| Abacus |
A manual aid to calculating that consists
of beads or disks that can be moved up and down on a series of sticks
or strings within a usually wooden frame8 |
| Bit |
Binary Digit; a single digital
piece of information3; represented by 1's and 0's |
| Byte |
8 bits3 |
| CPU |
Central Processing Unit; The
heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions.7
|
| DOS |
Acronym for Disk Operating
System - used in IBM PC's.1 |
| ENIAC |
Electronic Numerical Integrator
And Calculator; began construction in 1943 and completed in 1946. Occupied
about 1,800 square feet and used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, weighing almost
50 tons. Created to help with the war efforts against German forces.4 |
| Floppy Disk |
A small, portable computer
disk which can be used for storing documents and other computer files2
|
| Hard Drive |
a large capacity storage device
made of multiple disks housed in a rigid case1 The hard drive
can also be used for storing documents. Usually known as a the c: drive.2 |
| Memory |
Enables a computer to store,
at least temporarily, data and programs.7
|
| Mouse |
A small, hand held device used to move
the cursor and select items3 |
| PC |
Personal Computer; A small,
single-user computer based on a microprocessor.7 |
| RAM |
Random Access Memory; A temporary
storage area where your computer can read and write file and application
information5 |
| ROM |
Read Only Memory; Memory that
can only be read from and not written to.1 |
| Slide Rule |
A manual device used for calculation that
consists in its simple form of a ruler and a movable middle piece which
are graduated with similar logarithmic scales6 |
| Supercomputer |
An extremely fast computer
that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second7 |
| Typewriter |
A machine for writing in characters similar
to those produced by printer's type by means of keyboard-operated types
striking a ribbon to transfer ink or carbon impressions onto the paper6 |
| UNIVAC |
Universal Automatic Computer;
A trademark of Unisys corporation; it was released in 1951 and 1952. Contains
thousands of vacuum tubes that utilize punch cards and switches4 |
| Vacuum Tube |
A glass tube from which all
gas has been removed, creating a vacuum. Contained electrodes for controlling
electron flow and were commonly used in early computers as a switch or
an amplifier.4 |