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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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Alias: Think of it as your pen name for the Internet; a way to communicate with others. Your alias can either be based on your real name, or it can reflect your interests, your life choices, or even your personality. Your alias is what will show in the "from" line on email messages the others receive from you. It can also be used in chat rooms or when you want to email a business.
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B
BBS (Bulletin Board System): No pushpins or thumbtacks allowed, but a BBS lets you write and read messages sent by other people to a Web site. Most often, the boards are focused on a particular topic, so you can easily find a group of people who share your love for jogging, Julia Roberts or Ricky Martin.Sometimes you'll be asked to become a member of the Web site before your can read or write comments, but if you use your alias, you can still harbor your passions secretly.
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Backup: Just a way of being prepared in case anything goes wrong with your computer...and we all know stuff happens. The technologically savvy always take the information on their computer (the report you slaved over for three days, Microsoft Power Point presentations, etc) and copy it onto a storage device like a computer floppy disk or a zip drive. Then, if anything short of a nuclear disaster happens, you'll be sitting pretty with a copy of all your important information.
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Bit: These are the smallest units of information on a computer, sort of like the DNA cells that form living things. When the bits of information are grouped together, your computer knows what it's supposed to be doing. whether it's showing you a picture of a bright red rose, or displaying this fascinating glossary of terms. Trivia mavens note: bit is short for binary digit, literally meaning "two numbers."
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Bottleneck: If you've ever sat fuming on the expressway at 5 p.m., you're already well acquainted with this term. The same thing can happen on the information highway at peak hours, when many people are online at the same time (Sunday nights are often popular, for instance). But have patience... the backups may slow you down, but at least you'll never run out of gas.
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Broadband Transmission: A way to send voice, video and information over lines like telephone or cable. For folks on the Internet, it means faster speed and greatly improved video graphics.
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Browser: A browser is simply the software you use when surfing the Internet. Two popular Web site browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Everyone needs to use a browser in order to be able to navigate the World Wide Web.
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Byte: A byte is a unit of storage that gives your computer devices or disks the ability to remember information. To give you an idea of the amazing amount of information stored on bytes, chew on this: a disk holding 1.44 megabytes or 1.5 million bytes, can store 3,000 pages of information.
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C
Cache: Pronounced "cash", is a type of high-speed storage that helps you easily retrieve the information you use the most frequently. In the same way you might organize your desk at home-pens, paper, stapler in easy reach. Your computer holds the most recent data you have used in the closest memory slot. If you need it again, it's within quick reach. There are two types of caching commonly used in a computer: memory caching is when information is saved to the computer's hard drive and disk caching saves information to an external drive, like a floppy disk or CD-ROM.
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Capitalization: When you write an email message in all uppercase letters, people consider it to be SHOUTING! No one likes to be "yelled at" - so please, use those lower case letters.
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Carrier Service Provider: Being able to connect to the Internet from your computer requires wiring, much like being able to dial a phone, or turn on cable television. The companies that you "wired" are called carrier service providers. If you're signing onto the Internet from home, the carrier is most likely your local telephone or cable company.
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Cc: Taking a leaf from the olden days when copies were made with actual carbon paper, "cc" stands for carbon copy. If you're sending an email message to one person, but want others to see it as well, simply click on "cc" and add their addresses or alias. For times when "for your eyes only" applies, use "bcc" or "blind carbon copy". It can be a bit sneaky, but the original recipient won't know others are seeing the same memo - but they are!
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Chat: It helps to have nimble fingers if you want to chat on the Internet...You simply type notes back and forth with people who are receiving and responding to them instantly. And if you're really in the mood for a good discussion, try a chat room where you can talk with many people at the same time (see below).
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Chat room: Want to talk about election results, stock market swings or your toddler's 'terrible twos'' You'll find many places on the Internet, called chat rooms, where you can write back and forth instantly to people who share your interests.
