A
Allocation Unit - See Cluster

B
Banner - (banner ad) advertisement placed on a web site either above, below, or on the sides of the web's main content.  It is typically linked to the advertiser's own web site.
Banyan - see Vines
Bitmap - A binary representation in which a bit or set of bits corresponds to some part of an object such as an image or font.  A Bitmap is usually associated with graphics objects.
Browser - A program that lets you look through a set of data.  For example, a Web Browser is a program that allows users to "surf" the web and access various web sites.
Byte - BinarY TablE - The common unit of computer storage from micro to mainframe.  It is made up of eight binary digits called bits.  It sometimes includes a ninth or parity bit.  A byte holds the equivalent of a single character, such as the letter "A".
Return to Top of Page

C
CAN - Campus Area Network - A LAN that is confined to a campus.
Clip Art - Professional quality artwork that is commercially available in libraries of several hundred or more images.
Cluster - Also called an "allocation unit," it is some number of disk sectors that are treated as a unit. This is the smallest unit of storage the operating system can  manage. For example, on a PC with a 200MB hard disk, the smallest cluster is eight sectors (8 x 512 bytes) or 4K. On a 2GB disk, the cluster is 32K. That means a 1K file takes up 32K on the disk, wasting an inordinate amount of space. In mid 1996, the Windows 95 that came with new PCs (Win95B)
 introduced the FAT32 32-bit file allocation table which decreased the cluster size to 4K.
CD-ROM -  Compact Disc, Read-only-memory - adaptation of the CD that is designed to store computer data in the form of text, graphics, etc.
CD-R - Compact Disc, recordable - type of write once, read many compact disc format that allows one-time recording on a disc.
CD-RW - Compact Disc, rewriteable - format that allows repeated recording on a disc.
Compact Disc (CD) - A CD is a polycarbonate with one or more metl layers capable of storing digital information.  It is a small, portable, round medium made of molded polymer for electronically recording, storing, and playing back audio.  The most prevalent types of compact discs are those used by the music industry to store digital recordings.  CD-ROMS are used to store computer data.
Cookie - A message given to a web browser by a web server, and placed on your hard drive.  The browser stores the message in a text file.  The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.  The main purpose of a cookie is to identify users and possibly prepare customized pages for them.  Web users may configure their browser to accept all cookies, prompt first, or refuse all cookies.

Return to Top of Page

D
Desktop - (1) An on-screen representation of a desktop such as used in the Macintosh
                  and Windows.
                  (2) A buzzword attached to applications traditionally performed on more
                  expensive machines that are converted to a personal computer (desktop
                  publishing, desktop mapping, etc.).
                  (3) Short for desktop computer.
Directory  (1) A simulated file folder on disk. Programs and data for each application are
                  typically kept in a separate directory (spreadsheets, word processing, etc.).
                  Directories create the illusion of compartments, but are actually indexes to the
                  files which may be scattered all over the disk. UNIX and DOS use the term
                  directory, while the Mac and Windows use the term "folder."
                  (2) A database of users, hardware devices and applications in a network. See
                  DSML, directory service and metadirectory.
Disk Drive - A peripheral storage device that holds, spins, reads and writes magnetic or optical disks.
Diskette - Reusable magnetic storage medium.  Sometimes called a "floppy", the diskette is a flexible circle of magnetic material smimilar to magnetic tape, except that both surfaces are used for recording.  The drive grabs the diskette center and spins it inside its housing.  The read/write head contacts the surface through an opening in the plastic shell or envelope.  Diskettes spin at approximately 300 rpm, which is from 10 to 30 times slower than a hard disk.
DVD -  Digital Versatile Disc - an optical disc technology upgrade phasing out CD-ROM.  DVD holds 4.7 GB of information on one of its two sides.  With 2 layers on each of its two sides, it will hold up to 17GB of video, audio, or other information.

