This article consists of a computer science one-liner part 2 for Basic topics of computer Fundamentals, some popular apps, and famous abbreviations.
Forms of Application Software
- Packaged Software
- Custom Software
- Shareware
- Freeware
- Public Domain Software
- Web Applications
Productivity Software
Productivity Software helps the user to work more effectively and efficiently to perform various tasks at home, school, and business, etc. productivity software includes word processors, spreadsheets, databases, project management, and personal information management etc.
Word Productivity Software
People widely use Word Productivity Software, which is also known as a word processor, as the most common type of application software.
Examples
- Microsoft Word
- I Work Pages
- Libre Office Writer
Spreadsheet Software
A spreadsheet is a widely used application software for calculations.
Examples
- Microsoft Excel
- I Work Numbers
- Google Docs spreadsheets
- Libre Office Cale
Presentation Software
Presentation Software is a type of application software that uses graphics, animation, sound and data or information to make a visual presentation.
Examples
- MS PowerPoint
- I work keynote
- Google Docs Presentation
- Libre Office Impress
Database Software
A database is a collection of organized data. Database Software is an application software that is used to create, access, and manage a database.
Examples
- MS Access
- File Maker Pro
- Libre Office Base
- Oracle
- My SQL
Project Management Software
Project Management Software is used for planning large projects, scheduling project tasks, and tracking project costs.
Examples:
- MS Project
- Basecamp
PIM→ Personal Information Manager
Software Suite
A set of application software available as a single package is called a software suite. Example of Software Suites:
- Google Docs
- I work
- Libre Office
- MS Office
- MS Office 365
- Zoho Office Suite
Accounting Software
Accounting Software is an application software that records and processes accounting transactions.
Examples:
- Quick Books
- Sage Peachtree
Graphic and Multimedia Software
Graphics Software is used to create, manipulate, and print graphics. It is also known as digital imaging software.
Examples of Multimedia Software
- CAD → Computer-Aided Design uses 3D Graphics
- Engineers, Architects, and Graphic artists use graphic and multimedia software.
Example
- CAD
Desktop Publishing (DTP)
Paint Software
Paint Software is used to create and modify graphic images.
Examples
- MS Paint
- Illustrator
Photo Editing Software
Photo editing software is used to modify the existing image.
Examples
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple iphoto
- MS Office Picture Manager
Drawing Software
Drawing software provides a set of lines, shapes, and colors to create diagrams logos, etc.
Examples
- Coral Draw
- Adobe Illustrator
- Auto Desk
- Sketch Book
Video and Audio Editing Software
Video editing software is used to modify video clips. Audio editing software is used to edit audio clips.
Examples
- Premiere Pro
- Audition
- Sound booth
Educational Software
CBT → Computer Based Training
CAI → Computer-Assisted Instruction
CBL → Computer Based Learning
CAL → Computer Aided Learning
Email stands for electronic mail first email was sent in 1971. Ray Tomlinson.
Gmail
Gmail stands for Google web email service. it was launched in the year 2004. Paul BGuchheit is the founder of Gmail.
FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is used on the Internet for sending files from one place to another.
Example:
- Cute FTP
- WS-FTP
IRC→ Internet Relay Chat
System Unit
The motherboard is also called a system board or main board. CPU→ Central Processing Unit located on the motherboard. CPU consists of two main units arithonic 8 logical unit and control unit.
(1). ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit)
(i). Arithmetic Unit
The Arithmetic Unit of ALU performs basic arithmetic functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
(ii). Logic Unit
Logic Units perform logical operations like comparing two data items to find which data item is greater than, equal to, or less than the other.
(2). Control Unit
The Control Unit is an important component of the CPU. It acts like a supervisor of the computer.
Machine Cycle
CPU uses the machine cycle to process each instruction. Their Four:
(i). Fetch (ii). Decode (iii). Execute (iv). Storing
System Clock
A system clock is an electronic component. It generates electric signals at a fast speed.
MIPS → Millions of instructions per second.
FLOPS → Floating point operations per second.
Types of processors
CISC → Complex instruction set computing.
RISC → Reduced instruction set computing
Registers
A register is a small high-speed memory inside the CPU. The CPU contains a number of registers. Registers are used to store information being processed. These are temporary storage areas for instructions or data. The temporary results during processing are also stored in registers. Each register has a predefined function. The size of the registers is in bytes. Each byte can store one character of data. A register can be 1, 24, or 8 bytes.
Different Registers:
1) Memory Address Register (MAR)
2) Memory buffer Register (MBR)
3) Program Counter (PC)
4) Instruction Register (IR)
Parallel Processing
A method that uses multiple processors or multi-core processors to speed up processing is called parallel processing.
