Chapter 3

  • Multiple cores are always located on separate chips – False
  • A core is a – processing unit
  • One limiting factor for how much performance improvement multicore processors provide is – software design
  • Multicore processors speed up computer tasks by – dividing the work among multiple processors
  • Devices that can have wireless communications capabilities include – laptop computers, gaming devices, smartphones
  • This is wireless technology for shorter range communications – Bluetooth
  • The term used for wi-fi enabled locations is a – hotspot
  • A cabling technology is under development that could deliver communications at speeds roughly 1000 times faster than technology available today – False
  • One of the three technologies that touchscreen technologies today may be based on is – measuring varying amounts of electrical resistance
  • Multi-touch screens sense – multiple, simultaneous touches
  • This determines the position of the touch and converts it into the XY coordinate information – a controller circuit
  • A touchscreen always has a transparent touch-sensitive panel overlaying a video screen – True
  • A significant increase in RAM can – increase the speed of your computer
  • A front side bus connects – your computer processor and system devices
  • Sometimes older software can cause your computer to slow down because it – can’t take advantage of newer processor capabilities
  • Clock speed is measured in terrhertz – False
  • What software program needs to be installed for a new device to become usable – device driver
  • A device driver program that guides you through the installation process is often referred to as a – wizard
  • If you do not have your computer’s set up CD or DVD, where is the best place to find the correct device drivers – manufacturer’s support website
  • Updates to your system devices are often referred to as a driver or ____ updates – firmware
  • According to silverman, what is the most important component to “future proof” the traditional PC – upgradable memory
  • What is the downside to computers lasting longer than they used to –NONE OF THE ABOVE – less innovation in new computers, fewer improvements in multimedia devices, decreased ability to manipulate content
  • According to silverman, smart phones and tablets have a shorter lifespan than traditional PC’s because – tablets and smartphones are rapidly increasing their capabilities
  • Silverman predicts it will be at least another ___ years before we begin to see the smart phone an tablet market slow down or mature – 5 to 6
  • A digital device – uses symbolic representations of data in the form of code
  • This is a type of peripheral device that is used for input – keyboard
  • Which of the following is NOT included on the motherboard – power supply
  • A mouse is known as a ____ device that is able to detect motion in relation to the surface and provides an onscreen pointer representing motion – pointing
  • Type of ports include – serial ports, USB, FireWire, and IrDA
  • BIOS stands for – basic input/output system
  • One of the advantages of using computers over a device, such as a typewriter, is that computers allow users to store information and edit and update information. Types of storage media include all of the following except – USB ports
  • An output device is any device that displays, prints, or plays content stored on a computer. From the list below, identify the device that would be considered an output device – speaker
  • The speed of a processor is measured in – gigahertz
  • Gordon Moore, founder of Intel, created Moore’s Law, which states that – the number of transistors on a chip will increase in an exponential manner with corresponding increases in processing speed and memory capacity
  • The average computer’s hard drive capacity for data storage is measured in – gigabytes
  • _____ is an operating system that is available both in a free version and in flavours that you can purchase – Linux

Definitions

Monitor – a visual output device used to view the interface and data on a computer or other device

Access speed – the speed at which your computer can retrieve data from RAM

Processor speed – the speed at which your computer interprets and carries out instructions that operate the computer and its devices

Expansion card – a device inserted on the computer motherboard that adds capabilities such as sound, graphics handling, or network communications

Microphone – a device used to input audio

BIOS – code that checks and starts up computer devices such as memory, monitor, keyboard, and disc drives and directs the hard drive to boot up and load the operating system (OS) to memory

Motherboard – the primary circuit board on computer that holds the CPU, BIOS, memory, and expansion cards

Plotter – an output device used to print large blueprints and other design or engineering documents

Megahertz – a measurement of RAM access speed; one megahertz is approximately one million cycles per second

Serial port – a port, built into the computer, used to connect a peripheral device to the serial bus, typically by means of a plug with 9 pins

Input – data entered into a computer via a variety of devices

Output – information that comes out of a computer that can be produced in a variety of formats

Gigahertz – a measurement of processer speed; one gigahertz is approximately one billion cycles per second

Drive – a device that reads or writes data to storage. Can be integrated into the computer or be external or removable

SSD – a flash based replacement for an internal hard disk

ROM – permanent, or non-volatile, memory of a computer

RAM – temporary or volatile memory

Flash drive – a port that uses flash memory to store, read, and write data

IRDA – a port that allows you to transfer data from one device to another by using infrared light waves

Optical drive – an optoelectronic device that detects changes in light caused by the irregularities on a disc’s surface

System unit – the main part of the computer CPU including the motherboard, processor, and ports

SED – a display technology that uses nanoscopic electron emitters (extremely tiny wires smaller than human hairs) to send electrons that illuminate a thin screen

LCD – a thin, flat type of monitor

OLED – a display technology that projects light through an electroluminescent (a blue/red/green-emitting) thin film layer made up of organic materials