Computer Technology Abbreviations –

Does it leave you confused in this digital jungle?

Are you wondering what they are supposed to
mean?
Whether you are at work, at home or just about
doing anything, one or the other technology
abbreviation will be staring at you….. You
cannot escape from it
Never be afraid….. Let us face them straight
and understand what they mean….. Those
which we encounter every day…. At shop-floor,
office or bedroom……
We will limit to very basic information in this
presentation
 COMPUTER – What do we mean?

REMEMBER, a computer need not be necessarily the one

beautifully sitting on the desk. It can also be an
industrial controller interfaced to sophisticated
machines. With addition / modification of few
components, a computer can become multipurpose
device.
A servo motor drive, An Automatic power change /
management system is also a computer.
For instance, a PLC mounted into a special rack also can
have a LAN card or a MODEM which communicates with
various other machines. Today, it is, indeed, possible to
control a machine installed miles away thru internet.
Technology, indeed, has made life a wonderful
journey !!!!
LAPTOP is also a computer, but many typical slots or
ports may not be found since they have to be compact.
BIOS – Basic Input Output System

BIOS is a permanent memory (called ROM)

which is stored on a separate IC that will start
working when computer is turned ON. It
checks all the hardware devices connected to
a computer and ensures that they are in
working order to proceed further. “Booting” is
a common word used to explain all the initial
checks that BIOS program will do before
loading necessary software on computer.
BIOS is like a “field-inspector” who ensures
that the pitch is in correct condition before
letting players start an exciting match !!
Changing BIOS information is usually
programmed permanently by computer
manufacturers, although it can be modified
later, with proper knowledge
SCSI – Small Computer System Interface

The permanent storage devices like Hard Disk

Drives, Tape Drives and such critical devices
are connected to the computer using this
special communication system. Each SCSI
device will have unique ID (called ADDRESS)
and will be configured into system BIOS. The
SCSI “bus” can have 8 or 16 devices
connected in series with the last device being
terminated using special resistors.
BUS is a common word used for identifying
common lines along which some “energy” is
transferred. The “energy” can be data,
electric power or radio signals.
HDD – Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive is a permanent storage disk

that is an integral part of any computer. HARD
means the device is mechanically strong and
rugged enough to withstand external
disturbances within certain limits, like
vibrations, dust, light and heat. DISK means
the device has multiple “magnetizable” disks
which stores all information. DRIVE means a
special purpose on-board motor monitors and
controls the disk speed.
The disk is “magnetized” or “demagnetized”
according to information. This is somewhat
similar to old audio and video cassettes which
had magnetic tapes on it.
Hard Disk Drive is usually rated on its data
holding capacity. The Disk RPM (Speed) is
another critical information
PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect

A slot on the “motherboard” of a computer in

which add-on hardware components are
fixed. Usually, video cards, LAN cards, Modem
cards and Video (TV) tuner cards are fixed in
PCI slots. PCI-e (PCI-Express) is the present
common standard available today in many
computers. Apart from conventional ones,
special interface cards required for controlling
machines are also fitted in PCI slots.
SIMM – Single Inline Memory Module
DIMM – Dual Inline Memory Module
The much needed RAM – Random Access
Memory – used in computers were fitted to
motherboard as SIMMs. As the name implies,
it has memory ICs (“chips”) fitted on one side
of the PCB which slides into SIMM slot. Of
course, with increasing in computing
complexity today, the SIMMs have been
replaced with DIMMs (Dual Inline Memory
Modules) which have more storage capacity.
It is available in 30 and 72 pin configuration.
More the SIMMs, more is the RAM capacity of
the computers. Normally four SIMMs (or
DIMMs) are sufficient enough to provide up to
2 GB (2000 MB or 2000000 KB) RAM. With
advancement of “nano” electronics, a single
memory IC can hold up to 1 GB of data !!
MODEM – MOdulator / DEModulator

It is an indispensable component of any

communication device which basically
converts “digital” information of computer to
“analog” format that travels over telephone
cables. It obviously converts the received
“analog” data to “digital” format which
computer can understand. The MODEM can be
installed on a single system or can sit
separately and handle more than one
component which can be a computer, PLC .
Apart from computer, MODEMs are widely
used FAX machines also. Wireless MODEMs
are also available which help avoid complex
cabling in difficult locations.
LAN – Local Area Network
When more than one computer need to
“exchange” information with each other, it does
so using what is called as LAN (Local Area
Network) card. The LAN card is usually fixed to
PCI slot and communicates using CAT-5 cable
which has extremely high data transfer rate (also
called BAUD RATE). All computers are connected
to a LAN network using ROUTER which is like a
exchange office helping them share data without
“hitting” against each other. Apart from CAT-5
type cables, CO-AXIAL cables are also widely used
especially in industrial control systems for data
exchange. WIRELESS LAN is the latest technology
available, especially for laptops, which use RADIO
signals to communicate over LAN network. Wi-Fi
(WIRELESS FIDELITY) LAN is another name for by
which it is identified. Today, Wireless LANs have
become so small that they fit into a USB slot !!!
PCMCIA – Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association

