Jargon Buster
A
AMD Athlon:
AMD
are the world's second largest processor manufacturer. Their Athlon
range provides cutting-edge technology processors. They are ideal
for all home-computing applications and give a superb computing
experience.
AV Socket: for
those who want to connect the TV to a games console or a
camcorder.
Active Matrix
Display:
A type of
flat-panel display where the screen is refreshed more frequently
than conventional passive-matrix displays. The most common type
of active-matrix display is based on TFT (thin
film transistor) technology.
B
BUS:
The collection
of chips and wires through which data is transmitted from one
part of a computer to another. There are several different bus
types (known as architectures), which transport data at
different speeds and between different devices. PCI Peripheral
Component Interconnect. A bus standard common to many PCs. There
are probably several PCI ports at the back of your PC.
Base Unit:
Desktop PCs consist of a base unit, which contains the computers
processor, hard disk etc, plus a separate keyboard and monitor.
If you buy a
base unit you get the base unit plus the keyboard, but not a
monitor. This is ideal if you are upgrading from another
machine, or want a special monitor.
If you want a
complete PC ready to use you should look at desktop PCs or
desktop packages that may also include other items such as a
printer, scanner or digital camera.
Bi Directional:
(PC cables)
Input and Output
are carried on the same cable.
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth is the latest in low-power radio technology to connect
electronic devices without the need for cables.
This can be
achieved with devices up to 10 meters apart even if they are not
in line of sight.
C
CD ROM:
A CD-ROM
(Compact Disk - Read only Media) can contain over 600Mb of
information. You can read information from a CD-ROM but not
write to it.
CDR: (Recordable
CD) offers Digital quality in a format that's probably equal to
your home CD player. When recording on Recordable CDs, there is
no loss of sound quality; it reproduces the sound exactly and
there is no deterioration in sound quality over time.
Recordable
Compact Disc also allows up to 650Mb of data to be stored very
cheaply on a Compact Disc.
Data is written
to the CDR using a special CD Writer but, once written, is
permanently burned into the CD. If you need to be able to
record, erase and re-record data, use CDRW instead.
CDRW: (Recordable
and Re-writeable) Compact Disc - this allows up to 650Mb of data to
be stored very cheaply on a compact disc using a CD Writer. Unlike
CDR, data can be written to the CDRW more than once.
Client:
The name
given to a program or computer that requests a service from
another program or computer.
Clipboard: A
special area of memory that Windows uses as a temporary store
for any items you copy or cut from a document.
Compatible File:
File
saved in one program that can be read in another.
D
DPI: (Dots
Per Inch) - A measure of the output quality from a printer – the
greater the number of DPI the better the printer.
DS Screen
Laptops:
A Dual Scan
Screen is divided into simultaneously refreshed sections, giving
a fast refresh rate. This means a low power consumption, but
inferior sharpness & brightness.
DVD:
Digital
Versatile Disk. The most widely known DVD format is currently
DVD-Video, the digital version of VHS. It is designed to store
full-length movies on a single disc similar in size to a CD.
DVD can give
earth-shaking digital surround sound playback that has 540 lines
of resolution, which makes a crisper, sharper image than VHS
(around 240 lines).
DVD
Player/Drive:
Hardware that
reads and plays DVD discs; a DVD drive is used with your PC. A
DVD player is used with your television set.
DVD+RW:
A new
standard for re-writable DVD disks that is being promoted by
Hewlett-Packard, Philips and Sony. It competes with another
standard called DVD-RAM that was developed by the DVD
Consortium. The two standards are incompatible. DVD+RW disks
have a slightly higher capacity -- 3 GB per side, versus 2.6 GB
per side for DVD-RAM disks.
DVD-RAM:
A new type
of re-writable compact disc that provides much greater data
storage than today's CD-RW systems. The
specifications for DVD-RAMs are still being resolved by the DVD Consortium.
DVD-ROM: A new type
of read-only compact disc that can hold at least of 4.7GB
(gigabytes) of data, enough for a full-length movie.
The DVD-ROM
specification supports disks with capacities from 4.7GB to 17GB
and access rates of 600 KBps to 1.3 MBps. One of the best
features of
DVD-ROM drives
is that they are backward compatible with CD-ROMs.
This means that
a DVD-ROM players can play CD-ROMs, CD-I disks, and video CDs as
well as new DVD-ROMs.
Newer DVD
players can also read CD-R disks. DVD-ROMs use
MPEG-2 to compress video data.
Desktop: This is the
workspace on your computer where the icons, such as My Computer, My
Documents and any shortcuts you create are displayed.
Digital:
All the data
in a digital device is, at its most basic level, distinguished
by one of two values: 0 or 1 (on or off). This allows any type
of data to be encoded and also means that the data is not open
to misinterpretation. The result is "a perfect reading every
time".
