glossary of terms in ITGS

A red check mark, , occurs before terms that are used in the ITGS Course Guide or before terms that are important in understanding basic IT concepts.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

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Acrobat^®

A product of Adobe Systems that produces documents which can be displayed and printed from most computer operating systems. Adobe provides free Acrobat^® readers for downloading from the Internet. Acrobat^® files have extensions of " PDF" (for portable document format).

AI

See artificial intelligence

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

(ASCII) The primary encoding character set used in computers. The current version has 7 bits per character. 8-bit "words" or character codes provide a bit that can be used as a check bit to help verify that the remaining 7 bits are correct.

analog, analogue

Referring to a signal that is varies continuously. The other type is signal is digital which is composed of discrete units. Digital circuits are easier t design and operate. Nearly all modern computers and new communication systems use digital signals. Stand alone fax machines usually (in 1996) send and receive analog signals.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute. The United States group that approves US many standards, including the standards for computers and for communications. ANSI is a member of the International Organization for Standardization, ISO. Also see byte.

android

A machine created to perform one or more functions normally done byhumans. Android literally means possessing human features; the OxfordEnglish Dictionary defines android as "an automaton resembling a humanbeing." Androids resemble humans while robots need not have physicalfeatures like those of humans (but they may). See cyborg and robot.

applet

Programs written in Sun Microsystem's Java language. The programs contain the code needed to "play" animations or to present interactive applications. Applets can be downloaded using Netscape and played in a Web session.

application software or programs

Programs designed to support work or recreation functions, e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, database managers, and image editors. These programs may be integrated into one or more suites of software. Application software should be distinguished from utility programs.

Archie

A system that gathers, indexes, and distribute information on the Internet. Initially developed at McGill University School. While Veronica searches Gopher files, Archie searches FTP file sites. Archie functions are being replaced by Web Search Engines on the World Wide Web.

artificial intelligence

A property of machines that, if achieved, mimics human thought processes. Many researchers in artificial intelligence consider the abilities of "learning", reasoning, and decision making as essential to claims of machines possessing artificial intelligence. Sometimes referred to as AI.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Also see byte.

Asimov, Issac (1920-1992)

An author of mostly science fiction short stories and novels. He is known as a futurist who predicted future developments in computers and information technology and their influence on society.

Asimov introduced the fictional "three laws of robotics" that have been the basis for many discussions on ethical considerations of using robots.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode

(ATM) A very fast data transmission method. It dynamically allocatesbandwidth and uses a fixed-size data packet. Large files are broken into small standard sized units that are transmitted to the receiving computer where the packets are reassembled into a copy of the original file. The number of packets transmitted per second is dynamically determined based upon the needs of the applications requesting the data.

ATM

See Asynchronous Transfer Mode

attachment, e-mail

A document sent as a attachment to an e-mail message. The attachment may be any digital file object such as a simple ASCII text document, a word processing document, an image, a sound file, a video file, or a spreadsheet file.

authentication

Verification of a person's identity or the source of a document. In network systems, authentication referrers to verifying that messages and documents came from the person indicated.

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back door (or "trap door", "wormhole")

An entry into a computer system deliberately left by designers, usually privileged accounts intended for field service technicians or maintenance programmers.

backup, back-up

1. verb - To make copies of computer data or programs.

2. noun - Copies of computer data or programs. Backups may be on any media such as floppy diskettes, hard disks, CD-ROMs, or tapes. Backups are made to be used for recovery in the the event of damage or loss of the original version of the files.

bandwidth

1. The difference in height between the highest and lowest frequencies.. 2. A measure of the amount of data that can be transmitted through a circuit per unit of time (second).

baud

The carrying capacity of communication lines or systems in symbols per second. Baud rates coincide with bits per second only under specificconditions. "Baud" was used for telegraph speeds for one Morse code dot per second. The term is confusing and, "bits per second" (bps) or "characters per second" (cps) should be used for modern computer and fax communications. Note that in the ASCII code, each character is composed of eight bits!

BGR

Blue, Green, Red. The colors of light that, when mixed, produce any other color. Images may be stored as sets of separate red, green and blue overlays. The three colors are emitted from to the three "guns" in a color cathode ray tube. BGR is sometimes a synonym for color, for example, a "RGB monitor". There are other methods of storing and representing colors (see CMYK and HSV).

binary

Relating to systems composed of only two items or choices. See bit.

bit

binary digit. The smallest unit of information for data storage andtransmission. Each bit is considered to be either a "1" or a "0" and is said to be "set" or true if its value is 1 and "clear" or "reset" if the value is "0". Bits are sometimes referred to as being O or 1, and sometimes as plus (+) or minus (-), sometimes as being "on" or "off", and sometimes as "true" or "false". (Seebyte. Also see Boolean logic and fuzzy logic.)

bitmap

A file or image structure representing, bit for bit, an image displayed on a monitor. Bitmaps define the width and height of images and the parts of images. Bitmaps may represent colored images; in this case, more than on bit is needed to define each pixel. See BGR.

BMP

An image file format used in Microsoft Windows. A bitmap format.

See GIF, JPEG, PIC, PIX, TIFF, and WPG.

Boolean logic

A system of logic based on Boolean algebra and named after George Boole (hence, capitalized). It deals with the two truth values of "TRUE and "FALSE". It also included the modifiers of "AND", "OR" and "NOT". The Boolean conditions of true and false are often represented by "0" for "false" and "1" for "true". The "0" and "1" states are sometimes referred to as "no" and "yes" conditions. See fuzzy logic

boot, boot up

To start or initialize a computer operating system.

bps

Bits per second, the transmission speed of data between computers (or faxmachines). BOPS is often used to express data transmission speeds.

browser

A program for reading hypertext. Browser permit viewing the contents of documents and support navigating among documents. The most popular World Wide Web browsers (1996) are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

bulletin board system, bbs or BBS

A computer and software providing a message database. Users log in and leave and read messages. Messages are often divided into topics.

Some BBS provide archives of files or other services, e.g., e-mail.

bug

An unwanted operation or function in a program or in computer hardware. the use of the term "bug" to computer malfunctions is attributed to Admiral Grace Hopper. The story told by Admiral Hopper is that an early computer had malfunctioned. Upon investigation, a moth was discovered between the contacts in the machine.

byte

The unit of data storage and transmission in computers. A byte is usually considered the code for a single character. The number of bits in a byte varies among computer systems. We usually think of a byte as being 8 bits long. The English Latin alphabet has 52 characters (upper and lower case) and computers commonly also use punctuation marks and a few special characters such as the period, exclamation mark, slashes, equal sign, tilde, ampersand, dollar symbol, pound sign, percent mark, asterisk, plus sign, and carriage return. Including punctuation mark and special characters, we need approximately 100 unique codes. Each bit can exist in only two states, 0 or 1. Thus, a 6 bit word can define only 64 characters, a 7 bit word can define 128 characters, and an 8 bit word can define 256 characters. If one bit is used to check the integrity of the entire byte, then we need at least an 8 bit byte (or "word") for common computer uses.

