system to satisfy a wide variety of user needs.
* DATA DICTIONARY :
The document that contains clear definitions of the database that will be used in setting up database management system.
* DATA DIVISION :
It is the third division of a COBOL program. Its purpose is to assign names and to allocate space within main memory for all files records and fields to be used by the program.
* DATA ELEMENT :
A meaningful connection of related characters. Also called a field or data items.
* DATA ENTRY :
The conversion of human readable data into a form a computer system can interpret . This is also called data preparation.
* DATA PROCESSING :
A series of operation that convert raw information into useful information
* DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM :
A system that accomplishes data processing. It includes the necessary resource, which are people, material and equipment.
* DATA PROCESSOR :
A digital device that process data. It may be a computer, but in a larger sense it may gather, distribute, analyze and perform other organizations or smoothing operations on data. These operations then are not necessarily computational. Data processor is more inclusive term than computer.
* DIVISION SYMBOL :
A diamond shaped symbol used in flows chart to indicate a choice or branch in the processing path .
* DIRECT ACCESS :
Pertaining to storage devices where the access time is effectively independent of the location of the data.