Dolby Digital:
Dolby
Digital brings cinema quality sound to your home.
Sound is divided
into 5 channels, 3 at the front (including one center channel)
and 2 at the rear to completely surround you with sound. You
also get a sub-woofer to fill the room with bass.
Dolby Pro Logic:
Dolby
Pro Logic takes Nicam Stereo Sound & adds 3 extra speakers to
create a true Cinema at Home Sound System. Virtual surround
sound creates a surround-sound effect from your TV's stereo
speakers.
Dolby Pro Logic
Surround:
Dolby Pro Logic
surround sound uses 5 speakers to recreate the sound used in the
cinema. 2 speakers for the front left and right sound, 2
speakers for the rear left and right sound and a fifth central
speaker for any dialog.
Double Click:
A
double click, achieved by pressing the left mouse button twice
quickly, is used to open files and folders in Windows. Some
people have trouble timing their clicks properly but you can
click once and then press the <Enter> key or increase the time
Windows waits for the second click.
Drag and Drop:
This
phrase describes the ability to pick up an icon by clicking the
left mouse button and, while holding down the button, ‘drag’ it
to another location on the Desktop. This was revolutionary when
invented by the Apple computer company in the 1980’s.
E
E-Mail:
Electronic
mail – a way of sending short text messages and other files to anyone
with an Internet-based e-mail account.
F
FMV: (Full
Motion Video). This term is used to refer to video playback on a
computer and to a display, made up of individual frames, that
play back at a rate comparable to videotape.
Font: Different
styles of text
Format (Disk):
The
preparation of storage media (hard disk drive, floppy) so that
information can be stored on it.
Format (Text):
To
arrange your text or document.
FTP:
(File Transfer
Protocol). system of uploading and downloading files
File Extension:
The
three-letter label Windows attaches to the end of every file
name, denoting what type of file it is.
Flatscreen:
Flatscreen improves picture definition and minimises screen
reflection. Unlike ordinary screens, they do not distort the
picture if you are sitting in a part of the room that is out of
the optimum viewing area.
Floppy Disks (FDD):
Removable disk used for storing information for a
PC. These disks
used to be "floppy" but are now encased in a rigid plastic case.
Standard floppy disks hold 1.44Mb of data.
Folder:
The yellow
boxes on your computer screen that you can place files, programs
and other folders in. They are like folders you might keep
stationery in but very versatile.
Format:
The aspects
of text that governs its appearance, such as the font, style,
highlighting and position on the page.
G
GB (Gigabyte):
A
measure of computer data storage capacity that is approximately
1000Mbytes or 1 billion bytes. A conventional floppy disc has a
storage capacity of 1.44Mb, a powerful PC hard drive may have a
capacity of 20Gb or more.
Graphics Card: Hardware
that is linked to the monitor & enables the screen-based output
of a program to be visible to the user.
H
HPA screen (High
Performance Addressing) – Laptops:
HPA is Short for High-Performance
Addressing. A passive-matrix display technology that provides
better response rates and contrast than conventional LCD
displays.
Although HPA
displays aren't quite as crisp or fast as active-matrix (TFT)
displays, they're considerably less expensive to produce.
Consequently, HPA is being used by a number of computer
manufacturers for their entry-level notebook computers.
Hacker:
a) A person with
an enthusiasm for programming or using computers as an end in
itself.
b) a person who
gains or tries to gain unauthorized access to computer files or
networks.
Hard Disk Drive
(HDD):
This is your
computer's permanent memory. The hard disk usually contains the
computer's system software and applications.
I
INDEX:
One or more
tab stops in from your normal left margin
ISP:
Internet Service
Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet (either
free or for a monthly fee) via a modem and your telephone
system.
Icon: An icon is
the small picture on a button that is used to make the function
of that button quickly recognizable. For example, the Print
Preview button has a small picture of a magnifying glass on it
and the icon for saving a piece of work is represented by a
floppy disk.
Import Filters:
Parts
of your word processor program that convert files created in
other word processors so that they can be used in yours. They
may be activated automatically when you open a document from the
File menu.
In Place
Editing:
Enables an
object from one program to be edited in a document created by
another program.
J
Joysticks –
games:
Controller that
may be enhanced with programmable buttons, hat switches,
throttle control and force feedback technology to make games
feel more real.
L
LCD Screen:
A
digital camera's Liquid Crystal Display screen can be used as a
viewfinder and to immediately review your images.
Landscape:
The
orientation of a sheet of paper where it is wider than it is
tall. Landscape is the alternative to portrait – the orientation
used for letters.
M
MBps:
Short for
megabytes per second, a measure of data transfer speed. Mass storage
devices are generally rated in MBps.
MP3:
The current
thing in digital music technology. MP3 is a file
format that allows sounds to be compressed and stored digitally.