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Coax ' (Coaxial cable): The type of wiring that lets you get MTV, A&E and USA'all your cable favorites. In many parts of the country, you can now get the Internet through cable wiring, too.
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Control Panel: This very important area of your computer allows you to change how your computer is organized and set up. If you like to use huge typefaces and pink letters, set it up through your Control Panel. You can personalize just about everything your computer does on the Control Panel, from printers, modems, and email, to the colors on your screen.
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CPU (Central Processing Unit): This is the brain of a computer, and it's usually contained in a metal box that sits next to or under your computer screen. Sometimes referred to simply as the 'processor,' the amount of memory and the speed of the computer are housed in the CPU.
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Cyberspace: You can't feel it, touch it, hear it or see it, but it's where the Internet lives. It's a very New Age metaphor for describing the non-physical place created by computer systems. Online systems create a cyberspace, for example, where people can write and respond to email and visit various Web sites.
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CD-ROM Drive: Like a CD player for your computer, these are essential for high-tech enjoyment, because they can read information, video and music. CD-ROMs hold much, much more information than standard 3.5-inch floppy disks. Most computers come with a CD-ROM drive already installed, or you can purchase it separately. The latest 'must have' accessory is an even more advanced type of disk drive, CDRW (CD Read and Write) that allows you to 'burn,' or record information directly on to the CD.
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DVD drive: Like the DVD players you may have seen in electronics stores, this 'drive' accepts disks that hold enough information to run a full-length movie on your computer. DVDs allow you to hold massive amounts of information. For example, an entire multi-media encyclopedia (including videos, pictures and text) can be contained on a single DVD.
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Desktop: Think of the Desktop as the first thing you see on your screen when your computer is up and running. It usually has pictures of all your favorite computer files and documents. In many ways, it's like the Table of Contents in a book ' and it shows the various types of information that are contained within your 'book.'
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Digital Camera: You can't get much more instant than this. Use a digital camera to take photos, store the images directly to a computer disk, and then print them right off of your computer with special photo imaging software. You can save the pictures on your computer too, and use them for party invitations, letters (or emails) to grandparents or for your family's Web site.
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Directory: A special kind of filing system that organizes your files and information. Think of your directory as a recipe box ' and the cards found in the box are your files.
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Discussion Groups: The fine art of conversation is thriving on the Internet, with discussion groups that allow people from all over the world to exchange ideas. Look in newsgroups or Web sites for topics ranging from architecture to zoology, and join in. See also 'chat rooms.'
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Disk Drive: Use the disk drives that come with your computer'you'll have at least one'to save and store information. It's a good way to keep information without having to store it on the computer itself, which tends to eat up memory. But you can also use a disk drive for just the opposite reason: to put additional information directly on your computer. For instance, you can buy a game on a floppy disk, use the disk drive to transfer it right onto the computer's hard drive, and presto'you no longer need the disk to play the game.
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Domain Name: Mastering your Internet domain is as easy as finding an address in the phone book. Typing in a domain name, or Internet address, is the way to reach a specific Web site location. For example, to reach the Microsoft Network Web site, you would type the address: http://www.sun.com/.
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Download: How do you save those interesting images, fascinating facts and exciting emails from friends on the Internet' You download them with just a few clicks of the mouse ' your Web browser will provide easy instructions.
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E
Email: The opposite of 'snail mail,' email or 'electronic mail' is the term used for sending and receiving messages on the Internet, as in 'I'll email you the recipe tomorrow.' It's also commonly used as a noun to refer to the place or mailbox on the Internet where your check your accounts, as in, 'I've got to go home and check my email.' Some Internet Service Providers and Web sites, like Hotmail (MSN.com) and Yahoo, offer free email accounts.
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Email Address: The address you use to send and receive email messages.
All email addresses share the same three parts, arranged like this:
- The name of your account, also called your "user name,' or 'email alias" followed by
- An "@" symbol, which stands for the word "at," followed by
- Your Internet Service Provider or network's name, which will end in a .com, .net or .org, depending on your service.
