Secondary Storage

File Compression


File compression is the practice of packaging a file or files to use less disk space. It allows you reduce the overall number of bits and bytes in a file so it can be transmitted faster over slower Internet connections, or take up less space on a disk.



- An example of File compression software

Head Crash
A head crash is a hard-disk failure and it will cause significant damaga and date loss.. It can be initiated by a force that puts enough pressure on the platters from the heads to scratch through to the magnetic storage layer. Besides that, a tiny particle of dirt or other detritus, excessive shock or vibration, or accidentally dropping a running drive can also cause a head to bounce against its disk, destroying the thin magnetic coating on the area the heads come in contact with, and often damaging the heads in the process.

- An example of normal Hard Disc


-An example of Head Crashed Hard Disc

Internet Hard Drive


- Hugedrive.com is a website that provide Internet hard drive service.

 The Internet hard drive will allow you to save your computer files into a remote hard drive, and then later access those very same files from any other computer but with a condition ,which is  the computer has access to the Internet. 

Optical Disc Drive


- An example of Optical Disc Drive

In computing, an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disc drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves near the light spectrum as part of the process of retrieve or store data to or from optical discs. T his drives are commonly both readers and recorders so it can read retrieve and store data to or from Compact discs, DVDs and Blu0-ray discs.
Solid-State Storage


A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. SSDs are distinguished from traditional hard disc drives (HDDs) because it uses microchips which retain data in non-volatile memory chips and contain no moving parts. As a result, SSDs are typically less susceptible to physical shock, quieter, and have lower acces time and latency.

Input and Output

Engonomic Keyboard



An ergonomic keyboard is a computer keyboard designed with ergonomic considerations to minimize muscle strain and a host of related problems. It is more user friendly and comfortable to be used.

Ink-jet printer


An inkjet printer is a type of computer printer that creates a digital image by inserting variable-sized droplets of ink onto paper. Inkjet printers are the most commonly used type of printer because it is reliable, quiet, cheap and relatively inexpensive. It ranges from small inexpensive consumer models to very large professional machines .

Laser Printer



A laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper. Laser printers uses a technology similar with digital photocopies and multifuntion printers. What makes it unique is  that the image is produced by the direct scanning of a laser beam. It works faster and are used in applications that requiring high-quality output.


- picture shows how the laser printer work.

Magnetic-Ink Character Reader ( MICR)



Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, or MICR, is a character recognition technology used primarily by the banking industry to facilitate the processing of cheques. The technology allows computers to read information off of printed documents. For example, the unusual numbers on the bottom of checks and deposit cheque.

Optical-Character Recognition (OCR)

Optical character recognition (OCR) , is a method of making printed, typewritten or handwritten data understandable and readable with a computer. OCR is generally used to store the data in a digital format from where it can be edited on a machine and, most importantly, made searchable with keywords. Next, Optical Character Recognition involves deciphering the data by a machine, converting it into a machine readable format and storing it on the machine, which is usually a computer. A common OCR device is the handheld wand reader and usually used in department stores to read retail price tags.

- The picture shows how the OCR work.


Optical-Mark Recognition


Optical Mark Recognition (also called Optical Mark Reading and OMR) is the process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.

System Unit

Flash memory

Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It is primarily used in memory cards, USB flash drives, MP3 players and solid-state drives for general storage and transfer of data between computers and other digital products.

 

-A USB flash drive. The chip on the left is the flash memory. The controller is on the right.

Graphic cards

A graphics card (also video card) is a piece of hardware installed in a computer  that is responsible for rendering the image on the computer’s monitor or display screen.

Sound cards

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education, and entertainment (games).

- An example of cache memory card

Network interface card ( NIC)

A network interface card, more commonly referred to as a NIC, is a device that allows computers to be joined together in a  local area network (LAN). Networked computers communicate with each other using a given protocol or agreed-upon language for transmitting data packets between the different machines, known as nodes. The network interface card acts as the liaison for the machine to both send and receive data on the LAN.

Plug and Play

In the world of computing, 'plug and play’ is a term used to describe the characteristic of a universal serial bus, or device specification, which facilitates the discovery of a hardware component in a system, without the need for physical device configuration, or user intervention in resolving resource conflicts.

Bus line

Device on a computer's motherboard that provides a data path between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and attached devices. Examples of the devices are keyboard, mouse, disk drives and video cards. Like a vehicular bus that stops at an particular stations to pick up or drop off people, a computer bus receives a data signal from the CPU and drops it off at the appropriate device. Conversely, data signals from devices are sent back to the CPU. On a network, a bus provides the data path between the various computers and devices.

- An example of Bus line

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency (RF) coaxial cable.  HDMI connects digital audio/video sources (such as set-top boxes, upconvert DVD players, HD DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players, AVCHD camcorders, personal computers (PCs), video game consoles such as the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and AV receivers) to compatible digital audio devices, computer monitors, video projectors, and digital televisions.

-HDMI connector

- How HDMI work.

Cache memory

Cache (pronounced as cash) memory is extremely fast memory that is built into a computer’s central processing unit or located next to it on a separate chip. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) uses cache memory to store instructions that are repeatedly required to run programs, improving overall system speed. For examples in a computer with cache, the computer will copy the frequently used information into the cache. When needed, the Central Processing Unit will quickly acces the information from the cache.  

