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TECHNO-GLOSSARY
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Application sharing
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A feature of many videoconferencing applications that enables the conference participants to simultaneously run the same application. The application itself resides on only one of the machines connected to the conference. |
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Access privileges
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Settings a network administrator allows users to have to access a certain area of a computer (as opposed to specific files or programs). Used with file sharing. |
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Artificial Intelligence
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Artificial intelligence is the concept that computers can simulate human intelligence and other capabilities such as learning, adaption and self correction.The term was coined in 1956 by John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Particular applications of AI include export system, speech recognition, machine vision, games playing, robotics. |
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Asynchronous
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A method of data transfer in which the device cannot proceed to the next block of data until it has received positive acknowledgment that the other device received the block correctly. |
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Avatar
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A digital icon that represent a real person in a 3D virtual rality environment. 3D chat rooms are other places where you can have an avatar. When you enter this world you can choose from different avatar like cartoon end every other graphical elements. |
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Authentication
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Technique by which access to Internet or Intranet resources requires the user to identify himself or herself by entering a username and password. |
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Bandwidth
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Bandwidth is used to mean how fast data flows on a given transmission path.More technically, in means also the width of the range of frequencies that an electronic signal occupies on a given transmission medium. Any digital or analog signal has a bandwidth. |
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Bios
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Acronym for Basic Input/Output System, generally the lowest level of the Operating System, defining the set of routines programs can use to interface with hardware. |
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Bit
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Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. A single digit number in base-2, either a 1 or a zero.Bits are used in various combinations to represent different kinds of data. In most computer systems, there are eight bits in a byte.Computer memory is measured in bytes, and most now reckon size and storage capacity in: Kilobytes/KB (1024 bytes) Megabytes/MB (1,048,576 bytes) Gigabytes/Gb (1,073,741,824bytes) Terabytes/Tb (1,099,511,627,776 bytes) |
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Boolean logic
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A system for searching and retrieving information from computers by using and combining terms such as AND, OR, and NOT to sort data |
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Boot
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To start a computer or other device by loading the Operating System. |
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Browser
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A software application used to surf the World Wide Web and interact with various kinds of Internet resources |
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Buddy List
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A feature that helps users keep track of and communicate with friends online. Users can create a list of screen names within Buddy Lists and are then notified when a member comes ondine |
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Bug
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A problem with computer software or hardware that causes it to malfunction or crash. |
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Cbt
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Acronym for computer-based training, a type of education in which the student learns by executing special training programs on a computer. CBT is especially effective for training people to use computer applications because the CBT program can be integrated with the applications so that students can practice using the application as they learn. |
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Ceo (ad others)
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CEO, CFO, CIO, and CTO are abbreviations that stand for: Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. Modern corporations commonly use these terms to describe their top executives. |
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Chat
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A form of interactive Real-Time communication between two or more users via computer. People in online chat sessions use keyboards to type messages to each other. The text message then appears on the screens of all the participants. |
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Codec
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It stands for "compression/decompression." A codec is an algorithm, or specialized computer program, that reduces the number of bytes consumed by large files and programs. Usually used in video editing. |
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Cookie
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A cookie is information that a Web site puts on your hard disk so that it can remember something about you at a later time. Typically, a cookie records your preferences when using a particular site. Using the Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), each request for a Web page is independent of all other requests. For this reason, the Web page server has no memory of what pages it has sent to a user previously or anything about your previous visits. A cookie is a mechanism that allows the server to store its own information about a user on the user's own computer. |
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Cyberspace
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A term coined by science-fiction author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer. Cyberspace is currently used to refer the electronic space created when many computers are connected together, also it refer to range of information resources available through computer networks. |
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Cybersquatter
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One who registers the domain names of celebrities or trademarks of famous companies deliberately in order to sell it to the rightful owner or other prospect for a high profit. |
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Client errors
