Internet and computer glossary

ADSL: - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - transmits data using the existing copper telephone wires. The connection is high speed in one direction, and lower speed in the other.
Anti-Virus: - software installed on a machine to prevent the introduction of viruses. Will also detect their presence and repair or remove them.
Application: - software that performs a specific task for the user. e.g. word-processing, as distinct from the basic operation of the computer.
Attachment: - a document, photograph or other file sent with an email message.
Backup: - a copy of users working files kept on removable media as a security precaution.
Bandwidth: - in network terms, this is a measure of the amount of data that a connection can carry.
BIOS: - Basic Input Output Software. This software, built into the system motherboard, enables the Operating System to communicate with the system hardware.
Broadband: - a high speed data connection.
Browser: - software used to view web sites and other documents in HTML format.
Bus: - a group of connections between devices within the computer hardware which are used to pass data between them. e,g, the data and address bus on the main circuit board are used to move data between the microprocessor and memory or other devices. The I/O bus is used to pass data to the devices which interface with the outside world.
Client: - a computer or user which makes use of information or resources from another machine elsewhere on the network.
Database: - a computerized record system designed to maintain information and make it available to users on demand in a variety of formats.
Desk Top Publishing: - Using a computer to assemble and lay out text and graphics for publication in printed form.
Email: - Electronic mail. Textual messages passed between users on different computers. May include 'attachments'.
Firewall: A hardware device or piece of software which regulates access on to part of a network. Usually used to prevent unauthorised access from the Internet to a particular computer or local network.
Hypertext: - Text documents which include instructions for display formatting in the form of 'Tags'.
HTML: - 'Hypertext Markup Language'. The language used to code web pages and other documents for viewing with a 'browser'.
Internet: - the international network which enables clients and servers worldwide to communicate with each other.
LAN: Local Area Network - a network connection between machines which are physically quite close to each other in the same building or geographic location.
Mailing List: - a form of discussion group conducted using email. Messages from group members are sent to the list server and automatically distributed to every member of the list. Lists are restricted to the discussion of particular topics and only members may read or contribute. See also 'Newsgroup'.
Mail Merge: - the process by which information (e.g. names and addresses) from a database or other list and inserted into a standard document or letter to produce multiple personalised copies.
Newsgroup: - similar to Mailing Lists, but with discussions conducted on-line using either a web page or specialised news reading software. Much more public than Mailing Lists.
OCR: - Optical Character Recognition. The conversion of scanned text into a form useable by word-processing software or text editors.
Operating System: - the software that controls the computer hardware, display, disk drives, printers etc.
Platform: .. may refer to the generic computer hardware type - often by the name of the microprocessor chip maker e.g. Intel. Can also be used to refer to the operating system software e.g Windows, Unix, VMS.
Scanner: - hardware device for converting hard copy pictures, text etc. into digital format.
Search Engine: - on-line tool for finding information in the Internet. Holds a searchable index of information from many web sites.
Server: - a machine connected to a network, which performs central administration functions (e.g. data storage, backups). Web servers specifically provide web pages to client machines.
Spam: - unsolicited email promoting products, services etc.
Spreadsheet: - a document in tabular format in which the table cells can contain numbers, text, or the results of calculations involving the contents of other cells.
URL: - 'Uniform Resource Locator'. The 'address' of a document, graphic or other item on the internet.
USB: - 'Universal Serial Bus'. Used for connecting peripheral devices such as printers or scanners to a computer.
Virus: - software that is covertly introduced on to a computer system with the intent of corrupting data or inhibiting the normal operation of the system or network.
Webmaster: - the person responsible for the administration of a web site.
Word-processor: - software for the creation and editing of documents that are principally text based.
World Wide Web (WWW): - collection of web sites distributed internationally and accessed via. the Internet.
ZIP Disk: - high capacity removable disk system developed by Iomega Corporation.

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