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CAD

Computer Aided Design. CAD systems are sometimes integrated with a computer aided manufacturing system, <AHREF="#cam"CAM.

CAL

Computer Aided Learning. learning that is assisted by interactive computer programs. See training and tutorial.

call id, caller id

A telephone service the displays the telephone number and name of the person calling.

call forward

A telephone service by which telephone calls are forwarded to a previously determined number. The number to which calls are forwarded can be changed at time either remotely or at the phone from which the calls are forwarded.

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacture. CAM systems are sometimes integrated with a computer aided design system, <AHREF="#cad"CAD.

CD, CD-ROM

Compact Disk, Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. A data storage medium that uses the same physical formats as audio compact disk. There are several logical formats used to store data on CDs. Compact disk can store (currently,1996) approximately 600 megabytes (8-bit   bytes) of data.

Note: The French Academy has recommended the Gallicized cédérom version of word with this dictionary entry, "Cédérom (masculine noun) (final m   pronounced). Adapted from the American term CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only memory).

CERN

The European Laboratory for Particle Physics located in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Wide Web originated in this laboratory in 1989 when its staff proposed a multimedia, hyperlinked system of documents. This laboratory has sometimes been referred to as the "home of the Web." The NCSA staff developed the first graphical browser, Mosaic, for the World Wide Web. Mosaic was released (free) for public use in 1990.

chat room

A virtual "place" where two or more network users can exchange e-electronic messages. Most chat or talk systems support real -time or simultaneous communications.

checkdigit

A checksum of only one digit. See ISBN for an example of a checkdigit.

checksum

A value that is computed and that depends on the contents of a set of data. Checksums are stored or transmitted with the data. The checksum is used to detect if the data has been altered during transmission or when being stored and retrieved. Receiving programs recompute the checksum to compare with the checksum sent or stored with the data. Checksums may be more than one digit. They are not always the result of addition but may be the result of one or more computations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

A very simple example of a checksum is found in ISBN codes for books and other documents. The last digit of an ISBN code is a checkdigit. (The ISBN codes use a single digit check value; thus an "x" is used to denote a value of 10 in ISBN codes.) ISBN checksums are examples of a one-digit checksum, or a checkdigit.

client

A computer program that requests a service of another computer system (a "server"). See also client-server.

client-server

A software partitioning scheme in which a system is divided between server tasks performed on requests from clients, asking for information or action.

CGI

Common Gateway Interface. A type of program that will run under nearly all operating systems and that is used primarily to process requests from html forms or to act upon information obtained from html forms.

CISC

Complex instruction set computer. The opposite of RISC. Pentium^® and x86 type chips use CISC chips.

codes of conduct

Standards of behavior that are expected by or required of members of a community. Users of networks abide a code of conduct that insists upon respect for intellectual property rights, respect for other users of the network, and responsible use of network facilities.

CMYK

A method for describing colors by amounts of the secondary colors of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. In addition the amount of blacK (the "key") is also specified. The CMYK system is used in printing. See BGR and HSV).

computer abuse

With respect to computer systems, using computers and networks to perform illegal or unacceptable acts. Abusive acts may include unauthorized access, send messages or making available files containing offensive language pornographic materials, repeated sending of unwanted messages, or any act considered unacceptable by the community sharing the resources.

commercial software

Software, usually copyrighted, produced for sale or license for use. See freeware software, public domain software, and shareware software.

compression

The coding of files to storage space or transmission time. Most commonly used files of text, images, sound, or video can be converted into files of fewer bits. These compressed files can then be expanded to the original form for display or play. Many compression algorithms exits. Some compressions are better suited on one type of file than for others. Commonly used image compression methods are JPEG, and GIF. There are special compression methods for sound and video (e.g., MPEG compression) files. Some compression methods are used for files without regard to the kind of data represented. Common general compression methods include zip and pkzip for DOS based systems, stuffit for Macintosh^® operating systems, andcompress (using gzip) for UNIX operating systems. Two or more compressed files may be combined into an archive file using compression programs such as tat or zip.

cookie

A transaction ID used between cooperating programs. Cookies are used by some browsers and Web server programs to identify the client user and even unique preferences or requests from the client user. Cookies may be stored for use during a given session, for a set length of time (seconds, minutes, hours, or days), or retained permanently. Cookie information is stored with the browser on the client side; the information is automatically accessed and used by the browser in subsequent transactions.

copyright

1. The legal right of authors, composers, or publisher to "print" and distribute intellectual and artistic creations. The right is granted by governments and may apply to intellectual property in digital forms. In this case the printing and distribution includes digital forms of the works.

cps

Characters per second, used in expressing the speed of transferring digital data.

CPU

Central Processing Unit. The main processing chip of a computer.

cracker

A person who attempts to gain unauthorized access a computer system, often for malicious purposes. The term was coined by hackers to defend against misuse of "hacker".

cyborg

A human with one or more mechanical or electronic devices implanted to enhance the capsbilites of that human. Seeandroid androbot.

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data

Numbers, codes, words, or phrases without units or other items that define or give meaning to these original elements. See information, knowledge, and wisdom.

DBMS

Database management system. A program that sorts, links, and otherwise organizes and manages data in a database. DBMS may also assist in the analysis of data and the preparation of reports.

data compression

See compression.

data redundancy

The storage of duplicate data. Relational databases provide file structures than can help reduce the need for duplicate data elements. Networks help reduce the need for duplicate data by permitting the sharing of data.

data encryption

The scrambling of data into unintelligible characters using passwords. The encrypted file can be restored to their original state using the correct password. See an external document about encryption.

database (also "data base")

A collection of related types of data in a single file or set of files for sorting, analysing, and reporting.

data integrity

The entry and preservation of stored data in a manner that results in its retrieval in a form identical to the original and representing the original observations or ideas. Uncorrupted data.

data redundancy

The storage of duplicate data. Data redundancy is often unnecessary but is sometimes useful or essential. relational databases help reduce the unnecessary replication of data. Unique keys in each database table are used to link tables of data belonging to specific records or entries in the database.

defragment

A process that reads file segments form non-contiguous sections of a storage device and then writes the files to the same device so that each file segment is contiguous with the preceding and following segments. When storage devices have files deleted, the unused space is available for future storage. If the net file written into the released space is large than the space available, then a pointed is recorded at the end of the segment and the remained of the file is written into one or more non-contiguous segments.

