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Home Business IT - Information Technology Glossary

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Short I.T. Glossary

Access - The point at which a user gains access to a network, whether it is a

local one or the World Wide Web

Address - The location of a website on the Internet or the destination of an

e-mail message. See also: URL

Application - Also known as a “program” or “software,” this is a set of instructions

that tell the computer what to do in order to accomplish a given

task.

Archive - A fancy way of saying “data backup” to an offline storage medium such as a CD, DVD or floppy disk

Backup - See archive.

Bandwidth - Technically, this is the difference between the top and bottom

frequencies of a given frequency band. If you have a website from

which people download data, the amount of data transfer will be

limited by the amount of bandwidth available. See also bit rate.

Baud rate - The rate of speed at which data moves over a connection. A typical

dial-up connection runs between 300 and 1200 baud.

BETA test - The point at which a new software application is “field-tested” by

actual users prior to actual sale to the public.

Binary - A numbering system consisting of ones and zeroes that is the

basis of all cyber communication

Bit - The smallest unit of information, consisting of a “1” or a “0,” or

a pulse that is either present or absent.

Bit Map - A matrix of dots that create an image.

Boot up - To start up a computer. Technically, this means loading the initial

software instructions into the computer’s memory that allows it to

accomplish given tasks.

Broadband - A connection with a bandwidth of 20 kHz or more, allowing for

higher data transmission speeds.

Bug - A consistent software error. Caused by a misplaced piece of code.

Software publishers are usually aware of these and can provide

“work-arounds” while attempting to correct it for the next version.

BBS - An electronic “bulletin board,” typically an online message

center where users can post text.

Bus - A channel whereby data is transferred between a computer

and a peripheral (i.e., a printer, a disk drive, or other).

Byte - a group of eight bits (ones or zeroes); for example, 11010001.

A thousand of these make up a kilobyte (kb), one million bytes

equal a megabyte, and one billion equal a gigabyte. Eventually,

terabytes (one trillion bytes) and petabytes (one quadrillion bytes)

will be common measurements.

Cache - A software “buffer” in which a large amount of memory is reserved

for data so it can be accessed quickly.

CAD - “Computer Aided Design;” the use of specialized software and

peripherals for architecture, machine design, etc.

CAI - “Computer Aided Instruction;” interactive applications used for educational purposes that often give students feedback in real-time.

Client - Computers on a network that access data, applications and the Internet through a main computer which is called a “server.”

Cursor - The little arrow you see on the screen, or a vertical line indicating where data may be inserted. See mouse.

CPU - “Central Processing Unit;” the processor of your computer that interprets code and processes data, allowing the computer to carry out instructions.

Database - Data stored in an organized and searchable fashion

Dedicated - Refers to a line separate from electric power or telephone lines

that serve to provide Internet access only.

Diagnostic - Detecting and pinning down the cause of a malfunction; see

also troubleshoot.

Disk - Magnetic recording medium that stores all types of information in

digital, binary form. Can refer to floppies, hard drives, CDs or

DVDs.

DNS - “Domain Name System.” The system whereby I.P. (Internet

Protocol) addresses, normally consisting of numbers and dots,

can actually have names, i.e. “mydomain.com.”

Download - The movement of data from one location to another; generally, when you as the user choose to receive data from an outside source, i.e., the Internet.

Downtime - Periods during which equipment is non-functional

DSL - “Digital Subscriber Line.” A dedicated, high-speed Internet

access line.

E-mail - “Electronic mail;” a protocol for sending text messages to an Internet address.

Emulator - A special type of software used to function like an operating system on a computer for which that operating system is not designed. A good example is “Virtual Windows,” which allowed Apple machines to use the MS Windows operating system and run Windows software.

Encryption - A method of converting data into a secret code during transmission, then de-coding it once received.

Ergonomics - The science of equipment design which takes into consideration the health and comfort of human users.

Error - A periodic malfunction, caused by numerous factors.

Ethernet - A local area network design, generally allowing for higher speeds.

FAX - Refers both to the means, the mechanism and the act of transmitting an image electronically.

