|
|
ABCDE FGHIJKLMNO PQ RSTUVWX Y Z
1. Using the Internet 2. How to Use a Web Browser
3. Computer Tips 4. How to Build a Webpage 5. Glossary
Section Five: A Glossary of Key Terms
ASCII (AMERICAN STANDARD CODE FOR INFORMATION INTERCHANGE)
A standard for digital representation of letters, numbers, and control codes; understood by most computers.
ADDRESS
The location of a file on the Internet. This network address is known as a URL -- a Uniform Resource Locator, such as http://www.HomeworkHotline.com
ATTACHMENT
A computer file such as a picture or program that is attached to and delivered with an e-mail message.
BIT (BINARY DIGIT)
An acronym for Binary digit. It is the basic unit of information in the machine world. A bit is a digit in binary form and carries one of two values, 0 or 1.
BPS (BITS PER SECOND)
A measurement of data transmission speed.
BANDWIDTH
Information carrying capacity of a communication channel.
BROADBAND
A loose term used to describe high bandwidth lines, usually a T3 line, with 45mps or higher transfer speeds.
BYTE
A single computer character, generally 8 bits. For example, the letter "G" in binary code is 01000111.
BROWSER
Software that allows you to find and see information on the Internet.
CAI (COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION)
Teaching process in which a computer is used to enhance the education of a student.
CD-ROM (COMPACT DISC - READ ONLY MEMORY)
 An optical storage technology that uses compact discs. CD-ROM\'s are often used to store computer software. One CD-ROM can hold about 650 megabytes, or the equivalent of 450 floppy disks.
CGI (COMMON GATEWAY INTERFACE)
An interface between a website and a user. It allows forms, surveys and other documents to be filled online and the results automatically sent to the web site\'s server.
CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
clip art The component of a computer in which data processing takes place.
CABLE MODEM
A cable modem allows for high speed Internet access using coaxial cables, like your TV cable. A cable modem requires the insertion of an ethernet card into your computer in order to use the modem.
CABLE IN THE CLASSROOM
Cable in the classroom was developed to provide conventional cable television service to schools. Subject to certain criteria, schools are provided with a cable connection and basic cable television service free of charge.
CACHE
Cache stores information on your computer where you can get to it fast. For example, A Web browser\'s cache stores an HTML page, so when you go back to the page, everything doesn\'t have to be downloaded all over again. This is much faster.
COMPRESSION
Reducing the size of an Internet file to allow faster transmission.
CYBERSPACE
The virtual "place" where humans interact over computer networks.
DVD (DIGITAL VIDEO DISK)
A new technology that holds more information than a CD-Rom. Currently used mostly for movies.
DAEMON
Daemon is a name given to a server program running on a UNIX computer.
DEMO
Demonstration software - usually a special version of a commercial program that can be freely downloaded on a trial basis; often has limited features or expires after a period of time.
DIALOGUE BOX
dialog box picture A box that appears on a display screen that presents information. Dialogue boxes are usually temporary, and disappear once you have entered the requested information.
DIALUP NETWORK
Connection to a network (Internet) using a modem and telephone lines. Usually done with a commercial online service, e.g., AOL, or an Internet Service Provider (ISP) e.g., NETCOM
DIGITAL
A data signal transmitted using discrete steps in voltage. In contrast, an analog signal uses changes in frequency.
DISTANCE EDUCATION
Conveying knowledge from a distance, using web sites, discussion groups and message boards.
DOMAIN NAME
A hierarchical system of naming whereby unique names are mapped to computer addresses, e.g. cbc4kids.ca is the domain name under which all CBC4Kids files are located.
DOWNLOAD
To transfer files from a remote server or computer to your own.
EMAIL (ELECTRONIC MAIL)
Electronic messages sent from one computer user to another.
ETHERNET
A system of networking a number of different computers together over coaxial cable and twisted-pair wires.
EXE
A Windows file type indicating an "executable" file. Double clicking on an exe file will begin a launching or installation of a software application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
FTP (FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL)
An application program that uses TCP/IP protocol to allow you to move files from a distant computer to a local computer using a network like the Internet.
FIBER OPTIC CABLE
Glass fiber that is used for laser transmission of digital signals.
FIREWALL
A combination of hardware and software that isolates an internal "trusted" network from an external network.
FRAMES
Frames are a used in the layout style of some World Wide Web sites. It refers to the simultaneous loading of two or more Web pages at the same time within the same screen. Frames-based sites usually take a little longer to load.
FREEWARE
Software that is available for free download and redistribution.
GIF
Graphical Interchange Format, a computer graphics format originally developed by CompuServe now widely used for pictures on the Web.
HTML (HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE)
The programming language used to create webpages.
HTTP (HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL)
The protocol used to provide hypertext links between pages.
HOME PAGE
The top level hypertext document in a collection of pages or web site. Often uses index.html as file name. The home page is the main introductory page for a website. It usually tells you what you\'ll find on the site, like the table of contents in a book.
HOST
A network computer that can receive information from other computers.
HOTLINK
A hypertext link that once selected will deliver the user to another webpage or file.
HYPERTEXT
A document which has been marked up to allow a user to select words or pictures within the document, click on them, and connect to further information.
IP (INTERNET PROTOCOL)
The underlying packet standard used to connect networks over the Internet. IP is half of a protocol suit that works and must work with TCP.
ISP (INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER)
Commercial company that provides access to the Internet. Service is most often provided through a dialup network.
