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Thursday, November 20, 2008 05:52 AM Home Dictionary

Dictionary 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   A Access To log on to the Internet, where you can browse information, view Web sites, retrieve data, and send or receive e-mail. The term "access" comes from the notion that you are accessing a computer system, known as a server, that enables you to connect to other computers and "get online." You can do this with a computer and a modem through a dial-up connection (via an ISP), or over a network (such as an office LAN). Access can also be used to describe the act of retrieving information. For example, "In order to access that file, you have to FTP into the server." Access Number The telephone number you use to dial into your Internet Service Provider (ISP). To connect to the Internet, you must first establish an account with an ISP in your area. It is important to get a local access number because part of the beauty of the Internet is that you can surf Web sites, find information, and communicate with people all over the world for the cost of a local telephone call. Once you sign up with an ISP, you will receive a list of local telephone numbers you can use to connect to the Internet (see: dial-up connection). FYI: You can call your ISP anytime and have them walk you through the process of setting up your computer for Internet access-that's what tech support is there for. Always-on An Internet connection, such as a satellite connection or DSL, that can "always" provide immediate and continuous access to the Net. B Browse The process of moving through a Web site or "surfing the Net," using a World Wide Web browser and clicking on a variety of hyperlinks. Derived from the notion of "browsing" through a store, the term implies you are "just looking," but in fact, you are interacting: You must point-and-click to get to the next Web page. Browser A program used to view, download, upload, surf, or otherwise access documents (for example, Web pages) on the Internet. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are well-known "Web browsers" that enable you to view and interact with Web sites. Browsers read pages that are "marked up" or coded (usually in HTML but not always). These pages reside on servers. The browsers interpret the code into what we see rendered as a Web page. As well-designed software programs, browsers contain a variety of tools, including bookmarks and the back button, that make "surfing the Net" more enjoyable. You will need a browser to "get on the Web." C Connect The line of communication between your computer (or any other device) and the Internet. A commonly heard question is, "What speed is your connection?" To this, you answer "ISDN" or "DSL" or whatever it may be. If you're using a dial-up connection, though, you'd answer with the speed of your modem, as in, "28.8" Cryptic Password A password that is ambiguous or without meaning. For example, "N2fr#@jHQ" represents a cryptic password. Usually comprised of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, cryptic passwords decrease the chance of someone accessing your accounts. (Just be sure to write them down or store them somewhere safely so you don't forget them.) D Download To transfer a file or files from one computer to another, for example, from a server to your desktop computer. Download is the opposite of upload. There are a few methods of downloading on the Internet: HTTP, FTP and e-mail attachments are the most common. When you "load" a Web page into your browser, you are essentially "downloading" the page from the server it is hosted on. One of the most resourceful functions of the Internet is that you can download almost any type of computer file or program. Many of these files are shareware, which means you can try them before you buy them. Want to try downloading something? DSL Digital Subscriber Line A telecommunications line that provides a fast, permanent connection to the Internet. DSL uses the copper wiring found in almost every home and office. Special hardware attached at both ends of the line allows data to transmit at a far greater speed than standard telephone wiring can. It also provides a constant connection to the Internet, 24/7, so there is no need to dial-in to an ISP each time you want to get online (see: always-on). A DSL line is also convenient because you only need one line to carry both voice and data signals (in other words, you don't have to get a second phone line with DSL). DSL is similar to ISDN in that they both operate over existing copper telephone lines (POTS) and require short runs to a central office. (The reason why DSL is not yet available in many areas is because of the distance from a central office.) DSL provides higher speeds than ISDN, but with DSL, the connection speeds vary. Many people prefer the fixed speed of an ISDN (or a T1, for that matter). Connection speeds for DSL typically range from 1.544 Mbps to 512 Kbps downstream and around 128 Kbps upstream. There are several types of DSL, and xDSL refers to the family of digital subscriber line technologies: ADSL (Asymmetric DSL, where you can download faster than upload) IDSL (ISDN DSL, which is DSL over an ISDN line) SDSL (Symmetrical DSL, where download and upload speeds are similar) VoDSL (Voice-over DSL, which uses DSL for spoken telephone conversations) E E-mail E-mail is mail that's electronically transmitted by your computer. As opposed to snail mail, e-mail sends your messages instantaneously, anywhere in the world. It is the killer application of the Internet because of its capability to send messages at any time, to anyone, for less money than mailing a letter or calling someone on the telephone. In fact, there are now more e-mail addresses than telephone numbers in the world, and more people have multiple e-mail addresses than multiple telephone numbers. Linked by high-speed data connections that create a global network, e-mail lets you compose messages and transmit