During the output step of the information processing cycle, the computer sends all data to a speaker.

A monitor or a disk drive is an example of a software device.

A CPU operates by moving data along a set of tiny electrical circuits.

A hard drive is an example of primary storage, and RAM is an example of secondary storage.

A megabyte is just over one million bytes.

All peripheral devices can be attached to the computer through the same type of connector.

Without software, a computer's hardware is useless.

Software is divided into two main types: utility software and operating software.

The two most widely used operating systems are the Macintosh OS and Microsoft Windows.

Productivity software does maintenance and repair jobs on a computer, which the operating system cannot do by itself.

Like a car's gas gauge, this type of computer measures data on a scale with many values.

This is the raw information, or data, that is entered into a computer.

In this second basic action of the computer cycle, the computer does something to the data.

A computer's instructions are written in ________.

How many operations can a computer perform every second?

An image on the computer's screen is an example of this.

When a computer saves information permanently, this is called ________.

A computer's physical parts are called ________.

This device does arithmetic and compares data very quickly.

What does the term RAM stand for?

This device uses a stack of platters to permanently store large amounts of information.

Which storage device holds the smallest amount of data?

Monitors and printers are examples of this kind of device.

This type of connector is commonly used to attach modems to computers.

What does the term USB stand for?

This is another name for a program that tells a computer what to do and how to do it.

This category of software includes programs that help the computer work properly.

Microsoft Windows® is an example of this type of software.

This type of software may do maintenance and repair jobs that an operating system cannot do itself.

You buy this type of software at a store or over the Internet.