Computer Glossary

A Abacus A standard abacus ca be used to perform addition, substraction, division and multiplication; the abacus can also be used to extract square-roots and cubic-roots. The abacus is one of many counting devices invented to help count large numbers. Analytical Engine The analytical ::ngine used to be powered by a steam engine and would have been over 30 m long and 10 m wide. The input (programs and data) was to provided to the machine on punch cards, a method being used at the time to direct mechanical looms. For output, the machine would have a printer, a curve plotter and a bell. Ada Lovelace Ada was a mathematician and she deeply studied the concepts of Charles Babbage. She is considered to be the first programmer in the world for having developed a method for calculating 'Bernoulli numbers' with Babbage's analytical engine. The modern programming language Ada is named in her honour. Artificial Intelligence Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. ALGOL The ALGOL language was created by a committee for scientific use in 1958. Its major contribution is being the root of the tree that has led to such languages as Pascal, C, C++ and Java. It was also the first language with a formal grammar. Application Software Application software is a subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. Anupam

Developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) on July, 2003, the computing speed of 128 processor Anupam Super Computer is 202 Giga Floating Point Operations Per seconc (GFLOPS). Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) The arithmetic logic unit is a part of the execution unit, a con component of all CPUs. ALUs are capat le of calculating the results of a wide variety of basic arithmetic? computations. Accuracy Accuracy in computers can be defined as the level of precision with which data i processed in a CPU. ASCII ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a character set and a charactf encoding based on the Roman alphabet as used in Modern English and other Western European languages. Anti-virus Software Anti-virus software consists of computer programs that attempt to identif thwart and eliminate computer viruses a d other malicious software (malware). Application Programs Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which oth< programs, called application programs, can run. Active Directory Active directory stores information about its users and can act in a similar manner to a ohonebook. This allows all of the information and computer settings about an organization to be stored in a central, organized database. Accessibility Options Allows users to configure the accessibility of their PCs. It comprises of . sr ous settings primarily aimed at users with disabilities or hardware problems. Add Hardware Launches a wizard which allows users to add new hardware devices to the system. Ibis can be done by selecting from a list of devices or by specifying the location of the driver installation files.

Add or Remove Programs Allows users to add or remove programs from their system. Administrative Tools Contains various tools for system administration, including security, c-i'formance and service configuration. Autoexec.bat Autoexec.bat is the name of a system file found in the MS-DOS operating system. It is a pia ntext batch file that is located in the root directory of the boot device. Attribute Each attribute of an entity set has a range of values, the set of all possible values that could assigned to the particular attribute. Automated Identification Automated Identification and Data Capture (Auto ID Data Capture; AID) ^ers to the methods of identifying objects, collecting data about them and entering that data directly into the computer system. Algorithm In computing, an algorithm is a procedure for accomplishing some tasks which, given an meal state, will terminate in a defined end-state. Assignment Statement The easiest example of an expression is in the assignment statement. An ession is evaluated, and the result is saved in a variable. A simple exampie might look like = (m * x) + c. The assignment will save the value of the expression in variable y. Array The C language provides a capability that enables the user to define a set of ordered data items prcwn as an array. Administration Provides administrative support to the other departments (such as typing, filing, etc) Today, almost every business organization is dependent on computers and the 'computing1 is what es the modern businesses.

Accounting Software Accounting software may be purchased from a third party, or may be eloped in-house by a company for its specific use and features. An accounting software is typically composed of various modules different sections dealing with ular areas of accounting. Autoshapes The Autoshapes toolbar will allow you to draw many different geometrical shapes, . .vs, flow chart symbols, stars and banners on the document. AutoSum Use the AutoSum (X) function to add the contents of a cluster of adjacent cells. AutoFill The AutoFill feature allows you to quickly fill cells with repetitive or sequential data such as ological dates or numbers, are repeated text. Adobe InDesign Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing (DTP) application produced by Adobe s. It is a direct competitor to Quark XPress. Animation Animation is the optical illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of 323C elements. The major use of animation has always been for entertainment. However, there is growing use ~ 'structional animation and educational animation to support explanation and learning. B Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623 - August 19, 1662) was a French Mathematician, Physicist and religious philosopher. Bit A bit (sometimes abbreviated as b) is the most basic information unit used in computing and information theory. A single bit is a one, or a zero, a true or a false, a 'flag' which is 'on' or'off1, or in general, the quantity of information required to distinguish 'wo mutually exclusive states from each other.

Byte A byte is commonly used as a un t of storage measurement in computers, regardless of the type of data being stored. An eight-bit byte can hold 256 possible values (28 = 256) enough to store an unsigned integer ranging from 0 to 255, a signed integer from 128 to 127. Binary Numeral System The binary numeral system represents numeric values using two symbols, typically 0 and 1. Owing to its relatively straightforward implementation in electronic circuitry, the binary system is used internally by virtually all modern computers. Bar code A bar code is a machine-readable representation of information in a visual format on a surface. The first bar code system was developed by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1952. Bar code Reader A bar code reader (or bar code scanner) is a computer peripheral for reading bar codes printed on various surfaces. Booting Booting is a bootstrapping process which starts the operating system when a computer is switched on. Boot Sequence A boot sequence is the set of operations the computer performs when it is switched on which load an operating system. Basic Disk Storage Basic storage i volves dividing a disk into primary and extended partitions. This is the way that all versions of windows that were reliant on DOS handled the storage, and disks formatted in this manner are known as basic disks. Batch Processing Batch Processing is the sequential execution of a series of programs on a computer. In simple words, batch processing means going step-by-step on a first-come-first-serve basis. Batch File

