ITE 115 CHAPTER 2 KEY TERMS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display - Answers Displays that use organic compounds to produce
light when exposed to an electric current. Unlike LCDs, OLEDs do not require a backlight to function
and therefore draw less power and have a much thinner display, sometimes as thin as 3 mm.
laptop (or notebook) computer - Answers A portable computer with a keyboard, a monitor, and other
devices integrated into a single compact case.
peripheral device - Answers A device such as a monitor, printer, or keyboard that connects to the
system unit through a data port.
byte - Answers Eight binary digits (bits).
system software - Answers The set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
Thunderbolt port - Answers A high speed input/output port.
output device - Answers A device that sends processed data and information out of a computer in the
form of text, pictures (graphics), sounds (audio), or video.
all-in-one computer - Answers A desktop system unit that houses the computer's processor, memory,
and monitor in a single unit.
Sleep mode - Answers A low-power mode for computing devices that saves electric power
consumption and saves the last-used settings. When the device is "woken up," work is resumed more
quickly than when cold booting the device.
megabyte (MB) - Answers A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1 million bytes.
internal hard drive - Answers A hard drive that resides within the computer's system unit and that
usually holds all permanently stored programs and data.
optical character recognition (OCR) software - Answers Software that digitizes and saves text in digital
form.
Ethernet port - Answers A port that transfers data at speeds of up to 10,000 Mbps; used to connect a
computer to a modem or to a network.
tablet computer - Answers A mobile computer, such as the Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab,
integrated into a flat multitouch-sensitive screen. It uses an onscreen virtual keyboard.
cloud storage - Answers A service that keeps files on the Internet (in the "cloud") rather than storing
files solely on a local device.
printer - Answers A common output device that creates tangible or hard copies of text and graphics.
semiconductor - Answers Any material that can be controlled either to conduct electricity or to act as
an insulator (to prohibit electricity from passing through).
cloud-ready printer - Answers Printers that connect directly to the Internet and register themselves
with Google Cloud Print.
resolution - Answers The clearness or sharpness of an image, which is controlled by the number of
pixels displayed on the screen.
system unit - Answers The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer
together, including the computer's processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards
that help the computer function.
ergonomics - Answers How a user sets up his or her computer and other equipment to minimize risk
of injury or discomfort.
binary language - Answers The language computers use to process data into information, consisting of
only the values 0 and 1.
supercomputer - Answers A specially designed computer that can perform complex calculations
extremely rapidly; used in situations in which complex models requiring intensive mathematical
calculations are needed (such as weather forecasting or atomic energy research).
light-emitting diode (LED) - Answers An energy-efficient technology used in monitors. It may result in
better color accuracy and thinner panels than traditional LCD monitors.
drive bay - Answers A special shelf inside a computer that is designed to hold storage devices.
projector - Answers A device that can project images from your computer onto a wall or viewing
screen.
desktop computer - Answers A computer that is intended for use at a single location. A desktop
computer consists of a case that houses the main components of the computer, plus peripheral
devices.
, global positioning system (GPS) - Answers A system of 21 satellites (plus 3 working spares), built and
operated by the U.S. military, that constantly orbit the earth. The satellites provide information to
GPS-capable devices to pinpoint locations on the earth.
data - Answers Numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that represent facts, figures, or ideas; the raw
input that users have at the start of a job.
compact disc (CD) - Answers A method of optical storage for digital data; originally developed for
storing digital audio.
large format printer - Answers A printer that prints on oversized paper. Often used for creating
banners and signs.
hardware - Answers Any part of a computer or computer system you can physically touch.
game controller - Answers Devices such as joysticks, game pads, and steering wheels are considered
input devices because they send data to computing devices.
gigabyte (GB) - Answers About a billion bytes.
stylus - Answers A pen-shaped device used to tap or write on touch-sensitive screens.
inkjet printer - Answers A nonimpact printer that sprays tiny drops of ink onto paper.