them in seconds to one or more recipients across the office, the street, or the country. All you need to get started is an e-mail account, an online connection, a computer, and an e-mail program. The word "e-mail" is used in a variety of ways. In one sense, it acts like a noun, as in, "an e-mail," which can be used like "a letter" (or a package or a message). When one compares e-mail to regular mail and the postal system, it can be viewed as the actual letters or messages you are "sending and receiving." For example, "I checked my P.O. Box, and there were four letters. I checked my in-box, and there were eighty- four e-mails." In another sense, the "e" in e-mail acts as an adjective. It describes "electronic" mail the way "snail" mail describes slow, printed mail, or "junk" mail describes some forms of direct marketing. In this instance, one would say, "I used e-mail to send four messages." The "e" in e-mail describes a system (electronic), just as "snail" in snail mail describes a system that is slow. The word "e-mail" is frequently used in the online world as a verb. You may hear, "You didn't get the memo? Strange, I e-mailed it to you yesterday." Overall, thanks to e-mail, communication has taken on a new form. Not only has the style of writing changed because of the amount of typing involved (for example, many users type in all lowercase), but the attitude or tone used online is more casual, as well (thanks, or not, to chat acronyms and smileys). Because messages are quick and instant, and because it is easy to send many messages at once, fram lists have evolved within offices, families, and groups of friends, circulating jokes, news, petition lists, and so on (it is OK in terms of proper netiquette to simply ask to be removed from a particular distribution list). Spam, on the other hand, is a problem for people who get inundated with marketing messages and we've been advised not to respond with a request for removal because then you are validating the fact that there's a live person at the other end of that particular e-mail address. TIPS ON WRITING OFFICE E-MAIL: There are three main categories of e-mail: spam, fram, and e-mail sent at the office. In a typical modern office, thousands of internal messages are sent daily between colleagues and management, and thousands of external messages are sent to clients and vendors. E-mail has become a primary mode of communication at work and in the process, it has raised some questionable manners. Keep these guidelines in mind: (1) Do not rely on e-mail to address problems. If there is a sticky situation that needs to be dealt with at work, do it face- to-face. It will earn you respect in the long run. (2) Balance work-related e-mail with telephone calls. E-mail may enhance a business relationship but it will not necessarily build one. If you've corresponded via e-mail with someone for the past couple of months, pick up the phone and have a conversation with that person as well. (3) Intentional or not, e-mail can sometimes come across as rude. Be careful, one colleague had to ask another to communicate verbally because she was offended by the tone of her e-mail. It is easy to misread between the lines so at work, try to be extra polite. (4) Send mature messages at work. If you use emoticons such as this smiley :-) in business e-mail, it may be interpreted as too casual. Just be straightforward and always use the spell checker. (5) Always make a point. The free flowing nature of e-mail encourages a casual style and back-and-forth communication, but make sure at work, each message has a purpose. (6) Do not type in all lower case and conversely, DO NOT TYPE IN ALL UPPERCASE. Uppercase implies that you are shouting, and lowercase is still viewed as too casual in the business world. F FTP File Transfer Protocol The standard method for downloading and uploading files over the Internet. With FTP, you can login to a server and transfer files (meaning you can "send" or "receive" files). Some sites have public file archives that you can access by using FTP with the account name "anonymous" and your e-mail address as the password. This type of access is called anonymous FTP. Macintosh owners use a program called Fetch; one of the best FTP programs for Windows is called WS-FTP. Knowing FTP is necessary (and easy) if you want to create your own Web site. Note: You may also hear this noun used as a verb. For example, "I just finished FTP'ing the last of the files." Or, "I FTP'ed the new images to the site last night." G H HTML HperText Markup Language The lingua franca for publishing hypertext on the World Wide Web. HTML is a nonproprietary format based on SGML. It can be created and processed in a wide range of software programs, from simple plain text editors to WYSIWYG programs to sophisticated authoring tools. HTML is a mark-up language (versus a programming language) that uses tags to structure text into headings, paragraphs, lists, and links. It tells a Web browser how to display text and images. You can see a Web page's HTML code if you select "view source" from the View menu in your Web browser. HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol The standard Internet protocol for the exchange of information on the World Wide Web. Basically, it defines URLs by telling the server what to send to the client. The client can view Web pages, FTP sites, Gopher sites, Usenet newsgroups, or other areas of the Net. HTTP enables Web authors to code hyperlinks into documents. Once the files are FTP'd to the server, those links can be clicked on to initiate a data transfer process. Information is retrieved without any further input from the user (this is known as "transparent access," in which the user doesn't even need to know where the document is coming from or how it was accessed). HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure A type of server software that provides "secure" transactions on the World Wide Web. If a Web site is running on an HTTPS server, you will see HTTPS instead