Key Terms

Key Terms

Android operating system

Google software operating system used to run non-iPhone mobile phones such as Samsung’s Galaxy

artificial intelligence (AI)

use of computers, robots, and machines to behave “intelligently,” engaging in autonomous decision making and behaviors

augmented reality (AR)

use of digital objects or elements in a real-life picture or scene

automation

use of computers or machines to do tasks that could be completed by a person

binary digits

sequences of the numbers 0 and 1 used in computer programming

biometrics

authentication that uses a person’s physical characteristics as a form of digital security

cache

type of storage in a computer that operates in the background, holding data that can be quickly retrieved

central processing unit (CPU)

unit that contains the microprocessor, or “brains” of a computer system

client

device that requests and uses resources from other devices on the network

cloud

servers housed in data centers to facilitate remote storage and computer operations

cloud computing

delivering computer resources such as programs and data storage through the internet rather than storing resources directly on a computer

computer

programmable machine that can execute predetermined lists of instructions and respond to new instructions

computer security

protection of computer systems and information that prevents unauthorized use

cookies

small data files that are deposited on user hard disks and internet sites visited

cybercrime

criminal offense that involves a computer and a network

data erasure

process by which information is not only deleted but overwritten as well

data masking

process by which personally identifiable information is removed from data, allowing a company to make decisions without violating customer privacy

data resiliency

ability to recover quickly from a data breach

domain name system (DNS)

phone book for the internet, enabling a user to send a message using their name, the symbol @, and the location of the computer as identified by its domain name

e-commerce

conducting business transactions online

encryption

process of taking information transmitted through the internet and converting it into an unrecognizable code to prevent unauthorized access

ethernet

protocols used to connect computers in a local area network or LAN

external disk drive

hard disk for information storage such as USBs, CDs, DVDs, and flash memory cards

firewall

barrier between a network that is secured and one that is not secured

hackers

individuals who gain unauthorized access to a computer system to steal someone’s information

hard disk

secondary storage areas where users can save files and retrieve data and programs

hardware

computer accessories such as keyboard, mouse, printer, and computer monitor

HTTPS

communication protocol that is more secure than HTTP

hub

device that sends and receives messages to and from all network connections

hyperlink

link on a page or document that, when clicked, navigates the user to that location; a connection between two web pages or documents

hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)

rules that allow users to access information on the internet and protect confidential data such as credit card numbers

information processing cycle

sequence of events involved in processing information

internal disk drive

storage space within the computer that updates and produces copies of files

Internet of Things (IoT)

extension of internet connectivity beyond computers, enabling the transfer of information between machines and other objects, people, and animals by connecting them to the internet in some way

internet protocol address (IP address)

unique combination of characters used to identify the location of a host computer

internet service provider (ISP)

company that provides individuals or organizations with access to the internet

intranet

private network for internal company use; can be combined with cloud technology

iPhone operating system (iOS)

Apple’s software operating system, used to run iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices

machine learning

use of software applications to make computations and decisions that can inform predictions without human intervention

mainframe

computer that is capable of great processing speed and data storage for large organizations

malware

software designed to damage the victim’s computer system once it gains access to it

microchip

small microprocessor unit used for programming and computer memory storage

microcomputer

personal computer that was much smaller than earlier computers and operated with microprocessors

microprocessor

consists of a control and an arithmetic-logic unit, which performs math and logical operations within a computer system

minicomputer

computer that is similar in power to a mainframe computer, but much smaller in size; used in mid-size organizations

motherboard

controls communications for an entire computer system

nanotechnology

technology that focuses on changing individual molecules to produce different properties or attributes

network

connection of two or more computer systems or devices, either by a cable or through a wireless connection

operating system

connection between a device’s hardware and its software

packet switching

technology that enabled the development of the internet; computer files are broken up into segments, which are transmitted over the network and reordered into a single file at their destination

password management

set of principles and best practices for storing and managing passwords to prevent unauthorized access to the computer

personal computer (PC)

microcomputer suitable for individual use

phishing

attempts to get users to interact with an email or website that appears to be legitimate but is fake

random access memory (RAM)

computer’s primary, short-term memory

ransomware

malicious software that encrypts computer data, rendering it useless and inaccessible, forcing the owner to exchange something of value to regain access

read-only memory (ROM)

memory not meant for storage but to process information as the computer is being used

robotics

use of robotic machines to perform tasks that no human could perform

router

device that directs data traffic and allows for multiple devices to run on a network

secure sockets layer (SSL)

security protocol that uses encryption to help ensure privacy of information and communications across the internet

server

connects devices and allows for resource sharing across networks

short message service (SMS)

technology for sending text messages through mobile phones

smart space

physical space that incorporates technologies that can be controlled through the internet

social media

digital technology that allows users (individuals and organizations) to share information about themselves such as posts, photos, and videos

software

computer program or set of programs with the end goal of converting data into processes or actions

spoofing

correspondence such as email that appears legitimate but instead is used to obtain your personal information

supercomputer

extremely powerful computer that has the fastest processors available

transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP)

communication standard that allows data to be sent and received over a network, most notably the internet

triangulation

research technique whereby information is verified and validated through multiple sources

virtual reality (VR)

simulated environment in which users can interact as if they were physically present

wearable

device that uses computing technology to collect and receive data via the internet

web browser

a program used to find content stored on the WWW

workstation

powerful single-user computer, similar to a personal computer but with more powerful microprocessors