Vocabulary Definitions
I found the following document in my "High School" bin in the attic. This is a document that I got from a computer science department class in school. Here are some computer vocabulary definitions in the late 1980s:
Click on image for a larger version.
Vocabulary Definitions
- Keyboard -- typewriter with letter, number, and symbol keys; people tell the computer what they want it to do by typing characters on the keyboard.
- characters -- the letters, numbers, and symbols you can type on the keyboard.
- monitor -- a screen, like a TV set, where people can see information that they type into the computer and see the information that the computer gives back to them.
- disk -- a thin circle of magnetic tape in a plastic cover that holds information for the computer to use; it's similar to a cassette tape.
- disk drive -- a rectangular unit that you put the disk into; it reads information from and writes information onto the disk.
- printer -- a machine that types information from the computer onto paper.
- hard copy -- the printed text that comes out of the printer.
- hardware -- the computer and all its attachments (disk drives, monitor, and printer).
- software -- the programs used with the computer, and stored on the disks, that give the computer directions.
- cursor -- the small flashing rectangle on the screen that shows you where you are.
- text -- the words you write and read on the computer.
- SHIFT -- key on the keyboard to get capital letters.
- CONTROL (or CTRL) -- key on the keyboard to change commands.
- boot -- to load a program into the computer