Always-on connection

Always connected to the Internet

Application software

A set of computer programs that helps a person carry out a task.

Beep code

Signals a problem with a set of beeps

Bit

Each 1 or 0 in a digital format

Boot process

The sequence of events that occurs between the time that you turn your computer on and the time that it is ready for issuance of commands

Browser

Software program that runs on your compute computer and helps you access Web pages.

Byte

Group of bits to represent one character

Cable modem

A device that changes a computer’s signals into a form that can travel over cable TV links

Case sensitive

Differentiate between uppercase and lowercase

CD-Rom drive

Storage device that uses laser technology to read data that is permanently stored on computer or audio CDs

CD-writer

Used to create and copy CDs

Central processing unit (CPU)”

“Brain” of the computer, used for processing data

Chat group

Consists of several people who connect to the Internet and communicate by typing comments to each other using their computer keyboards

Client

Personal computer, workstation, or other software that requests data from a server

Computer

A device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output, all according to a series of instructions

Computer network

Two or more computers and other devices that are connected for the purpose of sharing data, programs, and hardware.

Computer program

Series of instructions that tell the computer how to carry out processing tasks

Data file

Contains the text for a document, the numbers for a calculation, the specifications for the graph, the frames of a video, the contents of a Web page, or the notes of a musical passage

Data

Represent people, events, things, and ideas

Desktop computer

Personal computer

Dial-up connection

Connecting to the internet using an existing telephone line

Digital

Format for storage as series of 1s and 0s

Downloading

Process of transferring files from a remote computer to a local computer

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line for a family of high-speed Internet links

DSS

Digital Satellite Service offers two-way Internet access at an average speed of 500 Kbps

DVD drive

Can read data from computer CDs, audio CDs, computer DVDs, or DVD movie disk

E-commerce

Electronic commerce

Electronic mail

E-mail account

Provides the rights to a storage area, or mailbox supplied by an e-mail provider

E-mail attachment

Any file that travels with an email message

E-mail client software

Software installed on your computer that provides an Inbox and an Outbox that allow you to work with your mail, even while your computer is not online

E-mail message

A document that is composed on a computer and remains in digital, or electronic form

E-mail system

The equipment and software that carries and manipulates e-mail messages

E-mail servers

Computers and software that sort, store, and route mail

E-mail

Allows one person to send an electronic message to another person or to a group of  people listed in a personal address book

Executable file

Contains programs or instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task

Filename extension

Further describes a file’s content

File

Collection of data that exists on a storage medium

Floppy disk drive

Storage device that reads data from and writes data to floppy disks

Handheld computer

Designed to fit into a pocket, run on batteries and be used while you are holding it.

Hard disk drive

Can store billions of characters of data

Home page

The Web page that appears every time you start your browser

HTML tags

Embedded codes

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language is standard format for Web documents

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol is the communications standard that is instrumental I ferrying Web documents to all corners of the Internet

Hypertext

Underlined web address to link to another site, document or file

IMAP

Internet Messaging Access Protocol temporarily stores new messages in your mailbox and gives you the option of downloading your mail or leaving it on the server

Information

Processed data

Input

Whatever is typed, submitted, or transmitted to a computer system

Instant messaging

Allows two or more people to send typed messages back and forth

Internet

Collection of local, regional, national, and international computer networks that is linked together to exchange data and distribute processing tasks

Internet backbone

Main routes of the Internet

Internet telephony

Allows the telephone-style conversations to travel over the internet to virtually anywhere in the world

IP address

Unique number assigned to every device connected to the Internet

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network provides data transfer speeds of either 64 Kbps or 128 Kbps

ISP

Internet Service Provider is a company that maintains Internet computers and telecommunications equipment in order to provide Internet access to businesses, organizations and individuals.

