M.+Glossary+of+terms



**__ Glossary of terms __**
 * A **
 * ADSL: Abbreviation for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A high-speed digital telephone connection that operates over an existing copper telephone line, allowing the same line to be used for voice calls. **


 * Animation: The display of a sequence of images in a computer program or on a Web page to give the impression of movement. **


 * Archive: Used to describe documents or files that are not immediately needed but which should not be completely discarded. An archive may be stored on a separate [|Hard Disk], [|CD-ROM] , [|DVD] or other [|Storage Device] s. **

B
 * Bitmap: A computer graphic or image composed of thousands of individual dots or //pixels//, each pixel being stored as a number. The image is displayed by specifying the colour of each pixel. Bit-mapped graphics can be imported into other applications. **


 * Broadband: A general term used to describe a high-speed connection to the Internet. Connection speed is usually measured in [|Kbps] (kilobits per second) and [|Mbps] (megabits per second). **


 * Browser: A software package installed on the hard disk of your computer that enables you to access and to navigate the [|World Wide Web] . **

C ** CD-ROM: Abbreviation for Compact Disk Read Only Memory. A CD-ROM is an [|Optical Disk] on to which data has been written via a laser **

** Cookie: A piece of information stored on a user's computer by a Web [|Browser] when the user visits a website for the first time. Websites use cookies to recognise users who have previously visited them. The next time that the user visits that site, the information in the cookie is sent back to the site so that the site can tailor what it presents to the user, e.g. tastes in music or shopping habits **

D ** Data: Strictly speaking the plural of "datum", but now usually considered as a collective noun in the singular, with the plural form "data items" or "items of data". Data is information in a form which can be processed by a computer. **

** Database: A structured collection of data that can be used for a variety of purposes. Databases are usually stored on a [|Hard Disk] inside your computer, on a CD-ROM, or at a website **

** Desktop: The main workspace in [|Windows], an electronic //desktop// which is displayed as the opening screen when //Windows// is started. **

** Display Screen: The screen on which output from a computer is displayed. Also referred to as a [|Monitor]. **

** DOC: The standard three-letter [|Extension] to a document file produced by //Microsoft Word.// **

E ** Email: Contraction of Electronic Mail. A system for creating, sending and receiving messages via the [|Internet]. **

F ** File: A //file// in computer jargon can be used to describe many different things. It may be a [|Computer Program], a document file created with a [|Word-processor] , an image file, an audio file, a video file, etc. **


 * Filename: The name of a [|File] on a computer. **


 * Firewall: A //firewall// is a software package that sits between your computer and your Internet connection, keeping an eye on the traffic going to and fro. If anything suspicious appears, such as an unauthorised attempt from a remote computer to write information to your hard disk or to send information from your computer to a remote computer, it will block it and warn you. **


 * Folder: An alternative word for a //directory.// **

H ** Hardware: The physical elements of a computer system - the bits you can see, touch, drop, kick or fall over **
 * Forum: An electronic forum on the Internet or an intranet enables users to post messages by email or via the Web for other users to read and respond to. **

** Hub: A common connection point for networked computers and other devices. **

I ** Internet: The //Internet//, or simply "the Net", is a computer network connecting millions of computers all over the world. It provides communications to governments, businesses, universities, schools and homes. Any modern computer can be connected to the Internet using existing communications systems **

** Internet Explorer: A [|Browser] produced by the Microsoft Corporation and supplied together with the [|Windows] operating system. **

** Intranet: A private network inside a company or educational organisation. **


 * ISP: Abbreviation for [|Internet Service Provider] . **


 * IWB: Abbreviation for [|Interactive Whiteboard] . **

J ** JPEG or JPG: Abbreviation for Joint Photographic Expert Group. Pronounced "Jaypeg". A file format used for storing images. The JPEG/JPG format uses a palette **** of millions of colours and is primarily intended for photographic images. **

M
 * MB: Abbreviation for [|Megabyte] // . //**


 * Memory: Most people use this term to refer to a computer's temporary internal main memory or [|RAM] . **

** Memory Stick: A small electronic card, also known as a //memory card//. **

** Modem: Short for modulator/demodulator. A device which converts computer data to a signal that can be transmitted over a standard telephone line. It can also reconvert a signal coming into a computer via a telephone line so that it can be understood by the computer. **

P ** PDF: An abbreviation for Portable Document Format. This is a file type created by Adobe that allows fully formatted, documents to be transmitted across the Internet and viewed on any computer that has Adobe //Acrobat Reader// software - a proprietary software viewing program available for free at the Adobe website: **

** Pixel: A contraction of //picture element//. What you see on a computer [|Display Screen] is made up of thousands of coloured //pixels// or small dots, which can be set according to the user's choice to produce either low-resolution output, medium-resolution output or high-resolution output. **

** Portal: A Web page, website or service that acts as link or entrance to other websites on the [|Internet]. **

R ** RAM: An acronym for Random Access Memory, referring to the dynamic memory in the silicon chips in a computer. **

** Resolution: A measure of the number of //pixels// or small dots displayed on a computer //display screen//, //printer// or //scanner.// **
 * Router: A hardware device that connects computers to a [|Network] or that connects one network with another network. **

** S ** ** Server: A computer which provides services to other computers, which are known as //clients//. **

** Spam: Unsolicited email advertisements, the Internet equivalent of junk mail **

T ** Trojan: Trojans are programs - usually malicious - that install themselves or run surreptitiously on a victim's machine. **

U ** Upload: To transfer a copy of a computer program, a text file, an image file, a sound file or a video file from one computer to another computer. **

** URL: Abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator. Also known as a [|Web Address] **

V ** Virus: If you surf the Web, use email or [|Storage Media] sent to you by other people, you need to be protected against virus invasions. A virus is a nasty program devised by a clever programmer, usually with malicious intent. Viruses can be highly contagious, finding their way onto your computer's hard drive without your being aware of it and causing considerable damage to the software and data stored on it. Viruses can be contracted from files attached to email messages **

W ** Wiki: A website or similar online resource which allows anyone to set up a resource in which content can be created collectively. It's important feature is that it allows anyone who views the wiki to add to or edit the existing content as if they were adding to or editing, **

** Word-processor: Probably the most widely used computer [|Application]. Modern word-processors allow the user to create fine-looking documents including images, tables, photographs, and even sound and video recordings if they are to be viewed on screen rather than from the printed page. **