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An error occurring due to an invalid request by the visitor's browser .Client errors are in the 400-range(e.g.,404-Page Not Found). See "Return Code" definition. |
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Daemon
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In the UNIX operating system, a background process that lies dormant waiting to perform some useful task. The sendmail daemon, for example, continually runs but becomes active only when email is sent or receivedPronounced "demon," this Unix term refers to a specific type of program or agent designed to work in the background. Using a daemon, a program can simply hand off data to the smaller program and go on to more important things. For example, a print daemon could handle print requests from multiple users and applications, freeing them for other tasks. |
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Dataglove
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A glove equipped with sensors that sense the movements of your hand and transmit coordinate information to a computer in order to track what the hand is doing. Data gloves are commonly used in virtual relaity environments where the user sees an image of the data glove and can manipulate the movements of the virtual environment using the glove. |
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Deep web
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The deep Web is the hidden part of the Web, containing a huge volume of content that is inaccessible to conventional search engines, and consequently, to most users. |
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Demo
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In Internet terminology, is a non-interactive multimedia presentation, the computer world's equivalent of a music video. Demos are usually made to showcase some or all of the following: computer hardware and/or software capabilities (such as multi-channel sound or 3-D effects); the subject of the demo (such as a product or a musician); and the abilities of the programmer (such as complex motion). Demos are frequently played in competitions, which classify them as belonging to one of three subsets: the intro 4k, which is fairly basic and generally has no music; the intro 64k, no restrictions other than size; and the full-fledged demo, which may contain any possible media. Demos are the work of computer enthusiasts who often spend many days (or even weeks or months) creating a demo that may not have any external motivation (such as money, or acclaim in the broader world). |
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Desktop
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Using an office metaphor, a desktop is a computer display area that represents the kinds of objects one might find on a real desktop: documents, phonebook, telephone, reference sources, writing (and possibly drawing) tools, project folders. A desktop can be contained in a window that is part of the total display area or can be "full-screen" (the total display area). Conceivably, you can have multiple desktops (for different projects or work environments you may have) and switch among them. In its Windows product, Microsoft provides what they call an Active Desktop. It includes representations of and access to desktop objects and also dynamic Web content as well, including integrated links to Web sites and information areas that are generated as the result of sites pushing requested information updates to the user. |
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Desktop themes
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A desktop theme is a customized graphical user inferface (GUI) that replaces a computer's ordinary sounds, icons, pointer, wallpaper or screensaver with something designed to reflect the interests of the user. |
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Domain Name
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The text name corresponding to the numeric IP address of a computer on the Internet (e.g.,www.technobasics.com) |
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Domain Name Lookup
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The process of converting a numeric IP adress into a text name. |
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Download
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To copy data from a computer (Source) to another (Peripheral device). There are a few methods of doing this on the Internet: HTTP, FTP and E-mail attachments are the more common.The opposite of download is upload wich means the inverse process: copy file from your computer to another one. |
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Embedded system
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A specialised system typically located in a single system board with the operating system and programs accessed from ROM. While most consumers aren't aware that they exist, they are extremely common, ranging from industrial systems to VCRs and many Internet devices. |
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Enhaced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE)
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A technology that increases available time slots and data rates over existing wireless networks. |
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Emoticons
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An emoticon (acronym for emotion icon) is a sequence of characters on computer keyboard. They are used to punctuate a message or posting by expressing the writer's emotional state. The most popular one is the smiling face that people use in e-mail or chat rooms to say "don't take what I just wrote too seriously" or "if you could see me now, I'd be smiling."An emoticon is also called a smiley. |
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Emulator
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In computers, an emulator is a hardware device or a program that pretends to be another particular device or program that other components expect to interact with. Typically, an emulator is provided when a popular hardware device becomes outdated and no longer marketed but legacy applications exist that still need to communicate with the older device. The practice of using an emulator to make an older program work with a new end-use device is called terminal emulation. |
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Ethernet
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A standard method of connecting computers to a local area network using coaxial cable invented by Robert Metcalfe at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s. Ethernet is a standard for connecting computers into a local area network (LAN). The most common form of Ethernet is called 10BaseT, which denotes a peak transmission speed of 10 mbps using copper twisted-pair cable. |
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Extranet
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A private network segment providing limited connectivity between a completely non-public intranet, and outside partners or the public internet. |
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Ezine
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The term ezine is short for "electronic magazine".The term also sometimes includes e-mail newsletters, of which there are thousands that can be subscribed to. Some of these refer to themselves as zines or ezines. |
