CGS2060 Concept Exams #1

Study Guide

Chapter 1 Topics:
Computers can be used for computation, automation, communication, entertainment, and information. When you talk about something digital it references things that can be represented by numbers. A group of 8 bits is called a byte Things that can be stored on a digital device include numbers, characters, sounds, images, movies, etc. A special purpose computer is designed primarily for one particular function (ex. Ipod, phone). A computer network is a telecommunications network that connects two or more computers for data communications. Wi-Fi (short of wireless fidelity) is a popular wireless networking standard. VOIP (Voice-over-Internet-Protocol) is a popular technology that allows phones to use Internet connections. The speed of a human brain has been estimated at 100 trillion operations per second.

Chapter 2 Topics:
Data is stored as bits (binary) The binary numbers system uses only 0 and 1. An Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) contains the circuitry to carry out the instructions in the processors instruction set. The Front Side Bus consists of electronic pathways between the CUP and RAM Clock speeds are measured today in Gigahertz and Megahertz RAM has the largest capacity. RAM is memory or primary storage. ROM is read-only memory. It provides permanent storage for data from the computer manufacturer, including the boot process used to start the computer. CMOS provides a service somewhere between RAM and ROM in that it is permanent like ROM and doesnt go away when the computer is turned off, but its contents can be changed like RAM. RAM consists of chips grouped on a board called SIMM. Magnetic tape is a storage medium used by businesses and organizations that need to store and back up large quantities of data. Similar to the kind of tape found in audio or video cassettes, magnetic tape is Mylar film coated with iron oxide particles. Flash Memory is a form of Solid State storage

Notebook computers integrate the mouse as touch-sensitive pad called the touch pad

Chapter 3 Topics:
System Software is the set of programs that coordinates the activities of the hardware and various computer programs. Application Software provides services for people. A Source Code is text files created by programmers that is translated into an object code. A compiler takes in source code and produces output of object code and executable code. Open-source software is distributed typically for free, with the source code so that it can be studied, changed, and improved by its users. Creative Commons Licenses are designed to allow the creators of an intellectual property to specify the terms of the license in order to grant certain freedoms to users, while still providing the owner with some control of the property and the ability to profit from the distribution of the work. Operating systems support single user, multi user, and multi computer platforms Operating systems have both a graphic user interface (GUI) and a command prompt access.

Chapter 4 Topics:
The Internet Backbone consists of the main pathways and connections of the Internet owned primarily by telecom companies. Service Providers own the many national and international communications networks. A POP (Point of Presence) is the facility provided by Network Service Providers that allow users to connect to the Internet backbone. A Cable Modem connection is a high-speed internet service provided by cable television service providers. Dial-Up Modem is a low-speed Internet service that utilizes the customers phone line for data transfer rates as high as 56 kilobites per second, provided by any one of hundreds of Internet service providers. DSL (digital subscriber line) uses the customers hone line, but there is no dialing up and users can use the Internet and talk on the phone simultaneously. DSS (digital satellite service) is a wireless high-speed internet service provided to your home by companies such as EarthLink and HughesNet. An IP address is a unique 32-bit identifier for Internet hosts. Read as decimal numbers, an IP address consist of four numbers (0-255) separated by periods. HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol defines and controls communication between Web server and client (web browser); URL: Uniform Resource Locator is the fancy name for a web address; Domain name = www.google.com HTML: Hypertext Markup Language is the formatting language used to define the appearance of Web pages; XML: New and popular standard for describing and classifying data in Web pages and other Web services.

Web-authoring software allows you to create HTML documents using word-processor-like software. A Web-Portal acts as an entry point to the web. Web Logs are commonly known as blogs

Chapter 5 Topics:
Protocols are standards that allow network devices to speak to each other with the same Language Bandwidth is the range of frequencies that can be sent over a given medium at the same time. It is measured in bits per second. There are typically three transmission cables: Twisted pair copper wire, fiber optic cable, and coaxial cable. Fiber optic cable consists of extremely thin strands of glass or plastic with a sheathing that allows lights of beam to be sent down them. A network switch allows users to send information over a network without affecting the speed of other users. Microwave transmission is a line-of-sight medium. The two mobile phone standards for cell phone networks are GSM and CDMA. GSM is the most popular global standard for mobile phones. The CDMA networking standard is predominantly used in the United States where it is in equal compensation with GSM. Local area networks (LAN) connect computer systems and devices within a common geographic area. Metropholitan Area Networks (MAN) connect networks within a city or metropolitan-size area into a larger high-speed network. Wide area networks connect LANs between cities, crosscountry, and around the world using microwave and satellite transmission or telephone lines.

Chapter 6 Topics:
Analog to Digital conversion means converting sound, images, motion into numbers that can be stored in a computer A synthesizer is a device that electronically produce sounds A ampler plays back samples of real sounds Digital images users bit-mapped or raster images. KaZa and Limewore are file-sharing peer-to-peer networks.