→ Single Instruction/Multiple Data (SIMD)
→ Multiple Instruction/Multiple Data (MIMD)
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BCD Code
BCD stands for Binary Coded Decimal. It is a 4-bit code.
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EBCDIC Code
EBCDIC stands for Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code. It is an 8-bit code.
iii. ASCII
ASCII stands for American standard code for information interchange. It is published in 1968 by ANSI.
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Unicode
Unicode is a 16-bit code.
Memory
Memory is an area of a computer that stores data and instructions to be accessed by the processor as well as the results of processing.
Structure of Main Memory
The main memory of a computer consists of thousands or millions of cells of storage locations. Each cell can store a bit one bit can represent 0 or 1. Bit stands for Binary Digit. The memory cells are logically organized into groups of 8 bits known as bytes.
Types of Memory
1) Volatile Memory
Volatile memory loses its contents when the computer is turned off. RAM is the most common type of volatile memory.
2) Non-volatile Memory
It does not lose its contents when the computer is turned off. ROM, Flash memory, and CMOS are examples of non-volatile memory.
RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is also known as direct access memory. Random Access means that it allows direct access to each individual byte in the entire memory. RAM is a volatile memory. People also refer to RAM as main memory or primary storage.
(i) DRAM → Dynamic Random Access Memory
(ii) DRAM → Dynamic Random Access Memory
(iii) DRAM → Dynamic Random Access Memory
ROM
ROM stands for Read Only Memory
→ BIOS→ Basic Input / Output System. ROM contains a small set of instructions called ROM BIOS.
(i) PROM → Programmable Read-Only Memory
(ii) EPROM → Erasable Programmable Read Only
(iii)EEPROM→ Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
Cache Memory
A cache is a small and very fast memory. Cache is designed to speed up the transfer of data and instructions. It is located close to the CPU Chip. It is faster than RAM. The data and instructions that are most recently and most frequently used by the CPU are stored in the cache.
Flash Memory
Flash Memory consists of non-volatile memory chips. Most computers use it to store startup instructions as it allows computer to update its constants easily. BIOS is stored in flash memory.
CMOS
CMOS stands for complementing metal-oxide semiconductor. It stores the configuration information of the computer.
Memory Access Time
The amount of time required by a processor to read data, instructions, and information
from memory is called access time.
(i) Millisecond → It is one-thousandth of a second. It is denoted by MS.
(ii) Microsecond → It is one-millionth of a second. It is denoted by the US.
(iii) Nanosecond → It is one billionth of a second. It is denoted by NS.
(iv) Picosecond → It is one trillionth of a second. It is denoted by PS.
(v) Megahertz → It can be converted into nanoseconds by dividing it into 1 billion. It is devoted to MHZ.
DVI → Digital Video interface
HDMI→ High Definition Media Interface
NIC → Network Interface Card
Port
A port is an interface or connection point through which peripheral devices connect to the computer.
Types of ports
1) Serial Ports
A type of interface that transmits one bit at a time is called a serial port.
2) Parallel Ports
A type of interface that transmits many bits at a time is called a parallel port.
3) USB Ports
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. USB is the most common type of port to connect devices to a computer.
4) HDMI Ports
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.
5) eSATA Port
eSATA stands for external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
Other Parts
MIDI → Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
SCSI → Small Computer System Interface
IrDA → Infrared Data Association
Bus
The devices are connected together by a communications channel called a bus. A bus consists of a set of communication lines to move a large amount of bits in the form of electrical pulses from one unit to another.
PCI → Peripheral Component Interconnect
AGP → Accelerated Graphics Port
ISA → Industry Standard Architecture.
PSU → Power Supply Unit
Input Devices
(1). Keyboard
1. Numeric Keypad
The numeric Keypad is located on the right-hand side of most keyboards. It has arithmetic operators keys +,-,÷,*,/ and digits from 0-9 it also has Num Lock.
2. Function Keys
Function Keys are from F1 to F12.
3. Alphanumeric Keys
Keys from (A to Z) and digits from (0–9).
1. Tab Key
Tab Key is used to move the cursor to the next tab stop.
2. Modifier Keys
These are used to modify the input of other keys.
Ctrl Key
ALT Key
Shift Key
3. Cursor Control Keys
(i) Home
(ii) End
(iii)Arrows
(iv) Page-Up
(v) Page Down
4. Special Purpose Keys
(i) Esc
(ii) Delete
(iii)Insert
(iv) Print
(v) Scroll Lock
(2). Mouse (Pointing Device)
(3). Trackball (Pointing Device)
(4). Pen Input
(5). Touch Screen
(6). Toy Stick (Pointing Device)
Consists of a base and a stick
(7). Digital Camera
DSLR→ Digital Single Lens Reflex
(8). Web Cams
(9). Optical Scanner
(10). Barcode Readers
(11). Optical Readers
OCR → Optical Character Recognition
OMR → Optical Mark Recognition
MICR → Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
RFID → Radio Frequency Identification
Output
The data that has been processed into useful information is called output. The output can be in two forms:
Soft Copy Output Hard Copy Output
The output shown on the display screen is called a soft copy. Soft copy output is not tangible. It means that it cannot be touched.
