7th Grade Technology Class

supercomputer One of the fastest computers currently available. Typically used for : number crunching including scientific simulations, Animated graphics, Analysis of geological data, structural analysis, computational fluid dynamics, physics, chemistry, electronic design, nuclear energy research and meteorology.

mainframe A term originally referring to the cabinet containing the central processor unit or "main frame" of a room-filling Stone Age batch machine. The traditional big iron machines were described as "mainframe computers" and eventually just as mainframes. Especially used of machines built by IBM, Unisys and the other great dinosaurs surviving from computing's Stone Age. Supporters claim that mainframes still house 90% of the data major businesses rely on for mission-critical applications, attributing this to their superior performance, reliability, scalability, and security compared to microprocessors.

personal computer A general-purpose single-user microcomputer designed to be operated by one person at a time.

laptop computer A portable personal computer of a size suitable to rest comfortably on one's legs. A laptop is smaller than a "luggable" (portable, but not comfortably) but bigger than a "palmtop" (easily carried in one hand or a shirt pocket).

palmtop “pocket computer", "Hand-held Personal Computer", H/PC A small general-purpose, programmable, battery-powered computer capable of handling both numbers and text which can be operated comfortably while held in one hand. A palmtop is very similar to a Personal Digital Assistant though a palmtop may have a larger keyboard and more RAM and is possibly more general purpose in concept, if not in practice.

wearable computer It offers flexibly designed to give the user instant access to computing capabilities while carrying out non-computer tasks in the field. Featuring hands-free operation, robust wireless capabilities, and built-in GPS tracking, this versatile wearable computer serves as an ideal tool for emergency search and rescue, healthcare, homeland security, maintenance, law enforcement, logistics, transportation, and defense applications.