3D printer - Answers Used to print three-dimensional models.
nonvolatile storage - Answers Permanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM).
hard disk drive (HDD, or hard drive) - Answers The computer's nonvolatile, primary storage device for
permanent storage of software and documents.
sensor - Answers Any device that detects or measures something. Computing devices, especially
smartphones, contain many sensors.
central processing unit (CPU, or processor) - Answers The part of the system unit of a computer that is
responsible for data processing; it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. The CPU
controls all the functions performed by the computer's other components and processes all the
commands issued to it by software instructions.
smartphone - Answers Phone with features of a computer including a wide assortment of apps, media
players, high-quality cameras, and web connectivity.
liquid crystal display (LCD) - Answers The technology used in flat-panel computer monitors.
digital convergence - Answers The use of a single unifying device to handle media, Internet,
entertainment, and telephony needs.
processing - Answers Manipulating or organizing data into information.
solid-state drive (SSD) - Answers A storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives
use but that can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires.
mainframe - Answers A large, expensive computer that supports hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously and executes many different programs at the same time.
near field communication (NFC) - Answers A set of communication protocols that enable devices to
communicate with each other when they are held in close proximity. NFC is commonly used for
mobile payments.
software - Answers The set of computer programs or instructions that tells the computer what to do
and that enables it to perform different tasks.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port - Answers A compact audio-video interface standard
that carries both high-definition video and uncompressed digital audio.
cold boot - Answers The process of starting a computer from a powered-down or off state.
volatile storage - Answers Temporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is
off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.
microprocessor - Answers The chips that contain a central processing unit (CPU, or processor).
headphones - Answers Devices for listening to sounds on computing devices.
read-only memory (ROM) - Answers A set of memory chips, located on the motherboard, which
stores data and instructions that cannot be changed or erased; it holds all the instructions the
computer needs to start up.
kilobyte (KB) - Answers A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1,000 bytes.
CMYK - Answers A color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of four base colors (cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black).
external hard drive - Answers A hard drive that is enclosed in a protective case to make it portable;
the drive is connected to the computer with a data transfer cable and is often used to back up data.
video card - Answers An expansion card that's installed inside a system unit to translate binary data
(the 1s and 0s the computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor.
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display - Answers Displays that use organic compounds to produce
light when exposed to an electric current. Unlike LCDs, OLEDs do not require a backlight to function
and therefore draw less power and have a much thinner display, sometimes as thin as 3 mm.
laptop (or notebook) computer - Answers A portable computer with a keyboard, a monitor, and other
devices integrated into a single compact case.
peripheral device - Answers A device such as a monitor, printer, or keyboard that connects to the
system unit through a data port.
byte - Answers Eight binary digits (bits).
system software - Answers The set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
Thunderbolt port - Answers A high speed input/output port.
output device - Answers A device that sends processed data and information out of a computer in the
form of text, pictures (graphics), sounds (audio), or video.
all-in-one computer - Answers A desktop system unit that houses the computer's processor, memory,
and monitor in a single unit.
Sleep mode - Answers A low-power mode for computing devices that saves electric power
consumption and saves the last-used settings. When the device is "woken up," work is resumed more
quickly than when cold booting the device.
megabyte (MB) - Answers A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1 million bytes.
internal hard drive - Answers A hard drive that resides within the computer's system unit and that
usually holds all permanently stored programs and data.
optical character recognition (OCR) software - Answers Software that digitizes and saves text in digital
form.
Ethernet port - Answers A port that transfers data at speeds of up to 10,000 Mbps; used to connect a
computer to a modem or to a network.
tablet computer - Answers A mobile computer, such as the Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab,
integrated into a flat multitouch-sensitive screen. It uses an onscreen virtual keyboard.
cloud storage - Answers A service that keeps files on the Internet (in the "cloud") rather than storing
files solely on a local device.
printer - Answers A common output device that creates tangible or hard copies of text and graphics.
semiconductor - Answers Any material that can be controlled either to conduct electricity or to act as
an insulator (to prohibit electricity from passing through).
cloud-ready printer - Answers Printers that connect directly to the Internet and register themselves
with Google Cloud Print.
resolution - Answers The clearness or sharpness of an image, which is controlled by the number of
pixels displayed on the screen.