In DOS and Windows, a batch file is a text file with a series of commands intended to be executed by the command interpreter. When the batch file is run, the shell program (usually command.com or cmd.exe) reads the file and executes its command. Batch Totals Checks for missing records. Numerical fields may be added together for all records in a batch. The batch total is entered and the computer checks that the total is correct. Break Statement Using break we can leave a loop even if the condition for its end is not fulfilled. It can be used to end an infinite loop or to force is to end before its natural end. Backup Backup refers to the copying of data for the purpose of having an additional copy of an original source. Backspace Use the Backspace kev on the keyboard to delete the text. Backspace will delete the text to the left of cursor. Blanks Display all the records in which the corresponding field is blank. C Computer An automatic electron! apparatus for making calculations or controlling operations tha: are expressible in numerical or logical terms. Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (December 26, 1791October 18, 1871) was an English mathematician, analytical philosopher and computer scientist, who originated the idea of a programmable computer. COBOL It was designed from the ground up as the language or businessmen. Its only data types were numbers and strings of the text. It also allowed for these to be grouped into arrays and records, so that data could be tracked and organized better.

C C language was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie while vorking at Bell Labs in New Jersey. Ritchie developed C language for the new Unix system being created at the same time. C++ In the late 1970's and early 1980's, a new programming method was being developed. It was known as Object Oriented Programming or OOP. C++ was designed t< organize the raw power of C using OOP, but maintain the speed of C and be able to run on many different types of computers. Central Processing Unit (CPU) The Central Processing Unit (CPU) performs the actual processing of data. It is the part of a computer system that interprets and carries out the instructions contained in the software. The CPU is generally called by its generic name 'Processor'. Control Unit A control unit is the part of a CPU that directs its operation. The outputs of the unit control the activity of the rest of the device. Cache Memory The speed of CPU is extremely high compared to the access time of main memory. Therefore, the performance of CPU decreases due to the slow speed of main memory. To decrease the mismatch in operating speed, a small memory chip is attached between CPU and main memory whose access time is very close to the processing speed of CPU. It is called the Cache Memory. Compact Disk CD-ROM disks are made of plastic, and are coated with reflective metals. Their storage density is very high, storage cost is very low and access me is relatively fast. Each disk is approximately 4- inches in diameter and can hold about 700 MB of data. Computer Games It is uncommon to find a child today who has not even played a computer game. Hundreds of them are being sold in the market every month with more and more people, including adults, getting addicted to computer games. Communication With internet, the world seems to be the size of an apple. With the help of computers and internet applications, you can talk to your friends or business associates sitting at a distance of 2000

miles in the same way as you can talk to someone sitting at a distance of 5 inches from you. Computers are widely used in managing the telephone networks. Computer Networks A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers. The computer networks can be broadly classified as 'Homogenous' and 'Heterogeneous'. Clock Rate The clock rate is the fundamental rate in cycles per second, measured in hertz, at which a computer performs its most basic operations such as adding two numbers or transferring a value from one processor register to another. Characters In computer and machine-based telecommunications terminology, a character is a unit of information. CRT Monitors A CRT monitor contains millions of tiny red, green and blue phosphorous dots that glow when struck by an electron beam that travels across the screen to create a visible image. Colour Monitors Colour monitors implement the RGB(Red, Green, Blue) colour model to display images. In these monitors, all images and colours are made of these three primary colours. CPU Architecture CPU architecture is the theory behind the esign of a micro-processor. In the same way as a building architect sets the principles and goals of a building project as the basis for the draftsman's plans, so too, a chip designer sets out the CPU architecture as a basis for the actual processing specifications. Compiler A compiler is a computer program that translates a series of instructions written in one computer language (called the source language) into a resulting output in another computer language (also called the object or target language) Cold Reboot

A cold reboot (also known as a hard reboot) is when power to a computer is cycled turned on and off) or a special reset signal to the processor is triggered (from a front panel switch of some sort) off. Command Line Interface A Command Line Interface (CLI) is a method of interacting with a computer by giving it lines of textual commands (that is, a sequence of characters) from the keyboard. Command.com Command.com is the name for the default operating system shell (or command line interpreter) for DOS and some versions of Windows. Cursor Cursors feature in many of the interfaces between computers and their users. Clipboard The clipboard is a portion of memory, where information that has been copied or cut from a computer application, is stored. In the Microsoft Windows Operating System, the contents of the clipboard can be viewed at any time by using the clip book viewer application. Copy File copying is a creation of a new file which has the same content as an existing file. Control Panel Control Panel is the part of Windows menu, accessible from the start menu, which allows users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls, such as adding hardware, adding/removing software,controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, etc. Check Digits Used for numerical data, an extra digit is added to a number which is calculated from the digits. The computer checks this calcuirtior, when data are entered, example, the ISBN for a book. The last digit is a check digit calculated using a modules 11 method. Computer Programming Computer programming (often simply programming or coding) is the craft of implementing interrelated abstract algoiithm and concepts using a particular programming language to produce a computer program.