Specialized Application Software

Audio Editing Software

You do not have to be a professional mixer or sound technician to perform basic audio editing or restoring tasks. Audio editing software can carry out a variety of functions: create, record, convert, restore and edit.

Bitmap Image

 An example of bitmap image.


In computer graphics, a bitmap is a type of memory organization or image file format used to store digital images. The term bitmap comes from the computer programming terminology, meaning just a map of bits. It is also known as raster images. Bitmap images use thousands of dots or  pixels to represent an image. Each dot has a specific location colour and shade. Its limitation is that when they are being expanded or zoom in, they become pixilated jagged on the edges.

Hypertext Makeup Language editor (HTML editor)



An Hypertext Markup Language editor is a software application for creating web pages. Although the HTML markup of a web page can be written with any text editor, specialized HTML editors can offer convenience and added functionality.

Multimedia

Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms. For examples, website is a good example of multimedia.

Vector Image



Vector Image is the use of geometrical shapes or objects, such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical equations. It is used to represent images in computer graphics. As these shapers are created by connencting lines and curves, it can be defined by mathematical equations. Thus, they can be easily be resize, colored, textured and manipulated. This explained why the vector image would not pixilated when it is being expanded or zoom in.



- An example of vector image

Web Authoring


- Web Authoring is a software that used to design or create a website.

Web Authoring is a category of software that enables the user to develop a Web site in a desktop publishing format. The software will generate the required Hyper Text Markup Language coding for the layout of the Web pages based on what the user designs.

Basic Application Software

Graphical User Interface

A screenshot of a modern GUI (KDE Plasma Desktop).

A graphical user interface (GUI), often pronounced gooey. It is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with programs in more ways than typing such as computers; hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices; household appliances and office equipment with images rather than text commands. A GUI offers graphical icons and visual indicators.

Word Processor

-Two types of  Word Processor : English Word Processor and Chinese Word Processor. 

 To perform word processing, you need a computer, a special program called a word processor, and a printer.When we using a computer to create, edit, and print documents, it means that we are using the word processor at the same time. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. A word processor enables you to create a document, store it electronically on a disk, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it on a printer.

Spreadsheet



A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell may containing alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas. A formula is an instruction to calculate or process. Formula defines how the content of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made.But, it is now widely use by every profession. For examples, marketing analyser uses it to analyse sales trend and teachers use it to record grades.

Database Management System



A Database Management System (DBMS) is a set of computer programs that provide tools to control the enter, edit, and the use of a database. It allows organizations to place control of database development in the hands of database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. A DBMS is a system software package that helps the use of integrated collection of  related data records and files known as databases. It allows different user application programs to easily access the same database.

 Utility Suites

 Utility software is a kind of system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility (abbr. util) or tool.Utility software usually focuses on how the computer infrastructure operates. For instances the operation of computer hardware, operating system, application software and data storage.
Most utilities are highly specialized and designed to perform only a single task or a small range of tasks. However, there are also some utility suites that combine several features in one piece of software.

The Internet and the Web

File Transfer Protocol ( FTP)


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File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a standard Internet protocol, is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. FTP is an application protocol that uses the Internet's TCP/IP protocols. FTP is commonly used to transfer Web page files from their creator to the computer that acts as their server for everyone on the Internet. It's also commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers.



Plug-ins

In computing a plug-in (or plugin) is a set of software components that adds specific capabilities to a larger software application. If supported, plug-ins enable customizing the functionality of an application. For example, plug-ins are commonly used in web browser to play video, scan for viruses, and display new file types. Well-known plug-ins examples include Adobe Flash Player and Quick Time.


Filters



Filter (also known as the higher-order-function) is a higher-order function that processes a data structure (typically a list) into a form that the computer can understand and function on it.
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Internet Security Suite



Internet Security Suite is a proactive defense against viruses and spyware. It helps prevent identity theft, loss of important files and the general degradation of your computers performance.

Instead of having to buy separate antivirus, antispyware and firewall programs, you can buy an internet security suite and have those tools integrated into one helpful program . You are saving money if you buy an Internet Security Suite. Futhermore, you will have protection programs that perform seamlessly together and keep your computer from becoming victim to malicious security threats.

Wiki

A wiki is a website that allows everyone to become a text editor as everyone is welcome to fill in missing information or correct the inaccurancies..Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative wiki websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems.


Javascripts



JavaScript is  used to enable programmatiic access to computational objects within a host environment. It can be characterized as a prototype-based object-oriented scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is also considered a functional programming language like Scheme and OCaml because it has closures and supports higher-order functions.

Applets

An applet is a program written in the Java programming language that can be included in an Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page, much in the same way an image is included in a page. When you use a Java technology-enabled browser to view a page that contains an applet, the applet's code is transferred to your system and executed by the browser's Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Hypertext Makeup Language (HTML)

 

HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. A markup language is a set of markup tags, and HTML uses markup tags to describe web pages.
HTML is written in the form of HTML elements consisting of "tags" surrounded by angle brackets (like <html>) within the web page content. HTML tags normally come in pairs like <b> and </b>. The first tag in a pair is the start tag, the second tag is the end tag (they are also called opening tags and closing tags).

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)



In computing, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies where an identified resource is available and the mechanism for retrieving it. . All Uniform Resouce Locator have two parts, which are the protocol and domain name. The best-known example of the use of URLs is for the addresses of web pages on the World Wide Web, such as http://www.example.com/.