DES

Data Encryption Standard. An encryption algorithm. DES is the same as the ANSI standard Data Encryption Algorithm. It is a popular encryptionmethod, "approved" by the US Government. DES has been implemented inhardware and software, neither of which are supposed to be exported fromthe United States.

desktop publishing (DTP)

The use of computers to prepare text and graphics for printing. The best desktop publishing programs support the fitting of text into irregular shapes and the use of a variety of typefaces and font sizes and styles (bold, italic, underline, outline, superscripts, subscripts).

digital

Of or pertaining to data, programs, or information that exist in electronic binary form. The information is represented by combinations of the "1" and "0" conditions. See binary.

digital data

Data captured, stored, or transmitted in binary form. See bit and binary.

directory

A division of a file system into which files are placed. Directories are often organized into a hierarchal system with a root or main directory and one or more sub-directories. each sub-directory may also have many levels of sub-directories. In practice, most users keep related files with a single directory; operating system files are usually placed within specially named directories. In the MacIntosh Operating System, directories are called folders.See folder.

Disk Operating System

See DOS.

Domain Name System -- (DNS)

1. A distributed data query service used on the Internet to translate Internet host names into Internet addresses.

2. Also the way of naming hosts, servers, and clients on Internet.

download

The transfer files from one computer to another.

DNS

1. Domain Name System. A data query service used on Internet fortranslating host names into Internet addresses. It is also the host name used on the Internet. The proper term for a host name its "fully qualified domain name". DNS refers to both a way of naming hosts and the way of naming the servers and clients that manage that information on the Internet.

2. Distributed Name Service, used by OSF (Open Software Foundation) as the naming service for DCE (Distributed Computing Environment).

DOS

Disk Operating System. A widely used interpreter or program that translates user commands into machine code for computer-disk interactions. Functions include the organization of files into folders or directories and the finding, erasing, coping, or restoring of files.

DTP

Desktop Publishing.

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e-mail, email

Electronic mail.

EBCDIC

Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code. See ASCII and byte

electronic mail

Documents or messages exchanged electronically over computer networks. E-mail is typically sent to a mail server computer where the document is held until the intended recipient connects to the mail server and reads or downloads the documents. E-mail notes may have attached files.

encryption

The reversible modification of data into unintelligible sequence of characters using passwords and special computer programs. See data encryption.

EDI

Electronic Data Interchange. The set of document format standards and protocols by which business and academic information is exchanged over networks. EDI documents are used to process purchase orders, paybills, invoices, share shipping orders,send transcripts, and to facilitate similar transactions.

endless loop

See loop, endless.

EPS

A file extension for Encapsulated PostScript See Encapsulated Post Script.

Encapsulated PostScript

A type of formatting in which positions and vectors describe images.Postscript formatted information is embedded into files for display orprinting. Abbreviated as EPS. EPS is used for Postscript graphics files that are to be incorporated into other documents.

Ethernet

A coaxial cable local area network and an industry standard. Data is sent packets and the bandwidth (speed) is approximately 10 Mbits per second.

ergonomics

The designing of equipment to increase productivity and reduce user fatigue or discomfort.

ethics, ethical consideration

Ethics is a set of principles of acceptable behavior or the rules for the conduct of people.

Ethical considerations are those factors that should be considered in determining appropriate actions. In the ITGS course, these considerations arise from social issues raised by the application IT.

The following is an excerpt from an article, Philosophical Bases of Computer Ethics by Professor Robert Barger.

"Computer ethics can be grounded in one of four basic world-views: Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, or Existentialism. Idealists believe that reality is basically ideas and that ethics therefore involves conforming to ideals. Realists believe that reality is basically nature and that ethics therefore involves acting according to what is natural. Pragmatists believe that reality is not fixed but is in process and that ethics therefore is practical (that is, concerned with what will produce socially-desired results). Existentialists believe reality is self-defined and that ethics therefore is individual (that is, concerned only with one's own conscience). Idealism and Realism can be considered ABSOLUTIST worldviews because they are based on something fixed (that is, ideas or nature, respectively). Pragmatism and Existentialism can be considered RELATIVIST worldviews because they are based or something relational (that is, society or the individual, respectively).

"Thus ethical judgments will vary, depending on the judge's world-view."

executive information system

EIS. Real-time computer access to internal and external business information by executives for comprehensive decision making. Sometimes the data is captured at fixed intervals to provide data that can be more accurately compared.

executive support system

ESS. Computer system that contins data and that performs analytical processes to support decision making.

expert system

ES. A programmed system containing the collective knowledge of experts in a given area. Expert systems also employ "reasoning" methodologies or models to emulate an expert decision making process.

Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code

EBCDIC. Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code. An old andoutdated character set used on IBM computers. EBCDIC lacked codes for some important characters and punctuation marks. EBCDIC was adapted from punched card code.

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fiber optics

Glass fibers used to transmit digital data infra-red or visible light a the carrier (usually a laser). The fiber are very thin, smaller than a human hair. Light does not escape from the fibers because they are made to give complete reflection inside the fibers.

Fiber optics can carry very large amounts of data over long distances at great speeds and without distortions. In one test, AT&T transferred the equivalent of the entire Encyclopedia Britannica a distance of approximately 160 km (100 miles) in one second!

file conversion

The conversion of files formatted for on application into a from that can be used by another application. Typical file conversions are processed to permit the exchange of files between similar types of software but from different vendors. An example: The conversion of word processor documents created using Microsoft Word into a from for processing with WordPerfect word processor.

field

A single element of data in a single record within a database.

File Transfer Protocol

A protocol used between clients and servers and allows one computer to transfer files to and from another computer over a TCP/IP network

firewall

A software program or a or machine device that prevents unauthorized access to computers or computer files. Firewalls are sometimes specific machines containing security software and devices; these machines are provide connection to networks from dial-in lines. These special machines protect the computers on a network "behind" the firewall. Computers behind the firewall can connect to an outside network but the firewall protects these computers from unauthorized access from the outside network.

flame

Electronic mail or Usenet news messages that insult or provoke. As a verb, it is the sending such messages.

flat-file, flat file

An ASCII file containing data and usually serving as a database file. Flat file records may be single "line" or several records may occur in a line of or block of data. Flat-files are less useful for high speed searches or for linking tow or more sources of data. They are easily transferred among various operating systems and database managers.

folder

See directory.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol. A method of transferring files from one computer to another over a network. Connections require a user identification which may be open to "guest" or "anonymous" users, or the connections may restricted to specific persons. The connections may require public passwords, e-mail addresses, or secret passwords.