Fiber-optic - a high-speed method of transmitting data by means of light over glass fibers.

File - Refers to a document created by a software application.

Firmware - Computer code that is “hardwired” into the equipment and cannot be changed, modified or deleted (unlike software code).

Footprint - The amount of floor or desk space occupied by a piece of equipment.

Gigabyte - see byte.

GIF - “Graphics Interchange Format.” See Graphics.

Glitch - A hardware error or malfunction. (See bug for software error).

GUI - “Graphical User Interface.” This is how you, as the user, interact with the software. This consists of the images, clickable buttons, text fields, menu commands and other elements that you actually see on the screen when working with an application.

Graphics - Computer data organized in such a way as to permit the display of, and interaction with picture images as opposed to text. Text can be saved as graphics, but in this case – as when text is used in creating a graphic image – the computer will no longer “see” it as text, but as a picture of text. See OCS.

Hardware – Refers to actual computer machinery, i.e., the CPU, motherboard, memory chips, hard drive, peripherals, etc.

Hertz (hZ) - A unit of frequency indicating cycles-per-second.

Infrared - A frequency range just above radio range and just below that of visible light. Used by wireless electronic devices.

Interface - The hardware/software link between two electronic devices; also a connection between two different systems that allows them to communicate. An example is MIDI – “Musical Instrument Digital Interface” – that allows musical notes to be “read” by a computer as well as between different types of instruments.

Internet - A vast worldwide network of computer systems linked together using a certain set of protocols and standards.

IT - “Information Technology” – what this whole book has been about!

Jack - The receptacle that receives an input cable.

JPEG - “Joint Photographic Experts Group.” Also identified as “.jpg” and “.jpe.” A popular, cross-platform graphics file format. See graphics.

Justify - In word processing, the left- or right-hand alignment of text.

Kilobyte - From the Greek word , meaning “thousand.” Often abbreviated “k” or “kb.” See byte.

LAN - “Local Area Network.” The network you set up in your own home or office.

Megabyte - From the Greek word , meaning “large.” Often abbreviated as “mb.” See byte.

MPEG - “Motion Picture Experts Group.” Also abbreviated “.mpg,” this is a way of compressing video files for display on and transport over the World Wide Web.

Modem - Abbreviation of “MOdulator-DEModulator.” This device turns data from the Internet into information that your browser is able to display on the screen.

Monitor - The actual screen you are looking at which displays data.

Mouse - A oval device used to move the cursor on the screen (see cursor) as well as input, manipulate and interact with data.

Network - Two or more computers connected to each other and/or to the World Wide Web.

OCS - “Optical Character Recognition.” The ability of a computer to recognize hand-written or pre-printed letters, numbers and characters and convert them into the appropriate digital equivalents.

OS - “Operating System;” the software that actually runs the computer itself. Examples are Windows NT, Windows XP, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Pixel - Abbreviation of “Picture Element.” A dot on the monitor screen which is part of a larger image.

Program - The act of writing instructions in a code or language a computer can understand. See also application.

Queue - A waiting line; in the case of a shared printer, orders from various users – or numerous print orders from a single user – will be placed in a queue.

RAM - Random Access Memory; temporary memory used by software applications to store information while they are actually running.

ROM - Read Only Memory; instructions that are hardwired into the computer, or contained on certain interactive CDs. ROM cannot be deleted, changed or reprogrammed by the user.

Scrolling - The vertical movement of data as displayed on the screen.

Server - Any computer that is on full-time, providing data storage, programs and Internet access to the other computers on a local network. See client and LAN.

Software - A set of coded instructions that allow the computer to perform specific tasks given it by a user.

Terminal - Can refer to any computer that grants online or network access.

Traffic - The amount of data flow at any given time.

USB - Universal Service Bus. USB ports allow newer computers and drives and a wide range of devices to be connected while on and running. These include virtually everything from jump drives to monitors and printers.

VoIP - “Voice over Internet Provider.” Telephone service provided over Internet lines.

WAN - “Wide Area Network.” Refers to the network outside of a local one (LAN).

WWW - “World Wide Web.” A global network of computers and servers linked together via the Internet.

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