Music can be downloaded from the Internet on to a PC more
quickly than would otherwise be the case. The compression
process works mainly by removing noise that is outside the range
of human hearing so loss of quality is minimized.
MPEG: 'Moving
Picture Experts Group'. MPEG is a computer file format (usually
digital video and audio files) that reduces the disk space
needed to store the information.
MPEG-2:
Motion
Picture Expert Group version two is one of a set of digital
video compressor and file formats. Video information is reduced
in a way that achieves very high levels of compression before
encoding and storage.
Margin:
The unused
white space that surrounds a page or a text box. You can change
the amount of space Word leaves blank.
MB (megabyte):
A
megabyte (Mb) is a measure of computer data storage capacity,
approximately a million bytes. Conventional floppy discs have a
capacity of 1.44 Mb.
Minimize: Reduce
a program window that is available, but not currently in use. A
minimized program appears as a button on your taskbar.
Modem:
Modulator-Demodulator. It is a device for transforming a digital
signal from your PC into an analog signal that travels down a
normal telephone line. It also converts signals received from
your phone line to a digital signal that your PC can understand.
A modem in your
laptop computer lets you use of email and the Internet via a
compatible mobile-phone or telephone line. Most laptops are
Internet ready with built-in modems.
Monitor:
The "TV"
that is used to display the images which are generated by a PC
or Mac Base Unit.
Multimedia
Software: Combines
text, pictures, sound and movies. Most educational CD-Roms are
multimedia.
N
NTSC Playback:
The
ability to play back pre-recorded video tapes which are in the
NTSC format used in the USA.
Network: A
series of wires & cables that connects a number of computers. Data is
exchanged between computers via these cables. The maximum speed
that the data can be transmitted is called the bandwidth.
Newbie: Internet
jargon for a beginner.
Newsgroup:
An
online discussion forum devoted to a particular subject. They are used to
debate issues, share views, ask for assistance and exchange
information.
O
OLE:
Object Linking
and Embedding. The technical term for the Windows facility that
allows in-place editing and automatic updating.
Object: A special
type of item, such as text, picture and so on, that was created
by an OLE-compliant program. Only objects can be edited in
place.
Operating
System:
Software that is
responsible for running the PC, e.g. DOS, Windows 95, Windows
98, Windows NT, XP.
P
PIP:
(Periodic
Information Posting) A relative of the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions
list) – a regular posting of updated information to one or more
newsgroups.
Parental Lock:
Allows discretionary 'locking' of software using a code so that
undesirable or inappropriate sections are automatically skipped
(software dependent).
Peripheral:
A
device that can be attached to a PC and controlled by its Processor. e.g.
Printer, Scanner, Joystick.
Plug & Play:
This
inbuilt software will detect and automatically update your
system files when adding new hardware to your PC.
Print Preview:
A
function that lets you look at your document in its entirety on
screen, so you can get an overall impression of how it will
appear when printed.
Processor:
The
'brain' of a PC - a key factor in deciding which PC is right for
you. The faster the processor, the faster the PC will work,
which is especially important for surfing the Internet or for
games. The speed of a processor is measured in Megahertz (MHz)
or, with later machines, GHz
Program:
Any piece of
software that does a particular task. Programs may be as complex
as Word or as simple as Calculator.
R
RDRAM – Memory:
Short
for Rambus DRAM, a type of memory (DRAM). The
fastest current memory used by PCs (SDRAM) can deliver data at a
maximum speed of approx 133MHz, RDRAM transfers data at up to
600 MHz.
RTF:
‘Rich Text
Format’. A good option if you want to save a word processing
document in a format that other word processors can open.
Recycle Bin:
Desktop icon that looks like a waste-paper bin and holds deleted
files.
Region Code –
DVD:
Playback management system making discs specific to a particular
region. The UK is within region code 2, so only region 2 or
region-free discs will play on most DVD players bought in the
UK.
Restore:
To undo the
act of deleting a file and make it useable again
S
SCART Socket:
A 21
pin electrical lead that connects one audio-visual product to
another (e.g. television and a video recorder) – essential when
linking stereo video and stereo TV.
SD RAM/RAM:
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory increases the number of
instructions a computer can perform at one time. For example,
the more ram you have, the more applications that can be run at
the same time.
Scanner:
Device with
accompanying software that lets you ‘photocopy’ any picture
directly to your PC in a variety of graphic formats. You can
then use the image as a part of your work document or design.
Scroll Bar:
The
vertical or horizontal slider control that lets you view the
contents of a window or an options menu by scrolling up or down.
Shortcut:
Icons which
can be placed anywhere on your Desktop and that, when activated,
open a program. This is a quick route to a program. You can also
place it in a folder for convenient access.
Software: The
various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related
devices. (The term hardware describes the physical aspects of
computers and related devices.) Software is a
variable part of a computer.
