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Computer Terms
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Access Point (AP) - A device designed to plug into a network jack and share that connection via wireless communication. To an extent it can act like a hub for computers equipped with wireless equipment. (see hub)
Account - Access given to a user on a particular computer or server. It usually involves the user having their own login and password.
Administrator - Person in charge of computer or network systems. This person has a very high level of knowledge and has an extremely high access level. They are usually the "owner" of a server or computer network. In most cases, they also control the amount of access others, including power users and users, receive.
AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port. This is the video expansion port most commonly found in newer computers. It is specially designed to work only with AGP designated video cards (beware, there are also PCI video cards that are slower and will not fit in the AGP slot). The AGP design allows for more powerful video processing, this is most useful with graphic design and video games.
AMD - Advanced MicroDevices. Large computer chip maker, produces the Athlon and Duron processor lines.
Apple - Computer maker. First to mass market the window-based operating system. Currently produces computers that run on the MacOS.
ASCII - American Standard Code for Informantion Interchange. A standard for electronic characters. These are considered very basic, non-font characters.
Athlon Processor - Computer processor created by AMD, nearly identical in power and performance to the Intel Pentium line. Currently Athlons are available in XP (32 bit) and 64 bit versions.
Backbone - Main line in the network. This is the line that carries information to the different areas of campus where it is then distributed to the correct computer(s) or network devices.
Baud - Measurement of the transmission speed of a modem.
BIOS - Basic Input Output System. This is the startup system built into every computer. Before your operating system loads, the BIOS is locating your drives and preparing the computer for use.
Bit - Basic building block of data. It takes 8 bits to create a byte of data. In computer storage, measurements are taken in multiples of 8 because of this. It is also used as the basis for network speed measurements.
Bluetooth - Short-range wireless communications, usually used by some mobile and cellular phones and PDAs.
Bridge - A communications device that connects two or more networks and can function as routers. They do not require IP addresses and will pass broadcast traffic.
Broadband - High speed internet access that will allow the user the option to use multiple services such as voice, data, video, etc... Broadband services would be DSL, Cable Modem, Frame Relay, etc.. Low bandwidth services would include modems.
Browser - A program that can be used to surf the web. Examples are Internet Explorer, Netscape, and FireFox.
Burn - A slang term used to denote recording to CDs or DVDs. Example: I burned a CD last night.
Bus - A component of the computer that carries data from one place to the other. Faster bus speeds often mean a more efficient computer.
Byte- A unit of measurement utilized to determine data size. One byte will typically hold one character of data. (also see kilobyte, megabyte, and gigabyte)
Cable Modem - 1) A high speed internet service provided over existing cable TV lines 2) The device required to access high speed access on the cable lines - usually available from the internet service provider.
Cache (pronounced "cash") - High speed memory your computer uses to store information it plans to use often.
CAT 5 or 6 Cable - Category 5 or 6 Cable. This is a designation for cable to let the technician know the cable's capabilities. Cat 5 network cable is capable of transmitting 10 - 100 Mbps (megabits per second). Cat 6 cable is capable of transmitting 1 Gbps (gigabit per second).
Case - Also referred to as a computer case, a shell, or a box. This is the external housing where most computer components including the motherboard, CPU, and drives, are installed. While the sides of a case are often metal, the front (and sometimes sides) often tend to be made of plastic.
Celeron Processor - The budget priced computer processor offering from Intel. These processors are basically the same as the Pentium line with a little less onboard memory. Their target audience are office suite and business users.
CD-ROM - Compact Disc - Read Only Memory. A generic term that refers to any drive on your computer that has the ability to read CD's. There are enhanced versions that will also let you write to recordable CDs
CD-R discs - Compact Disc - Recordable. These discs can only be written to once by either a CD-R or CD-RW recorder.
CD-R drive - Compact Disc - Recordable. This is a drive designed to write to recordable CD's (CDR's). This drive can NOT write to CD-RW discs.
CD-RW discs - Compact Disc - ReWritable. These discs can be written to and erased multiple times by a CD-RW recorder. They can NOT be usedby the older CD-R recorders.