Example: John Doe, who signed up for email using Hotmail, on the Microsoft Network Internet service provider, would have the following address: JohnDoe@hotmail.com.
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Email Attachment: You can attach all sorts of information to your email messages, like a Word document or a picture. If someone sends you an attachment on an email, use your mouse to click on it twice to open it up.
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Emoticons: If you're bored with plain old text emails, try some of these for fun, or to show an emotion that's hard to express in words. Feeling happy' Type a colon, then a hyphen, then a right parenthesis ' everyone's smiling ':-)'. If you're down, type a colon, hyphen, and left parenthesis for ':-('. Here are some more 'e'motions you can share online:
:-) a smile
:-( a frown
:/ chagrin
:-p sticking out your tongue
;-) a wink
:-o scared
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F
FAQ: (Frequently Asked Questions): FAQs are often put on Web sites or in software to help answer common questions. They are a quick way to get answers, without having to refer to manuals or call support centers.
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Files: As you type documents and save them onto the computer or onto a disk, you're making a 'file.' Similar to paper files, you can save electronic files, delete them or go back and edit them at a later time.
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Filters: A program that sorts and weeds out what you're looking for ' or bans information from reaching you or others. For instance, if you type in key words to an Internet search engine, it will filter out the thousands of pieces of information available, and give you only what you asked for. Filters are also a way to keep your children safe on the Internet. Filtering technology allows you to set up certain restrictions on your computer ' so that your children can't access potentially harmful information that might be available on the Internet. In the same way, you can set up filters on your computer, so that emails containing potentially harmful information cannot be sent directly to you.
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Floppy disk: It's not really floppy, but rather a plastic 3.5-inch disk that stores information you want to keep. You can use these to create back-up copies of important files already stored on your computer. They're also handy to use on computers besides your own'just put the disk in that computer's floppy drive and then view the information you saved.
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Folders: On your computer, these are just like paper folders, only neater. You can make folders for specific documents ' like the wedding you're planning or your son's report on Antarctica ' and you can put all documents or files into it. You'll recognize folders on your computer screen represented by a photo of the real thing'a manila folder.
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G
Graphics: Just another term for pictures and illustrations. Many computers have sophisticated graphics capabilities that allow them to show pictures that are incredibly clear and lifelike.
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Group: Here's an easy way to communicate with groups of people on email. Let's say your daughter's soccer schedule has changed, and as head coach, you need to notify all the parents on the team. Create an email group of 'soccer moms' by entering all the parents' email addresses into a folder. Then type the new schedule, click on your 'soccer moms' email folder, and send your message to everyone at once.
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H
Hardware: Put down the tool chest'hardware just refers to the physical or 'hard' components of the computer, like the monitor, keyboard and 'guts,' which include the hard drive and other components.
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Hard drive: If you think of your PC as a desk, then the hard drive is the filing cabinets on the sides for storing files and tools. The larger your filing cabinets, the more you can store. On a computer, that's important, because the larger your hard drive, the more applications and programs you can operate and open at one time. The hard drive holds your operating system (like Windows 98) and your various applications (like Word or Excel).
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Home Page: Your home base on the Internet, it's the first screen you see when you go online. Usually it's the screen of your Internet service provider, such as MSN or AOL, but you can change your Home Page to any one of your favorite sites.
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Hosts/Clients: Although they won't be serving you appetizers and drinks, a host computer system is gracious enough to allow you to use its information from a remote location. The client, or the one who is being served, is a remote or second computer that is connected to the host computer. Think of the host computer like your brain, which sends information to the rest of your body (the client systems).
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HTML: (Hyper Text Markup Language): Designing web pages isn't easy'software engineers and programmers must learn and use this special computer language that translates to 'point-and-click' fun for users.