Keyword

Search term that describes the information that you are trying to find

LCD screen

Liquid display crystal display screen

Links

Hyperlinks or connection to related documents and media

List server

Maintains a public list of people who are interested in a particular topic

Local area network

A computer network that is located within a limited geographical area

Macs

Based on a proprietary design for a personal computer manufactured exclusively by Apple Computer

Mailing list server

Mainframe computer

Large and expensive computer that is capable of simultaneously processing data for hundreds or thousands of users

Memory

An area of the computer that temporarily holds data that is waiting to be processed, stored or output.

Message header

Includes who will received the email, subject and attachment information

Microcomputer

CPU consists of a single “chip”

Microprocessor

Single “chip”

MIME

Multi-purpose Internet mail extensions provides a clever way of disguising digital photos, sounds, and other media as plain ASCII text

Minicomputer

Smaller, less expensive, less powerful than a mainframe computer used in small businesses

Modem

Used to establish an Internet connection

Monitor

Display device

Mouse

An alternative input device designed to manipulate on-screen graphical objects and controls

Netiquette

Online jargon for “Internet etiquette”

Network card

Device that is designed to connect a personal computer to a local area network

Newsgroups

Bulletin board system that contains more than 15,000 discussion forums

Notebook computer

Personnel computer called a laptop computer

Operating system

The master controller for all of the activities that take place within a computer

Output

Result produced by a computer

Packets

Data divided into small chunks to transport

Password

Different series of characters that verifies the user ID

PCs

Based on the design for one of the first personal computer “superstars”, the IBM PC

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant is a computer in the hand held category used as an electronic calendar

Peer-to-peer

Makes it possible for one person’s computer to directly access the content of another person’s hard drive—with permission

Peripheral device

Designates equipment that might be added to a computer system to enhance its functionality

Personal computer

Type of microcomputer designed to meet the needs of an individual

Platform

Microprocessor and the operating system

POP

Post Office Protocol temporarily stores new messages in your mailbox on an e-mail server

POP server

A computer that stores your incoming messages until they can be transferred to your hard disk

Power-on self-test

Performs a set of diagnostic tests during the boot process

Processing

Manipulation of data

Proprietary services

Provider services such as content channels with substantive articles on health, hobbies, etc

Query

Describes the information that your want to find

Router

Device that examines the packet’s address in routing a table then sends the packet along the appropriate link towards the destination

Safe Mode

Limited version of Windows that allows you to use your mouse, monitor, and keyboard, but not other peripheral devices

Search Engine

Helps catalog a huge portion of the data stored on serves that are connected to the Internet

Search operator

A word or symbol that describes the a relationship between keywords

Server

“serves” the computers on the network

Smileys

Are symbols that represent emotions in e-mails

SMTP server

Routes outgoing mail

Software

Programs that set up a computer to do specific tasks

Sound card

Small circuit board required for high-quality music, narration, and sound effects

Storage

Area where data can be left on a permanent basis when it is not immediately needed for processing

Store-and-forward technology

Communication method in which data that cannot be sent directly to its destination will be temporarily stored until transmission is possible

Stored program

Series of instructions for a computing task can be loaded into computer memory

Supercomputer

One of the fastest computers in the world.

System software

Software to help the computer system monitor itself in order to function efficiently

System unit

The case that holds the main circuit boards, microprocessor, power supply, and storage devices.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet

Telnet

Commands entered on one computer are actually executed on the other linked computer

Topic directory

List of topics and subtopics

Uploading

Process of sending a file from a local computer to a remote computer

URL

Uniform resource locator is unique web page address

Usenet

Worldwide bulletin board system

User Id

Series of characters that becomes a person’s unique identifier

Videogame console

A computer but typically dedicated game devices that connect to a TV set and provide a pair of joysticks for input

Voice band modem

Converts the computer’s digital signals into a type of signal that can travel over telephone lines

Web

World Wide Web is a collection of files organized as a giant hypertext

Web pages

Files contain documents

Web servers

The computers and software that store and distribute Web pages

Web site

Series of web pages

Web sites

Provides information or access to other resources, such as search engines and e-mail

Web-based e-mail

Keeps mail at a website rather than transferring it to your computer

Workstation

Powerful desktop computers designed for specialize tasks