system unit - Answers The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer
together, including the computer's processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards
that help the computer function.
ergonomics - Answers How a user sets up his or her computer and other equipment to minimize risk
of injury or discomfort.
binary language - Answers The language computers use to process data into information, consisting of
only the values 0 and 1.
supercomputer - Answers A specially designed computer that can perform complex calculations
extremely rapidly; used in situations in which complex models requiring intensive mathematical
calculations are needed (such as weather forecasting or atomic energy research).
light-emitting diode (LED) - Answers An energy-efficient technology used in monitors. It may result in
better color accuracy and thinner panels than traditional LCD monitors.
drive bay - Answers A special shelf inside a computer that is designed to hold storage devices.
projector - Answers A device that can project images from your computer onto a wall or viewing
screen.
desktop computer - Answers A computer that is intended for use at a single location. A desktop
computer consists of a case that houses the main components of the computer, plus peripheral
devices.
, global positioning system (GPS) - Answers A system of 21 satellites (plus 3 working spares), built and
operated by the U.S. military, that constantly orbit the earth. The satellites provide information to
GPS-capable devices to pinpoint locations on the earth.
data - Answers Numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that represent facts, figures, or ideas; the raw
input that users have at the start of a job.
compact disc (CD) - Answers A method of optical storage for digital data; originally developed for
storing digital audio.
large format printer - Answers A printer that prints on oversized paper. Often used for creating
banners and signs.
hardware - Answers Any part of a computer or computer system you can physically touch.
game controller - Answers Devices such as joysticks, game pads, and steering wheels are considered
input devices because they send data to computing devices.
gigabyte (GB) - Answers About a billion bytes.
stylus - Answers A pen-shaped device used to tap or write on touch-sensitive screens.
inkjet printer - Answers A nonimpact printer that sprays tiny drops of ink onto paper.
3D printer - Answers Used to print three-dimensional models.
nonvolatile storage - Answers Permanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM).
hard disk drive (HDD, or hard drive) - Answers The computer's nonvolatile, primary storage device for
permanent storage of software and documents.
sensor - Answers Any device that detects or measures something. Computing devices, especially
smartphones, contain many sensors.
central processing unit (CPU, or processor) - Answers The part of the system unit of a computer that is
responsible for data processing; it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. The CPU
controls all the functions performed by the computer's other components and processes all the
commands issued to it by software instructions.
smartphone - Answers Phone with features of a computer including a wide assortment of apps, media
players, high-quality cameras, and web connectivity.
liquid crystal display (LCD) - Answers The technology used in flat-panel computer monitors.
digital convergence - Answers The use of a single unifying device to handle media, Internet,
entertainment, and telephony needs.
processing - Answers Manipulating or organizing data into information.
solid-state drive (SSD) - Answers A storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives
use but that can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires.
mainframe - Answers A large, expensive computer that supports hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously and executes many different programs at the same time.
near field communication (NFC) - Answers A set of communication protocols that enable devices to
communicate with each other when they are held in close proximity. NFC is commonly used for
mobile payments.
software - Answers The set of computer programs or instructions that tells the computer what to do
and that enables it to perform different tasks.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port - Answers A compact audio-video interface standard
that carries both high-definition video and uncompressed digital audio.
cold boot - Answers The process of starting a computer from a powered-down or off state.
volatile storage - Answers Temporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is
off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.
microprocessor - Answers The chips that contain a central processing unit (CPU, or processor).
headphones - Answers Devices for listening to sounds on computing devices.
read-only memory (ROM) - Answers A set of memory chips, located on the motherboard, which
stores data and instructions that cannot be changed or erased; it holds all the instructions the
computer needs to start up.
kilobyte (KB) - Answers A unit of computer storage equal to approximately 1,000 bytes.
CMYK - Answers A color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of four base colors (cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black).
external hard drive - Answers A hard drive that is enclosed in a protective case to make it portable;
the drive is connected to the computer with a data transfer cable and is often used to back up data.
video card - Answers An expansion card that's installed inside a system unit to translate binary data
(the 1s and 0s the computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor.
