ADSL- (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) a method for moving data at high speeds over regular phone lines. ADSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection

 

Bandwidth- how much data you can send through a connection measured in bits per second (bps)

 

Bps- (bits per second) rate of data transfer between computers or modems

 

Broadband - a wide band of frequencies used to transmit information. Infeomation is muletiplexed and sent on many different  frequencies or channels within the band, allowing more information to be transmitted at the same time.

 

Browser - program that allows you to view Web pages and explore the Internet.

 

Byte- a set of bits that represent a single character. There are 8 bits in a byte.

 

Client-  a computer that avvesses shared network resoueces provided by another computer( the server hence client/server relationship)

 

CD-R- Compact Disc Recordable

 

CD- Rom - Compact Disc Re-writable. CD's that can be written on many times. Data can also be removed at any time, but data written onto a CD-RW disc can only be read by CD-RW drive.

 

Compress File - way of reducing a file or files sizes for Internet transport via e-mail. Usually in Zip format

 

CPU- Central Processing Unit. The brain of a computer

 

Desktop Publishing - creating document on your computer, such as Web pages, flyers, posters, catalogues, newsletters, and graphics.

 

DNS - Domain Name System. System that locates a website via the site's numerical address.

 

Domain Name - an address of a network connection tha identifies the owener of that address in a hierarchial format: server.organizational.type.

 

Download - load a file from a host, such as a wensite or another company onto your computer.

 

Downtime - the length of time that a website or network cannot be accessed.

 

DVD- digital versatile disc

 

E-mail- (Electronic Mail)  content sent from one person to another via computer over the Internet

 

Ethernet- common method of neworking computers in a LAN.

 

Firewall - a computer security system used to restrict access to and from a network

 

FireWire (or IEEE1394)- A very high speed serial bus for connecting devices to your personal computer at data transfer speeds uo to 400Mbps.

 

Gigabyte - Measuerment of memory. 1G = 1024 MB

 

Ghz - Gigahertz. Measurement of internal processor speed.

 

GUI - Graphical Use Interface. Allows you to control a computer through graphics and icons displayed on screen.

 

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) enables data to be sent and received via a mobile phone network

 

Hacker - A person who breaks through computer security systems.

 

Hardware - a physical item such as computers, printers. scanners,and external modems.

 

HD- Hard drive.

 

Host - usually a computer, which host other computers for a person or organitzation.

 

Hub - a device used to connect computers together.

 

Intenet - a vast collection of interconnected worlwide networks.

 

Inranet - a private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on ath public Internet, but only for its internal use.

 

ISP - Internet Service Provider. Company providing access to the Internet.

 

JPEG(Joint Photographic Experts Group) JPEG is common format for image files.

 

KB - kilobyte. Measurement of memory equal to 1,000 bytes.

 

Kbps - one thousand bits per second. The Measure of data that can be transferred by a modem.

 

LAN ( Local Area Network) a computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building.

 

MB - Megabyte. Measurement of memory. 1Mb = 1,000k

 

MHZ Megahertz. Measurement of internal processor speed.

 

Microprocessor - an integrated circuit that accepts coded instructions for execution.

 

Modem (MOdulator,DEModulator) a device that connects your computer to a phone line, enabling the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system.

 

Motherboard - main piece of hardware inside a computer. Other parts can be added to it, such as sound cards, RAM, graphics card, modems,ect. the motherboard enables everything to work together.

 

Multimedia - combination of text, grapics, sounds, and video.

 

Online - computer that is connected to the Internet or network.

 

OS - operating system. Program used to help run programs on a computer.

 

Parallel Port - connection used to connect printers to a computer. Can also be used to connect other devices, such as digital cameras or scanners.

 

Patch - an add on or upgrade for software

 

PC- personal computer.

 

PDA - Personal digital assistant. Handheld computer.

 

Peripheral - any piece of equipment attached to the computer(ie, disk drivers, printers,CD-ROM)

 

Plug-in - a small piece of software that adds features to a larger piece of software.

 

Port - place where information goes into and out of a computer. For example, the serial port is where a modem would be connected.

 

RAM - Random Access Memory. All memory accessible at any instant(randomly) by a microprocessor. This memory is erased when the power is switched off.

 

SCSI - Small Computer System Interface. Known as "scuzzy" it is a method of connecting devices to a computer, such as hard drives and CD-ROMs.

 

Search Engine - a program that searches a database of websites.

 

Serial Port - Part of a computer where you can connect devices, such as a mouse or modem.

 

Server - a computer, or software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client sortware running on other computers.

 

Shopping Cart - software that allows users to browse a website and add items to a shopping cart. Teh value is totalled up and all goods can be ordered at a checkout.

 

URL- Uniformed Resource Locator. Addressing system of the World Wide Web

 

USB - Universal Serial Bus. Port on a computer that allows USB devices to be added, such as scanners, ZipDrives, ect

 

Virus - file or program used to harm or destroy a computer.

 

WAN (Wide Area Network) a network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus.

 

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enables access to advanced digital communictions and the Internet over a mobile phone network

 

Web Page - a single page accessible on the Internet.

 

Website - collection of Web file accessible on the Internet

 

WWW - World Wide Web all the resources and users on the Internet.