of HTTP in the URL section of your browser. This verifies that you are indeed in the "secured mode." Windows NT HTTPS and Netscape Commerce server software support this protocol. I Internet The most important technological innovation of our generation, the Internet is actually a network of networks. Originally designed by the U.S. Department of Defense so that a communication signal could withstand nuclear war and serve military institutions worldwide, the Internet was first known as the ARPANet, the most robust communication technology. It is a system of linked computer networks, international in scope, that facilitates data transfer and communication services, such as remote login, file transfer (FTP), electronic mail (e-mail), newsgroups, and the World Wide Web. The Internet greatly extends the reach of each connected computer network (see: network effect, IP). When you see "internet" written with a lowercase "i," it usually refers to a group of local area networks (LANs) that have been connected by means of a common communications protocol. Many internets exist besides the Internet, including many TCP/IP-based networks that are not linked to the Internet (the Defense Data Network is a case in point). IP Internet Protocol The set of technology standards and technical specifications that enable information to be routed from one network to another over the Internet. It is the way networks exchange data with each other. For example, IP is the delivery mechanism by which your e-mail gets sent. IP defines how the data will be divided into packets; each packet is coded with an IP address; and various packets constitute a single message. These packets travel across the Internet by different routes and arrive at the destination in a scrambled order. A second protocol, TCP (transmission control protocol), is needed to put the packets back in sequence. And that is the basis for how the Internet works. ISP Internet Service Provider A company that provides users access to the Internet. Before you can connect to the Net, you must first establish an account with an ISP. For a monthly fee, the Internet Service Provider gives you a username, a password, and an access phone number. Once you have been walked through setting up your computer, you will be able to surf the Web, send e-mail, chat, and read the newsgroups, among many other things. The speed of your connection will depend on the bandwidth of the hardware you use to connect (the options include air, glass, cable, or cord). ISPs have a wide range of prices and packages to choose from. For example, there are accounts tailored for large companies, providing a direct connection from the company's network to the Internet, and there are accounts for individuals who only plan on moderate usage, connecting by dial-up. The best thing to do when choosing an ISP is to be sure it has a local access number so you won't have to dial long-distance (or pay toll charges) to connect. Also try to get an account that offers unlimited access, as well as free Web space for you to house your own Web site. J K L LAN Local Area Network A network that connects computers in a relatively small, predetermined area (such as a room, a building, or a set of buildings). LANs can be connected to each other over telephone lines and radio waves. Workstations and personal computers in an office are commonly connected in a LAN. This allows individual users to send or receive files and to share access to files and data. Each computer connected to a LAN is called a node. Local Computer In a LAN or on the Internet, this is the computer you are using. As opposed to remote, which means off-site or "somewhere else," local means on-site or "what's in front of you." Login or Log On The act of connecting to or accessing a remote computer system, network, server, or Web site. To login, you must provide a username and a password. For example, if you call your ISP's tech support, they may ask if you're currently logged in to the server; if you are not, they may ask you to try and log on. M Modem short for: MOdulator, DEModulator A hardware device you connect to your computer and to a phone line. It enables the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Basically, modems do for computers what a telephone does for humans. Generally, there are three types of modems: external, PC card, and internal. Most computers now have internal modems so you can plug the telephone cord directly into the back of the computer. N Network The term actually has many different meanings depending on the person, company, or context in which it is being used. Basically, it is a collection of two or more computers and associated devices that are linked together with communications equipment. Once connected, each part of the network can share the software, hardware, and information contained in the other parts. The most common types of network are LANs (Local Area Networks, in which the computers share the same office space, room, or building) and WANs (Wide Area Networks, in which LANs are connected at different geographic locations by telephone lines or radio waves, as in wireless communications). Network connections are established by twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, connectors, or NICs (network interface cards). Network computing depends on protocols that work with a variety of operating systems and network hardware (see: IEEE and ISO). When you hear someone talking about "sharing network resources," they are referring either to client/server networks or peer-to-peer networks. Also, you may hear Internet companies refer to their "network of Web sites," a group of associated sites that's analogous to a television network or cable TV network. If you have a small business that uses a network for Internet access and file sharing, be sure to have a firewall installed, to protect yourself from unauthorized access. Network Effect An economic phenomenon in which a service becomes more valuable as more people use it. Newsgroups A