Secondary Storage

File Compression
The process of encoding information using fewer bits, or information units.

Head Crash

A hard-disk failure that can happen when the read–write head of a hard disk drive touches the rotating platter, scratching it. This causes permanent damage to the magnetic media on the platter surface.

Internet Hard Drive

Offers a means of accessing your computer files (pictures, documents, music, videos, etc.) from any computer, as long as that computer has access to the Internet. Unlike your local hard drive, which may have a limited storage capacity, a competitive Internet hard drive provider will offer virtually unlimited disk space such as offered by LiveDrive.com. By uploading regular backups of your files, you can remain immune from the dangers of file loss due to viruses or your hard drive crashing; your local computer can be completely destroyed and yet the files which were stored online would remain safe and unharmed.

Optical Disk Drive
A disk drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves near the light spectrum as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs. Some drives can only read from discs, but recent drives are commonly both readers and recorders. Recorders are sometimes called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives.


Solid-State Storage
A nonvolatile, removable storage medium that employs integrated circuits (ICs) rather than magnetic or optical media.
The main advantage of solid-state storage is the fact that it contains no mechanical parts. Everything is done electronically. As a result, data transfer to and from solid-state storage media takes place at a much higher speed than is possible with electromechanical disk drives. The absence of moving parts may translate into longer operating life, provided the devices are reasonably cared for and are not exposed to electrostatic discharge.

Input and Output

Ergonomic Keyboard

A keyboard that follows a wide V-shape with a small separation in the middle. The numeric pad remains the same as in normal keyboards. This type of keyboard puts less of a burden onto the wrists though it feel weird to use at the beginning.

Ink Jet Printer

A printer that produces digital images by "jetting" out different-sized drops of ink onto the paper.

 
Laser Printer

A printer that creates digital images with high quality and rapid speed. Using a xerographic printing process, laser printers have laser beams that scan across the devices' photoreceptor.

Magnetic-Ink Character Reader (MICR)

A technology that uses magnetic ink or toner to print documents. The ink can be easily detected and identified by MICR machines.

 
Optical-Character Recognition (OCR)

Technology that allows the scanning and then translation of hand-written, type-written, or printed material into machine encoded text. Hence, paper documents can be turned into computer files, where they can be easily edited.

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)

The process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.

The System Unit

Flash Memory

A rewritable computer chip that can keep its data even without a power supply. This nonvolatile storage can be electronically erased and reprogrammed without being removed from the circuit board.

Graphics Card
Controls the computer monitor by sending pixels to the display. It increase the performance of games and such.

Sound Cards

An expansion card that are either inserted into an internal expansion slot or directly embedded into the motherboard. This hardware interface is responsible for your computer's ability to play and record sound.

Network Interface Card (NIC)
A hardware adapter that allows the linking of computers in a local area network (LAN). Using a mutually-accepted language, networked computers exchange data packets with each other as a way of communication.

Plug & Play

A term used to describe software or hardware that once plugged in, is automatically recognized and started by the computer's operating system. There is no longer a need for user intervention and physical device configuration.

Bus Line

The wires you can see on the back of a circuit board. These conduct electricity inside switchboards and other electrical apparatus. Most bus lines are made of copper but those of higher quality are made from gold.

HDMI

(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) A connection system for digital audio and video that provides a single-cable solution for home theater and consumer electronics equipment.

Cache Memory

A memory meant for quick retrieval and storage. It can be either integrated into a computer's central processing unit or into a separate chip.

Specialized Application Software

Audio Editing Software

Functions of the software:

• Create unique music compositions for personal or professional use.
• Record your favorite podcasts, online radio stations and other types of streaming audio. 
• Convert file formats like MIDI, WMA, MP3, etc.
• Restore the sound of aged or damaged audio recordings. It can also be used to filter out background noise or make a song instrumental.
• Edit a recording as you like using cut-and-paste, tagging and other options.

Bitmap Image

A composition of individual dots, or pixels, where each dot has its own colour information. This file format (.BMP) is used to keep digital images. However, if the image is enlarged, the quality decreases as the image becomes blurry or "pixelated."

HTML Editor

An HTML editor is a software application for creating web pages. It gives convenience to web authors as they can format sites using a menu instead of keying in HTML commands. Now, web authors usually use WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors as it previews the completed site as you edit.

Multimedia

The combination of various types of media such as text, sound, and graphics to communicate information.

Vector Image
An image system based on mathematical equations. It uses basic geometric shapes to produce an image. It is more flexible than BMP images as they can be resized without loss of quality. A vector image can be rasterized into a bitmap image.