CD-RW drives - Compact Disc - ReWritable. These are drives that have the ability to record to both CD-R or CD-RW discs.
CGI - Common Gateway Interface. A protocol used to pull information from a browser and insert it into a custom program and return the result. This is often used in online databases.
Client - Program or device that requests information or services from a master program or server.
Codec - Compression/Decompression. Small piece of software that tells your media player how to use an audio or video type. A common example is the MPEG 2 codec that is needed to watch DVD video on a personal computer.
COM Port - The name DOS uses to refer to your computer's serial ports.
Compact Flash - A type of memory card roughly 1/3 the size of a PCMCIA card, they are commonly used in digital cameras and other portable digital devices. They can store up to 128MB of information.
Compile - To convert human-language source code into machine code the computer can read. When a program is compiled, an executable file (usually a .exe) is created.
Compression - A generic term used to refer to any method that attempts to shrink down the size of data, with or without quality loss. It is commonly used in image and video formats. It can also be used in file formats such as .zip, .arj. and .rar.
Condition - 1) To take in raw material and process it in a way as to create something useable. Example: Condition electricity so that it is even and does not have power spikes. 2) A requirement that needs to be met for a computer to perform a specific task.
CPU - Central Processing Unit. This is the "brains" of your computer. Every calculation a program needs or every request or mouse movement you make is done through the CPU. The term CPU is also used to refer to the main computer unit without monitor, keyboard, or mouse (this is also sometimes called a box).
Crack - To defeat protective security measures. To break into. (Example: He cracked the code)
Cracker - Someone who works to crack encryption or other security measures. Usually for illegal purposes.
Crash - A term that refers to a computer failure or malfunction. Often when the operating system has a problem and displays an error, it is referred to as a "crash".
Cross-over Cable - A cable that has been specially wired to connect two networkable PC's together without the use of a switch or hub.
CRT - Cathode Ray Tube. A television-like monitor that uses a large tube on the back and can take up a large amount of desk space. These type of monitors have been commonly used for years, but are slowly being replaced by LCD type displays.
DDR - Double Data Rate. This refers to the newest types of RAM available for the Pentium 4 and Athlon processors.
Desktop - 1) This can refer to the main screen you see in Microsoft Windows. It commonly includes a number of icons, a background, and a taskbar and start button. 2) This can also refer to the common household and business PC.
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This is a service that automatically assigns IP-addresses to PC's configured for DHCP. The numbers it assigns can either be from a pre-determined pool of numbers or they can be NAT addresses.
Dial-up - The act of connecting to the internet by using a modem to connect to an ISP.
Digital - Term denoting something is computer related or stored on a computer. Examples are digital images, digital music, etc...
DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module. This is a newer (not newest) type of RAM that was used quite a bit in the Pentium II and Pentium III computers.
Disc - Correct term for referring to round media such as CD's or DVD's.
Disk - Term used to refer to non-round media such as floppy disks or zip disks.
DOS - Disk Operating System. A commonly used name for a command line interface. Most often this refer's to Microsoft's MS-DOS, but can also refer to PC-DOS or DR-DOS.
Download - To pull information from another computer to yours. Also refers to pulling information from the internet.
DPI - Dots Per Inch. Number of colored dots per inch. Used to describe a monitor display or the detail of an image. The more dots, the better the clarity and resolution.
Driver - A program written to help your computer communicate with a piece of hardware. Drivers are often used with printer and scanner installations. Without them, the device wouldn't work.
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line. This is high speed access over current phone lines. To have DSL you will need a phone line capable of carrying the digital signal and a DSL modem, both of which you will need to contact your telephone provider about.
Dual Layer - Refers to DVD media that contains a second embedded recordable layer allowing twice the information to be recorded. Can hold up to 9GB of data.
Duron - Budget processor created by AMD to challenge the popularity of the Intel Celeron processor. The Duron is built on the same idea as the Celeron : powerful processor with reduced memory. Durons have been very popular with budget minded computer enthusiasts.
DVD - Digital Versatile Disc (sometimes also called Digital Video Disc). These are discs similar to CD's that hold nearly 15 times the information. Common uses for these are movies, games, and data storage.