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I
Icons: When you see a scissors for 'cut' or a big blue 'W' for Microsoft Word, you're looking at an icon, or a picture that represents an action you can perform on your computer.
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Instant Messenger: You can have private, 'real-time' chats with friends across the globe with 'instant messaging'. The service lets you know immediately which of your friends are online and available to talk to you.
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Internet: A global network connecting millions of computers to exchange data, news and opinions. The World Wide Web, or the 'www' that usually precedes Internet addresses, is a specific system of servers on the Internet, not the entire Internet. You may often hear people say, 'I'm surfing the Net,' which simply means there're going from one location to another on the Internet ' and those locations are usually Web sites.
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Internet address: See 'Domain Name.'
Internet Service Provider (ISP): To get online, you need an Internet Service Provider, such as the Microsoft Network or America Online. Usually, for a monthly fee you can subscribe to these services, which give you access to the World Wide Web, email, chats and news.
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J
Joystick: Your 10-year-old son undoubtedly knows just how to operate the devices that control the movement of a specific symbol in a video or computer game, like the frogs in 'Frogger.' A joystick is a particular type of game device that can be attached to your computer to help you play a variety of fun games.
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K
Kbps: (Kilo Bits Per Second) Like miles per hour (mph), Kbps measures a modem's speed on the Internet. The higher the speed of your modem, the quicker you get information and responses from the Internet. The most common Internet speeds for home use are 28.8K or 56K (the 'bps' is usually dropped for convenience).
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Keyboard: You won't be making beautiful music with it, but you will be able to type information into your computer with a keyboard. They're usually attached by a wire connection to your CPU.
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Laptop: You've seen them on planes, trains and in automobiles'these small portable computers are a way to take your computer files and the Internet with you wherever you go. They can be used with a battery, or plugged into an electrical outlet for longer periods of time.
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M
Monitor: You're looking at it right now'it's the screen for your computer that allows you to see all your information.
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Mouse/Mice: You don't trap these creatures, but you may want to adopt them, because they're essential for using the computer. It's a small, non-furry device that sits next to your keyboard, and is usually connected with a wire to the back of your computer (some wireless options are also available). Slide it around on your desk to get the pointer on your screen to the right place. Click the button and the action begins.
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Modem: Another essential piece of equipment - it lets you connect your computer to the Internet. Most computers today come with modems already installed. You'll find them in a variety of speeds ' 28.8K or 56K are most common. The higher the number, the faster the modem will be able to download information from the Internet.
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Netiquette: Oh behave, even on the Internet. When you're in chat rooms or sending an email, keep it nice and civil. And remember, don't use all caps unless you want to be considered a screamer! (See Capitalization)
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Network: Any group of two or more technologies that are linked together form a network. Most offices have them so co-workers can easily share information with each other. But you can create a home network too, if you and your child have PCs in different rooms but want to share things like the printer, scanner or digital camera.
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Newsgroups: If you have a particular interest, chances are there's a newsgroup that covers it on the Internet. From WWII aficionados to bichon frise lovers, there's a newsgroup of others who share your passion, and you can post and view messages with this group. You'll need a special program to run on your computer that will connect you to these groups, and you'll also need to subscribe to a news server like USENET.
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O
Offline: If you're not connected to the Internet, you're 'offline,' and probably reading a good book.
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Online: When your computer is connected to the Internet, you are 'online' and you probably can't get off until you buy your week's groceries, send a load of emails, chat with 17 good friends and download the latest tunes.
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Operating System: It all starts here'every general-purpose computer must have an operating system in order to run. It's the nerve center of the computer, performing basic tasks such as recognizing things you type on the keyboard, remembering where you have your files and directories and opening and closing different programs. Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system.
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PC: It's very politically correct to call your personal computer a PC. The term was coined by IBM, inventor of the first personal computer, and eventually came to mean any type of computer that wasn't an Apple Macintosh (Mac). It's still very much a PC or Mac world.