The output printed on paper is called a hard copy. The common devices to produce hard copy output are printers and plotters.
Output Devices
(1). Monitor
CRT → Cathode Ray Tube
LCD → Liquid Crystal Display
LED → Light Emitting Diode
OLED → Organic Light Emitting Diode
HDTV → High-Definition Television
(2). Printer
Impact Printer
(i) Dot Matrix Printer (CPS)
(ii) Line Printer (LPM)
(iii)Daisy Wheel Printer
Non-Impact Printer
(i) Laser Printer (PPM) LASER→ Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
(ii) Inkjet Printer
(iii)Thermal Printer
(3). Plotter
(4). Speakers
(5). Headphones, Headsets, Earbuds
ATM→ Automated Teller Machine
Storage Devices
Storage:
A Storage is used to store data, information, and programs permanently. It is also known as secondary storage auxiliary storage or mass storage.
Storage is required for the following reasons:
The main memory is a temporary memory. The storage is required to store data and programs permanently.
The capacity of the main memory is limited. The storage is required to store a large amount of data and programs.
Basic Units of Data Storage
I. Bit
A computer works with binary digits. These digits are in the form of 0 and 1. It is the
smallest unit of data storage.
ii. Byte
A collection of 8 bits is called byte. It is used to store a single character.
iii. Kilobyte
A Kilobyte consists of 1024 bytes (210 bytes) it is denoted by KB.
iv. Megabyte
A Megabyte consists of 1024 KB (220 bytes). It is denoted by MB.
v. Gigabyte
A Gigabyte consists of 1024 MB (230 bytes). It is denoted by GB.
vi. Terabyte
A Terabyte consists of 1024 GB (240 bytes). It is denoted by TB.
vii. Petabyte
A Petabyte consists of 1024 TB (250 bytes). It is denoted by PB.
viii. Exabyte
An Exabyte consists of 1024 PB (260 bytes). It is denoted by EB.
ix. Zettabyte
A Zettabyte consists of 1024 EB (270 bytes). It is denoted by ZB.
x. Yottabyte
A Yottabyte consists of 1024 ZB (280 bytes). It is denoted by YB.
Magnetic Disk
Magnetic disks use magnetic material to store data, instructions, and information on a disk surface. The data on magnetic disks is stored in tracks and sectors. Tracks form circles on the surface of a magnetic disk. Each track on a disk is divided into sectors. Each sector typically stores up to 512 bytes of data. Hard Disk is the most widely used magnetic disk.
Hard Disk
A hard disk is the primary storage device in a computer to store the programs and data permanently. It is also known as a hard disk drive (HDD) or hard drive (HD).
RPM → Resolution per minute
Optical Disk
An optical disk is a form of removable storage.
CD
CD stands for Compact Disk.
Types of CDs:
I. CD–ROM
CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk read-only memory. The data on CD-ROM can be read. It cannot be deleted or charged. It can store up to 700 MB of data.
ii. CD–R
Compact Disk Recordable. CD–R is also known as WORM (Write Once Read Many)
iii. CD–RW
Compact Disk Recordable
iv. DVD
DVD stands for Digital Video Disc-17GB Storage.
i. DVD-ROM
DVD-ROM stands for Digital Video Disc Read Only Memory.
ii. DVD-R
DVD-R stands for Digital Video Disc Recordable.
iii. DVD-RW
DVD-RW stands for Digital Video Disc Rewritable.
iv. Blue-Ray Disc
Blue Ray Disk is a new and more expensive DVD format it can store up to 100GB of data.
v. SSD → Solid State Drives
Memory Cards
Types:
(i) Compact Flash (CF)
(ii) Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
(iii)Security Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is a service for computer and mobile device users to store data online.
(i) One Drive
(ii) Dropbox
(iii)Google Drive
Enterprise Storage
Large organizations design enterprise storage for their specific data storage needs, creating centralized data storage.
Techniques:
RAID → Redundant Array of Independent Disks.
NAS → Network Attached Storage.
SAN → Storage Area Network
Disk Controllers
A disk controller consists of a chip and electronic circuits.
Types:
EIDE → Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics
SCSI → Small Computer System Interface
SAS → Serial Attached SCSI
SATA → Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
File System
A file system is the underlying structure used by the computer to organize data on a hard disk or partition.
- FAT → File Allocation Table
- NTFS → New Technology File System
- CDFS → Compact Disk File System
- ACL → Access control List
- MBR → Master Boot Record
OPERATING SYSTEM
Software
A set of instructions given to the computer to solve a problem is called software.
