1.4 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

1.2. B) TERMINOLOGIES AND BASIC CONCEPTS

There are many terminologies used in the field of computing. Below are some of the

basic ones:

Data

This refers to the raw facts and figures, which are entered into the computer by the user in a form suitable for processing.

Data may consist of characters, symbols, sounds and graphics, videos etc.

Information

It refers to the processed data that makes meaning and is useful. For example the figure

10082006 may be input as data, but once this same figure is converted to the format 10/08/2006, you realize that it’s a date.

Information and communication Technology (ICT)

This term combines three items i.e. [information, communication, and technology]

Communication in this regard refers to the electronic transfer of data from one point to another. Technology refers to the technique and way of doing something.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to the broad range of

hardware, software, network infrastructure and media that enable the processing,

storage and sharing of information among humans and computers, locally and globally” ICT devices range from radio, television, cellular phones, compact disks, Fax machines, computers, biometric devices, internet and network hardware and software platforms, satellite systems and so on. It involves to all means which facilitate information or data capture processing storage and output.

Data entry

It is the act of in putting data into the computer. This is done by the help of input

devices like keyboard, mouse etc.

Byte

A byte is a unit of computer memory or digital information that consists of eight binary digits (bits).

NB. 1 byte stores 1 character.

Binary

The number system used to represent digital information in computers where data is expressed by combinations of the digits 0 and 1, corresponding to power states "off" and "on" respectively.

RAM (Random Access Memory) refers to computer working memory that acts as a

temporally store for data and instructions during processing.