INTERNET
The global computer network. The Internet supports a wide range of data transfer protocols, such electronic mail, HTTP (The World Wide Web) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
INTERNET EXPLORER
Web browser from Microsoft.
INTERNIC
The Internet Network Information Centre is the authority that maintains the Internet and administers registered domain names.
INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK (ISDN)
A digital telecommunications standard allowing communication channels to carry voice, video, and data simultaneously at speeds faster than those available through a regular telephone line.
INTRANET
A network or website that is built for internal use only and is not made available to the public.
JPEG or JPG
Joint Photographic Experts Group, a standard for compressing digital photographic images.
KBPS
One thousand bps (bytes per second); actual number is 1024 bps.
LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)
Two or more local computers that are physically connected.
LISTSERV
An email program that allows multiple computer users to connect to a single system, creating an online discussion.
MBPS (MEGABITS PER SECOND)
One million bps; actual number is 1,048,576
MPEG (MOTION PICTURE EXPERTS GROUP)
A video and audio compression standard. One type of MPEG file, MP3 (short for "MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3"), is a popular way to distribute music on the Internet.
MODEM (MOdulate DEModulate)
Hardware that allows computers to interact with each other via telephone lines by converting digital signals to analog for transmissions along analog lines.
MULTIMEDIA
Any document which uses multiple forms of communication, such as text, audio, and/or video.
MULTI-TASKING
The ability to execute more than one computer program at a time.
NETWORK
A series of points connected by physical or virtual connections. A relevant example is a number of computers connected by wires and cables allowing them to exchange data.
NETSCAPE
A WWW browser. Netscape is the software run on a client computer which, when connected to the Internet, allows one to access data from Web servers around the world running the Web Server Daemon called httpd.
NETIQUETTE
Informal rules of proper conduct and interaction on the Internet.
POP (POINT OF PRESENCE)
Actual site of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other service.
PPP (POINT TO POINT PROTOCOL)
A type of Internet protocol that uses the serial (com) port connection.
PIXEL
Short for picture element, a pixel is a single point in a graphic image.
PLUG-IN
A smaller "add-on" computer program which works in conjunction with a larger one. Usually a plug-in enhances the capabilities of the program it is "plugged" into.
PROTOCOL
A formal set of standards, rules, or formats for exchanging data that assures uniformity between computers and applications.
RAM (RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY)
Hardware inside your computer that retains memory on a short-term basis. This information is stored temporarily while you\'re working on it.
RTF (RICH TEXT FORMAT)
A text document file type that includes formatting instructions and is readable by most popular word processors.
REALAUDIO
Audio files that are compressed and either downloaded or "streamed" live from a website using Progressive Networks\' RealPlayer program.
ROUTER
A piece of hardware or software which decides which of the several paths or routes information will travel across a network. Routers determine optimal paths through the use of complex routing algorithms.
SENTRY PROGRAM
A program designed to act as your computer\'s gatekeeper, preventing viruses from entering your computer from other computers or the Internet.
SERVER
A computer with a special service function on a network, generally receiving and connecting incoming information traffic.
SHAREWARE
Software that can be downloaded freely on a "try before you buy" basis. Users who wish to continue using the software are expected to pay a registration fee.
SPLASH PAGE
Often the first page you see when you go to a website. It usually doesn\'t have much actual information on it - it\'s like a title page or front door. "Splash" is a marketing term: if something is "splashy" it is bright and enticing.
STUFF, UNSTUFF
A method of compressing and decompressing Mac computer data using a program such as StuffIt. Often used to speed up Internet downloads.
T1 (DS1)
High speed line capable of carrying 1.54 Mbps. T1 has 24 voice circuits and can be divided in to 12 ISDN lines.
T2 (DS2)
High speed line capable of carrying 6.312 Mbps. 96 voice circuits.
T3 (DS3)
High speed line capable of carrying 44.736 Mbps. 672 voice circuits.
T4 (DS4)
High speed line capable of carrying 274.176 Mbps. 4032 voice circuits.
TCP (TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL)
A protocol which makes sure that packets of data are shipped and received in the intended order. Used with IP (Internet Protocol).
TXT
Text-only computer files which contain little formatting information.
TELNET
An application that allows users to "log in" to remote machines.
TELECOMMUNICATION
The science of information transport using wire, radio, optical, or electromagnetic channels to transmit and receive signals for voice or data communications using electrical means.
URL (UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR)
The address of HTTP Internet sites (see ADDRESS)
UNIX
A computer operating system commonly used to run workstations and Internet servers.
UPLOAD
To transfer files from your computer to a remote computer or server.
VIRUS
A small, destructive computer program that is built to replicate itself and spread to other computers.
WWW (WORLD WIDE WEB)
A network of graphical hypertext servers linked by the Internet.
WINDOWS
 Enclosed, rectangular areas on a computer monitor. Most modern operating systems and programs let you divide your display into several windows. Within each window, you can run a different program or display different data. "windows" is also the brandname for many of Microsoft\'s computer operating systems, e.g. Windows 95, Windows 98
ZIP DISK
A popular type of removable disk drive that allows storage of 100 or 250 MB of data on a single disk. A trademark of the Iomega Corporation.
ZIP FILE
A file format used to compress PC computer data into smaller files. Often used to speed up Internet downloads.
Check This Out:
For more Internet terminology, visit NETGLOS, a multilingual glossary of Internet terms:
http://netglos.com/glossary/glossary.html.
Or check out the Internet Terminology Glossary from Northwestern University: http://www.library.nwu.edu/iesca/glossary/interms.html
|
|
|
|
|
Home