PCMCIA is an international body that set

standards for cards, usually equal in size to
credit cards, which slide into special PCMCIA
slots. Many CNC machines have these special
cards which store machine / product
programs. On computers, these slots can
have LAN, Memory and other special
application cards. They are widely used on
laptops. PCMCIA cards have 68-pin dual line
connector and slide with minimum force into
its slot.
USB – Universal Serial Bus

USB was a communication standard

developed to provide, as the name says,
UNIVERSAL connectivity between various
devices. USB 1.0 has a data transfer rate of
12 Mega Bits per second (Mbps), USB 2.0 has
480 Mega bits and USB 3.0 has almost 4800
Mega Bits per second (4.8 Gbps) !! At present,
USB 2.0 is the most commonly used standard
On a computer, USB eliminates all “dedicated”
ports to Mouse, Keyboard, Pen Drives,
Printers & other devices
Up to 127 USB devices can be connected on a
single port network, using multipliers
VGA – Video Graphics Array

VGA is one of the most widely used methods

of connecting a display device, either old CRT
or latest LCD, to the computer. A 15-pin D-
sub connector is the cable providing this
connection. The display resolution is
explained using “pixels” as the standard.
VGA will have a screen resolution
(sharpness) of 640 x 480 pixels, measured
vertically and horizontally respectively. A
SVGA (Superior Video Graphics Array)
originally had a resolution of 800 x 600
pixels which later extended to 1024 x 768.
SD Card – Secured Digital Card

SD cards are an evolution from earlier MMC

or Multi Media Cards which are very compact
in size and can hold up to 4 GB of data. SD
cards are available in various sizes and are
addressed as Mini or Micro types. They have
become the standard storage devices for
many digital equipments like camera, mobile
phones, music players. SD cards have very
high data transfer rate up to 20 MBPS
 CD – Compact Disc

Compact Disc is basically a circular plastic (POLYCARBONATE)

disc coated with special material which gets “burned” by LASER
beam to store any information in DIGITAL format. The “burned”
spot represents “1” and “unburned” spot represents “0” and
depending on which software is accessing these mix of 0’s and
1’s corresponding output will be generated. CD has many
variations available today with “Blue-Ray” disc being the latest
which can store immense amount of data.
The CD is available in single-time writable and multiple writable
formats. The former is termed CD-R and latter as CD-RW.
DVD or Digital Versatile Disc stores more information and is
widely used today. A typical DVD-RW can store 4.7 GB (4700 MB)
of information.
Combo-Drive is the common name given to CD reader which read
and write all types of CDs except Blue-Ray Disc.
 CD – Compact Disc

Compact Disc is the more reliable method of storing critical

information. A beam of LASER – Light Amplification by
Stimulated Emission of Radiation – is used to run over entire
area of the compact disc. The LASER beam actually creates burn
spot on the disc material, which creates “lands” and “pits”
resembling “1” and “0” in the digital world.
 Speeds

There are two types of speeds in computer domain.

One is called BAUD RATE which represents number of “bits” per
second. The modem (internet) and USB speeds are represented
in Bits Per Second. Common acronyms are Kbps and Mbps. Each
bit, as we are aware, corresponds to either “0” or “1”
The other is data transfer rate, which represents number of
“bytes” per second. The data retrieval across HDD, CD are
identified in this nature. Common acronyms are KBPS or MBPS.
Each byte, as we are aware, corresponds to EIGHT bits of various
combinations of “0” and “1”
The “X” suffix commonly used with CD transfer speeds
correspond to 150 KBPS. For example, a 24X CD can transfer /
receive data at 24 x 150 = 3600 KBPS (almost 3.6 MBPS)
With advanced technology, speeds in excess of 1 TBPS (1 TERA
BYTE PER SECOND) are also possible.
 Other Common Acronyms