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PIM (Personal Information Manager): So much information, so little time. Turn to the Personal Information Manager, a software application that organizes many bits and bytes of information for you. It can help keep your calendar up to date, schedule your appointments (with no double-booking!), or run the numbers, to keep track of bills, purchases, etc.
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POP (Point of Presence): Here's where you can save some nickels when using the Internet while away from home. All you have to do is dial in using one of the local telephone numbers provided by your Internet Service Provider in the city you're in ' no long-distance charges are applied. Whether you're in Bali or Boise, you'll only be charged for a local phone call.
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Ports: Ever notice the various holes and outlets on the sides and back of your computer' These 'ports' let you connect devices like printers, monitors or scanners to the computer, just like plugging a light into a socket.
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Portal: These are Web sites that let you enter the World Wide Web. They also provide services such as email, online chat forums, games and search engines. For instance, MSN is a portal to the World Wide Web.
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Printer: When you want an actual hard copy of what you see on the computer screen, you use a printer, which gives you an exact copy of anything you see, from a letter to a Web page. Printers are usually connected directly to your computer with a cable or wire.
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R
RAM: Random Access Memory
Think of this as the short-term memory of the computer. Until you save the information on your hard drive, it is temporarily housed in RAM.
Readme Files: Listen to their commanding name'these small text files contain late-breaking information about your new software that you'll find helpful. Be sure and read it before using the software.
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Registration: As the proud owner of brand new software, you'll want to register and make sure it can't be duplicated or 'pirated' by anyone else. Registered owners also receive software updates and new product information. Many new software programs will ask you to register during installation.
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S
Scanner: Take those great photos of the folks' 50th anniversary party, and email the pictures to family scattered around the globe by using this handy device. It reads and copies both pictures and text, and transfers the images to your computer.
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Screen Savers: Whether it's to serve as a high-tech guard to deter snoops from looking at your computer screen when you're not using it, or just have fun with whimsical pictures, screen savers are small programs that appear on your monitor when you don't type on your keyboard or use your mouse for a period of time. Some even diligently cover your screen until you enter your password.
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Scrolling: Move up, down, all around your program'you're scrolling. You can use the arrow keys, or click on an on-screen bar with your mouse to get around in your document quickly.
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Search Engines: Like a personalized reference librarian at your fingertips, these programs search the Internet for just the information you need. Type in a key word or words, like 'Asian long-horn beetle' and the search engine will sniff out an entire list of Web sites crawling with information about the creatures. You'll find search engines on Web sites like MSN.com or yahoo.com.
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Software: To play games, type a letter, use an encyclopedia, or hook up to the Internet, you need software, the knowledge that runs the computer. Some software will come with your computer, but you can buy more software and install it using a CD-ROM, floppy disk, DVD or by downloading it from the Internet.
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Sound Cards: This small device inside your computer gives you a complete audio experience. You'll clearly hear your favorite bands from popular music Web sites or every zap and bing while playing CD-ROM software games'just make sure you have some speakers!
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Spam: Like the junk mail you get at home, Spam is unwanted and unloved. It's junk mail, electronic style, just like the kind you get in your regular mailbox. But one word of warning: be careful when opening an email from an unknown person. It could have a virus that may damage your computer.
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Start Menu: You've got to start somewhere, and this is the place. Look for the start 'tab,' usually found at the bottom left of your screen. Click on it with your mouse to open documents, go online, access the Control Panel to change your computer settings, or shut it down for the night.
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System Requirements: An IQ test for the computer, it's the amount of 'brains' your computer needs to run specific software. Before you buy a new piece of software for a PC game, a financial management software package or photo editing software, look for the System Requirements on the package. Check the processor speed, memory and graphics capabilities needed. And if your computer isn't 'smart' enough, don't despair'you can buy upgrades for your computer's brains.