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FAQ
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Shorter for Frequently Asked Questions, is a list of all the questions and answers on a particular subject. The FAQ seems to have originated in many of the Usenet groups and frequently can be found at websites |
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File sharing
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File sharing is the public or private sharing of computer data or space in a network with various levels of access privilege. The term file sharing almost always means sharing files in a network, even if in a small local area network. File sharing allows a number of people to use the same file or file by some combination of being able to read or view it, write to or modify it, copy it, or print it. Typically, a file sharing system has one or more administrators. Users may all have the same or may have different levels of access privilege. |
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Firewire
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Originally developed by Apple, this is an increasingly popular, and very fast, external bus for transferring data between devices. Also known slightly less catchily as IEEE 1394, for the name of the standard it engendered. |
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Flash
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Popular authoring software developed by Macromedia, is used to create vector graphics-based animation programs with full-screen navigation interfaces, graphic illustrations, and simple interactivity in an file format that is small enough to stream across a normal modem connection. The software is ubiquitous on the Web, both because of its speed and for the smooth way it renders graphics. |
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Forum
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A topically-focused discussion group or area. From the traditional Roman forum -- a community area where ideas and proposals are discussed. |
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Freeware
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Software that is offered at no cost. It is copyrighted so that you can't incorporate its programming into anything you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are uncopyrighted programs that are in the public domain. You can find freeware on the Internet and you can redistributed it. |
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Form
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An HTML page which sends variables back to the server. These pages are used to gather information from users. Also referred to as scripts. |
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Ftp
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File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a standard Internet protocol, is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. FTP is commonly used to transfer Web page files from their creator to the computer that acts as their server for everyone on the Internet. It's also commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers. |
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Gesture recognition
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Intercation with computer using human gestures, typically hand movements. A camera recognizes the boby motions and communicate the informations to a computer, this input can control devices or applications. This technology can change the way people interact with computer and also can eliminate input devices like joystick and keyboard.A particular Gesture recognition is used for interaction with a 3-D immersion environment. |
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3G (Third Generation) networks
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The latest generation of mobile communications, this is based on the GSM core. This advance allows greater bandwidth, opening the way to increased data-over-wireless solutions such as smart phones, but is not expected to be fully operational until 2002. |
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Gnu
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Acronym for "GNU's not Unix". The GNU project's goal is to provide freely redistributable Unix-compatible software. |
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General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) |
An addition to GSM technology, GPRS is a protocol for sending and receiving data packets over a digital wireless network. It is considered an efficient use of limited bandwidth and is particularly suited for sending and receiving small bursts of data. |
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Groupware
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A class of software that helps improve the productivity of people working (workgroup) on a related project, while located remotely from each other. |
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GUI
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Short for Graphical User Interface, it refers to a software allows users to navigate and interact with information on their computer screen by using symbols, images or icons and other data around on the screen rather than typing words and phrases |
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Guru
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An expert who acts as a knowledge resource for others and who is generally venerated by the people whose problems he or she solves. |
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Hacker
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Hacker is a term used by some to mean "a clever programmer" and by others, especially journalists or their editors, to mean "someone who tries to break into computer systems." |
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Handheld computer
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Tiny computers that fit easily in a suit jacket pocket. Increasingly, these are becoming Internet-ready. They come in various sizes, including palm-sized devices as popularised by the PalmPilot. |
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Haptics
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Haptics (pronounced HAP-tiks) is the science of applying touch (tactile) sensation and control to interaction with computer applications. (The word derives from the Greek haptein meaning "to fasten.") By using special input/output devices (joysticks, data gloves, or other devices), users can receive feedback from computer applications in the form of felt sensations in the hand or other parts of the body. In combination with a visual display, haptics technology can be used to train people for tasks requiring hand-eye coordination, such as surgery and space ship maneuvers. It can also be used for games in which you feel as well as see your interactions with images. |
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Hit
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An action on the website, such as when a user views a page or downloads a file. |
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HMD