E
Email - (Electronic-MAIL) The transmission of memos and messages over a network. Within an enterprise, users can send mail to a single recipient or
broadcast it to multiple users. With multitasking workstations, mail can be delivered and announced while the user is working in an application.
Otherwise, mail is sent to a simulated mailbox in the network server or host computer, which must be interrogated.
An e-mail system requires a messaging system, which provides the store and forward capability, and a mail program that provides the user interface
with send and receive functions.
The Internet revolutionized e-mail by turning countless incompatible islands into one global system. The Internet initially served its own members, of
course, but then began to act as a mail gateway between the major online services. It then became "the" messaging system for the planet. By 1998,
Internet mail exceeded three trillion messages in the U.S
Return to Top of Page

F
Firewall - A method for keeping a network secure. It can be implemented in a single router that filters out unwanted packets, or it may use a combination of
technologies in routers and hosts. Firewalls are widely used to give users access to the Internet in a secure fashion as well as to separate a
company's public Web server from its internal network. They are also used to keep internal network segments secure.
Folder - In a graphical user interface (GUI), a simulated file folder that holds data, applications and other folders. Folders were introduced on the Xerox Star,
then popularized on the Macintosh and later adapted to Windows and UNIX. In DOS and Windows 3.1, a folder is known as a directory, and a
subfolder (folder within a folder) is a subdirectory.    Windows Folders:  Folders on the hard disk are pictured as manilla file folders, but they are not fixed in size and can hold as much data as there is room on the entire disk.
Font - A set of type characters of a particular typeface design and size.  Normally, each type face (ie Times Roman, Arial, etc) is available in four variations: normal weight, bold, italic, and bold italic.
Format - The structure, or layout, of an item.
Screen formats are the layout of fields on the screen.
Report formats are the columns, headers and footers on a page.
Record formats are the fields within a record.
File formats are the structure of data and program files, word processing documents and graphics files (vectors and bitmaps) with all their proprietary
headers and codes.

G
Gigabyte -  One billion bytes.  Also seen as GB.

H
Hard Drive - The mechanism that reads and writes a hard disk. The terms hard drive and hard disk are used interchangeably.  It is a user's local drive.
Return to Top of Page

I
IP address -(Internet Protocol address) The address of a computer attached to a TCP/IP network. Every client and server station must have a unique IP address. Client workstations have either a permanent address or one that is dynamically assigned to them each dial-up session. IP addresses are written as four sets of  numbers separated by periods; for example, 204.171.64.2.
The TCP/IP packet uses 32 bits to contain the IP address, which is made up of a network and host address (netid and hostid). The more bits used for network
address, the fewer remain for hosts. Certain high-order bits identify class types and some numbers are reserved. The following table shows how the bits are  divided. The Class Number is the decimal value of the high-order eight bits,  which identifies the class type.
Return to Top of Page

J
Job Queue -    The lineup of programs ready to be executed.
JPEG - (Joint Photographic Experts Group) Pronounced "jay-peg." An ISO/ITU standard for compressing still images that is becoming very popular due to its high compression capability. Using discrete cosine transform, it provides lossy compression (you lose some data from the original image) with ratios
up to 100:1 and higher.It depends on the image, but ratios of 10:1 to 20:1 may provide little noticeable loss. The more the loss can be tolerated, the more the image can be compressed. Compression is achieved by dividing the picture into tiny pixel blocks, which are halved over and over until the ratio is achieved.
JPEG is implemented in software and hardware, with the latter providing sufficient speed for realtime, on-the-fly compression. C-Cube Microsystems
introduced the first JPEG chip. JPEG++ is an extension to JPEG from Storm Technology, Mountain View, CA, that allows picture areas to be selectable for different ratios. For example, the background could be compressed higher than the foreground image.
JPEG uses the JPEG File Interchange Format, or JFIF. File extensions are .JPG or .JFF. M-JPEG and MPEG are variations of JPEG used for
full-motion digital video.
Junk e-mail -   Transmitting e-mail to unsolicited recipients. U.S. federal law 47USC227  prohibits broadcasting junk faxes and e-mail, allowing recipients to sue the sender in Small Claims Court for $500 per copy.  When you request to be removed from an advertising mailing list, make a note of the date of that request.  This is useful information when weeding the honorable mailing lists from the spammers and con artists.
Justification - When typing, justification is the alignment of text evenly between left and right margins.