Users many be permitted only to download files or they maybe given permission to both upload and download files.

freeware

Software, often copyrighted, produced for free distribution and use. There often are restrictions regarding the sale or modification of the software. Sometimes referred to as public domain software. See commercial software,public domain software, and shareware software.

fuzzy logic

A type or set of Boolean logic used to process conditions of partial truth, that is for values that lie between being completely true and being completely false. Fuzzy logic was developed in recognition that conditions exits that cannot be easily described as belonging to a binary classification: 1 or 0, + or -, true or false. The term (and concept?) was introduced in 1960 by Dr. Lotfi Zadeh. See Boolean logic.

Fuzzy logic attempts to treat degrees of truth or probabilities of truth as opposed to declaring that a condition is either always true or always false. Practical applications in computer controlled systems include the control of fuel and air mixtures in internal combustion engines, the proportional slowing of the speed of objects as they approach a given state or target, the heating and cooling of objects or spaces to prevent overheating, the mixing of two or more ingredients to achieve a defined final condition (especially when the components and their properties are constantly changing).

Fuzzy logic uses weighted algorithms in computer programs to simulate human thought or "life-like" responses to external conditions.

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GIF

1. A file name extension.

2. Graphics Interchange Format. A file compression method developed byCompuServe. The method reduces file sizes by counting repeating pixels and storing the pixel color and the number of repetitions. GIF compression is well suited for line art and simple images. GIF compression reduces image colors to no more than 256 colors. Most old computers and many computers in current use only display 256 colors. See JPEG, PIC, PIX, TIFF, and WPG.A more complete discussion of GIF compression is given in another document.

gigabyte

1000 million bytes. Actually, 1,073,741,824 bytes or 1024 megabytes. (See byte.)Abbreviated "Gb" or "GB"The fact that a Gb is not exactly 1 billion is because digitalsystems are binary, based on a system to base 2. Thus, 2 raised to the power of 30 = 1,073,741,824. In non-computer systems and where the number system is to the base of 10, then 1 GB = exactly 1 billion. See megabyte.

Global Positioning System

(GPS) A sytem using satellites to accurately determine the location of any place in the earth's surface.

Gopher

1. A document retrieval system. 2. Programs for retrieving network files. Gopher was developed at the University of Minnesota (USA) for use on their Campus Wide Information System. Gopher servers present document menus.

The documents can be text, sound, image, program, or video files. Submenus may direct users to other Gopher file systems. The menus form a hierarchal file location system. The Web is replacing Gopher as the primary Internet system for finding, displaying, and downloading files.

GPS

Global Positioning System.

Graphical User Interface

GUI. A graphically-based computer monitor interface in which images, icons, dialogue boxes, and standard "widgets" are used to facilitate communication between humans and machines.

GUI

See graphicluiGraphical User Interface.

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hertz

Cycles per second. A unit of frequency. One hertz is equal to one cycle per second. Abbreviated as Hz.

hacker

A person who enjoys details of programming, often obsessively and quickly. The term cracker should be used for negative application of programming skills.

hard disk, hard drive

A device for the storage of digital data. These are standard devices in most personal computers and may also exist outside a computer and used by cable connections. See tape drive.

hardware

Computer and network equipment consisting of transistors, circuit boards, wiring, connectors, disk drives, cables, and similar physical or tangible components. See software.

host computer

A computer connected to a network. Host computers are sometimes also called nodes on the network.

HotJava

A World Wide Web browser from Sun Microsystems that can execute programs "applets"written in the Java programming language.

HSV

A method of describing colors using Hue, Saturation, and Value when used to describe colors. Hue is the tint or basic color; saturation is degree of lightness or darkness; value is the intensity or the "amount" of color. Saturation is sometimes called the "shade" of color. Value is sometimes referred to as "tone". See BGR and CMYK

HTML

Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.. A set of tags or commands used by World Wide Web browsers to format and display text and images, to play sound or video, or to run programs.

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

HTTPS -- HyperText Transmission Protocol, Secure.

See Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Hyperlink

Links or references within Web documents that upon selection (clicking the mouse with the cursor located over the document link) cause jumps to another location within the document, to other documents, or to programs that process images, sound, videos, operate upon databases, or preform other functions. Hyperlink objects may be words, phrases, images, or parts of images. Hyperlinked objects are usually displayed in a manner to distinguish them as links. Image maps may not show obvious linked portions and many areas of an image can be linked to different targets.

Hypermedia

like hypertext but includes graphics, sound, video and other kinds of data. See also Error! Hyperlink reference not valid..

Hypertext

a document or set of documents with "links" that aid users in navigating among links and their references. Links may reference and facilitate jumps to places with a single document, to other documents in the same computer, or to documents in any computer on a network.

Hypertext Markup Language

(HTML) Hypertext document format used World Wide Web documents.HTML tags tell Web browsers how the document should be displayed. HTML documents may include forms used for data capture; the values from HTML forms are processed by CGI programs on a Web server.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol

(HTTP) The client-server TCP/IP protocol used on the World-Wide Web for the exchange of HTML documents.

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icon

Images, often very small, that represent an idea or object. Selecting an icon usually causes a program or document to open or a program to run and perform a set of operations.

image maps

Images in which portions have defined as linked to other documents orobjects. See hyperlink.

information

Data combined with units of measure or data with accompanying meaning. See data, knowledge, andwisdom.

information economy

An economy that is highly dependent upon the collection, storage, and exchange of information. many businesses now deal in managing and adding value to data and by selling information derived from the data. Data and information have economic value, Examples, include sales, production costs, potential customers and markets, crop yield predictions, weather forecasts, credit ratings, buying patterns, census and demographic data, and levels of education, and indicators of life styles..

information highway

information superhighway

information retrieval system

A computer system used to store data and from which data may be selected and retrieved for use in reports and for analysis. Abbreviated IRS. See information system.

information superhighway

The Internet and its subset, the World Wide Web. (Also called "Infobahn" and "Info Strada".) The term "information superhighway" was first used in 1990 by Al Gore, US Vice-president. Mr. Gore was referring to the high-speedglobal communications network that carries voice, data, video data aroundthe world. The information superhighway is mediated by copper cables,satellites, fibre optics, and cellular telecommunications.

information system

A system (usually computer based) into which data is placed , in which data may be processed, from which data is selected and may analyzed, and from which reports may be produced. Abbreviated IS. See information retrieval system.

information technology

Any set of machines or programs used to store, retrieve, transmit or otherwise process data and information. Abbreviated IT. Informationtechnology includes systems that control machines or processes or that assist in making decisions. See information system.

INpg

Internet Protocol next generation.(also called IPv6) The most likely protocol or addressing method to replace the current Internet Protocol. Its main purpose is to provide a solution to the shortage of IP addresses.