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Short for Head-Mounted Display, a headset used with virtual reality systems that consist of a pair of goggles or a full helmet. The HMD uses two tiny monitors that furnish three-dimensional images |
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Home Page
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The main page of a website. The home page provides visitors with an overview and links to the rest of the site. It often contains or links to a table of contents or site index for the site. |
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HTML
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Shorter for HyperText Markup Language, is a coding language used to create text readable on the World Wide Web. The makup symbols, inserted in a file, tells the Web browser how to display (effect) a Web page's words and images for the user.Each individual markup code is referred to as an element (but many people also refer to it as a tag. |
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HTTP
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Hyper Text Transfer Protocol is a standard method of transferring data between a Web server and a Web browser. |
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Humanware
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Humanware is hardware and software that emphasizes user capability and empowerment and the design of the user interface. |
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Hypermedia
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An extension to hypertext that supports linking graphics, sound, and video elements in addition to text elements. The World Wide Web is a partial hypermedia system since is supports graphical hyperlinks and links to sound and video files. New hypermedia systems under development will allow objects in computer videos to be hyperlinked. |
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Icann
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Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the not-for-profit organization that is responsible for domain name registration, based in Marina Del Rey, California. |
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Icon
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A graphical image representing a (usually easily recognized) function or control, usually reacts to being selected by performing some useful or entertaining action. A primary feature of most GUIs |
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Image
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Any picture, photograph or other graphic is considered an image. |
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Indexing
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The
act of providing access points to literature or some other "document-like
object"). This can be the index to the contents of a book or,
in bibliographic databases like MEDLINE, information about articles
published in many different places but all in a given subject area
(medicine in this case).
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Internet
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A global network connecting millions of computers that exchange information by theTCP/IPsuite of networking protocols. Each Internet computer, called a host, is independent. Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the ARPANET. The original aim was to create a network that would allow users of a research computer at one university to be able to "talk to" research computers at other universities.Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility accessible to hundreds of millions of people worldwide |
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Interface
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A connection
between two dissimilar items. In computer technology, there are several
types of interfaces : · Software interface - the languages and codes that the applications use to communicate with each other and with the hardware. · Hardware interface - the wires, plugs and sockets that hardware devices use to communicate with each other. · User interface - the keyboard, mouse, menus of a computer system. The user interface allows the user to communicate with the operating system. Also see GUI. |
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Intranet
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A private network using standard internet protocols but with limited or no connectivity to the public internet. |
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IP address
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Internet Protocol address identifying a computer connected to the Internet. |
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Irc
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Internet Relay Chat -- (abbreviation: IRC) A chat network that operates over the Internet. Originally evolved from the UNIX talk program, IRC is similar to the chat systems found on commercial online services. |
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ISP
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Internet Service Provider - The service to which you subscribe that connects you to the Internet (e.g., AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy). |
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IT
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Short for Information Technology. It encompasses all aspects of managing and processing information (create, store, exchange, and use) information in its various forms (business data, voice conversations, still images, motion pictures, multimedia presentations, and other).The term is used especially within a large organization or company |
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Java
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An object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems that creates applications that work on multiple operating systems. |
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Joystick
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A lever you can plug into your computer that moves in all directions to control the movements of a pointer or some other display symbol. You can also move objects, such as a car or plane, in many games. Better control of objects on the screen makes games more realistic.Joysticks are used mostly for computer games, but they are also used occasionally for CAD/CAM systems and other applications. |
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JPEG
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Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is a graphic image file created by lossy compression technique. Graphics can be reduced to 5 percent of their original size, but the image quality deteriorates.Together with the Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) and Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file formats, the JPEG is one of the image file formats supported on the World Wide Web, usually with the file suffix of ".jpg".JPEG is "lossy," meaning that the decompressed image isn't quite the same as the one you started with.It's often used for photographs or subtle, multicolor images. |
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Kbps