K
Kernel -  The fundamental part of a program, typically an operating system, that resides in memory at all times and provides the basic services. It is the part of
the operating system that is closest to the machine and may activate the hardware directly or interface to another software layer that drives the
hardware.
Kerning - In proportional spacing, the tightening of space between letters to create a visually appealing flow to the text. Letter combinations, such as WA, MW and TA, are routinely kerned for better appearance

KIOSK - Fully contained computer terminals that allow user interaction without accessing the system software. KIOSK often provide publich service information and directories

Return to Top of Page

L
LAN - (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system and a communications link.  Normally, a LAN becomes a WAN when it crosses a public carrier.   See WAN.
Logic Bomb  A program routine that destroys data on a PC.  For example, it may reformat the hard disk or insert random bits into data files. It may be brought into a personal computer by downloading a corrupt public-domain program. Once executed, it does its damage right away, whereas a virus keeps on destroying.
Return to Top of Page

M
Modem -   (MOdulator-DEModulator) A device that adapts a terminal or computer to an  analog telephone line by converting digital pulses to audio frequencies and vice versa. The term usually refers to 56 Kbps modems (V.90), the current top  speed, or to older 28.8 Kbps modems (V.34). The term may also refer to  higher-speed cable or DSL modems or to ISDN terminal adapters, which are all digital and technically not modems. See ISDN terminal adapter.
A modem is an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter. It also dials the line, answers the call and controls transmission speed. Modems have evolved at 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, 14400, 28800, 33300 and 56000 Kbps. Whatever the top speed, some number of lower speeds are always supported so the modem can accomodate earlier modems or negotiate downward on noisy lines.

Malware - Derived by combining the words malicious and software

Mpg / MPEG- Moving Picture Experts Group - common video format file extension

N
Network - A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data between users.  it includes the cables and all supporting hardware such as bridges, routers and switches.  See also LAN, WAN, and CAN.
Network Drive - A drive located on a server and available across the network.  To access a network drive, a user must be logged into that network.  If the network is unavailable, the network drive is unavailable.
network operating system - Also called a "NOS," it is an operating system that manages network resources. It manages multiple requests (inputs) concurrently and provides the security necessary in a multiuser environment. One piece of the network operating system resides in each client machine and another resides in each server. It allows the remote drives on the server to be accessed as if they were local drives on the client machine. It allows the server to handle requests from the client to share files and applications as well as network devices such as printers, faxes and modems.
Return to Top of Page

O
OS or Operating System -  The master control program that runs the computer. It is the first program  loaded when the computer is turned on, and its main part, called the "kernel," resides in memory at all times. It may be developed by the vendor of the computer it's running in or by a third party.
It is an important component of the computer system, because it sets the standards for the application programs that run in it. All programs must "talk to" the operating system.  Examples are Windows 9x and  IBM OS2

P
Portal - See Web Portal
Print Queue -     The lineup of items ready to be printed.

Phishing -    A disquised email, often appearing to come from a bank or trusted source, attempting to trick a user into revealing login or confidential information

Q
Queue - Pronounced "Q." A temporary holding place for data.
Return to Top of Page

R
RAM - (Random Access Memory) A group of memory chips, typically of the dynamic RAM (DRAM) type, which functions as the computer's primary
workspace. See memory and computer for an explanation of how memory is used in processing data.  The "random" in RAM means that the contents of each byte can be directly accessed without regard to the bytes before or after it. This is also true of other types of memory chips, including ROMs and PROMs. However, unlike ROMs and PROMs, RAM chips require power to maintain their content, which is why you must save your data onto disk before you turn the computer off.
Return to Top of Page