Constants A constant is usually just the written version of a number. For example 1,0,5.73,12.5e9. Constants are expressions with a fixed value. Continue Statement During loop operations, it may be necessary to skip a part of the body-of the loop under certain conditions. Like the b'eak statement, C supports a similar statement called continue statement. The continue statement causes the loop to be continued with the next iteration after skipping any statement in between. Conditional Operator(?) The conditional operator evaluates an expression returning a value if that expression is true and a different one if the expression is evaluated as false. Its format is -condition ? result 1: result 2 If condition is true, the expression will return result 1; if it is not, it will return result 2. Comma Operator(,) The comma operator (,) is used to separate two or more expressions that are included where only one expression is expected. Customize Toolbars Customizing toolbars allows you to delete certain shortcut buttons from a toolbar if you do not use them and add the shortcut buttons for commands you use often. Charts Charts allows you to present the data entered into the worksheet in a visual format using a variety of graph types. Chart Wizard The chart wizard brings you through the process of creating a chart by displaying a series of dialog boxes. Computer Worm A computer worm is a self-replicating computer program, similar to a computer virus. Computer Graphics

Computer Graphics are visual presentations on a computer screen. Examples are photographs, drawings, line arts, graphs, diagrams, typography numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings or other images. Corel Draw Corel Draw is a vecto' graphics editor developed and maiketed by Corel Corporation ol Ottawa, Canada. Client-Server Client-server is a network architecture which separates the client from the server. Each instance of the client software can send requests to a server or application server. D Difference Engine A difference engine is a historical, now obsolete, mechanical special-purpose computer designed to tabulate polynomial functions. Difference engine was created in 1822 by Charles Babbage. The machine used for the decimal numbers system and was powered by cranking a handle. Device Driver A device driver, often called a driver for short, is a computer program that enables another program, typically, an operating system to interact with a hardware device Double Click A double-click occurs when the user presses the button twice in quick succession. This usually triggers and action separate from that of a single-click. Dumb Terminal A dumb terminal in computing consists of a computer screen and keyboard, but practically no processing ability and data storage space. Dot Matrix Printer A Dot Matrix Printer refers to a type of computer printer with a print head that runs back and forth on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like a typewriter. Daisy Wheel Printer

In a Daisy Wheel Printer, molded meta! characters like those in a typewriter are mounted on extensions attached to a rotating wheel and are printed onto the paper by means of a hammer and print ribbon. Dynamic RAM DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) is a type of random access memory which stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor. DVD DVD is an optical disk storage media format that can be used for data storage including movies with high quality video and sound. Disk Drive Cylinder A disk drive cylinder is a division of dara in a disk drive used in the addressing mode of a hard disk or floppy disk. Data Access Time Data Access time is the time interval between the instance at which an instruction control unit initiates a call for data and the instance at which delivery of the data is completed or access time can oe defined as the time interval between the instance at which storage of data is requested and the instance at which storage is started. Direct Access Direct access is the capability of the computer equipment to obtain data from a storage device, or to enter data into a storage device, in a sequence idependent of their relative positions by means of address that indicate the physical location of the data. Desktop Computer A desktop computer is an independent personal computer that is made especially for use on a disk in an office or home. Directory In computing, a directory is an entity in a file system which contains a group of files and other directories. A directory contained inside another directory is called a sub-directory of that directory. Together, the directories form a hierarchy or a tree structure. Desktop

The desktop or consists of the screen contents below any Windows. Hence, what is on the screen before any Windows are opened, and what reappears when Windows are closed, is the desktop. Drag-and-Drop In computer graphical user interfaces, drag and drop is the action of clicking on a virtual object and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object. Data Communication Data communication is the transfer of data or information between a source terminal and a receiver terminal. Data The work data has been derived from latin word datum (means facts). It is a collection of facts and figures which are not in directly usable form. Data Processing Converting data from physical formal to logical format is known as data processing. Data Entry Data entry is the transcription of information from the original source into a machine readable form. Data Flow Diagrams A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flowof data through an information system. A data flow diagram can also be used for the visualization of data processing (structured design). Debugging Debugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Data Type A data type is a defined kind of data, that is, a set of possible values and basic operations on those values. The basic data types are set up using 11 keywords- int, long, short, unsigned, char, float, double, signed, _ Bool, _ complex and _ Imaginary. Data Structure

A data structure is a group of data elements grouped together under one name. Data Abstraction A data abstraction is a simplified view of an object that includes only features one is interested in while hides away the unnecessary details. Delegation Delegation is a way of making object composition as powerful as inheritance. In delegation, two objects are involved in handling a request. Drop Caps A drop cap is a large letter that begins a paragraph and drops through several lines of text as shown below. Desktop Publishing Desktop Publishing (also known as DTP) combines a personal computer, page layout software and a printer to create publications on small economic scale. E EBCDIC EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) is an 8-bit character encoding used on IBM mainframe operating systems, like Z/OS, S/390, AS/400 and i5/OS. EPROM An EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) is a type of computer memory chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. EDO (Extended Data Output) RAM This form of dynamic RAM speeds access to memory locations by working on a simple assumptionthe next time memory is accessed, it will be at a contiguous address in a contiguous chunk of hardware. Entity An entity is something that has certain attributes or properties which may be assigned values. Encapsulation

