UMBC CMSC104 Spring '99

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Computer:

A programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data.

Supercomputer:

Also called a maxicomputer. The fastest, most powerful computer system available.

Mainframe:

A large computing system designed for high-volume data processing; is for use by many people at once.

Minicomputer:

A computer with the components of a full-size system, but with a smaller memory.

Microcomputer:

A small, low-priced computer popularly used in homes, schools and businesses.

Hardware:

The physical components of a computer.

Software:

The computer programs; the set of all programs available to a computer.

CPU:

Central Processing Unit. The part of the computer that executes the instructions of a program stored in memory. Composed of the arithmetic logic unit and the control unit.

ALU:

Arithmetic Logic Unit. The computer component that performs arithmetic operations and logical operations.

Control Unit:

The computer component that controls the actions of the other components in order to execute instructions in sequence.

Memory:

The ordered sequence of storage cells that can be accessed by address instructions and variables of an executing program are held here

I/O Devices:

Input/Output Devices. The parts of the computer that accept data to be processed (input) and/or present the results of the processing. (output)

Peripheral Device:

An input/output or auxiliary storage device of a computer.

Auxiliary Storage:

A device that Stores data in encoded form, external to the computer's memory. Also known as external or secondary or even tertiary storage. It supplements primary storage but operates at slower speeds.

Programming:

The planning, scheduling, or performing of a task or event.

Computer Programming:

The process of planning a sequence of instructions for a computer to follow.

Computer Program:

A sequence of instructions outlining steps to be performed by a computer.

Programming Language:

A set of rules, symbols, and special words used to construct a program.

Machine Language:

The language used directly by the computer and composed of binary-coded instructions.

Assembly Language:

A low-level programming language in which a mnemonic is used to represent each of the machine language instructions for a particular computer.

Assembler:

A program that translates an assembly language program into machine code.

High-level Language:

English-like language coding scheme. One high-level language statement corresponds to several assembly language statements

Compiler:

A program that translates a high-level language into machine code.

File:

An area in secondary storage that has a name and is used to hold a collection of data.

Source Code:

A program written in a high-level language.

Object Code:

The machine language version of a program that results when a compiler translates a source program into binary codes for a particular computer.

Operating System:

A set of programs that manages all computer resources. It can input a program, call the compiler, execute the resulting object program, and carry out other system commands.

Editor:

An interactive program that is used to create and modify source programs or data.

Batch Processing:

A technique for entering data and executing programs without intermediate user interaction with the computer.

Interactive System:

A system for direct communication between the user and the computer. Allows for direct entry of programs and data and provides immediate feedback to the user.

Time-Sharing:

A specific method of operation in which a computer is shared by several users for different purposes at (apparently) the same time. Although the computer actually services each user in sequence, the high speed of the computer makes it appear that the users are handled simultaneously.

Single-user Systems:

Typically microcomputer operating Systems run a single program at a time. In this way, they are reminiscent of the early batch processing systems on mainframes.

Distributed Data Processing Network:

Instead of one host computer, several computers, each with processing capabilities, can be interconnected in a distributed data-processing network.

1st-Generation Computers:

Computers developed in the period 1951-1958. Used vacuum tubes. Faster than earlier mechanical devices, but very slow compared to today's computers.

2nd-Generation Computers:

Computers developed in the period 1959-1964. Used transistors. Smaller, faster, and had larger storage capacity than first generation computers. First computers to use English-like languages.

3rd-Generation Computers:

Computers developed in the period 1965-1971. Featured integrated circuits, reduced size, lower costs, and increased speed and reliability.

4th-Generation Computers:

Computers developed in the period 1971 - present. The era of large-scale integrated circuits and microprocessors.

5th-Generation:

A new type of computer that is to be based on the principles of artificial intelligence. To achieve the goals of the "Fifth-generation project" major advances will be necessary in many areas of computer science: VLSI circuit design, programming languages, and multi-processing in particular.