Types of Software
- System Software
- Application Software
Types of System Software
System Software
System software is a set of programs to control and manage the actual operations of computer hardware.
(1). Operating System
An operating system is a set of programs that manages all computer components and operations.
- MS Windows
- Linux
- Unix
- Sun Solaris
- MacOS
- Chrome OS
Open Source Closed Source
Open-source operating system refers to computer software whose source is open means the general public can access and use it.
Example: Linux
Closed Source Closed Source
A closed-source operating system means that the public is not given access to the source code of the computer software.
Example: Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Mac OS
(2). Utility Programs
A Utility program is a type of system software that is used for effective management of computer systems.
- Antivirus Software
- File Compression
Application Software
People use application software to perform various tasks on the computer.
Examples:
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS Access and Oracle
- Graphics Software Such as Corel Draw and Adobe Photoshop.
Operating System
- Windows
- Linus
- UNIX
- Sun Solaris
- Mac OS
Multiuser Operating System
A multi-user operating system allows multiple users to use the same computer at the same time.
Example:
- Linux
- UNIX
- Windows Server 2008
Multiprocessor Operating System
A multiprocessor operating system is a type of operating system that supports two or more processors that run programs at the same time.
Example:
- Linux
- UNIX
- Windows Server 2008
Multitasking Operating System
A multitasking operating system is one that can execute more than one program at the same time.
Example:
- UNIX
- Windows Server 2008
Multithreading Operating System
A multithreading operating system allows different parts of a program to run concurrently.
Example:
- Linux
- UNIX
- Windows
Time Shorting Operating System
Time sharing system allows many users to share the computer simultaneously.
Functions of Operating System
(1). Booting
Booting is a process of starting or restarting the computer operating system sports the computer works.
Two types of Booting
(i) Cold Boot
(ii) Worm Boot
1). Cold Boot
When you turn on the computer after it has been powered off completely, you perform a cold boot.
2). Warm Boot
A warm boot occurs when someone restarts the computer.
(2). Memory Management
(3). Job Scheduling
(4). Device Controlling
(5). Accessing the Web
(6). Monitoring Performance
(7). Housekeeping Services
(8). Controlling Network
(9). Administrating Security
(10). Providing User Interface
(i) Command Line
(ii) Menu driver
(iii)Graphical User Interface
Types of operating system
(i) Stand-alone Operating System
(ii) Server Operating System
(iii) Mobile Operating System
Stand-alone Operating System
An operating system that functions on a desktop or notebook computer is known as a standalone operating system. Some standalone operating systems can collaborate with a server operating system and earn the title of client operating systems.
Examples:
(i) Disk Operating System (DOS)
(ii) Windows
(iii) Unix
(iv) Linux
(v) Mac OS
(vi) Chrome OS
(1). DOS
DOS stands for Disk Operating System. Microsoft developed it in the early 1980s for personal computers. It is a single-user operating system. A single-user operating system is a type of operating system that allows only one user to work at a time. Some important commands of DOS:
DIR: It is used to display all files and sub-directories of the current directory.
MD: It is used to clear the screen.
CD: It is used to change the directory.
(2). Windows
Windows is the most widely used operating system developed by Microsoft. It uses a graphical user interface (GUI). Some important versions of a window:
- Windows 8 • Windows 7
- Windows Vista • Windows XP
Windows 8.1 was released in 2013.
(3). Mac OS
Mac OS is a product of Apple. It became the first commercially available operating system with a graphical user interface. It was released with Mac in Tosh computers in 1984.
Examples:
- Mac OS Mavericks (2013) • i Mac
- Mac book Pro • Mac Book Air
(4). UNIX
UNIX is a multitasking operating system. Bell Laboratories developed it in the 1970s. Some versions of UNIX have a Compound-Line interface but most versions provide a graphical user interface.
(5). Linux
Linux is a free and multitasking operating system. They developed it in 1991. It is an open-source operating system. It means that the code is available to the public.
Versions:
- Red Hat • Caldera
(6). Chrome OS
Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system. Google designed it to primarily work with web applications.
Server Operating System
A server operating system, designed to support a network, is what people also call a network operating system.
Examples:
- Windows Server 2012
- OS X Server
- UNIX
- Linux
- Solaris
- Net ware
Mobile Operating System
A mobile operating system is the name for an operating system used in handheld computers and mobile devices.
Examples:
- Android
- IOS
- Windows Phone
- BlackBerry
- Firefox OS
Embedded Operating System
An embedded computer typically uses an embedded operating system. The term “Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)” also calls it. The devices such as ATM machines, GPS, video game consoles, digital video recorders, HDTV receivers, ticket machines, etc. are examples of real-time operating systems or embedded operating systems.
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