IP

Internet Protocol. The network part of the TCP/IP protocol that is widely used on Ethernet networks. This protocol facilitates the routing of packets of data by routing, fragmenting and re-assembling of data files.

institution

For the ITGS course, any community or collection of persons with common interests, objectives, or goals, or that provide related services. Examples include businesses, schools, universities, governments, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO), churches non-profit agencies.

Integrated Services Digital Network

(ISDN) Communications standards for a single wire or optical fibre to carry voice, digital network services and video. ISDN is offered by telephone systems in Australia, France, Japan, Singapore, the UK and in the USA. Europe is phasing to Euro-ISDN.

intellectual property

An original creation by a person, often non-tangible (not necessarily an object). These may include ideas, discoveries, writings, works of art or literature, collections and presentations of data.

intelligent system

A computer based system programmed to process data input by humans or machines and emulating human decision making. These systems may respond to respond to external stimuli, e.g., temperature, pressure, weight, time, strain, radio signals, acceleration, velocity, vectors. See artificial intelligence

interface

A boundary between two systems. In IT, machines or humans communicate across these boundaries. An interface may be as simple as a hardware connectors, it may include communication protocols, or programs and features by which humans enter commands into and receive information from machines.

Internet

The Internet is usually capitalized to indicate that it a special set of connected computers. It is the largest network in the world and consists of many different physical networks around the world. These networks use various protocols including the Internet Protocol to communicate.

Internet Protocol

(IP) The network part of the TCP/IP protocol set. It supports routing, vfile fragmentation and re-assembly.

Intranet

A network that uses the tools of the World Wide Web but often with access restricted to within an organization or office. The Web tools that support an intranet are a Web server and client browsers. HTML forms and CGI programs also are often used in intranets.

IS

See information system.

ISBN

International Standard Book Number. The last character of an ISBN is a check digit. See a supplementary document for more details about ISBN

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network. ISDN lines may vary in their capacity to transmit data as shown in the following table.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization. A voluntary, organization that creates international standards, including the standards for computers and communications. National standards groups from nearly 90 countries belong to the ISO. The American National Standards Institute, ANSI is a member of ISO. An example of an ISO set of standard codes is the two-character code set to denote countries, e.g., AR = Argentina, AT = Austria, AU = Australia, DE = Germany, SG = Singapore, and US = United States of America. (ISO is not one of the thousands of acronyms used by computer and communications workers! It is actually a pun based on the prefix "iso" which means "same" in Greek.)

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Java

An, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsystems and that supports programming platform-independentJava "applets"or the Internet .

JIC

Just In Case. A situation where a company keeps on hand a small stock of rare components or those that require long production times, just in cae of a rush order. JIC is implemented to more fully serve customers. Do not confuse JIC with JIT

JIT

Just In Time. A manufacturing method in which the raw materials aredelivered to the factory just before they are needed in the production. JIT is facilitated by information technology in which inventories are monitored and purchases are made using EDI, electronic data interchange. See JIC.

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group file compression method that modifies the original data and stores information on the shapes and colors that will represent the image upon decompression. JPEG is well suited forphotographic images, those with shading and gradual merging of colors, and those with many colors. JPEG compression methods do not decompress to the exact original image, but for most practical uses, humans cannot distinguish the expanded JEPG images from the original images. JPEG compression can store thousands or even millions of colors. See GIF, PIC, PIX, TIFF, and WPG. A more complete discussion of JPEG compression is given in another document.

jpg

1. A file compression method.

2. A file name extension for <JPEG files. (This shortened version of JPEG is required by DOS systems that can only accept file extensions with a maximum of three characters.)

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kilobyte

2 raised to the power of 10 = 1024 bytes. Abbreviated as Kb.

Knowbot Information Service

(KIS) Netaddress. Provides a uniform user interface to many remote directory services (e.g., whois, finger, X.500, MCIMail).

knowledge

An understand that humans derive by reasoning based upon data and its associated information. Examples of data are simple numbers, such as 123 and 456. Examples of information are $1.23 per dozen eggs and $4.56 per dozen eggs. Knowledge is an understanding that the $1.23 price is a better buy than is the $4.56 price. Wisdom may include judgements about the nutritional and health value of eggs or about the relative value of eggs as a source of protein compared to other sources. See <A, HREF="#data"data, information, and wisdom.

knowledge base

A collection of data representing related experiences and their results or related problems and their solutions. Knowledge bases include programs for searching and retrieving information. Knowledge bases are used to assist persons in making decisions.

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LAN

See local area network and network

LCD

liquid crystal display.

LINUX

A UNIX style operating system for personal computers. LINUX is freeware and can be installed at low cost, usually the cost of the delivery media, eg/., CD-ROM.

Listserv

(Note spelling, only eight characters.) An electronic discussion support system. Users can subscribe and unsubcribe by e-mail. All messages sent to the discussion list are automatically sent to all subscribers. Most list servers support archiving of the messages by day, week, month, or year.

local area network

A computer based communications network limited to approximately 1 km radius and often within a single office, building, or single company location. See network

logic bomb

Code secretly inserted into an application or operating system causing it to perform some destructively.

loop, endless

See endless loop.

Lynx

A Web browser developed at the University of Kansas.

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markup language / markup tags

A set of codes inserted I documents and used by print or browser programs to format the output. Markup tags are independent of the vendors' programs and devices that print or display the document. The code does not constitute a programming language, but some markup "languages" include codes that permit the optional printing or displaying or the merging of data. The original and primary intent of markup tags was to facilitate the printing of documents, independent of the printer or print formatting programs used.

megahertz

1 million hertz. See hertz.

megabyte

1000 bytes or actually = 1,048,576 bytes or 1024 kilobytes. See gigabyte.

<DTmenu

A list of choices. In IT, users select from the choices presented. Selections are usually made using a mouse. Selections may also be controlled by keyboard selections. Menus may be presented within dialogue boxes, on the central portion of a computer monitor, or as pull-down menu lists that display choices when one of several choices is selected on a menu bar, usually displayed at the top of a window or top of a monitor display.

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A hardware specification and a protocol used with synthesizers, computers, keyboards, and other devices for producing music.

model

A description of an event, behavior, or condition in the real world. Models help in understanding complex systems. Models are useful only to the extent that they explain the real conditions they describe. Models are used to develop simulation programs.

Mosaic

A World Wide Web browser developed and distributed free by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in the United States.

mouse

A hand-held device for moving the cursor and for pointing on computer monitors. The device may have one or two keys that, when pressed, will cause objects under the cursor to be selected or activated. Later versions of the mouse include small pads upon which a moving finger will cause the cursor too move. Other versions of pointing and selecting devices (in place of a mouse) are "track balls", laser or microwave mediated mediated devices, and "joy sticks".

