Computer Competency Study Guide/Computer Competency Test Preparation Workshop—Written Test Study Guide copyright Germanna Community College.

Computer Competency Study
Guide/Computer Competency Test
Preparation Workshop—Written Test Study
Guide copyright Germanna Community
College.
The five primary components of a computer - Correct Answers Input devices, Output devices,
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Central Processing Unit or CPU, Memory, and Storage devices.
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II! Input Devices - Correct Answers Any hardware component that allows a user to enter data or
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II! instructions into a computer. Six commonly used are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner,
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II! digital camera and PC camera.
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II! Keyboard - Correct Answers Contains keys that allow a user to enter data and instructions into a
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II! computer.



II! Mouse - Correct Answers A small handheld device that controls the movement of a symbol on
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II! the screen called a pointer. With it, you can make choices, initiate a process and select objects.
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II! Microphone - Correct Answers Allows a user to speak to the computer to enter data and II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!




II! instructions into the computer. II! II! II!




II! Scanner - Correct Answers Reads printed text and pictures and then translates the results into a
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II! form the computer can use.
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II! Digital camera - Correct Answers Allows a user to take pictures and transfer the photographed
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II! image to the computer, instead of storing on traditional film.
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, II! PC camera - Correct Answers Allows the users to have video telephone or conference calls -
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II! where the participants can see each other while communicating.
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II! Output Devices - Correct Answers Any hardware component that can convey information to a
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II! user. Three commonly used are a printer, a monitor and speakers.
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II! Printer - Correct Answers Produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper or a
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II! transparency. This physical format is also referred to as a hard copy. The resolution is measured in II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!




II! DPIs.



II! Monitor - Correct Answers Looks like a small television screen, displays text, graphics, and video
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II! information. The viewable size is the diagonal measurement of the actual viewing area. II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!




II! Speakers - Correct Answers Allow the user to hear music, voice, and other sounds generated by
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II! the computer.
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II! Serial port - Correct Answers The interface that connects devices to the system unit by
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II! transmitting data one bit at a time. Mainly used for devices that do not require fast data II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!




II! transmission rates, such as a mouse, keyboard,or modem. II! II! II! II! II! II! II!




II! Universal serial bus (USB) port - Correct Answers Can connect up to 127 different peripheral
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II! devices with a single connector type. II! II! II! II! II!




II! Analog signals - Correct Answers The telephone system uses continuously-variable signals; they
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II! work over a continuous range (like the sound that comes from speakers).
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II! Digital signals - Correct Answers Your PC moves and stores data as these signals using a series of
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II! 1's and 0's. This data is either on (1) or off(0) at any given time; never any in-between value.
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