Glossary of Computer terms-Part 2

first part HERE

gigabyte(GB)

1024 megabytes.also called gig.

glitch

The cause of an nexpected malfunction

Gopher

an Internet search tool that allows users to  acess textual information through a series of menus,or if using FTP,through downloads.

GUI

Graphical User Interface.A system that simplifies selecting computer command

s by enabling the user to point to symbols or illustrations(called icons)on the computer screen with a mouse.

groupware

Software that allows networked individuals to form groups and collaborate on documents,programs or databases.

havker

a person with technical expertise who experiments with computer systems to determi8ne how to develop additional features.Hackers are occasionally requested by system adminstrations t otry and "break into" systems via a network to test security.The term hacker is osmetimes incorrectly used interchangeably with cracker.A hacker is called a "white hat"and a cracker a "black hat".

hard copy

A paper printout of what you have prepared on the computer.

hard drive

Another name for the hard disc that stores information in a computer.

hardware

The physical and mechanical components of a computer system,such as the electronic circuitry,chips,monitor,disks,disk drives,keyboard,modem and printer.

home page

The main page of a web site used to greet visiters,provide information about the site,or to direct the viewer to other pages on the site.

HTML

Hyper Text Markup Languge.A standardof text markup conventions used for documens on the World Wide Web.Browsers interpret the codes to give the text structure and formattinhg(such as bold,blue or italic).

HTTP

Hypertext Transer Protocol.A common system used to request and send HTML documents on the World Wide Web.It is the first portion of all URL addresses on the World Wide Web.(eg,http://www.whitehouse.gov)

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.Often used in intracompany internet sites.Passwords are required to gain access.

hyperlink

Text or an image that is connected by hypertext coding to a different location.By selecting the tect or image with a mouse,the computer "jumps to"(or displays)the linked text.

hypermedia

Integreates audio,graphics and or video through links embedded in the program.

hypertext

A system for organizing text through links as opposed to  a menu driven hierarchy such as Gopher.Most web pages include hypertext links to other pages at that site or to other sites on the World Wide Web.

icons

Symbols or illustrations appearing on the computer screen that indicate program files or other computer functions.

input

Data that goes into a computer device.

input device

A device,such as a keyboard,syles and table,mouse,puck or michrophone that allows input of information(letters,numbers,sound,video)to a computer.

instant messenging(IM)

A chat application that allows two or more people to communicate over the internet via real time keyed in messages.

interface

The  interconnections that allows a device,a program or a person to interact.Hardware interfaces are the cables that connect the device to its power source and to other devices.Software interfaces allow the program to communicate wit hother programs(such as the operating system),and user interfaces allow the user to communicae with the program(eg.via mouse,menu commands,icons,voicecommands,etc..)

Internet

An international conglomeration of interconnected computer networks.Begun in the late 1960s,it was developed in the 1997s t oallow government and university researchers to share information.The internet is not controlled by any single group or organization.Its original focus was research and communications,but it continues to expand,offering a wide array of resources for business and home users.

IP(Internet Protocol)

An Internet Protocol address is a unique set of numbers used t olocate another computer on a network.The format of an IP address is a 32-bit string of four numbers seperated by periods.Each number can be from 0 to 255(eg:1.154.10.240).Within a closed network IP addresses may be assigned at random,however,IP addresses of Equal to 1024 bytes.

JAVA

An object oriented progamming language designed specifically for programs(particularly multimedia)to be used over the internet.Java allows programmers to create small programms or applications(applets)to enhance Web sites.

Javascript/ECMA script

A programming language used almost exclusively to manipulate content on a web page.Common Javascript functions include validationg forms on a web pages,creating dynamic page navigation menus and image rollovers.

kilobytes

1024 bytes.

link

see hyperlink.

Linux

A UNIX-like,open-source operating system developed primarily by Linux Torvalds.Linux is free and runs on many platforms,including both PCs ans Macintoshes.Linux is an open-source operating system,meaning that the source code of the operating system is freely available to the public.Programmers may redistribute and modify the code,as long as they don;t collect royalties on their worl or deny access t otheir code.Since development is not restricted to a single corporation more programmers can debug improve the source code faster.

laptop and notebook

Small,lightweight,portable battery-powered computers that can fit onto your lap.They each have a thin,flat,liquid crystal display screen.

macro

A script that operates a series of commands to perform a function.It is set up to automate repetitive tasks.

Mac OS

An operating system with a graphical user interface,developed by Apple for Macintosh computers.(Current System "X.1"(10) combines the traditional Mac interface with a strong underlying UNIX operating system for increased performance and stability.

megabyte(MB)

Equal to 1,048,576 bytes,usually rounded off to one million bytes(also called a "meg").

memory

Temporary storage for information,including applications and documents.The information must be stored to a permanent device,such as a hard disc or CD-ROM before the power is turned off,or the information will be lost.Computer memory is measured in terms of the amount of information it can store,commonly in megabytes or gigabytes.

menu

A context -related list of options that users can choose from.

menu bar

The horizontal strip across the top of an application's window.Each word on the strip has a context sensitive drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for the application in use.

merge

To combine two or more files into a single file.

MHz

An abbreviation for Megahertz,or one million hertz.One MHz represents one million clock cycles per second and is the measure of a computer microprocessor's speed.For example,a microprocessor that runs at 300 MHz executes 300 millions cycles per second.Each instruction a computer receives takes a fixed number of clock cycles to carry out,therefore the more cycles a computer can execute per second,the faster its programs run.Megahertz is also a unit of measure for bandwidth.

microprocessor

A computer central processing unit(CPU)contained on a single silicon chip.

minimize

A term used in a GUI operating system that uses windows.It refers to reducing a window to an icon,or a lable at the bottom of the screen,allowing another window to be viewed.

modem

A device that connects two computers together over a telephone or cable line by converting the computer's data into an audio signal.Modem is a contraction for the process it performs:modulate-demodulate

monitor

A video display terminal

mouse

A small hand-held device,similar to a trackball,used to control he position of the cursor on the video display;movements of the mouse on a desktop correspond to movements of the cursor on the screen

MP3

Compact audio and video fiel format.The small size of the files makes them easy to download and e-mail.Format used in portable playback device.

multimedia

Software programs that combine text and graphics with sound,video and animation.A multimedia PC contains the hardware to support these capabilities.

MS-DOS

An early operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation(Microsoft Disc Operating System)

network

A system of interconnected computers.

open source

Computer programs whose original source code was reveaqled to the general public sothat it could be developed opnely.software licensed as open source can be freely changed or adapted to new uses,meaning that the source code of the operating system ids freely available to the public.Programmers may redistribute and modify the code,as long as they don't collect royalties on their owrk or deny access t otheir code.Since development is not restricted t o a single corporation more programmers can debug and improve the cource code faster.

operating syste

A set of instructions that tell a computer on how to operate when it is turned on.It sets up a filing system to store files and tells the computer how t o display information on a video display.Most PC operating systems are DOS(disc operating system)systemsa,meaning the instructions are stored on a disc(as opposed to being originally stored in the microprocessors in the computer).Other well-known operating systems include UNIX,Linux,Machintosh and Windows.

output 

Data that come out of a computer device.For example,information displayed on the monitor,sound from the speakers and information printed to paper.