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Short for KiloBits Per Second it refer to modem's speedy and it's the number of bits it can transfer in a second. Note that one Kbps is 1,000 bits per second, whereas a KB (kilobyte) is 1,024 bytes |
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Keyboard
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Is the primary
text and function input device in most computer. It is similar to
electric-typewriter keyboards but contain more keys. The keys on computer
keyboards are often classified as follows: · alphanumeric keys -- letters and numbers · punctuation keys -- comma, period, semicolon, and so on. · special keys -- function keys, control keys, arrow keys, Caps Lock key, and so on. With QWERTY keyboard we refer to the standard layout of letters, numbers, and punctuation. |
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Kludge
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A less than elegant but workable way of getting something done in the technological realm. Analogous to using virtual duct tape - you can make many things work, but it might not be pretty and it might not hold for very long. |
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LAN
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A computer network that connects computers in a relativaly small area (like a room, a building, or a group of buildings). PCs connected can send/recive files and computer equipment. Each computer in the LAN is called node.LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much faster than data can be transmitted over a telephone line. |
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Link
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Links are what make the World Wide Web a web! A link is a reference from an information (text,graphical or video) in a document to another one within a site or to other sites.It usually appears as highlighted (Anchor), underlined or differently coloured text which will lead directly into another resource. The anchor reference and the object referred to constitute a hypertext link. |
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lms
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A learning management system (LMS) is a software application or Web-based technology used to plan, implement, and assess a specific learning process. Typically, a learning management system provides an instructor with a way to create and deliver content, monitor student participation, and assess student performance. A learning management system may also provide students with the ability to use interactive features such as threaded discussions, video conferencing, and discussion forums. |
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Lurking
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The act of reading through maillists and newsgroups without posting any messages. Considered good netiquette to get the feel of the topic before adding your own message. |
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Mailing List
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A mailing list is a list of people who subscribe to a periodic mailing distribution on a particular topic. is a way of having a group discussion by electronic mail and distributing announcements to a large number of people. Each time any member of the list posts a reply to the conversation, it is automatically (the program called mailing list managers -MLMs-) e distributed to the e-mail box of all the member of the list. The two most frequently used programs are Listserv and Majordomo. |
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Metadata
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Literally "data about data", metadata usually refers to information embedded in a document or file that gives descriptive or other information about that file. In terms of HTML files, one can use the <META> tag in the header of a file to embed this sort of information (such as descriptive keywords or an abstract). The Dublin Core set of metadata elements is probably the best known metadata standard, though there are many others |
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Microbrowser
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A Web browser optimised to run in the low-memory and small-screen environment of a Net device. |
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Mmorpg
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Massively multiplayer on line role-play game.Mmorpg belongs to role-play game and it could be seen as an evolution of classic Mud.It allows hundred person to play on line at the same time. |
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MUD
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Short for Multi-User Dungeon (or Multi-User Dimension) is a (usually text-based) multi-user simulation environment. Whe can think to MUD like a cyberspace, inside it the users can take on an identity in the form of an avatar and interact with one another. Typically, you can describe your avatar to the other participants. Each MUD has its own name, special character and ambience, and set of rules.Some are purely for fun and flirting, others are used for serious software development, or education purposes and all that lies in between.MUDs are also known as 3-D worlds and chat worlds. |
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Net device
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A device which connects to the Internet to perform specialised chores, such as sending and receiving e-mail or adding Web content to a television. |
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Netiquette
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The idea of etiquette for the Internet. While there is no real established authority on this, there are some very common ideas that seem to form a core set of "net ethics" (things like not typing in all caps because it looks like shouting, not sharing private email messages, not sending large amounts of unsolicited email, not sending huge files as attachments, etc). |
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Netizen
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From the term citizen. A citizen of the Internet |
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Network
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A group of
computers that are connected so they can share resources.The most
common types of networks are: · LAN - local area network:The computers are near each other, like in the same office space, room or building ; · WAN - wide area network:The computers are at different geographic. · CANs - campus-area networks : The computers are withing a limited geographic area, such as a campus o military base. · MANs - metropolitan-area networks: A data network designed for a town or city. · HANs - home-area networks : A network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices. The Internet is a "network of networks". |
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Newbie
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A network newcomer, one who is new to the world of online communications. Sometimes used incorrectly as a pejorative term, as in "clueless newbie." See also power newbie and knowbie. |
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Newsgroup
