AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port.
Applet: A small computer program written in the Java programming langauge.
Anonymous FTP: A way of using a file transfer program to log on to another computer to copy files.
Attachement: A computer file elecronically stapled to an E-mail message.
Baud Rate: The number of times a signal changes per second.
BIOS: Basic Inwards Outwards System.
Bit: The smallest measurable unit of data, 8 bits make 1 byte.
bps: The speed that data is transmitted bits per second.
Browser: A program that allows information on the World Wide Web to be accessed.
Bug: An error in the software being applied at the time.
Burned: Refers to a CD copy of another CD. The term burned comes from the way in which the data is written on the CD copy, burned in by laser.
Byte: A group of eight bits of information.
CDROM: Compact Disk Read Only Memory, the CD drive is sometimes called this as well.
Demon (daemon): A program that runs in the background that is timed to execute or to execute should a particular event happen.
DLL: Dynamic Link Library, this is a file extention used to identify drivers.
DMA: Direct Memory Access.
Domain: Part of the official name of a computer or a group of computers on a network.
Download: Copy a file from another source usualy a remote computer. you download files off the internet.
DPI: Dots Per Inch, graphics measurement the more dots per inch the higher the resolution.
Driver: An application program loaded on to the computer to operate (drive) a particular piece of hardware.
DVD: Digital Video Disc.
ECP: Enhanced Capabilities Port.
EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
EIDE: Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics.
EMF: Electro Magnetic Flux.
End User: Whoever buys an I.T. product for their use.
End User Agreement: the conditions an end user agrees to when purchasing or acquiring software. the conditions drawn up by the manufacturer of the product.
EPP: Enhanced Parallel Port.
ESCD: Extended System Configuration Data.
Fatal Exception Error: Fatal Exception Errors are codes that are returned by a program if access to an illegal instruction is encountered, invalid data or code has been accessed or the privilege level of an operation is invalid.
FAQ: This is seen on web pages and some technical documents it means Frequently Asked Questions.
Floating Point: Floating point representation is the most common solution used to represent numbers in a computer. It represents real numbers in scientific notation. Scientific notation represents numbers as a base number and an exponent. For example, 123.456 could be represented as 1.23456 x 102. In hexadecimal, the number 123.abc might be represented as 1.23abc x 162. Floating-point representation - the most common solution - basically represents reals in scientific notation. Scientific notation represents numbers as a base number and an exponent. For example, 123.456 could be represented as 1.23456 x 102. In hexadecimal, the number 123.abc might be represented as 1.23abc x 162.
FTP: File Transfer Protocol.
Hardware: Physical components of a computer.
Help Desk: A service provided by most I.T. companies and manufacturers to provide product support and troubleshooting for the user.
Host: A computer providing a service on a network.
HTML: Hyper Text Mark-up Language. Format in which web pages are written in.
Http: Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
IDE: Integrated Device Electronics.
Invalid Page Fault: An error that occurs when the operating system can not find the data called for. This usually happens when the virtual memory area or the table that maps virtual memory addresses to real addresses becomes corrupt.
ISP: Internet Service Provider, sometimes shortened to "server"
I.T.: Information Technology.
LPT: Line Printer Terminal, commonly called local printer port.
Mail Server: A computer in the Internet that provides E-mail services.
Modem: A device that changes digital signals to analogue for phone transmission and vice versa. Modem is derived from Modulate/Demodulate.
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer.
OLE: Object Linking and Embedding.
Operand: In computer expressions operands are the objects. Operands are the objects that are manipulated and operators are the symbols that represent specific actions. For example, in the expression 5 + x, x and 5 are operands and + is an operator. All expressions have at least one operand.
Operator: In computer expressions operators are the manipulate objects. Operators are the symbols that represent specific actions. For example, in the expression 5 + x, x and 5 are operands and + is an operator.
OS or Operating System: The software that makes the computer work
Page Fault: An interrupt that occurs when a program requests data that is not currently in virtual memory.
PnP: Plug and Play. An application that makes it easier to install computer hardware.
RAM: Random Access Memory, also known as read/write memory.
ROM: Read Only Memory.
SCSI: Small Computer Systems Interface.
Software: The data, programs and applications that a computer uses to work.
SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
STP: Shielded Twisted Pair cable.
SVGA: Super Video Graphics Adaptor.
Upload: Send a file to a remote location (opposite of download).
User: Anyone that uses a computer.
UTP: Unshielded Twisted Pair cable.
VGA: Video Graphics Array.
URL: Uniform Resource Locator.
VXD: In Windows Systems, it is a special type of device driver that has direct access to the operating system kernel. This allows them to interact with system and hardware resources at a very low level.
WAIT: A time-out period during which a CPU or bus lies idle. Wait states are sometimes required because different components function at different clock speeds.
Web Server: A computer that provides storage for web pages.