It is a mechanism that associates the code and the data it manipulates into a single unit and keeps them safe from external interference. Excel Excel allows you to create spreadsheets much like paper ledgers that can perform automatic calculations. E-Mail Electronic mail, abbreviated e-'nail is a method of composing, sending, storing and receiving messages over electronic communication systems. F FORTRAN Its name stands for FORmula TRANslating system. The language was designed at IBM for scientific computing. The components were very simple and provided the programmer with lowlevel access to the computers innards. Field The data that has several parts can be divided into fields. For example, a computer may represent todays date as three distinct fields the month, the year. Firmware Firmware is the technology which has the combination of both hardware and software. It is generally a chip or on integrated circuit Which has the software already stored in it. Fetch-Execute Cycle The Fetch- Execute Cycle (sometimes expanded and known as the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle or FDX) is the sequence of actions that a central processing unit performs to execute each machine code instruction in a program. Floppy disk A floppy disk is a data storage device that is composed of a circular piece of thin, flexible (i.e., floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic walled. File-Manager The file manager is an operating system utility that provides a user interface to wofk with file systems.

Flowcharts Flowcharts are the means of visually representing the flow of data through an information processing system, the operations performed within the system, and the sequence in which they are performed. Functions A function is a complete and independent program which is used (or invoked) by the main program or other sub-programs. File Transfer protocol FTP or file Transfer protocol is a commonly used protocol for exchanging files over any network that supports the TCP/IP Protocol. G Gigabyte A gigabyte is a unit of information or computer storage equal to approximately one billion bytes. Graphical user Interface A graphical user Interface (or GUI) is a method of interacting with a computer through a metaphor of direct manipulating of graphical images and widgets in addition to text. Genericity It is a technique for defining software components that have more than one interpretation depending on the data type of parameters. H Herman Hollerith Herman Hollerith (February 29,1860 - November 17,1929) was an American statistician who developed the jacquards punched card idea to represent the census data and to then read and collate this data using an automatic machine. Harvard Mark-1 The IBM ASCC (Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculater), called the mark-l, was the first large - scale automatic digital computer in the USA. High-Level Programming Languages

A high-level programming language is a programming language that is more user-friendly, to some extent platform-independent, and abstract form low-level computer processor operations such as memory accesses. Hybrid Computer Hybrid computers are made by taking the best features of the analog computer and digital computer. A simple example of this type is the computer used in hospitals to. Hexadecimal Numeral System In mathematics and computer science, hexadecimal, or simply hex, is a numeral system with a redix or base of 16 usually written using the symbols 0-9 and A-F. Hard Disk A hard disk is a non-volatile data storage device that stores data on a magnetic surface layered onto disk platters. HTML Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is a markup language designed for the creation of web pages with hypertext and other information to be displayed in a web browser. I Integrated Circuits The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the thi generation of computers. Input In order to give instructions to a computer, the information has be supplied to it. This informatii is given to the computers through a input device such as keyboard, mouse, scanner etc. Integers The integers consists of the positive natural numbers (1, 2, 3, ...), their negat: (-1, -2, -3,...) and the number zero. The set of all integers is usually denoted in mathematics by z whk stands for zahlen (German for numbers'). intelligent Terminal Intelligent terminals are those which necessarily have processing power at non-velatile data storage space.

Image Scanner In computing, a image scanner is a device which analyzes a physical image (such as photograph, printed text or hand writing) or an object (such as ornament) and converts it to a digital image. Impact Printers Impact printers transfer the image onto paper through a printing mechanism r strikes the paper, ribbon and character together. Examples of impact printers are dot matrix printers and da; wheel printers. Ink-Jet Printer In an ink-jet printer, characters are formed as a result of electrically charged or hea~ ink being sprayed in fine jets onto the paper. Individual nozzles in the printing head produce high resoluti characters. Index An index is any data structure which improves the performance of its look up in the data stora device or devices. All database soft vares include indexing technology in the interests of imDrovi performance. Interpreter An interpreter is a computer program that executes other programs. This is in contrast compiler which does not execute its input programe (the source code) but translates it into execusS machine code which is output to a file for later execution. Internal Commands The internal commands are those which are included with command.com1! no external file is needed to run those commands. For example, CLS command clears the screen. Information Information is the summarization of data according to a certain pre-defined purpose Information Processing In jeneral, information processing is the changing (processing information in any manner detectable by an observer. Identifiers In C++, a valid identifier is a sequence of one or more letters, digits or unde characters (_).

Inheritance inheritance is a means of specifying hierarchical relationships between types G classes can inherit both data and function members from other classes. , Instant Messaging Instant messaging is the act of instantly communicating between two or 1 people over a network such as the Internet. Internet The internet (also known simply as the net) is the worldwide, publicly accessible sysrai interconnected computer networks that transmit data by pocket switching using the standard ina protocol. Internet Protocol Suite The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications prot implement the protocol stack on which the Internet and most commercial network run. Internet Service Provider An Internet service provider (ISP) is a business or organization tha: users access to the Internet and related services. Integrated Circuits The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Input In order to give instructions to a computer, the information has be supplied to it. This information is given to the computers through a input device such as keyboard, mouse, scanner etc. Integers The integers consists of the positive natural numbers (1, 2, 3, ...), their negative (1, 2, 3,...) and the number zero. The .et of all integers is usually denoted in mathematics by z which stands for zahlen (German for numbers). Intelligent Terminal Intelligent terminals are those which necessarily have processing power and non-velatile data storage space.