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Is an on-line discussion group (like a forum) about a particular subject consisting of notes written to a central Internet site and redistributed through Usenet, a worldwide network of news discussion groups.On the Internet, there are literally thousands of newsgroups covering every conceivable interest |
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Opac
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Short for Online Public Access Catalog is an online bibliography of a library collection that is available to the public. User searches of an OPAC make use of the Z39.50 protocol. This protocol can also be used to link disparate OPCS into a single "union" OPAC. |
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Output device
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A device that lets a computer communicate with user. Output can be every information and it can appear in a variety of forms (as binary numbers, as characters, as pictures, and as printed pages). The devices include display screens, loudspeakers, and printers. |
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Palm-sized computer
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A sub-genre of handhelds typified by the popular PalmPilot. These devices fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, while other handhelds tend to be larger. |
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Personal Communications Service (PCS)
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A form of digital cellular service used in the U.S. that operates in the 1900MHz frequency range. |
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PDF
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Short fo Portable Document Format. PDF is a file type created by Adobe Systems, Inc., that permit to format the element, of a printed document, as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward. The documents is easily transmitted across the Internet and viewed on any computer that has Adobe Acrobat Reader software (a proprietary viewer is available for free at the Adobe site). |
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PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)
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A software program created to provide users with fairly strong encryption of their email or other data for privacy purposes. |
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Platform
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The operating system (e.g., Windows 95, Windows NT, etc.) used by a visitor to the site. |
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Plug & Play
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Refers to the capability of a computer system to add automatically new features like configure expansion boards and other devices.Plug and Play eliminates complicated installation procedures so You should be able to plug in a device and play with it, without worrying about setting electronic devices, and other configuration elements. |
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Protocol
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An established method of exchanging data over the Internet. |
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Proxy Server
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Is a server that sits in between workstation user (Client) and the "real" Server the user trying to contact. It intercepts the requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server.To the user, the proxy server is invisible; the Internet requests and returned responses appear to be directly with the addressed Internet server. (The proxy is not quite invisible; its IP address has to be specified as a configuration option to the browser or other protocol program).The proxy serever enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service. |
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Proximity/adjacency
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When searching databases using keywords, this refers to being able to tell the search software that one term must appear near or right "next to" another. Very useful in overcoming the limitations imposed by certain systems (i.e searching for phrases that contain stop words or looking for variations of a phrase). |
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Push Technology
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The idea of information or other resources that are "pushed" to the user rather than actively sought out (or "pulled"). TV is a classic example of push media, where you can select which channel to watch (or to turn the damn thing off) but have no direct ability to change the programming. Marimba, Castanet and almost anything with the word "channel" in it are all examples of Internet-based push media |
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Query
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1. A general question posed to a person or group over the Internet. Internet users are generally so helpful that if one asks an appropriate query to the correct discussion group, one will often receive many useful responses. One caveat: it is necessary to find and read the appropriate FAQ document first. Failure to do so would be considered a waste other people's time and bandwidth. 2. A request for specific information from a database. |
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RAM
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Short for Random Access Memory is the electronic memory, that temporarily stores the data in a computer. The other type is permanent memory (ROM). In RAM are stored programs that running on computer (like operating system) and we refer to RAM as read/write memory. RAM is like a blackboard that is constantly overwritten with new data. When you turn the computer off the data in RAM are lost. The RAM's size determines determines the number of programs you can run at once and how fast your programs will operate.RAM is called "random access" because any storage location can be accessed directly.There are two basic types of RAM: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static RAM (SRAM), the two types differ in the technology they use to hold data. |
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Refresh
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To clear the screen or part of the screen and redraw it again. |
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Render
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To perform the calculations necessary to draw a complex three-dimensional image. |
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Return Code
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The return status of the request which specifies whether the transfer was successful and why. |
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Role Playng Game
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Is a game in which each participant assumes the role of a character that can interact within the game's imaginary world. More popular games include Dungeons and Dragons.MUD and MOO are online environments known that include software for playing and developing role-playing games. A related idea is the " world" in which a participant defines an appearance or avatar and interacts with others in the chat world using that |
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Scroll bar