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T
Taskbar: You can trust this little bar to keep you on top of things. Usually found along the bottom of your computer screen, the taskbar shows you which software programs you've opened up and are using, and lets you go in and out of them with ease.
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U
UI/User Interface: When you open up a software program, you'll see many graphics, words and tabs that help you use it. That's the User Interface, created by software designers whose goal is to make their program easy to use.
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URL (Uniform Resource Locator): A domain name gets you to the Web site you want, but the URL is really the location of each specific page or file within Web sites. You'll notice, as you go deeper into Web sites, the Address box changes and adds a lot of words and slashes you didn't enter. Don't fear, that's just the URL that lets you find the box scores for today's big game.
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USB (Universal Serial Bus): A plug you can really use'USB is a port or socket that allows you to plug many different things ' like game controllers, printers and scanners ' into your computer. When you buy hardware accessories for your computer, it's good to get the ones that have a USB connection.
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User: Whether you've just started using the computer or have been an advanced programmer since 1985, you're the user. When you're tapping on the keyboard, wielding the mouse, scanning a photo or printing a report, you're the user!
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V
Virus: Flu season is year-round in computerland'a virus can be loaded onto your computer and run without your knowledge at any time. Some viruses come through unknown emails or attachments, so be careful. And just like the real thing, viruses can spread and destroy more files than just the one it entered, quickly using up all available memory. This will bring the computer to a complete halt, better known as a 'crash.' It's very important to regularly scan your computer for viruses and take action if you find one.
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Virtual: You would swear you're inside a spaceship, cruising at 60,000 miles per hour, or trekking through a hot, steamy jungle'but it's 'virtual reality,' a computer-created environment that's almost as good as the real thing.
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W
Webcams: Totally hot right now, Webcams allow you to record, view and send motion images through the Internet to your computer. With a Webcam, you can not only chat with friends at different locations, but see them too.
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Web site: These are locations on the World Wide Web, like http://www.kraffe.net/ or http://www.linux.com/. Each Web page contains a home page that is the first thing you see when you enter the site. Once there, you can explore the site by using the many documents, files and graphics contained there.
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Wireless: Cellular phones, headphones and pagers are all devices that move data from one electronic source to another, without using wires.
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Windows: Just a nickname for Microsoft Windows, an operating system.
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Word Document: Sure, all documents have words, but this refers to a document or file created using the word processing program, Microsoft Word.
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Word Processing: The program that's made everyone their own best secretary, it turns your computer into a state-of-the-art typewriter for creating, editing and printing documents. It's goof-proof'if you make a mistake, you can simply backspace to correct it, or cut and paste to move things around within the document. Many new computers come equipped with a word processing program like Microsoft Word.
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World Wide Web (WWW): The World Wide Web is a system that lets you go onto the Internet and 'surf' from Web site to Web site. Sometimes confused with the Internet, it's actually just one part of the Internet. In any case, you know you're on the World Wide Web whenever you see 'www.' in your Web browser's address box.
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X
XML: Short for (e)X(tensible) M(arkup) L(anguage), it's a language programmers use to design Web documents that you see on the Internet.
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Z
Zip File: Smaller is better when it comes to computer files, so compressing or 'zipping' is done when a file is too large to fit on a 3.5-inch floppy disk or to email someone'like those pictures from the family reunion. The solution: zip it up. Convert the file to a 'zip' or compressed file, which squeezes everything together so you can fit it onto a special disk or send it as a compressed document via email.
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Zip Drive:A zip drive is a special device that lets you use 'zip disks' ' an amazing disk somewhat thicker than a regular 3.5-inch floppy one, but that can store information equal to that contained on 75 of those disks.
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Zip programs: Those zip files are great, but you need a little help opening them. If you've ever received a 'zip file', you know it needs a special device to 'decompress.' A program like WinZip or EasyZip ' which you can purchase or download from the Internet ' will help you open zip files you received or compress large files you want to save or send to someone else.
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