Software
includes application programs that do work users are directly
interested in and system software which includes operating
systems and any program that supports application software.
The term
middleware is sometimes used to describe programs that mediates
between application and system software or between two different
kinds of application software (for example, converting data from
one file format to another file format).
An additional
and difficult-to-classify category of software is the utility, a
small useful program with limited capability. Some utilities
come with operating systems. Utilities tend to be separately
installable and capable of being used independently from the
rest of the operating system.
Applets are
small applications that sometimes come with the operating system
as "accessories." They can also be created independently using
the Java or other programming languages.
Software can be
purchased or acquired as shareware (usually intended for sale
after a trial period), liteware (shareware with some
capabilities disabled), freeware (free software but with
copyright restrictions) and public domain software (free with no
restrictions).
Software is
usually packaged on CD-ROM and diskettes. Today, much software,
shareware, and freeware is downloaded over the Internet.
Some general
kinds of application software include:
• Productivity
software, including word processors, spreadsheets, and tools for use by most
computer users
•
Presentation software
•
Graphics software for graphic designers
• CAD/CAM
software Specialized scientific applications
•
Vertical market or industry-specific software (for example, for
banking, insurance, retail, and manufacturing environments)
•
Firmware or microcode is programming that is loaded into a
special area on a microprocessor or read-only memory on a
one-time or infrequent basis so that thereafter it seems to be
part of the hardware.
Sound card:
An
expansion card that the PC utilizes to play and record sound
from a variety of different file types such as MIDI files.
Spam: The e-mail
equivalent of junk mail. Spam is any unsolicited e-mail that
arrives in your e-mail inbox.
Start Menu:
A
selection of files, folders, options and controls that appear
when you click on the Start button.
Storage:
All PCs use
a Hard Drive for storage of software, files and images. The
higher the capacity of the Hard Drive, the more filing space you
have. Hard Drive capacity is measured in Gigabytes (GB).
Surge
Protection:
Prevents
electrical power surges from affecting an electrical item when
it is connected to a power source.
Symbol Keys:
Keys
showing punctuation marks and other signs.
System
Requirements:
The minimum
specification your PC must meet to run the software. The faster
your PC and the more memory it has, the smoother the program
will run.
T
TFT (Thin Film
Transistor):
A very thin,
bright, color pc screen as used on laptops for superb
resolution, crispness, sharpness and brightness with minimum
size and weight.
Taskbar:
A bar along
the bottom of your screen displaying a series of buttons, each
indicating an open program. Click on a button and that program’s
window will open up.
Text Box:
A
free-floating box which contains text. You can make text in a
text box flow either horizontally or vertically.
Toggle:
A word used
instead of switch when referring to computer functions. For
example, you can toggle the bold-text feature on or off
by pressing Ctrl+B on the keyboard. Many functions can be
toggled using keyboard shortcuts
Touchpad:
A stationary
pointing device which has a small, flat surface that you slide
your finger over, using the same movements as you would with a
mouse. You can tap on the pad's surface as an alternative to
pressing one of the touchpad keys.
U
USB (Universal
Serial Bus):
A form of HOT
PLUG AND PLAY; the system lets you add or remove peripherals via
the USB socket/s, without turning off or restarting your PC.
V
Video
Conference:
A video setup
using special software that enables several users in different
locations to see and hear each other at the same time.
Virus:
Any sequence
of code capable of propagating itself within the memory of a
computer or across a network, usually with detrimental results.
W
WPM:
Words per minute
– a measure of typing speed. An average word is five characters
or symbols. Initially aim at 12 wpm (1 keystroke per second). A good average
speed is 50 to 60 wpm.
Wallpaper: The
background of your Desktop.
Watermark:
A
faint background image or, occasionally, section of text. It is
most often used as a background to text.
Wattage/Watts:
Wattage/Watts refers to a unit of electrical power. The higher
the wattage, the more power a product consumes.
White Space:
Gaps
or unused spaces between words.
Wildcard:
Characters
that represent just about anything in your search field. Use wildcards to
fine-tune your search for specific characters, words or symbols
– a full list of wildcards and their usage is available in the
help menu.
Wireless
Application Protocol (WAP):
wireless
application protocol is designed to bring the Internet, in a
modified form, to mobile phones and some personal organizers.
WAP sites are tailored for small screen sizes and slower
download speeds.
Z
Zip Disc:
Removable
disc used for storing information for a PC, only used in a Zip
Drive. Has a capacity of 100Mb or 250Mb compared to a
conventional floppy disc which has a capacity of just 1.44Mb
Zip Drive:
Special disc drive for use with Zip discs. Most Zip discs have a
capacity of 100Mb compared to conventional floppy discs, which
have a capacity of just 1.44Mb.
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