Revision

Revision

1. computer systems

   • File
     • Anything you save. It could be a document, a piece of music, a collection of data or something else.
   • Security
     • The protection of data or hardware from un authorised users
   • Password
     • A string of characters used to verify the identity of a user
   • Server
     • A computer that holds data to be shared with other computers. A web server stores and shares websites
   • Alphanumeric
     • It is a mixture of letters and numbers
   • Folder / Sub Folder
     • A place to store files that are related, eg. all of the files relating to one project. Folders help to keep work organised. Sometimes called a directory A sub-folder is a folder inside another folder.
       • Secure Password
         • A mixture of numbers , letters ,symbols and is at least 8 characters in length .
           • Not easy to guess .
             • Non-secure password
               • Your name , something easy to guess .
             • Computational thinking
               • Computational thinking allows us to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. We can then present these solutions in a way that a computer, a human, or both, can understand.
                 • Abstraction
                   • Focusing on the important information only. Ignoring the details that are not needed.
                     • Decomposition
                       • Breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts.
                         • Pattern recognition
                           • Looking for similarities among and within problems. Looking for patterns.
                       • Algorithms
                         • Developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem.
                           • Sequence
                             • Following an ordered set of instructions.
                               • Selection
                                 • Making a decision within a computer program to decide which instruction to carry out next.
   • File Management
     • The organisation of files and folders using suitable names (which gives the identity of a file) and placed into folders

2. Hardare

   • The physical parts of a computer system, eg a graphics card, hard disk drive or CD drive.
   • Storage
     • A storage device is a piece of computer equipment which can be used to store data.
   • Peripherals
     • A peripheral device is defined as a computer device, such as a keyboard or printer, that is not part of the essential computer.
   • Embedded
     • Embedded computers are used in car engines, spacecraft and MP3 players. They are dedicated systems that are designed for a fixed purpose
   • Magnetic
     • Principally used for backup of important files from the hard disk and for the long term storage and archiving of data.
     • Memory
       • The part of a computer that stores data
       • Solid State
         • Solid state devices use non-volatile random access memory (RAM) to store data indefinitely
       • Input
         • Solid state devices use non-volatile random access memory (RAM) to store data indefinitely
         • Output
           • An output device is any piece of computer hardware used to communicate the results of data that has been processed.
           • Optical
             • Optical devices use a laser to scan the surface of a spinning disc made from metal and plastic.
             • CPU
               • The purpose of the CPU is to process data. The CPU is where processes such as calculating, sorting and searching take place
               • Ram
                 • Random Access Memory (RAM) is a fast temporary type of memory in which programs, applications and data are stored.
                   • Processing
                     • Carrying out a set of instructions.