CPU

Central Processing Unit- The computer device that controls is the actual operations of the computer system; these include input, data transfer, arithmetic-ogic unit and output operations, which are the part of each program

CRT

Cathode-Ray-TubeA terminal device that prints messages on a device like tube, output iis said to be "softcopy" since it is not retained as a perminant record.

Card reader

A device that translates the holes in a punched card in to machine readable code

Card Punch

An ouput device of a computer system that punches card information that has been transmitted from the CPU

CAD

Computer Aided Desigh- A general term applied to the integration of computers and graphics to aid in the design and drafting processes

C

A general purpose high level programming language that also allows user to write low-level instructions that approach in density and efficiency those that are coded in machine language

Byte

A fixed number of bits that represents a character, The most common byte size is eight bit

Buffer

A temporary holding place for data, at CPU, at any input device or output device

Bug

A mistake in a program or an error in the working of the computer. Bugs can be removed by diagnostic routines to discover the error and then by debugging

Bpi

An abbreviation for bits per inch. Tape densities are measured in bits per inch(bpi). where a density of 800 bpi. for example, is eqivalent to 800 characters per inch

Bit

A contraction for binary digit. The term refers to the representation of data in binary form as a series of on/offs or 1/0 digits

Binary System

The base 2 numeric system, which uses the digit 0 and 1. Computer data can be represented by this number

Baud Rate

The unit of measuring data transmission speeds,usually measured in terms of bits per second

BASIC

Beginner's All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code- A very simple language for using numerical problems developed in an online system.

Barcode

A series of thick and thin black bars and spaces of various widths that represents data

Backup File

A duplicate copy of file

Auxiliary Storage

A separate storage unit that supplements the CPU's primary storage

Assembly Language

A low level language thta uses mnemonic codes instead of 1s and 0s

ASCII

A common computer code used for data communications; an abbrevation for American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Arithmetic-Logic Unit(ALU)

The unit of a CPU that performs arithmetic operations and comparisions

Artificial Intelligence(AI)

A scientific field concerned with simulating the process of reasoning in order to shed light on the nature of rational thought

Analog Computer

A type of computer that recognizes data as a continuous measurement of physical property

Algorithm

A planned set of instructions or steps used to solve a particular problem

Abort

A symbol used to stop running of a computer programme abruptly. Generally it is used when a program is wrong