Image Scanner In computing, a image scanner is a device which analyzes a physical image (such as a photograph, printed text or hand writing) or an object (such as ornament) and converts it to a digital :mage. Impact Printers Impact printers transfer the image onto paper through a printing mechanism that strikes the paper, ribbon and character together. Examples of impact printers are dot matrix printers and daisy wheel printers. Ink-Jet Printer In an ink-jet printer characters are formed as a result of electrically charged or heated ink be;ng sprayed in fine jets onto the paper. Individual nozzles in the printing head produce high resolution characters. Index An index is any data structure which improves the performance of its look up in the data storage device or devices. All database softwares include indexing technology in the interests of improving performance. Interpreter An interpreter is a computer program that executes other programs. This is in contrast to a compiler which does not execute its input programe (the source code) but translates it into executable machine code which is output to a file for later execution. Internal Commands The interna! commands are those which are included with 'command.com' and no external file is needed to run those commands. For example, CLS command clears the screen. Information Information is the summarization of data according to a certain pre-defined purpose. Information Processing In general, information processing is the changing (processing) o information in any manner detectable by an observer. Identifiers

In C++, a valid identifier is a sequence of one or more letters, digits or underlie characters (_). Inheritance Inheritance is a means of specifying hierarchical relationships between types C+ classes can inherit both data and function members from other classes. Instant Messaging Instant messaging is the act of instantly communicating between two or mcr people over a network such as the Internet. Internet The internet (also known simply as the net) is the worldwide, publicly accessible system : interconnected computer networks tha transmit data by pocket switching using the standard Interrx protocol. Internet Protocol Suite The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols :~ implement the protocol stack on which the Internet and most commercial network run. Internet Service Provider An Internet sen/ice provider (ISP) is a business or organization that era users access to the Internet and related services. Internet Concentration Sharing Internet concentration sharing (ICS) is a feature in newer versions of windows operating system for sharing a single internet connection on one computer between other computers on the same local area network. J John Napier John Napier (1550-April 4, 1671) was a Scottish mathematician and astrologer. He is most remembered as the inventor of natural logarithms, of Napier's bones or Napier's rods and for popularizing the decimal points. JAVA

Java has very lofty goals and is a text-book example of a good language, it may be the language that was not. It has serious optimization problems, meaning that programs written in it run very slowly. Joystick A joystick is a computer peripheral or general control device consisting of a handheld stick that pivots about one end and transmits its angle in two or three dimensions to a computer. K Keyboard This is the standard input device attached to all computers. The layout of keyboard is just like the traditional typewriter of the type QWERTY. It also contains some extra command keys and function keys. Kilobyte A kilobyte is a unit of information or computer storage equal to 1024 bytes. It is commonly abbreviated KB, kB, k byte or K byte. Key-to-Disk system The key-to-disk systems are those systems which enable large amount of data to be entered at a keyboard and transferred directly onto computer-readable disks or tapes. L LAN LAN stands for Local Area Network and intranet would be on : of these. In a LAN, the connected computers are geographically close together. They are either in the same building or within a smaller area. Landscape A printer feature, generally controlled by software, which rotates the output image by 90 to print across the length rather than the width of the paper. LIFO LIFO stands for Last-In-First-Out. LIFO is a method of retrieving data and storing in a stack, table or list. Laptop

Laptop small, lightweight and portable battery-powered computers that can fit onto your lap. They each have a thin, flat and liquid crystal display screen. LASER Printer A computer controlled laser beam paints the de ired image inside the photocopier and then prints the image on a sheet of paper. A computer-driven photocopier that creates an original image of the text or graphics from the output of the computer. LIGHT Pen A light sensitive styles for forming graphics by touchin i coordinates on a display screen, thereby seeming to draw directly on the screen. LINUX Linux is an open source operating system, meaning that he source code of the operating system is freely available to the public. Programmers may redisdribute am modify the code, as long as they dont collect royalties on their work or deny access to their code. LOGIN Login to attach to a computer. It has also come to represent your user ID command. Live Script Live Script is the former name of JAVA Script. There are few updates between the twp. M Machine Language All other programming languages must be translated into machine language before entering the CPU. Machine language is sets of numeric binary code instructions in a computer which execute its operations. Macro A script that operates a series of commands to perform a function. It is set up to automate repetitive tasks. Mainframe Sometimes its called a server or CPU. Mostly a mainframe is only a mainframe when compared to a desktop computer. It is bigger and much more powerful.