MPEG

Moving Pictures Experts Group.

MUD

Multi-User Dimension or Multi-User Domain. A network of servers that support discussions. Similar to IRC.

multimedia

Documents that contain information in than one form: text, sound, images, video.

multitasking

A method by which an operating system supports the sharing of a single processor with tow or more jobs or programs.

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NC

Network Computer. A system designed to use high speed networks or cable TV systems to connect to centrally stored data. NC machines tend to have less memory and very small or no hard disk and are less expensive than non-NC computers. NC machines depend upon the external machine to which they are connected for data storage and often for complex data processing.

NCSA

National Center for Supercomputing Applications in Urbana, IL, USA.

netiquette

Acceptable use and behavior in using network resources, especially the use of e-mail and news groups. Poor netiquette involves "flaming", "spamming", and posting rude and degrading messages, resending entire long messages when responding, and failure to include useful subject lines.

network

Any set of computer systems connected by cables, phone lines, or radio communication methods and which share data.

news groups

Internet and World Wide Web discussion groups to which persons may subscribe. An message posted to the group is sent to all subscribers. A very few news groups are moderated; that is, the messages are first reviewed by a person who may censor or restrict what is posted. The news groups are processed by news or discussion group server which receive and store the messages for distribution to subscribers. The messages are usually stored for only one or two weeks. Subscribers must actively request downloads of unread messages; the messages are not automatically sent to a subscriber's e-mail mail box.

Node

1. An device on a computer network and which can be addressed so it can be contacted by other computers.

2. A "host" computer on a network.

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OCR

Optical Character Recognition. Refers to using devices and software to "read" characters and translate the into ASCII characters that can ten be processed by computer programs. Applications of OCR include the scanning of printed documents to convert the text into digital data as ASCII text; the text can then be edited in word processors.

OOP

Object Oriented Programming. A method of programming or programming languages in which portions of code, called objects, are reused. Program objects have defined properties which are transferred to (inherited from) similar "parent" objects. OOP has facilitated rapid development of complex programs.

operating system

A program that manages the files in a computer, controls internal orconnected devices (peripherals), and runs other selected programs.Abbreviated OS.

operators

A symbol that denotes an action. These may classified as

• arithmetic: substraction, multiplication, division, or exponentiation;

• text: concatenation,LIcomparison or relational: equal, greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, less than or equal to, not equal to, or

• reference: in the case of spreadsheets, to combine cell identifiers. e.g., the colon, ":".

OS

Operating System

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Packet

A unit of data sent across a network.

paradigm

An example, a model. A way of thinking about a problem, condition, or situation. When persons discover a new way of viewing a problem and its solutions, they are said to have made a "paradigm shift".

parse

1. To scan text. In IT the parsing is with a computer program that searches for specific character sequences or syntax. Parsers also respond to the parsing by formatting the text, processing functions, running other programs, or performing other specific processing based upon the text parsed.

2. To break a sentence into component parts of speech.

3. To describe words with respect to form, part of speech, or relationships in a sentence.

password

A character string that must be entered into a computer system to open documents and databases, or to otherwise gain access to a system. Passwords should (1) be long; (2) contain mixed case characters, numbers, or special characters; (3) be changed often; (4) never be real words or proper names, and (5) never given to other persons or left written where others might have access to them.

Alternatives to passwords may include scans of finger or hand prints, retinal scans, facial scans, voice recognition, mechanical (real) keys, magnetic strips on cards, or answers to specific questions.

path

A series of hierarchical directories (or folders) that define the location of a file in a storage device.

peripheral

Any hardware device, other than the CPU and its integrated components, attached to a computer. The devices may include hard disk, tape drives, CD-ROM drives, sound systems, still camera, video cameras, or any equipment that process digital data.

PGP

See Pretty Good Privacy.

PDF

Portable Document Format.

PIC

An image file format. Used mostly in Apple Macintosh^® systems. SeeBMP, GIF, JPEG, PIX, and WPG.

piracy

As applied to IT, the stealing of intellectual property by illegally coping, distributing, or selling software and documents. Piracy extends to the illegal copying of music, books, and programs.

PIX

An image file format. SeeBMP, GIF, JPEG, PIC, and WPG.

pixel

Picture element. A single dot on a monitor or printed document. The smallest rectangular area of an image that can be manipulated on a monitor or printer or stored in memory. The simplest pixel is a black and white unit that is either white or black. If 8 bits are used to describe a pixel, its brightness can range from 0 to 255 and shades of gray or colors can be represented. In color images, the data describing the pixels has both brightness and color information. Pixels of 24 bits can represent millions of colors. See GIF and JPEG.

Portable Document Format

(PDF) The file format for Adobe Systems' Acrobat to display or print documents independent of the original application, hardware, or operating system used to create those documents. PDF files are becoming popular on the World Wide Web and some browsers will automatically display them. Acrobat readers are distributed free by Adobe. PDF files must be created with Adobe Systems' Acrobat^® document editor. Adobe Systems distributes PDF reader programs free of charge.

Point of Presence

(PoP) A site with telecommunications equipment, (modems,leased lines, routers). Internet network access providers operate one or more PoPs.

PoP

Point of Presence

Point-to-Point Protocol

PPP. Provides an Internet standard method for transmitting IP packets over serial connections. PPP was designed to operate over both asynchronous and synchronous connections. SLIP was developed for serial connections, e.g., modem connections over standard asynchronous phone lines.

Postscript

A Page Description Language (PDL) that describes pages for printing text, drawings, and pictures independent of the printing device

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol.

private key encryption

An encryption method in which the documents must be opened (decrypted) using the same key as was used in the encryption.

Pretty Good Privacy

A high security public-key encryption method for most computer systems. First written by P. R. Zimmermann, it has been enhanced by other programmers. PGP was distributed as freeware." See Public Key Encryption.

program

A collection of instructions in binary code, read by computers, and that process data from external sources or stored within the program.

protocol

A rules that describes how data is transmitted and how computers"communicate". Protocols are essential for communications amongcomputers using different operating systems or different character code sets. Protocols may define (1) the electrical standards to be observed, (2) the orders of bits and bytes, (3) error detection, and (4) error corrections. Protocols also define data formatting, and the syntax of electronic commands and messages. Protocols may define how terminals communicate with to computers or clients with servers. Character sets and and how machine command messages are sequenced.

public-key encryption

An encryption scheme, in which each person has a pair of keys: one public and one private. Public keys may be published. Private keys must be kept secret. Documents are encrypted with a recipient's public key . Thesedocuments can only be decrypted using the recipient's private key. Sendersand receivers do not need to share secret keys.

public domain

Software or other intellectual material that is free and available to the public without restrictions. With regard to software, this is usually the same as freeware; however, freeware may be copyrighted and often carries the identity of its creator. See freeware software, commercial software,and shareware software.