S
Screen Saver - A utility that prevents a monitor from being "burned" or damaged by an unchanging image.  After a specified duration (it should not be less than 20 minutes) without keyboard or mouse activity, the screen saver utility will launch into either a blank screen or a preset video display.  Pressing any key on the keyboard or moving the mouse  restores the screen.  Screen savers have become very popular due to their entertainment value.  Before deploying a screen saver that is not part of the PC OS, contact ITS.  Some screen savers can degrade system performance and waste valuable PC resources.
Server - A computer in a network shared by multiple users.   The term may refere to both the hardware and the software, or just the software that performs the service.
Spam -      The process of  sending  copies of the same message to large numbers of newsgroups or users on the Internet. People spam the Internet to advertise products as well as to broadcast some political or social commentary.
Return to Top of Page

T
TCP/IP - (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) A Communications protocol developed for the US Dept. of Defense to network different types of networking systems.  TCP provides transport functions, which ensures the total amount of bytes sent is received by the intended recipient.  UDP is also part of the TCP/IP suite.  This is a routable protocol and the IP part of the stack provides routing. TCP/IP requires and IP address.  In order to access the internet, you must have this protocol stack installed.
Trojan horse - A program that appears legitimate, but performs some illicit activity when it is run. It may be used to locate password information or make the
system more vulnerable to future entry or simply destroy programs or data on the hard disk. A Trojan horse is similar to a virus, except that it does
not replicate itself. It stays in the computer,  doing its damage or allowing somebody from a remote site to take control of the computer. Trojans often
sneak in attached to a free game or other utility.
Return to Top of Page

U
UPS - (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Backup power used when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level. Small UPS systems
provide battery power for a few minutes; enough to power down the computer in an orderly manner.
A surge protector filters out surges and spikes, and a voltage regulator maintains uniform voltage during a brownout, but a UPS keeps a computer
running when there is no electrical power. UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation.
URL -(Uniform Resource Locator) The address that defines the route to a file on the Web or any other Internet facility. URLs are typed into the browser to
access Web pages, and URLs are embedded within the pages themselves to provide the hypertext links to other pages.  The URL contains the protocol prefix, port number, domain name, subdirectory names and file name. Port addresses are generally defaults and are rarely specified. To access a home page on a Web site, only the protocol and domain name are required.
User - Any individual who interacts with the computer at an application level. Programmers, operators and other technical personnel are not considered
users when working in a professional capacity on the computer.  Users are responsible for performing backups of their local drives.
V
Victim - A user who does not exercise due diligence in performing system backups and/or preventing virus infection.
Vines - (VIrtual NEtworking System) - A Network Operating System from Banyan Systems, Inc.  It runs on DOS and OS/2 based servers.  It provides internetworking of PC's, minis, mainframes, and other computer resources.
Virus - Software used to infect a computer.  After the virus code is written by some sick, twisted individual, it is buried within an existing program.  Once the program is executed, the virus code is activated and proceeds to perform its treachery.  File attachments in email messages are a very common way to transport a virus to a large number of victims in a short time.  Always exercise caution and follow defined company policy for virus scanning and email security.
Return to Top of Page

W
WAN  -  (Wide Area Network) A communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as state or country. A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex, and a MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb.
Web Portal - Commonly referred to as a portal, this is a web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as email, forums, search engines, etc.  A portal is commonly synonymous with a gateway for World Wide Web site(s).   It is a major starting point for users visiting the site.
Worm

(1) A destructive program that replicates itself throughout disk and memory, using up the computers resources and eventually putting the system
down.
(2) A program that moves through a network and deposits information at each node for diagnostic purposes or causes idle computers to share some
of the processing workload.
(3) (WORM) (Write Once Read Many) An optical disk that can be recorded only once. Updating requires destroying the existing data (all 0s made
1s), and writing new data to an unused part of the disk.
Return to Top of Page