Megabyte (MB) 1 Megabyte is equal to 1,048,576 bytes, usually rounded off to one million bytes. It is also called a meg. Memory Temporary storage for information, including applications and documents. Computer memory is measured in terms of the amount of information it can store, commonly in megabytes or gigabytes. Menu A context-related list of options that users can choose from. Menu Bar The horizontal strip across the top of an applications window. Each word on the strip has a context sensitive drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for the application in use. Merge To combine two or more files into a single file. Microprocessor A complete central processing unit (CPU) contained on a single silicon chip. Minimize A term used in a GUI operating system that uses windows. It refers to reducing a window tc an icon, or a label at the bottom of the screen, allowing another window to be viewed. Microcomputer A microprocessor-based computer, consisting of an MPU, internal semiconductor memory, input and output sections, and a system bus, all on one, or several monolithic IC chips inserted intc one or several PC boards. Midi Stands for Music Instrument Digital Interface. It allows a computer to store and replay a musica instruments output. Minicomputer

Considered to be more capable than a microcomputer but less powerful than e mainframe. Generally, the WORD-WIDTH of the minicomputer is between 12 to 32 bits. Mnemonic A symbolic label or code remainder that assists the user in remembering a specific operation or command. See ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE. Model A representation of a process or system that can be controlled to demonstrate the effects thai various actions will have on the process or system. Modem An acronym for Modulator/Demodulator that refers to specific equipment that provides means of communication between two computer systems over conventional telephone lines. Monitor The visual readout device of a computer system. A monitor can be in several forms; cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), or a flat-panel, full-color display. See DISPLAY. Mouse A manually operated input device for moving or entering positional information and other dat or commands by accessing (pointing to) images on a monitor. MS-DOS An early operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft Disc Operatinc System). Multitasking Multitasking can simultaneously work with several programs or interrelated tasks tha share memories, codes, buffers, and files Multiuser The term describing the capability of a computer system to be operated at more than one terminal at the same time. Multiplexer

This is a piece of hardware that allows one item to take the place of several. An example would be using a multiplexer to allow 10 computers to attach where only one could before. Multimedia Software programs that combine text and graphics with sound, video, and animation. / multimedia PC contains the hardware to support these capabilities. N NACS Stands for Netware Asynchronous Communication Services. Nesting Embedding commands or data in levels of other data so that specific routines or instructions can be executed or accessed continuously in loops, without returning to the main program. Netscape Navigator Currently the dominant World Wide Web browser. Information on the latest version of the browser can be found at www.netscape.com. Network A system of interconnected computers. Newbie Someone who is new to the Internet. You cease to be a newbie almost AS SOON AS YOU LEARN TO STOP TYPING IN ALL CAPS (which is considered shouting and in very poor taste). Nibble A sequence of four adjacent bits, or a half-byte. A hexadecimal or BCD coded digit can be represented by a nibble. Node The endpoint of a network branch or the junction of two or more branches. Non-Volatile Memory A memory where stored data remains undisturbed by the removal of electrical power.

O Object Something that contains both the data and the application that operates on that data. Object Code Machine language code produced by a translator program, such as an assembler, interpreter, or compiler. OOP Stands for Object Oriented Program. A larger program made up of smaller objects. Operating System A set of instructions that tell a computer on how to operate when it is turned on. It sets up a filing system to store files and tells the computer how to display information on a video display. Operation Code (OP-CODE) Part of a computer instruction word that designates the function performed by a specific instruction. Output Data that come out of a computer device. For example, information displayed on the monitor, sound from the speakers, and information printed to paper. Overflow An error condition occurring in a computer when a mathematical operation produces a result having a magnitude that exceeds the capacity of the computers arithmetic register. P Pascal A high-level programming language that is structured to encourage efficient programming habits (documentation) and is used extensively in educational institutions and engineering environments. PC Board

Printed Circuit board. A board printed or etched v ith a circuit and processors. Power supplies, information storage devices, or changers are attached. Peripheral A term designating the various kinds of machines and devices that work in conjunction .vith a computer but are not necessarily part of the computer structure. T/pically, peripherals refer to: printers, keyboards, monitors, scanners, CD ROM drives, and plotters. A hard drive, floppy disk drive, and a MODEM are considered to be peripheral devices even though they may be physically located inside a computer. Pentium Chip Intels fifth generation of sophisticated high-speed microprocessors. Pentium means "the fifth element. Personal Computer (PC) A single-user computer containing a central processing unit (CPU) and one or more memory circuits. Petabyte A measure of memory or storage capacity and is approximately, a thousand terabytes. Plug and Play Computer hardware or peripherals that come set up with necessary software so that when attached to a computer, they are recognized by the computer and are ready to use. Plug-In This is a program that your browser uses to mani pulate a downloaded file. It differs from a Helper Application in that the plug-in works inside the browser window. Polling A process in which a number of peripheral devices, remote stations, or nodes in a computer network are interrogated, one at a time, to determine if service is required. POP (Post Office Protocol) An Internet protocol that enables a single user to read e-mail from a mail server.