DVD-ROM - Digital Versatile Disc - Read Only Memory. This is a drive designed to read DVD's on your computer. In most cases they will also read CD's too. Please note that even if you have a DVD-ROM in your computer, you will need a codec and appropriate DVD software installed in order to view a DVD movie.
DVD+R & DVD-R (DVD +/- RW) - DVD - RecordableThese refer to DVD recordable formats. Due to competition in the industry, three DVD recordable formats were created. Two of them, DVD+R & DVD-R, are very similar. It was once believed that one had better data storage ability and the other better video storage. However, either format can be used reliably for both. In fact, many DVD recorders are designed to support both formats. There is also an RW format for each that will allow you to record to re-writable discs similar to CD-RW. (also see CD-R, CD-RW)
DVD-RAM - Digital Versatile Disc - Random Access Memory. The least common of the three DVD recordable formats, it is faster and much better designed for quickly accessible data storage.
E-mail - Electronic Mail. An electronic computer service that allows you to send messages across the network or the internet to anyone else with access to e-mail services.
Emoticon - Little faces people sometimes create in their e-mails or during instant chat sessions. They are usually created using parenthesees and colons or semi-colons.
Encryption - Modifying data by using a pre-determined code so that it is unreadable by anyone who doesn't have the "key" to the code.
Ethernet - A type of networking design commonly used in most network settings. It is common to hear someone refer to a network card as an "ethernet card"
Executable - A program that is ready to be run and used. It was compiled from programming source code into a machine language and is often found as an .exe or .com file on a Windows-based machine.
FAT - File Allocation Tables. This is a file system computers use to allocate hard drive space to be used by the operating system and other programs. There are other methods as well, including NTFS which is more secure.
Fiber Optic - A type of cable commonly used in high speed communications. Instead of sending electronic signals over copper wire that can fade or receive interference, packets of light are sent over plastic encased glass threads. This type of transmission can go a much farther distance before it begins to fade. It also allows a larger number of transmissions per second. The plastic coating is vacuum sealed around the glass thread which prevents it from breaking or even cracking when bent.
Firewall - A device designed to sit between your computer/network and the internet. It's primary job is to protect your computers from unwanted attacks, scans, and hack attempts. Firewalls vary in cost and effectiveness and can range from expensive hardware, to inexpensive SOHO Routers (natural firewalls), to computer software.
Firewire (also referred to as 1394) - Similar to USB, but capable of transferring much larger amounts of data. This type of connection is not available on every computer and many times a PCI expansion card needs to be purchased. Firewire is commonly used with video connections where large amounts of information are being sent.
Flame - Indicates a heated debate or argument over electronic communication including e-mail, internet chat, or instant messaging. To send an angry or upset message is to flame someone.
Floppy Drive - A drive that is commonly found in most computers. It allows you to store information onto 1.44 MB floppy disks. Some drives, such as the SuperDisk drive can actually store 120MB on specially designed disks that are similar in appearance to floppies.
Font - A form of text formatting. There are literally hundreds of different styles of fonts.
Form Factor - Designation given to a piece of computer hardware regarding it's size and shape. Assists computer builders in determining what parts and case sizes to use. For example Daktech Computers uses a standard ATX form factor motherboard and case. Many HP and Compaq computers may use a mini-ATX motherboard and case or may even use a proprietary (non-standard) style case or board.
Free Software - This term can refer to one of two ideas: 1) Free software being given away (freeware). Some also refer to this as free-as-in-beer software. 2) Software where the source code is freely shared and improved by developers around the world. Each can make a customized version for their own needs and sell it if desired.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol. A protocol that allows a computer user to send and pull files from another computer or server. It is commonly used by people who work with and create websites.
Gateway - A device used to pass information between two networks with different protocols. Often used to connect a local network to the internet.
GigaByte (GB) - Considered to be 1000 megabytes. However, due to computer industry standards of storage, some regard a gigabyte as being 1024 megabytes.
GNU - GNU's Not UNIX. This is a project launched in 1984 to develop a complete UNIX style operating system which is free software. A variant of this operating system uses the Linux kernel and is often referred to as "Linux".