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The bar on the side or bottom of a window that allows the user to scroll up and down through the window's contents. Scroll bars have scroll arrows at either end and a scroll box, all of which can be used to scroll around the scre. |
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Space Division Multiple Acces (SDMA)
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A variation of TDMA and CDMA that potentially will be used in high-bandwidth, third-generation wireless products. |
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Search engine
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A program or web site that enables users to search for keywords on web pages throughout the World Wide Web. |
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Session Initiation Proticol (SIP)
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An emerging protocol that simplifies connections over the Internet for uses such as telephony and videoconferencing. Has the potential to lead to new classes of Net devices. |
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Shareware
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Software that is available on a free limited trial basis. Sometimes this is a fully featured product, other times it lacks some of the features of the commerical version. If you find the product useful, you are expected to register the software, for which in return you will receive the full featured commercial version. |
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Shockwave
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Plug-in to view file .sfw. it is usully required in web navigation to view short graphic movies or intros. |
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Silicon platform
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Like an embedded system, this refers to the guts of a Net device such as a set-top box. It can include the microprocessor and video-related chips as well as ROM containing an operating system and programs. |
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Situated Action Cognition
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Emphasizes that activities are situated in the environment in which they take place. By using the world as a resource we can simplify planning processes and overcome their restrictive elements. |
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Software
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General term
used to describe all of the various kind of programs that may be used
on a computer system. Anything that can be stored electronically is
software. Software is often divided into two categories: · systems software : includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function (e.g., MS-DOS, Windows) · applications software : Includes programs that do real work for users. For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems helps you to write letters, analyze numbers, manage finances, draw pictures, and even play games. |
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Spam
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Unsolicited e-mail sent to large numbers of people to promote products or services. Sexually explicit unsolicited e-mail is called "porn spam." Also refers to inappropriate promotional or commercial postings to discussion groups or bulletin boards. |
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Spider
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An automated program which searches the internet. |
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Spoofing
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The practice of pretending to be someone or from somewhere you are not. Forging the headers of an email message to appear to be someone's boss, for example, or trying to make your email appear to come from the FBI would be examples. |
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Server
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A computer that hosts information available to anyone accessing the Internet. |
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Stop Words
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Words in a database that are so common that they cannot be searched for due to limitations of the search software or the hardware it resides on. In a library card catalog, for example, words like "the", "of", "and" and such are far too common to be searched for - they would crash the system. |
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Telecommunication
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Telecommunications describes any process of sending and receiving data information (from voice to video) over a distance in electronic form. The signals can either be transmitted using cabling or by radio signals. To send and receive information with your computer, you need a modem, phone line, and telecommunications software. |
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Teleconference
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To hold a conference via a telephone or network connection. Computers have given new meaning to the term because they allow groups to do much more than just talk. Once a teleconference is established, the group can share applications and mark up a common whiteboard. |
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Time Division Mutliple Access (TDMA)
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A digital cellular technology that works by subdividing a radio signal to handle multiple calls. TDMA is a component of GSM cellular phones. |
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Thought recognition
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Thought recognition is the ability of a computer to recognize neural patterns in the brain as a form of input and control of computer processes. Computer programming and the necessary sensing devices already exist to detect other forms of biophysical activity, such as muscular activity and eye movement. Using these forms of input, paralyzed and other handicapped people have been made able to communicate with a computer. Brain waves suggest the possibility of an even more direct form of computer input - the thought command. However, thus far it has been difficult to interpret the brain waves with sufficient delineation to afford any kind of discriminatory input - for example, to sense a letter or word that a person might be thinking of. |
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Thumbnail
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A small image that when clicked on pops up the larger image for closer viewing. |
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Throbber
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The animated download 'working' icon in the upper right corner of most graphical web browsers |
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Trackball
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A pointing device. It is similar to a mouse but Instead of moving the whole pointing device, you simply move the ball on top with your finger or palm. There are usually one to three buttons next to the ball, which you use just like mouse buttons. |
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Two-way paging
