Question | Answer |
A device that assists people with disabilities to access a computer | Adaptive computer device |
Produces sound through speakers that corresponds to human speech and often used to assist people with visual or reading disabilities | voice synthesizer |
Fluorescent light used with LCD panels | Backlight |
A device which has a narrow beam of light and a sensor. Converts the flickering reflection into binary numbers | Bar code reader |
Matches unique characteristics of each user for identification purposes | Biometric devices |
New type of dvd that stores up to 25 gigabytes on a single-layer disc and 50 gigabytes on a double-layer disc | Blu-ray |
Wireless standard used for very short distances | Bluetooth |
The process of writing data to an optical disc | Burn/Burning |
Glass tube in which an electron beam starts at the small end and strikes the phosphors at the wide end, technology used in older style monitors | CRT/CRT Monitor |
Optical disc to which data can be written once (Not Erasable) | Cd-R |
Optical disc on which data can only be read (Cannot be recorded on or erased) | Cd-ROM |
Optical disc from which data can be written to and erased multiple times | Cd-RW |
Combines a touch pad and a single-button mouse | Click pad |
Keyboard key on a Macintosh keyboard (the key with the apple) that is used in combination with other keys or mouse clicks to provide alternative functions and screen menus | Command or Option |
Example of optical storage medium | CD or DVD or BluRay |
Removable electronic memory typically used in digital cameras | Compact flash card: |
Key on the keyboard intended for use with other keys to provide new functions | Control (ctrl) or alternate (alt) |
Program that controls peripheral devices | Device driver |
Windows dialog box that provides a list of the internal and external devices connected to the computer | Device Manager |
Semiprofessional and professional cameras that are much larger and heavier than point-and-shoot cameras and use interchangeable lenses | DSLR |
Device connected to a computer within which a digital camera or ipod, etc. May sit | Docking station |
A connection that resembles a USB drive required to connect a computer to a wireless device if Bluetooth is not available | Dongle |
Impact printer; used to make duplicate copies with multilayer forms | Dot matrix printer |
Unit of measurement in the graphic reproduction industry; measure of printed image quality | Dots per inch (DPI) |
Video camera attached to a computer and intended for videoconferencing or monitoring | Web cam |
Device that uses toner and can print photographs or other graphics in much the same way laser printers do | Electrostatic plotter |
A portable hard drive primarily used as supplementary storage or backup for important data files | External hard drive |
Similar to USB; high-speed connection used for video data transfer | Firewire |
Flash memory used as permanent storage that does not require constant power and plugs into a USB port | USB Flash Drive/USB Drive/Thumb Drive |
Also known as solid state drive (SSD); contains no moving parts and uses less energy meaning they are less likely to corrupt files or become physically damaged | Flash hard drive |
Type of permanent memory without moving parts built into small cards or devices that plug into a computer, camera, or other device | Flash memory |
Machine that uses a bright fluorescent lamp that travels the length of the glass and converts a document to information a computer can read | Flatbed scanner |
The number of pictures a digital camera takes each second | Frames per second |
Wireless standard that works on nearly all computers and enables several computers and some peripherals to be networked together without cables | WiFi |
Most common game controller | Gamepad |
Device with a flat surface and with an array of crossed wires built into the surface that can sense the vertical and horizontal position of a pointing device | Graphics tablet /Digitizing Tablet |
Able to change connected devices without shutting down the computer | Hot-swappable |
Transfers ink to the paper by striking an ink-impregnated cloth ribbon | Impact printer |
Method of communication between a remote device and a computer; uses light waves at a frequency not visible to the human eye | Infrared light |
Creates an image by spraying ink on a page | Ink-jet printer |
Game controller that consists of a rod connected to a pivoting base | Joystick |
Uses a light beam to transfer images or text to paper where powdered ink is attracted and makes it stick to the paper | Laser printer |
Type of display that uses electric fields to change the transparency of liquid cells that are typically much thinner than older CRT monitors | LCD |
Measure of brightness of light sources | Lumen |
Display device used with computers | Monitor |
Pointing device that moves on the desktop and controls a screen pointer | Mouse |
key on the numeric keypad that toggles the numeric keyboard keys from navigation to numeric functions | Num Lock key |
Converts printed documents into text that a word processor can edit (usually scanned documents) | OCR |
Mouse that detects motion using the reflection of a beam of light | Optical mouse |
Program that translates what users say into text for use in a document or e-mail | Voice recognition |
Device that uses individual pens and different-colored ink to draw line drawings | Pen plotter |
Device connected to the system unit or case | Peripheral |
A device that draws designs on paper, usually larger than ordinary printers can handle | Plotter |
Picture element | Pixel |
Windows feature that recognizes new hardware and automatically searches for the correct software driver to operate the new hardware | Plug-and-play |
Smallest, lightest, and least expensive digital camera commonly used with automatic focus and automatic shutter speeds determined by a microprocessor in the camera | Point-and-shoot camera |
General term for the connectors on the system unit into which wires are plugged | Port |
Sensor used to explore places that are not conveniently accessible | Probe |
Projects monitor image for group viewing | Projector |
Device that uses radio frequencies to remotely retrieve data | RFID |
Wireless control unit often used as an input device | Remote control |
Level of detail that can be viewed | Resolution |
Mechanical device programmed to perform specialized functions | Robot |
Device to transfers documents and pictures into a digital computer file | Scanner |
Process of converting a document or picture into digital data | Scanning |
Device that detects changes in the environment producing an electrical signal that corresponds to the change it senses | Sensor |
Key on the keyboard that can be used to produce capitalized letters or to provide new functions in combination with other keys | Shift key |
An older connection method used to connect some older scanners or external hard drives | SCSI |
Connection device used to provide multiple USB ports | USB hub |
Pen-like device used to draw, touch, or write on a touch screen | Stylus |
Audio speaker designed for low-range sounds and music | Subwoofer |
The case of a desktop computer than contains the central processing unit | System unit |
Printer that uses heat to make dots on temperature-sensitive paper | Thermal printer |
Small trackball typically used with a portable computer | Thumb mouse |
Powdered ink used with copiers or laser printers | Toner |
Pointing device that senses motion of a finger | Touch pad |
Monitors that are designed to act as input devices | Touch screen |
Connection method that replaces many other types of connectors | USB |