Hacker - Term that was once used to refer to those who had good computer skills and abilities. It has now become synonymous with illegal computer activity. (see cracker) There are three types of hackers: white hat (ethical), gray hat (questionable), and black hat (illegal activity). White hats usually are the ones who work to improve security measures and are the ones who report bugs found in software. Gray hats are often white hat hackers that also dabble in some schemes to break into systems just to see if they can do it. Black hats are usually the ones attempting to access sensitive data or other illegal activites such as defacing websites.
Hard Drive - Main storage unit of the computer. It stores magnetic information on a number of metal disks or platters. Hard drives can hold several hundred gigabytes of information. Hard drives do not lose their information when the power is shut off, they might be considered the long-term memory of the computer.
Hardware Handshaking (or Handshaking) - Refers to an exchange of signals between two computers trying to synchronize for data exchange. This occurs every time you connect with a modem and can often be heard as a series of beeps and blips.
Hardware - A generic reference to any computer component such as a drive, or a circut board. "Hard" implies that it is a physical object that can be held.
Heatsink - A device designed to draw heat away from a processor. They are usually aluminum or copper, and have many thin fins that help release the heat into the air. Often times (but not always) they will have a fan on top to force additional air past the fins to help cool processors that run hot.
HTTP - HyperText Transport Protocol. The protocol used by webservers and browsers to communicate with each other.
Hub - A device that will allow you to share one network connection with multiple computers. It will take the single connection and branch it out. It is limited only by the number of ports the particular hub in use has. The connection it provides is equivalent to a party line telephone. When too many computers are trying to talk at once, it causes "collisions" of data, this makes the hub less efficient than a switch. (See also - switch)
IMAP - Interactive Mail Access Protocol. An e-mail protocol that allows mail to be retrieved by a user but keeps the mail on the server. (also see POP)
Inbox - A specific mail folder for holding incoming messages.
Intel - A large computer chip maker, makes the highly popular Pentium and Celeron series PC processors.
Interface - Graphical layout of a program designed to interact with and be manipulated by the user.
Internet - Global network connecting billions of individual people and networks together. It is used for many purposes such as the web, e-mail, and video and voice communication. It is not limited to any one place or business.
Intranet - A network contained within a campus or business. It does not go outside this boundary. (see internet)
IP Address - Internet Protocol Address. This address is basically your computer's "mailing address" on the internet. Every time you connect to the internet, your computer is assigned an IP address by your ISP. Your computer then uses this address when it requests or sends information. It tells other computers on the internet who to send replies to and who sent them information in the first place.
ISO - International Standards Organization. An organization established to develop standards to facilitate mutual cooperation in a number of areas.
ISP - Internet Service Provider. The company that provides either the dial-up access or high speed internet access to your home or business.
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group. A type of image compression for color images that can compress up to 20:1 with little loss.
Kernel - The central module of an operating system. It is responsible for memory management, running tasks, and disk management.
Kilobit (Kb) - A network speed rating of roughly 1000 bits per second. Divide this number by 8 to find the number of kilobytes per second being transmitted.
Kilobyte (KB) - A kilobyte is generally accepted as being the size of 1000 bytes. However, due to computer industry standards of storage, some regard a kilobyte as being 1024 bytes.
LAN - Local Area Network. Local network of computers, printers, etc. Usually contained to an office or campus. LAN's typically don't spread over more than a few miles. Sometimes referred to an an intranet.
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display. A type of display or monitor that is relatively flat and uses half the electricity a common CRT monitor does. These are found in notebooks and are becoming common offerings with new desktop computers.
Linux - A free Unix-type operating system created by Linus Torvalds and other developers around the world. It was developed using the GNU license. The source code for Linux is freely avaliable.
Mapped Drive - A network resource or share that has been assigned a drive letter by your computer so that you can use it like you would a local hard drive.
Media - A generic term referring to the a device being recorded to. Examples would be floppy disks, CD-R discs, DVD-R discs, etc...
Megabit (Mb) - A network speed rating of roughly 1000 kilobits per second. Divide this number by 8 to find the number of megabytes per second being transmitted.