<DTpull-down menu

A list that displays choices when one of several choices is selected on a menu bar, usually displayed at the top of a window or top of a monitor display.

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query

An inquiry. A question. A "query" is used in SQL when formulating a question to submit to a data base manager that uses the SQL language.

quicktime video

A standard developed by the Apple Computer company and used in integrating full-motion video (also sound) in computer programs.

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RAM

1. Random Access Memory.

2. (Meant to be humorous.) Rarely Adequate Memory, from the fact that programs and data expand to fill the memory available.

reengineer

re-engineering, reengineer

To make change in organizational (company, school) structures that influence production, communication, processing, or services. Information technology often facilitate re-engineering by improving communications, giving access to management data, or helping workers process information. Computers and robots can perform some human tasks and allow workers to conduct higher level tasks.

relational database

A database consisting of files than be viewed as collections of tables of rows and columns. Each table row is a record of one entity. Each column represents a specific field of data, e.g., name, age, weight, height. The tables usually contain a unique identifier (key) for each record (row). Data from two or more tables may be combined by matching the unique identifiers. See flat-file

record

A single entry for an entity in a database and may be composed of more than one data field (item of data or data element).

relational operators

Operators that show the relationship between two entities. See operators.

RFC

Request For Comments.

RGB

A method of defining colors by the amounts of red, green, and blue contained in each pixel. Red, green, and blue are the primary colors and can be mixed to produce any non-primary color. See CMYK

RISC

Reduced instruction set computer. The opposite of CISC. Processor chip using a reduced set of instructions but executing them at high speed. These chips contain most commonly used instructions and pass requests for others to external chips. Typical RISC chips provide high performance at low power consumption.

robot

1. A mechanical device controlled by computer processors and programs and that perform human-like tasks. See cyborg andandroid.

2. A computer program that "explores" the World-Wide Web without humanintervention. These programs automatically follow links on World Wide Web documents.

ROM

Read Only Memory. A storage device made with contents that do not change. ROM usually holds programs.

router

An item of equipment that directs communications among networks. The device contains programs that determine where to forward files. These forwarding decisions are based on tables of data about the structure of the networks and by network protocols.

RSA

a public-key encryption system invented by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman.

RSI

Repetitive Stain Injuries. See ergonomics.

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search engine

A program that searches for informationon the World Wide Web using key words. Search engines may look only at document titles, headers, or URLs; others may conduct searches of the complete text (full text searches). See Web Crawler

Secure Sockets Layer -- (SSL)

A protocol from by Netscape Communications Corporation designed to give secure communications on the Internet. SSL operates below the HTTP,Telnet, FTP, and Gopher protocols. SSL is layered beneath applicationprotocols such as HTTP. Working above the TCP/IP protocols it "protects" the applications that are transmitted over TCP/IP connections. This secure transmission method is used by HTTPS.

Serial Line InternetProtocol

(SLIP) Software that allows the Internet Protocol (IP), to be used over a serial line connected to a modem. SLIP does not support error detection. SLIP connections need IP address configurations set before the connection is established. Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) can determine the address automatically after the connection is started.

serial number

A unique number or character string assigned to an item of equipment or to a copy of a software program.

server

1. A program which provides services requested by client programs. 2. A computer which provides services to other computers connected over anetwork.

SGML

Standard Generalized Markup Language.

shareware

Software that is distributed freely and for which users voluntarily pay a fee for its use. All users are ethically obligated to pay for shareware if it is used beyond the implied or implied evaluation period. See freeware software,public domain software, and commercial software.

simulation

A system that emulates, by computer, real mechanical or natural systems and then outputs the predicted results of real world conditions. Models that describe these conditions are used to develop simulation programs.

SLIP

Serial Line Internet Protocol. This communication works over asynchronous telephone lines. See also PPP

smiley

A simple character code used to convey expressions of feeling within text messages. Examples are :-) (happy) and :-( (sad). Another document with a more complete set of smiley codes may be available.

social domain

Any of the groupings into which social issues may classified: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, historical, ergonomic, medical/health, or psychological.

software

Computer programs. The programs may be stored in non-volatile circuits (e.g., ROM, read only memory) or in files of code on hard disk, floppy disk, or tapes.

Software programs are often classified as operating system, applications (productivity), utilities, or games. Software may be either the source code written by humans or the executable machine code produced by assemblers or compilers (from the source code).

Other classifications include freeware, shareware,

teletext

A communications system that broadcast test information by a television signal to receiving equipment equipped with software or chips that perform decoding.

text format

The placement of text in printed or displayed documents. Text formatting includes the setting of margins, typefaces, font sizes, text alignments (left, center, right, or justified), style, (bold, italic, underline, outline, shadowed), table construction, and the flow of text around images.

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format. SeeBMP, GIF, JPEG, PIC, PIX, and WPG.

training software

Computer programs that training, usually job related, e.g., how to perform tasks, about company procedures or policies. Training programs may also be used to teach basic knowledge and skills. They permit users to learn at a pace determined by the user, easy repetition of material, and some give information in response to answers or choices made by the users. See tutorial software and computer aided learning.

Transmission Control Protocol

(TCP) The common transport part of the protocol used on the Internet.

Trojan horse

A malicious program disguised to appear as something benign. See virus and worm.

TrueType

An outline font standard developed by Apple Computer, and embraced by Microsoft. A competitor to Adobe's popular PostScript.

Turing test

A test for deciding whether a computer is intelligent and proposed in 1950 by Alan Turing. Turing preferred to consider if machines can be intelligent as opposed to whether "Can machines think?" In a Turing test, human(s) converse in writing with an unseen person or machine. If the human(s) cannot distinguish between an unseen human and an unseen machine (computer) then the machine is said to have passed the test and is intelligent.

tutorial software

Computer programs that give instruction in how to use the software program or system that they support. These programs simulate the capabilities of the system. See training software and computer aided learning.

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UNIX

A widely used operating system, especially in servers and other non-personal computers. Although a technically excellent and powerful operating system, many UNIX commands are not easily understood by the uninitiated.

upload

The transfer files from one computer to another.

Uniform Resource Locator

See URL

URL

Uniform Resource Locator as used by the World Wide Web. Examples:

utility programs or software

Programs used to manage files or repair damaged files or to otherwise enhance the operations of computer system. As examples, utility programs are used to recover erased files, to organize files, to repair damaged files, or to detect and remove viruses. Utility software should be distinguished from applications programs.

Usenet

Users' Network. A distributed bulletin board system that has becomeinternational is the largest decentralized information utility in existence.