POP (Point of Presence) A site that has an array of telecommunications equipment: modems, digital, leased lines and Internet routers. An Internet access provider may operate several regional PoPs to provide Internet connections within local phone service areas. Port An input/output channel (either parallel or serial), terminated at a connector on the computer. It interconnects the computer's input and/or output terminals to an appropriate source and/or destination. Portrait A term that designates the position of conventional printing across the width of a page. Printer A mechanical device for printing a computers output on paper. There are three major types of printers: Dot matrix Creates individual letters, made up of a series of tiny ink dots, by punching a ribbon with the ends of tiny wires. (This type of printer is most often used in industrial settings, such as direct mail for labeling.) Ink jet Sprays tiny droplets of ink par cles onto paper. Laser Uses a beam of light to reproduce the image of each page using a magnetic charge that attracts dry toner that is transferred to paper and sealed with heat. Program A complete sequence of computer software instructions necessary to provide an application, solve a specific problem, perform an action, or respond to external stimuli in a prescribed manner. Programs are also called Software or applications". Programming Language Programming language instructions are converted into programs in language specific to a particular machine or operating system (machine language) so that the computer can interpret

and carry out the instructions. Some common programming languages are BASIC, C, C++, dBASE, FORTRAN, and Perl. Programmable Logic Array (PLA) An unprogrammed, general purpose logic structure in monolithic IC form consisting of an array of similar, and/or compatible logic gates. Also called PROGRAMMABLE ARRAY LOGIC (PAL). Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) A blank read-only memory (ROM) that is programmed with external programming equipment after manufacture. Once programmed, it is not re-programmable and is considered to be a ROM. Protocols Computer rules that provide uniform specifications so that computer hardware and operating systems can communicate. Its similar to the way that mail, in countries around the world, is addressed in the same basic format so tha postal workers know where to find the recipient's address, the senders return address and the postage stamp. Q Query This is to make a computer request of a database. Quicktime Audio-visual software hat allows movie-delivery via the Internet and e-mail. QuickTime mages are viewed on a monitor. R RAM Random Access Memory. One of two basic types of memory. Portions of programs are stored in RAM when the program is launched so that the program will run faster. A volatile, semiconductor storage structure that accesses emporary data with a random oi direct accessing method. It is some accurately referred to as erasable read/write memory. Data in this memory can be read by the CPU, edited, altered, erased, or new information written over existing data by computer commands. RAM Disk (Disk Emulator)

A portion of a hard drive configured :o emulated a RAM. It accesses information quickly, but its data must be saved in a non-volatile memory for future use. Otherwise, the information is lost when power is removed. Read Only Memory (ROM) A semiconductor memory whose data cannot be erased, or overwritten; it can only be accessed (read) for use by the CPU. A ROM can also be in the physical form of a module (tape or disk) that is plugged into a computer to change its operation from one program to another. Real Time Data Time-dependent data processed by a computer whose output data is capable of controlling other time-related events, such as traffic control. Real time is the actual time it takes for an event to occur. Register A temporary storage unit for quick, direct accessibility of a small amount of data for processing. Most computers include a set of internal registers that can accessed more quickly than the systems main memory. Router A network device that enables the network to rerout- messages it receives that are intended for other networks. The network with the router receives the message and sends it on its way exactly as received. In normal operations, they do not store any of the messages that they pass through. RS-232-C Identifies an interconnection standard for serial operation. It specifies the configuration and type of connectors in the computers serial I/O port(s) and peripheral serial port(s). S Scanner An electronic device that uses light-sensing equipment to scan paper images such as text, notos, and illustrations and translate the images into signals that the computer can then store, modify, or distribute. Search Engine Software that makes it possible to look for and retrieve material on the Internet, : articularly the Web. Some popular search engines are Alta Vista, Google, HotBot, Yahoo!, Web Crawler, and -ycos.

Server A computer that shares its resources and information vith other computers, called clients, on a -etwork. This is a mainframe computer that serves the other computers attached to it. Sector A section of a recording track on a magnetic disk. Semiconductor Memory Data storage devices formed with semiconductor Components (generally -coolithic ICs). See RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EAPROM, EEPROM and FLASH. Serial Operation A method of data transmission where the data is handled in sequence, one bit at a ~e See PARALLEL OPERATION. Service Routine A set of instructions for performing a progr jmmed operation, typically, in response : ar interrupt command. Shell Account A software application that lets you use someone elses Internet connection. Its not - same as having your own, direct Internet connection, but pretty close. Shift A computer operation consisting of moving a group of adjacent data bits either to the left or to the right by a prescribed number of positions. The move is done in a SHIFT REGISTER for a carry-over operation. Signature File An ASCII text file, maintained within e-mail programs, that contains a few lines of text for your signature. The programs automatically attach the file to your messages so you dont have to repeatedly type a closing. Software Programs, languages, procedures, and documentation for a computer system. Software includes: operating systems (system software), language translators (assemblers, interpreters and

compilers), subroutine libraries, application programs, and the information in instruction manuals. Source Code (Source Program) A set of computer instructions in hard-copy or stored from. When written in a language other than machine language, the source code requires translation by an assembler (or macroassembler), interpreter, or compiler into object code. Spreadsheet Software that allows one to calculate numbers in a format that is similar to pages in a conventional ledger. Spam Anything that nobody wants. Applies primarily to commercial messages posted across a large number of Internet addresses, especially when the ad contains nothing of specific interest to the user. Spam gives direct mail a bad name, and were glad:-) Static Memory A type of semiconductor read/write memory (RAM) that does not require periodic refresh cycles. As long as electrical power is ON, the data in a static memory is maintained. Super Computer The largest mainframe computer featuring exceptionally high speed operation while manipulating huge amounts of information. Support Chips Computer-related circuits other than the CPU. Examples are: main memory (RAM and ROM), I/O ports, and system bus. Surfing Exploring the Internet. Surge Protector A controller to protect the computer and make up for variances in voltage. Systems Software