POST – Power On Self Test – It indicates the routine check a

computer BIOS will perform when computer is turned ON. It is
also called “booting”
IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics – Represents the on-board
electronics of motor used in Hard Disk Drives
ISA – Industry Standard Architecture is a internationally accepted
standard for mounting various components on the motherboard of
a computer. The ISA slots have specific pin configuration for
mounting different add-on cards
GHz – Giga Hertz / MHz – Mega Hertz – The speed at which a
computer, specifically the Microprocessor, which can perform its
operations. Obviously, GHz indicates faster computing power than
MHz
RAM – Random Access Memory – The “amount” of volatile
memory installed in a computer. Higher RAM corresponds to
faster execution of program or ability to perform multiple
functions
 Other Common Acronyms

COM Port – Communication Port – These are special SERIAL

communication ports that are available in some computers to
connect certain specific hardware devices. Although USB’s have
replaced these ports, few devices like industrial controller PCs,
Servo Drives still use COM interface for communication. RS232,
RS485, RS422 are common COM standards. Earlier computers had
two ports labeled, COM1 and COM2.
LPT Port – Line Parallel Terminal – As the name implies, it
indicates PARALLAL communication port which is widely used for
connecting printers. For a given data size, obviously, LPT is faster
than COM port
FDD – Floppy Disk Drive – Although it is becoming extinct, still
few applications demand this type of storage media which in older
days was available in 5 ¼” size and later in 3 ½” size capable of
storing 512 KILOBYTES and 1.44 MEGABYTES respectively.
 Other Common Acronyms

COM Port – Communication Port – These are special SERIAL

communication ports that are available in some computers to
connect certain specific hardware devices. Although USB’s have
replaced these ports, few devices like industrial controller PCs,
Servo Drives still use COM interface for communication. RS232,
RS485, RS422 are common COM standards. Earlier computers had
two ports labeled, COM1 and COM2.
LPT Port – Line Parallel Terminal – As the name implies, it
indicates PARALLAL communication port which is widely used for
connecting printers. For a given data size, obviously, LPT is faster
than COM port
FDD – Floppy Disk Drive – Although it is becoming extinct, still
few applications demand this type of storage media which in older
days was available in 5 ¼” size and later in 3 ½” size capable of
storing 512 KILOBYTES and 1.44 MEGABYTES respectively.
 How do we specify a PC or Laptop?

The specification for a typical desktop or laptop computer includes:

o Hard Disk Drive storage capacity
o Type of Microprocessor
o RAM Capacity
o Type of CD-ROM Drive (whether only CD or can use DVD etc.)
o Optional components like LAN card, SD card reader, number of
USB ports
o Availability of COM or LPT ports if certain application demand it
o CACHE memory which determines how fast a computer can
process multiple tasks
o Availability of optional components like Video Card, TV Tuner
Card, Bluetooth technology
o Of course, the type of software installed on the computer
CPU—Central Processing Unit
CPU, as the n ame implies, is the h eart o f an y computer and consists of one or more M ICROP ROC ES-
SORS, peripheral solid state electronic components, RAM to perform all the requested tasks. Th e
CPU actually performs “instructions” assigned to it by a software program. Fast er the MICROP ROC-
ESSOR, higher will be the nu mber of instructions executed per unit time. B ased on the ability of CPU
to perform tasks, computers ar e classifi ed as SUP ERCOMPU TERS, M INICOMPU TERS and MIC ROCOM-
PUTERS. With advancement in electronics, the CPU’s have become s maller in size and can per for m
tasks faster without consuming more en ergy.

CPU’s also appear in “non -conventional” computers like Ser vo drives, PLCs, Mobile Phones, C alcula-
tors and more. Th eir complexity and size, obviously, dep ends on the tasks to be accomplished.

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Charles Babbage
Charles Babb age was an mathematician, philosopher and inventor who was born in
England in 1791. Although lot of “brains” have gone into making of modern computer,
he is considered as “Th e Father of Co mputer” He actuall y invent ed a “mechanical
calculator” that could perfor m many mathematical calculations without error. Although his inven-
tions were ver y big and slow, it laid foundation for today’s complex computers. The first design of
mech anical calculator al most weight 15000 kilograms ( 30400 pounds) and was 2.4 meter (8 feet)
high !!

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3 4 5

Across
8
2. S in BIOS is ________
6. P in LPT is ______
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7. GB when expanded stands for _____
8. RW IN CD-RW when abbreviated is _______
Down
1. S in USB is ______
3. Hz when expanded means _____
4. ST in POST is ________
5. V in DVD is _________