MegaByte (MB) - A megabyte is usually measured as being 1000 kilobyte. However, due to computer industry standards of storage, some regard a megabyte as being 1024 kilobytes.
Memory - Piece of computer hardware used to store programs in use by the computer. Memory is typically volatile and loses everything when power is turned off. The term memory is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to the hard drive. (see RAM)
Microsoft - Large software company founded by Bill Gates. Produces the highly popular Windows series operating sytem among other products.
Modem - Modulation-Demodulation. A device designed to reliably transfer computer data across phone lines. Modems need to dial up to a service provider and have relatively slow data transfer speeds. While still commonly found in notebooks of travelers, they are disappearing from business and home machines in favor of faster and more reliable high speed network connections.
Molex Connector - These are the standard power connectors found in modern computers. They are used to provide power to almost all cd-roms and hard drives in a computer.
Motherboard or Mainboard - This is the main circut board in the computer. They come in different sizes and designs (also known as form factors) but the most common are known as ATX boards. These boards contain the circutry needed to pass information from all the different devices in your computer. If the CPU is the brain of the computer, the motherboard is it's central nervous system.
MPEG - Moving Pictures Experts Group. A codec designed to display moving images using a form of compression.
NAT - Network Address Translation. This is a method of creating "fake IP" addresses in a local network. Each computer will be assigned one of these addresses which it will use to talk with the SOHO Router or other device (which will have a real, working IP address), which will then access the internet on behalf of each computer. Whatever information it receives, it will send back to the appropriate computer, giving the illusion that each computer has direct access to the internet. NAT addressing does give almost all the functionality of having a real seperate connection for each computer.
Natural Firewall - Very basic in design and use, natural firewalls only provide a bare minimum of protection from outside scans, attacks, and hack attempts. Unlike more expensive firewalls, natural firewalls do NOT prevent unwanted programs from connecting to the internet from inside your network. They only prevent intrusions coming from the outside. Natural firewalls are most commonly found in inexpensive SOHO routers.
Network - A group of computers and other equipment (such as printers) connected together by some type of communication equipment. This equipment usually either consists of cable or wireless devices.
Network Jack - A jack in the wall similar to a telephone jack, except wider. Also known as an ethernet jack or RJ-45 jack.
NTFS - New Technology File System. A proprietary system created by Microsoft for it's Windows NT based systems. According to Microsoft, it supports file-level security, compression, auditing, and large volumes. It is a predecessor to FAT. (see FAT)
NIC - Network Interface Card. An add-on card you can place in one of your computer's PCI slots to add network ability to your computer. Also referred to as a network card or ethernet card.
OC-3 - Optical Carrier level 3. This is a communications line that uses fiber optics instead of copper wire. OC-3 can carry up to 155 Mbps and is considered the OC base. Higher OC numbers result in proportionally higher speeds.
Onboard - A term used to relay the fact something is built-in. An example would be that a processor has onboard memory. This means that some amount of memory is built into the processor. Another example would be if a motherboard had onboard sound. The soundcard is built into the motherboard.
Operating System - This is the program that runs your computer and allows you to work with your files. One of the most common operating systems is Microsoft Windows, however, there are also others such as Macintosh OS X, Linux (various versions or flavors), BSD, UNIX, Solaris, etc...
Packet - A single unit of data sent across a network. It contains information on it's destination and it's cargo (data being sent).
Palm OS - Operating system developed by Palm for their line of handheld PDA computing devices. It is a basic icon oriented system. It is arguably the most famous PDA operating system on the market.
Patch Cable - Short length of network cable used to connect a computer to a network jack. Usually CAT 5 or CAT 6 cable, these cables are usually 6' - 25' long.
PC - Personal Computer. This can refer to both the standard home desktop, business machine, or notebook.
PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect. These are the expansion slots that allow you to add additional capability to your computer. Some types of available PCI cards available include: ethernet (network), modems, video (PCI video is slower than AGP, see AGP above), etc...
PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Architecture. This is a term used often to describe the small creditcard sized devices we can purchase for our notebooks. Common devices include modems and network cards.
