Unit 1: Vocabulary

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app (application)
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software optimized to perform a specific task such as word processing, accounting, or web browsing
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"Examples of popular applications include Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Mozilla Firefox."
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component
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any device internal to a computer, such as a hard disk drive, a usb port, or a motherboard
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"A hardware geek is constantly upgrading components in his computer to achieve more performance."
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computer
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an electronic device which stores and processes information
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"A computer needs to be replaced or upgraded regularly or it will become obsolete."
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data
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literally meaning 'that which is given', this term refers to raw information of any kind
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"The network administrator was fired when he lost all the company data by accidentally formatting the wrong hard disk drive array."
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database
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an organized, electronic collection of information, optimized for fast access, and typically consisting of rows, columns, indexes, and keys
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"The international company stored their customer information in a central database in Brussels."
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hardware
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physical items which make up a computer system, including: monitors, keyboards, hard drives, and RAM
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"Hardware today has become such a commodity that it's often more expensive to repair it than to replace it."
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Internet
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the largest known network, connecting millions of computers around the world
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"Some people refer to the Internet as an information superhighway."
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network
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a connected group of computers, capable of sharing resources with each other
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"The company network consisted of 3 servers, 95 workstations, and 10 printers."
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peripheral
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an external device or "accessory" which extends the functionality of computer, such as a printer, monitor, microphone, or game controller
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"The woman hated the look of all the tangled wires behind her desk, which were caused by so many peripherals."
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software
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an organized set of computer instructions, such as applications (apps), operating systems (OS), or games
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"The geek purchased new software for his computer almost every weekend."
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