In the legal field, there is a term that is used to describe a computer system so that everyone can
agree on a common definition. The term describes a computer for the purposes of computer
security as any assembly of electronic equipment, hardware, software and firmware configured to
collect, create, communicate, disseminate, process, store and control data or information. This
definition includes peripheral items such as keyboards, printers, and additional memory. The term
that corresponds to this definition is:
A.
An automated information system (AIS)
B.
A microprocessor
C.
A central processing unit (CPU)
D.
An arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
Explanation:
In some ways, this terminology harkens back to the days of large mainframe computers, but the
term AIS is used in the legal community to refer to a computer system. Answer a, CPU, refers to the
portion of a computer that performs arithmetic and logical operations on datA. To support these
operations, the CPU incorporates a hardware arithmetic logic unit or ALU (answer c). The CPU is
synonymous with the word processor. If the CPU is integrated onto a silicon chip, it is called a
microprocessor (answer b). If the CPU is connected with memory and Input/Output (I/O) through a
set of wires called a bus, the resulting combination is called a computer. This concept is shown in
Figure. b