PDA - Personal Digital Assistant. Small handheld computers that work as address books, calculators, and also perform simple office suite tasks such as small databases, spreadsheets, and documents. There are two main types, those that use Palm OS and those that use Microsoft Pocket PC.
PDF - Portable Document Format. Format developed by Adobe to allow documents to be used on multiple platforms with the aid of a viewer program (Acrobat Reader).
Peer-to-Peer Computing (P2P) - A method of computing where a user's machine both can retrieve information and provide information for downloading. This can be done by simply sharing folders or with software such as Kazaa or Gnutella. It should be noted that Kazaa and Gnutella are often associated with illegal activity and are not allowed for use on NDSU owned computers and/or networks.
Pentium Processor - 32 bit computer processor developed by Intel. Thus far there have been 4 versions: the original Pentium, Pentium II, Pentium III, and Pentium4. Intel is currently working on a new 64 bit processor.
Pocket PC - Operating system developed by Microsoft for a more powerful line of PDA devices using the ARM processor. This system was designed to work similar to Windows for PC's and had a suite of PCish software available.
POP - Post Office Protocol. This is an e-mail system that allows mail to be retrieved by the user and stored on their local machine. (also see IMAP)
Port - 1) A path for data to flow in and out of a computer. It might be considered a "door" from your computer to the network. On a Windows machine, there are 65,535 available ports for network connections. 2) A PC hardware slot where a device interface cable may be attached.
Ported - (to Port) To modify a program designed for one system so that it will run on a different system. An example would be the GIMP photo program. It was originally written for Linux, but was modified so that Windows users could also run it.
Power Supply - Device that takes in raw 120 volt power from the wall outlet and refines and distributes it in smaller amounts to various drives and devices in the computer.
Power User - A person with an above-average to high level of computer knowledge. Sometimes (not always) these people may have higher levels of access to computer systems.
Printer - A device used to transfer a digital image or document to paper. Common methods of transfer include inkjet and laser printing.
Protocol - A rule or procedure designed to ensure a common interface between systems.
Quicktime - A movie type created by Apple. It requires the Quicktime viewer to watch it.
RAM - Random Access Memory. RAM memory is mainly used by the computer to run software you are currently using. This type of memory is very fast, but also very expensive. Because of this, you will often find no more than 256-512MB of RAM in a computer. RAM is what is known as volatile memory. This means that every time the power is turned off, everything stored in RAM will be lost. This is why it is a good idea to save often when working on important documents. Ram could be considered your computer's short-term memory since it cannot reliably be used for long term storage..
RJ-11 - Technical name for the common standard telephone jack. These jacks use 6 connectors and are smaller than RJ-45.
RJ-45 - Technical name for the standard ethernet network jack. RJ-45 jacks are wider than standard telephone and use 8 connectors rather than 6.
Resolution - A term that refers to the number of dots per inch used to represent a graphic image. These dots are commonly referred to as Pixels. The higher the resolutions, the more clear and detailed the image is. Also, setting your desktop to a higher resolution will allow more dots per inch and will make your icons and text seem smaller.
Router - A device designed to control network traffic and direct it to the appropriate area. They provide network administrators with powerful tools to keep things working. True routers are usually several thousand dollars and are out of the reach of most home or small business users. A less expensive device called a SOHO router is available for end users looking for basic functionality. (see SOHO router)
Scanner - A device that runs a bright lamp and camera over (or under) a document and creates a digital image of it.
SCSI - Small Computer System Interface - A computer standard designed to create high speed connections from the computer to different peripherals such as scanners, zip drives, hard drives, etc.. SCSI is most commonly used by servers and high performance equipment.
Server - A high end computer with large amounts of disk space, RAM, and backup media. Servers can be used for anything from file storage and printing to network connectivity and e-mail.
SIMM - Single Inline Memory Module. This is an older style of RAM that was commonly used in the original Pentium computers.
Single Layer - Refers to DVD recordable media that can hold up to 4.5GB of data. (see dual layer)
Software - A general reference to some type of program that can be run on a desktop computer. "Soft" implies that it is not a piece of equipment.