newsgroup is a forum for sharing information. Each one is an area on the Internet that allows users to post messages and reply to other users. It is an online discussion forum similar to that found on local BBSs, but you need a newsreader in order to participate. Segmented into many different subjects (approximately 25,000), newsgroups have titles that usually begin with a three- or four-letter prefix followed by a dot ("."). For example, alt., soc., comp., misc., rec., and sci. are some of the most popular ones. O Online The state of being connected to the Internet (generally through an ISP, an OSP, or a network). Used as an adjective, it describes a variety of activities that users do on the Internet, for example: online chat, online shopping, online games, online searching, online communities, and on and on. P Password A combination of letters and other symbols needed to login to a computer system or program. It is a good idea to make your passwords as cryptic as possible to keep unauthorized users out of your personal or business files. It is also a good idea to change your passwords at least every six of months. Program Another term for software, it is basically a list of instructions (written in a programming language) that tells a computer how to execute certain functions and perform tasks in a specific way. There are many kinds of programs, including: antivirus, which detect and remove computer viruses application, which are tools that perform specific kinds of tasks (such as word processing) authoring, to help create Web sites calendar, which contain a calendar or appointment book child, which are actually subprograms loaded into memory and used by the main program computer program components (CPC), which are routines or modules within a larger program conversion, which change a file from one format to another demo, which exhibit a sample of a program for free or for a low price drawing, used for drawing, illustrating, and editing graphics event-driven, which wait for events to occur and then respond to them file recovery, which restore files that have been damaged or unintentionally deleted file transfer programs (FTP), which enable a user to copy a file from one computer to another formatting, which erase a disk and prepare it for use system, such as the operating system utility, which maintain the computer system Protocol A specification that describes how computers talk to each other on a network. A protocol is an established method of exchanging data over the Internet. Q R Remote A computer that is operated or controlled from a distance. S Server A host computer on a network. It houses information and responds to requests for information (for example, it houses Web sites and executes their links to other Web sites). The term "server" also refers to the software that makes the act of "serving information" possible. Commerce servers, for example, use software to run the main functions of an e-commerce Web site, such as product display, online ordering, and inventory management (you'll also hear this described as shopping cart technology). A server is the control computer on a LAN, meaning it controls the software, access to printers, and other parts of the network (usually accompanied by workstations that "share the load"). A server may be dedicated (where its sole purpose is to be the server) or non- dedicated (where in addition to being the server, it can be used for basic computing purposes). Surf To browse or look at information on the Web by pointing and clicking and navigating in a nonlinear way (meaning you can go to any site at any time you like). A commonly heard phrase is, "I surfed the Net for a few hours last night, found some great sites, and bookmarked them." A "surfer" is a user who surfs the Net. T U Upload To copy a file from your local computer to a server or host system; the reverse process of download. Username The name you use to access certain programs, Web sites, software, or networks. A username is like a handle for a user on the Internet and is commonly left up to the user to select (although most systems will not allow the same username to be assigned to two different people). Usually it's the first part of your e-mail address, before the @ sign, or it could be the nickname you use in a chat room. V W World Wide Web "The Web," as it is more commonly called, can be described as a collection of graphical pages on the Internet that can be read and interacted with by computer. You need an Internet connection, a computer, a Web browser, and a few specialized programs in order to access and view this online information. The Web actually exists as a global system of servers that supports specially formatted files written in a code that links them together. Many of the files contain graphics, audio, and/or video. The Web is a hypertext system that you navigate by clicking on links. One thing that makes the Web such an exciting and useful medium is that the next document you "visit" could be located on a server down your block or on a server halfway around the world. Note: Not all Internet servers are part of the World Wide Web, but the Web requires the Internet as its transport mechanism. Created in 1989 at a research institute in Switzerland (CERN), the Web relies upon the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), an Internet standard that specifies how an application locates and acquires resources stored on another computer on the Internet. Most Web documents are created using HyperText Markup Language (HTML), an easy-to-learn coding system for the creation and display of WWW documents; these documents incorporate hypermedia (graphics, sounds, animations, and/or video), making the Web the ideal medium for publishing information on the Net. With the development of secured server protocol (HTTPS), the Web has become an important commercial medium whereby consumers can browse online catalogs or purchase merchandise without worrying that their credit card information will be intercepted. X Y Z