Web Authoring
Using HTML commands, JavaScript, and others tools in creating and maintaining Websites on the Internet. Web authoring can be done using a simple text editor, but specialized programs have been designed specifically for this purpose such as Adobe Dreamweaver.

Basic Application Software

Graphical User Interface

Abbreviated GUI. An object-oriented user interface that uses icon, pictures, and menus to choose from. Input is entered through this graphical interface using either a mouse or the keyboard. 

The basics of GUI is a window, icons, menus and a pointer.

Word Processor

A program that enables composing, editing, and formatting of print material and sending of that material to a printer. Special fonts, colour, and graphics can be used. Examples of word processors are Microsoft Word and OpenOffice.

Spreadsheet

Resembling a ledger paper, a spreadsheet is used to perform calculations in a table of values arranged in rows and columns. There are formulas and functions to maintain the relation of each data entered with another. Spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel, helps users study all kinds of what-if situations.

Database Management System (DBMS)

A collection of programs that allows organized and efficient storage of attribute data. It allows easy editing and retrieval of previous data, making sure that all info is consistent with each other. DBMS is usually used in companies and organizations to manage employee information.

Utility Suites

A collection of utilities that serve a common purpose. For example, a security suite would consist of programs like antivirus and popup blockers that protect one's computer from viruses and unwanted data. File utility suites on the other hand, would have programs designed to help in the management of files.

The Internet & The Web

FTP

The acronym for File Transfer Protocol, FTP is a standard protocol that lets us exchanges files through the Internet's TCP/IP protocol. FTP is usually used for data transfer from or to a server through the Internet.

Plug-Ins

It can be either hardware or software, but the point is that this component can, as the name suggests, just plug in to an existing computer system. For example, certain computer mouse (mice?) can be used immediately after plugging it in.

Filters

Software programs that limit or block certain data from being accessed. Predetermined criteria is used by the filter to choose which data to block. Parents often use this to control the information available in the Internet to their children.

Internet Security Suite

A set of various utilities related to protecting the security of your computer. It can include:

1. Antivirus 
2. Personal Firewalls 
3. Spam Blockers
4. Popup Blockers.. and many more...

Wiki
A website that is maintained through the contribution of a collaboration of authors. Anybody can add to, edit, or even delete the content of other authors. It uses a simple WYSIWYG text editor and can be edited through browser interface. This website is powered by the software of the same name, "Wiki", which in Hawaii means "fast."

JavaScript

JavaScript is a scripting language used at large by websites to increase the interactivity of sites. Developed by Netscape, it adds a lot of functions to a single web page

Applets

A small application with the purpose of conducting a certain task. It can only run under the control of a bigger program, not from the OS. It provides interactivity and is embedded into HTML pages.

HTML

The Acronym for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the most common markup language or protocol for webpages. It is basically a set of tags used to develop structured hypertext documents.

URL

The acronym for Uniform Resource Locator, URL is the global address of websites on the Internet. It tells the computer where a certain resource is located and how to retrieve the data (documents, etc.).

It starts with a protocol identifier (eg. http://) followed by the resource's name (eg. www.blogspot.com).

Careers in IT

Webmaster

The technician in charge of maintaining a web.They :
write the HTML for Web pages
replies emails received by the website
make sure the site is always updated

Computer support Specialist

These people find solutions to problems in computer function. They :

listen to customer complaints

walk customers through possible solutions

write technical reports based on their work

Technical writer

This person helps non-technical persons to understand technical jargon or issues. They: 

writes up FAQs, technical definitions, and product descriptions on websites

write software and hardware documentation

Software engineer

This person works to design or modify software to make it of better quality, maintainable, and more cost efficient (cheaper and faster to build). They:

do research and write up new programs
test new software
analyze and assess the requirements of users
and many more..

Network administrator

The administrator manages an existing network in a company/organization. They:
Modify the system to tailor to the individual company's needs
Tackle viruses and other problems in the network

Data administrator

The individual who designs, maintains, and repairs databases. Also known as a "Database Analyst", they:
Maintain the database
Control the information shown to users of different clearance level
Monitor database performance
Update the security of the database and back up

System analyst

One in charge of selecting the system suitable for a business or client and then configuring it. They:

Create a plan for system flow from scratch.

Communicate with clients to find out the overall purpose of the computers and also each individual workers' needs.

Choose the software and hardware optimum for that certain client, knowing fully the pros and cons of each system.

Test the selected system.

Implement the final system.

Programmer

Programmers develop the source code which are languages or instructions for configuration of computer systems.

Design programs. 

Write and maintain the source code.

Test and troubleshoot program.