SOHO Router - Small Office / Home Office Router. A small device designed to provide very basic functionality for home and small business users. Generally these devices are used for basic DHCP services, basic firewall services, and some content filtering. They are usually not robust enough for use in large networks. Many SOHO routers also provide a very basic firewall protection known as a "natural firewall" (see natural firewall)
Sound Card - A hardware device that allows your computer to produce and record sound. These usually plug into a PCI slot of your computer.
Source Code - The actual code written by the programmers before it was compiled into an executable form.
Standard - A design or procedure either set by official decree (standards committees) or in common use. Standards help keep common ground between different makes of computer hardware so that they can all work together.
Switch - A device designed to share a network jack with multiple computers. While similar to a hub, this device tries to create direct connections rather than one shared connection like a hub does. Switches are usually more efficient, and more expensive.
T-1 Line- Transmission Rate 1 Line. A phone line capable of carrying either 1.54 megabits of data per second or 24 simultaneous voice conversations. They are usually used to connect business networks, and medium sized clients to the internet. Smaller sized clientel usually use DSL or Cable Modem for their high speed access. For larger organizations, T-3, OC-3, or even OC-45 may be used.
TCP/IP - A set of protocols used to allow computers to communicate across a network. It is often used for Internet activities and communication.
TELNET - A network terminal protocol. It can be used to connect to computers running a TELNET service to acces a user's account or files. While not as widely used today as it once was, it is still commonly used to check e-mail and work with files remotely.
TWAIN - Technology Without An Interesting Name. TWAIN is an interface for scanners and related software that allows images to be scanned directly into editing software.
USB - Universal Serial Bus. USB is a generic port designed to support a wide range of devices. Peripherals that use USB ports include: scanners, printers, digital cameras, etc...
UNIX - A computer operating system developed by AT&T Bell Labs. It is a powerful multi-user system that is commonly used to run large servers. It is often considered the inspiration for Linux.
UPS - Uninterruptable Power Supply. These are battery backup systems that provide power to your computer (or whatever else you plug into them) when the power goes out. High quality UPS systems also protect your computer from power spikes and can condition the line to keep your electrical flow constant.
User - A person who uses a computer system. This is usually a reference to those who are not a member of the technical support group and has an average level of computer knowledge. (see power user, administrator)
V.90 - Newest standard for 56Kbps modems. It is a design that overshadows (and borrows from) earlier technologies such as Rockwell's 56KFlex and 3COM/USRobotics' X2.
WAN - Wide Area Network. A network that can encompass a large geographic area. Unlike LANs, they are not limited to a few miles in area.
Web - See WWW
Website - A single point of information available on the world wide web via a browser. Websites can contain business information, points of interest, multimedia presentations, or a personal glimpse into someone else's life.
Windows - 1) This can refer to one of the many operating system versions created by Microsoft 2) This can refer to one of the possibly multiple screens containing information on your computer monitor.
Wireless - Term used to describe a number of networking technologies that allow computers to be networked across distances using radio frequencies. Common technologies include 802.11a, b, and g.
Workstation - Computers similar to desktop PC's, but more powerful. They are often used in research and high computing areas such as graphics and video.
WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get. A term used to describe design techniques and systems that display things graphically. What you currently see is how it will appear when finished.
WWW - World Wide Web (aka "the Web"). Refers to the entire collection of webservers and websites online. While there is a multitude of information available, there is no formal structure in how they are arranged.
X-Windows - A graphics system developed for UNIX workstations. It has been ported to Linux.
Zip - Can refer either to 1) A disk made by the Iomega Corporation . These disks can typically hold 100MB or 250MB of data. They can only be read by a Zip Drive, also made by Iomega 2) A common filetype used to compress and send multiple files. Zip files are created with special software (such as WinZip) that allow you to take multiple files, compress them together, and store them as a single .zip file. To open these files back up for use, you will need software (such as WinZip) to "unzip" the file and restore the contents back to their original state. Windows XP has an "unzip" ability called extract built in. To use it, right click on the .zip file you wish to open and select extract from the menu.
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North Dakota State University, Fargo North Dakota
NDSU is an equal opportunity institution.