A general term for software that supervises, sequences, and coordinates programs. Systems software may include irograms, such as: operating systems, assemblers, interpreters, compilers, software debugging programs, ext editors, utilities and peripheral drivers. T TCP/IP Stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is a large grouping of programs and standards that govern how information moves round the Internet. The protocols were established around 1970-1980 to allow computers to attach to one another. Terabyte Its about a trillion bytes. Actually its 2 to the 40th power or 1,009,5111,627,776 bytes. Teraflop A measure of a compute1 s speed. It can be expressed as a trillion floating-point operations per second. Terminal This is what you look at when you're on the Internet. Its your computer screen. Terminal Emulation This is an ai iplication that allows your terminal to act as a dumb terminal. Toggle To switch back and forth between two states or conditions of operation, as in a toggle switch. Track A ring on the surface of a magnetic disk. Trackball Input device that controls the position of the cursor on the screen; the unit is mounted near the keyboard, and movement is controlled by moving a ball. Transistor Transistor Logic A logic gate family that provides higher-speed anc higher-power than the obsolete DTL logic family. The first transistor in the circuit performs the required logic.

Translator See Assembler, Macroassembler, Interpreter, and Compiler. Truth Table A tabulation of all possible combinations of states at the inputs of a logic gate which will result in a specific logic state at the output of the gate. Turnkey System A complete computer system ready to operate without any hardware or software modification or addition. U Unix This is an operating system developed by AT&T. It's big push that it allows one server to service many different end users at one time. Upload The processes of transferring information from a computer to a web site (or other remote location on a network) and to transfer information from a computer to a web site (or other remote location on a network). UPS Universal Power Supply or Uninterruptible Power Supply An electrical power supply that includes a battery to provide enough power to a computer during an outage to back-up data and properly shut down. URL Uniform Resource Locator. 1015. 1016. The protocol for identifying a document on the Web. A web address (e.g., www.census.gov).

A URL is unique to each user. User-Friendly Program

A software program that has been designed to easily direct the user through the operation or application of a program. A menu-driven program is considered to be user-friendly. User Someone attached to a server or host. User Friendly A program or device whose use is intuitive to people with a nontechnical background. Utility A software program designed to perform a computer systems routine housekeeping functions, like copying, deleting files, and/or providing techniques to simplify the execution of a program. V Virus Computers can be protected from viruses if the operator utilize good virus prevention software and keeps the virus definitions up to date. Most viruses are not programmed to spread themselves. They have to be sent to another computer by e-mail, sharing, or applications. The worm is an exception, because it is programmed to replicate itself by sending copies to other computers listed in the e-mail address book in the computer. Video Teleconferencing A remote face-to-face chat, when two or more people using a webcam and an Internet telephone connection chat online. The webcam enables both live voice and video. Virtual Reality (VR) A technology that allows one to experience and interact with images in a simulated threedimensional environment. For example, you could design a room in a house on your computer and actually feel that you are walking around in it even though it was never built. VMS Stands for Video Memory System. Vocabulary A list of operating codes or instructions available to the software programmer for writing a program in a specific language.

Volatile Memory A memory whose contents are irretrievably lost when power is removed. If data in RAM must be saved after power shutdown, back-up in nonvolatile memory (magnetic disk, tape, or CD-R) is essential. VRML Stands for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. Its a form of application that gives a 3-D effect to pictures sometimes allowing you to move through them. W WAIS Stands for Wide Area Information Servers. Searches large indexes of information on the Internet. WAN Stands for Wide Area Network, ike the Internet. WAV Stands for WAVeform sound format. Microsofts format for encoding sound files. Webcam A video camera/computer setup that takes live images and sends them to a Web browser. Window A portion of a computer display used in a graphical interface that enables users to select commands by pointing to illustrations or symbols with a mouse. Windows is also the name Microsoft adopted for its popular operating system. Word Processing (WP) The term refers to a program, that allows creating, editing, formatting, displaying, printing, and storage of text with great flexibility and ease. Different WP programs provide different, and sometimes, more desirable capabilities than others. Word The set of binary bits handled by a computer as a primary unit of data. Typically, each location in memory contains one word.

Word Processor A computer system or program for setting, editing, revising, correcting, storing, and printing text. Word Wide Web (WWW or The Web) A network of servers on the Internet that use hypertext-linked databases and files. It was developed in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, and is now the primary platform of the Internet. WORM (Write-Once, Read-Many) A high-density optical disk memory available in a variety of formats from 5.25" to 1.4". The Worm can be programmed once, permanently saving a users data. It ther becomes an optical disk read-only memor having essentially the same features as a CD-ROM. Also called CD-R (CD-RECORDABLE). Workstation The work area and/or equipment used for computer operations, including computer-aided design (CAD). The equipment generally consists of a monitor, keyboard, printer and/or plotter, and other output devices. Workgroup Persons sharing files and data between themselves. WPG Stands for Word Perfect Graphics. Write The process of storing data into a memory. WYSIWYG What You See Is What You Get. When using most word processors, page layout programs and web page design programs, words and images will be displayed on the monitor as they will look on the printed page or web page.

X-Y-Z

X-Y Plotter A computer-driven printing mechanism that draws coordinate points in graph form. ZOOM The enlarging or reducing an image displayed on a computer process of proportionate! monitor. ZIP Stands for Zone Information Protocol. This is an application that allows for the compression < application files.