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The ability to receive and send data to the Internet by way of the paging network. Also often called interactive paging. |
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Twain
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TWAIN is a widely-used program that lets you scan an image (using a scanner) directly into the application (such as PhotoShop) where you want to work with the image. Without TWAIN, you would have to close an application that was open, open a special application to receive the image, and then move the image to the application where you wanted to work with it. The TWAIN driver runs between an application and the scanner hardware. TWAIN usually comes as part of the software package you get when you buy a scanner. It's also integrated into PhotoShop and similar image manipulation programs. |
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Universal Mobile telecommunications System (UMTS)
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A new-generation technology for rapidly moving data and multimedia over wireless devices. |
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URL
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Uniform Resource Locator - identifies an exact location on the Internet by the unique IP Address. |
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Usability
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"The ease with which a user can learn to operate, prepare inputs for, and interpret outputs of a system or component" [IEEE 90]. The term is often used (Information Technology) in relation to software applications and Web sites, but it can be used in relation to any product that is employed to accomplish a task. Some factors used in determining product usability are ease-of-use, visual consistency, and a clear, defined process for evolution. |
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User-Centered System Design
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Process for designing system from the user's (opposed to the the hardware) point of view. In this process the cognitive factors (such as perception, memory, learning, problem-solving, etc.) and abilities of the user interactions with things are the first step to create new tools.This philosophy is opposite to that concentrates on efficient computation. |
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Vector graphics
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Vector graphics is the creation of digital images through a sequence of commands or mathematical statements that place lines and shapes in a given two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. In physics, a vector is a representation of both a quantity and a direction at the same time. In vector graphics, the file that results from a graphic artist's work is created and saved as a sequence of vector statements. For example, instead of containing a bit in the file for each bit of a line drawing, a vector graphic file describes a series of points to be connected. One result is a much smaller file. |
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Veronica
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Short for Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computerized Archives. Is a network search tool that allowed you to search the Gopher servers by keyword.Veronica has become a relic of the early 1990s |
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Video conference
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A videoconference is a live connection between people in separate locations for the purpose of communication, usually involving audio and often text as well as video. At its simplest, videoconferencing provides transmission of static images and text between two locations. At its most sophisticated, it provides transmission of full-motion video images and high-quality audio between multiple locations. |
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Virtual Reality
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A computer-generated,
3-D, environments that simulate real or imaginary world. By special
device (e.g. DataGloves, HMD, helmet) and software the user may "enter"
in this world and interact with it. There are different levels of
virtual reality from partial (e.g. desktop VR -use computer, monitor
and movement device-) to total immersion (immersive VR, augmented
reality - use devices to control sensory input-).Users navigate in
virtual reality environments as though they were walking in real worlds.Some
applications of Virtual reality are: · The simulation of real environments with the purpose of training or education (i.e.: access into remote, potentially dangerous situations) · The development of an imagined environment, typically for a game or educational adventure |
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WAP
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Short for Wireless Application Protocol. Is standard protocol that allows communication wireless devices (e.g.: cellular telephones and radio transceivers) to transfer of data securely. WAP can be used for Internet access (e.g.: e-mail, World Wide Web, newsgroups). |
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Warez
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A newbie term for pirated computer software, generally distributed via BBS systems, Usenet News and other electronic means. |
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Watermark
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A hidden trademark or other identifying information embedded in a file allowing for the tracking of illegal distribution of copyrighted data. |
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Whiteboard
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An area on a display screen that multiple users can write or draw on. Whiteboards are a principal component of teleconferencing applications because they enable visual as well as audio communication. |
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Wireless
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Telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or all of the communication path.Common examples of wireless equipment include Cellular phones and pagers, global Positioning System (GPS),Cordless computer peripherals, Cordless telephone sets, Home-entertainment-system control boxes, Remote garage-door openers satellite television, wireless LANs or local area networks. |
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WML
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The markup language used in the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). |
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Workflow
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The defined series of tasks within an organization to produce a final outcome. So, for example, in a publishing setting, a document might be automatically routed from writer to editor to proofreader to production. At each stage in the workflow, one individual or group is responsible for a specific task. Once the task is complete, the workflow software ensures that the individuals responsible for the next task are notified and receive the data they need to execute their stage of the process. |
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WYSIWYG
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What You See Is What You Get. |