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vector graphics

A drawing method that uses shapes such as lines, polygons and text and groups of these objects to create a picture. The other primary method stores bitmaps of the image. The vector graphics advantages are that changes to one part of the picture does not change other parts, the parts are stored independently, and vector graphics are easily scaled without losing resolution.

Veronica -

Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives. It supports keyword searches of gopher menu titles in all gopher web sites. While Archie searches FTP archives, Veronica searches Gopher files. A Veronica search yields a menu of Gopher items. Veronica functions havebeen largely replaced by Web Search Engines on the World Wide Web.

Direct Veronica and Archie searching has been largely replaced on the World Wide Web with more sophisticated search engines.

video-conference

A conference in which the participants are at various locations and in which television type images and sounds are simultaneously exchanged among the participants. Each participants is able to hear and see the participants at each of the other sites. See tele-conference.

video-on-demand

A system that delivers compressed video files upon a request form a user. The file is then expanded and "played" on the users computer system. Video-on-demand requires high speed communications to deliver the large video files within an acceptable time.

virus

A program that "infects" other programs or files by embedding a copy of itself into the the target files. Viruses are propagated by trading programs. See worm and Trojanhorse.

virtual presence

The simulation of the presence of one or more persons in places or situations. The simulated condition may be from or at a remote location and may be facilitated over networks by telecommunications and tele-conferencing. Virtual presence also may be implemented in a single machine, e.g., from CR-ROM based programs and databases.

virtual reality

Computer simulation of 3-dimensional systems of sight, sound, or touch. These simulations are intended to give users of the impression or feelings of being present within the scenes or conditions being simulated.

voice recognition

1. An IT system in which the voices of individuals is recognized. Some systems use vice recognition as a security feature to permit access to the system.

2. An IT system that can respond to voice commands, often without regard to the person speaking.

voxel

Volume element. The smallest distinguishable part of a three-dimensional space. A voxel is identified by x, y and z coordinates or sometimes by its centre. See pixel

VR

Virtual reality. A system that simulates real situations and which participants sense sounds and images similar to real life conditions. Advanced and future systems can include sensations of touch and even odors.

VRAM

video random access memory.

Video Random Access Memory

VRAM. Fast memory to store images to be displayed on a computer's monitor.

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W3

1. World Wide Web.

2. A World Wide Web browser for Emacs computers.

WAIS

Wide Area Information Servers. An information retrieval system in which clients retrieve documents using keywords. The search results are ranks in order of the frequency of occurrences of the key words in the documents.

WAN

See wide area network.

Web

World Wide Web, see definition at World Wide Web.

Web Crawler

A specific search enginedeveloped by Brian Pinkerton at the University ofWashington. It is a freeware program that "roams" the World Wide Web and collects URLs. Users can then perform searches by entering keywords.

web page

A document on the World Wide Web. These documents are used with browsers to display text and images and to play sound, video, or animation programs. Web page files contain HTML codes to control the display and playing of their associated components.

web server

A computer program that receives and processes requests from clientbrowsers.

Web Search Engines

systems that search the World Wide Web, index document contents, and permit keyword or full text searches.

white space

Space without images or text in documents. White space may make printed or displayed documents more attractive or interesting.

Wide Area Information Servers

(WAIS) A distributed information retrieval system. Clients can search for key words in documents and read or download the documents.

Wide Area Network

A computer network larger than a local area network (LAN), serving more than one geographical location, e.g., several company sites, an entire state or country, several countries. Abbreviated WAN. See local area network.

windows, Windows

A method of presenting the output from computer programs in frames on a display monitor. Several operating systems support the use of windows. On computers using Intel^® processors (x86 and Pentium^®), Microsoft's Windows, Microsoft Windows^® 95^®, and Windows NT^® are the most popular systems using a windows environment. The word is capitalized when referring to one of the Windows bases systems of the Microsoft Corporation. On machines running under a UNIXoperating system, the windows system called "X" is the most common windows environment. The Macintosh^® operating system makes extensive use of windows. Many programs present information or forms within window frames.

widget

1. In graphical user interfaces, any of several graphic symbols or "tools" used to aid in communication or to collect data in forms. Widgets include: (a) check boxes in which more than one choices may be made, (b) a set of two or more radio buttons from which only one choice can be made, (c) selection lists from which either one or multiple selections may be made, (d) text entry areas for the entry for text or numbers, (e) scroll-bars on selection lists and test areas, and (f) and buttons for specific functions (next, previous, exit, cancel, process). Some systems also provide slide bars and similar representation of similar mechanical devices familiar in non-computer environments. GUI windows systems often provide a "standard" or commonly used set of widgets providing a consistent set of tools for computer users.

2. A word used to refer to real objects in examples.

wisdom

Knowing what is true, correct, proper, or fair. The application of common sense and good judgment. The sum of human learning through all times. See <AHREF="#data"data, <AHREF="knowledge"knowledge, and<AHREF="information"information

word processor

A program for creating documents for printing or display. Features include formatting, typeface and font selections. Most word processors include spell checking.

World Wide Web

(WWW, W3, The Web) An Internet client-server system of hypertextdocuments. The Web was introduced in 1991. By September 1993, theNSFNET transmitted 75 gigabytes per month of web documents. By July 1994 the traffic was one terabyte (10 raised the power of 36) per month.

workstation

A general-purpose computer designed to be used by one person at a time and offering higher performance than is normally found in a personal computer.

worm, WORM

1. A program that propagates itself over a network. See virus and Trojan horse.

2. Read Once Write Many. A type of disk drive and compact disk on which one can write only once but read many times.

WPG

An image file format. SeeBMP, GIF, JPEG, PIC, and PIX.

WWW

World Wide Web, see definition at World Wide Web

WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. A system that displays on a computer monitor a nearly exact representation of documents as they will appear in printed form.

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X

The name of a window system for displaying information on computer monitors. (The system is not correctly called "X Windows" or "X windows".)See windows Windows.

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Yahoo

1. A very large and popular hierarchical index of the World-Wide Web. It was originally located at Stanford University. Yahoo's World Wide Web URL is http://www.yahoo.com/ (you must be connected to the World Wide Web for this link to work).

2. A crude, unrefined, awkward, clumsy, or ungraceful person. (Not an IT term!.)

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zip

1. A file compression method and the compressed file format.

2. The file extension for filed compressed using the zip program.

3. The process of compressing and achieving files using PKWare's PKZIP or a compatible file compressing and archiving program.

Zip Drive

A disk drive for removable 3.5 inch floppy disks that can store approximately 100 megabytes of data.

Shashi Krishna © 2001. All rights reserved
HS Computer Science, Escuela Campo Alegre