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What is Information Technology (IT)?

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In the 1960s and 1970s, the term information technology (IT) was a little known phrase that was used by those who worked in places like banks and hospitals to describe the processes they used to store information. With the paradigm shift to computing technology and "paperless" workplaces, information technology has come to be a household phrase. It defines an industry that uses computers, networking, software programming, and other equipment and processes to store, process, retrieve, transmit, and protect information. In the early days of computer development, there was no such thing as a college degree in IT. Software development and computer programming were best left to the computer scientists and mathematical engineers, due to their complicated nature. As time passed and technology advanced, such as with the advent of the personal computer in the 1980s and its everyday use in the home and the workplace, the world moved into the information age. By the early 21st c

What is a Pen Drive?

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A pen drive is a portable Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash memory device for storing and transferring audio, video, and data files from a computer. As long as the desktop or laptop has a USB port, and the pen drive is compatible with the operating system, it should be easy to move the data from the  hard drive  to the device — and to another computer — in a matter of minutes. The drive gets its name from the fact that many have a retractable port connector like a  ballpoint  pen, and they are small enough to fit into a pocket. Other names include flash drive, jump drive, and thumb drive. How to Use It Using a pen drive is simple: the user inserts one end of the drive, which is equipped with a USB connector, into the USB port on a desktop or laptop and activates it. Once the drive is active, files can be dragged and dropped or copied and pasted into the memory. The process is usually no more difficult than attaching files to an  email  or copying files onto a disk,  mp3 player

What is a Moderated Forum?

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A moderated forum refers to an online forum for discussion in which all posts are pre-approved by a moderator before being posted for the group. Some people prefer a this type of forum to an unmoderated one, as the moderator can not only keep outspam, but posts that are inappropriate, rude or offensive, or that wander off topic. The Internet has always been known for its unmoderated, uncensored landscape. No one “owns” the Internet, and no policing service is responsible for controlling it. Instead it is built foremostly on voluntary cooperation both at the network level, and at the level of social interaction. To this end most social forums on the Internet have a set of rules or protocols members are requested to follow. Though the idea of voluntary cooperation is idealistically appealing to responsible persons worldwide and has been a great success, its strength is also its weakness. Irresponsible people can use unmoderated forums for their own purposes to harass, harangue a

What is SATA 6Gb/s?

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As of 2009,  SATA 6Gb/s  is the newest generation architecture for platter-based hard drives. The "6Gb/s" refers to the data transfer rate of 6 gigabits per second, twice the speed of the previous generation SATA. The Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) that designs SATA standards has requested that this third-generation SATA be referred to as SATA 6Gb/s to avoid adding potential confusion to SATA nomenclature already bumbled by confusing second-generation names. SATA technology changed the landscape of  hard drive  technology by switching from wide, inconvenient parallel ATA (PATA) data cables and connectors, to narrow serial cables and connectors. The switch to full duplex serial communication opened the door to faster speeds than parallel technology could handle, and also opened up the interior of  computer cases  allowing for greater air flow, vital toFASTER COMPUTER processor units (CPUs) and higher capacity disk drives. Original SATA, also known as S

Does Adding RAM Improve Computer Speed?

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Adding more Random Access Memory (RAM) can increase computer speed, though it is not guaranteed and often depends on other factors. If a lack of RAM is the only reason for the slowness in an otherwise fast system, then adding more memory will typically improve the operating speed. When there are other problems aside from a shortage of RAM, adding more memory might help, but those secondary factors need to be addressed for the best possible performance. In some cases, a computer might simply be too old to run newer applications efficiently, if at all. Checking RAM RAM usage on a computer can be checked in different ways, depending on the operating system (OS). On a machine running some version of Windows™, the easiest way to see how much memory the computer has is to view the  System  screen in the Control Panel. The Task  Manager  shows how this memory is being used; pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys brings up this program or the option to open it. In this tool, the Performa

What is Carrom?

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Carrom is one of the world’s favorite indoor board games. The game is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago. Although the precise region where carrom originated is unknown, it is thought that it was first played in either India or Asia. Carrom is a game that requires skill, practice and determination. It can be played at all ages and its popularity is steadily growing. Although carrom is classified as an indoor game, it requires elements of both physical and mental skill. It is more similar to marbles or  air hockey  than it is to other board games such as Monopoly. It is a portable game, and because of its size, it can be played almost anywhere. Carrom’s popularity has grown so much that there are tournaments held by federations all over the world. Carrom can be played by two, three or four players. If there are two players, then they sit opposite each other. In a game with four players, the players form teams. If there are three players, they are able to pla

What is a Hat Trick in Hockey?

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A hat trick in hockey is when a player scores three goals in a game. The term "hat trick" is often used in sports to refer to a player achieving three of something during a single competition, such as three goals in one soccer game, three hits in a baseball game or three touchdowns in an American football game. Many sports historians believe that the term originated from cricket during the late 1800s, but it is now most commonly used in hockey and soccer. In ice hockey, many fans will salute a player who accomplishes a hat trick by throwing their hats onto the ice. A Rare Accomplishment The main priority in hockey is to score goals, because the team that scores the most goals wins the game. A goal is awarded when the puck goes into the opponent's goal, usually after being shot by a player on the scoring team. Relatively few goals are scored in most hockey games, with teams often finishing a game with two goals or less, which is why it is considered a signifi

What is the Difference Between a Sled and a Toboggan?

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Sleds and toboggans are both used to transport people and goods on terrain that has a limited amount of friction, such as snow or ice. Both have been widely used in northern climates since before the invention of the wheel. Sleds and toboggans appear in sporting events, children's winter games, and as a mode of transit in some regions. While similar in concept, the sled and the toboggan are different in construction. A sled is composed of a flat surface with runners or rails attached. The surface of the sled is lifted off the snow by the runners, which glide along the top of the snow. Sledding is a popular outdoor sport in many snowy countries. For downhill sledding, no power is needed because the weight of the sled and its rider will pull the sled forward. For flat ground, some sort of energy is needed, and usually provided by livestock. When attached to livestock such as horses, a sled is often referred to as a sleigh or sledge. While sleighs have romantic connotations