Module 2: Computers in Our Daily Life

KEY TERMS
o Al - Artificial intelligence
o ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange
o ATM - Asynchronous transfer mode
o CAN - Campus area network
o CPU - Central processing unit
o GAN - Global area network
o HDMI - High-definition Multimedia Interface
o IoT - Internet of Things
o LAN - Local area network
o MAN - Metropolitan area network
o OS - Operating system
o PAN - Personal area network
o RPA - Robotic process automation
o WAN - Wide area network
o Address bus - is used by the CPU to specify a physical address for instructions, files, and
other devices within the computer system.
o Application software - consists of programs that are designed to perform specific tasks
for users.
o ACII code - is a standard that assigns letters, numbers, and other characters within the
256 slots available in the 8-bit code.
o Binary number system - is a method of representing numbers with 2 as its base and
uses only the digits 0 and 1; each successive digit represents a power of 2.
o Bluetooth - uses radio waves to connect to other devices; the connection via Bluetooth
is called pairing.
o Central processing unit (CPU) - is the brains of the computer in which most calculations
take place.
o Computer software - is a combination or instructions, data, and programs that a
computer needs to do a specific task.
o Control bus - is used by CPUs to communicate with other devices within the computer
system.
o Data bus - can transfer data to and from the memory of a computer, or into or out of
the central processing unit (CPU).
o Decimal number system - consists of ten digits from 0 to 9. These digits can be used to
represent any numeric value. The base of the decimal number system is 10. It is the
most widely used number system.
o E-learning - involves the use of a computer or electronic device in delivering instruction
to students. Students and teachers can communicate with each other through online
lessons, activities, and exams.
o E-commerce - helps in boosting the economy. It makes buying and selling activities
easier, faster, and more efficient.
o Ethernet cable - transmits signals between a computer and a network device such as a
router, a switch, or other computers.
o FireWire - is a type of connector that can transmit data to and from devices which have
typical high data rates, such as external hard drives
o Hexadecimal number system - includes a subscript of 16 or in most cases, appended
with the lowercase letter ‘h’ to denote hexadecimal notation.
o High-definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) - is a connector for transmitting
audio/video data compatible with computers, projectors, and digital televisions.
o Internet of Things (IoT) - is the network of physical objects or “things” embedded in
electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity enabling these objects to
collect and exchange data.
o Local area network (LAN) - refers to a group of computers and associated devices that
share a common communication line or wireless link to a server.
o Machine language - is the only language a computer is capable of understanding.
o Number system - refers to the way of counting things.
o Octal number system - consists of eight digits from 0 to 7 and each digit position in this
system represents a power of 8.
o Personal area network (PAN) - is the interconnection of information technology devices
within the range of an individual person, normally within the range of 10 meters.
o Platform - hosts the application software installed in the system.
o System bus - is a pathway composed of cables and connectors used to carry data
between the computer’s peripheral devices.
o Universal Serial Bus (USB) - is a connection or interface that allows the computer to
communicate with system peripherals.
o Wide area network (WAN) - is a geographically distributed private telecommunications
network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs)
o WiFi - uses radio waves to transmit wirelessly information across a network.
o Wired communication - refers to the transmission of data over a wire-based
communication technology.
o Wireless communication - is a type of data communication that is performed and
delivered wirelessly. This is a broad term that incorporates all procedures and forms of
connecting and communicating between two or more devices using a wireless signal
through wireless communication technologies and devices.
CHAPTER KEYPOINTS

 The computer understands machine language, but it does not recognize letters as letters
of the alphabet. It sees letters as a service of 0’s and 1’s binary language
 Computers understand one another through the binary number system which
represents numbers with 2 as its base and users only the digital 0 and 1. Other number
systems are octal number system and hexadecimal number system.
 Computers use different connection method (e.g., system bus, data bus, address bus,
and control bus) to do their tasks.
 A computer network is an interconnection of two or more computers that gives these
computers the capability to share information and resources. Some of the computer
network systems are personal network (PAN), local area network (LAN), and wide area
network (WAN).
 Computer network connections are categorized into wires communication and wireless
communication.
 The computer software is a combination of instructions, data, and programs that the
computer needs to do a specific task. Through computer software, humans are able to
“communicate” with computers.
 As computers permeate everyday life, they have made an impact to education, banking,
workforce industry, electronic commerce, and hospitals,