District+Computer+Definitions

DEFINITIONS Application – a computer software that is designed for a specific type of activity, such as word processing, desktop publishing, or manipulating graphics. Binary- Pertaining to a number system that has just two unique digits. Bookmarks- Markers that take you to the Web Sites you often use. This means you don’t have to remember long Internet address for your favorite sites- just click on a bookmark. Boot Up (turn on)- Turning on your computer. Bus- A collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one part of a computer to another. Browser- A computer software that finds and displays web pages and other documents stored on the Internet. Examples of browser software are Safari and Firefox. Clients- provides a way for you to access a server. CPU- Central Processing Unit, the brains of the computer Cursor- the arrow on a monitor that indicates where you are working. Can also be used to select options. Desktop- The main screen to access everything on the computer. Hard Drive - A Place where information is stored so it can be used over and over again. DNS- Domain Name System (or Service or Server), an Internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Document – An electronic file that contains text, pictures, or any other kind of data that can be inputted into a computer. Dock - The Dock appears at the bottom of the monitor. You use it to open applications, documents, folders, servers, websites, QuickTime TV channels, and more. Downloading- Copying files, such as web pages or software, from the Internet to your computer’s hard disk. e-mail – Electronic mail that you receive through your computer, either through an application or through the Internet. File – A document in digital form that is stored either on the computer’s hard disk or on an external disk. It can contain words, numbers and/or pictures. Flash Drive- a small portable storage device. Floppy Disk – a portable data-storage disk. Floppies hold about 1.4 MB of data. Folder – A storage place for computer files. Folders can store anything from applications to your personal work. Folders can be created and thrown away at any time. Hard Disk- a computer’s main storage disk, which holds the operating system and application files. Hardware- Equipment such as monitor, keyboard, scanner, mouse, and printer. Headphones- A computer output device that allows you to listen to sounds from the computer. Home Page – An introductory page on a web site that contains links to other pages. Icon – A small picture that you can click on with the mouse to make the computer do a task. Information Superhighway – another way of saying “internet.” The Internet is a very fast transportation system for information and is used by millions of people. Insertion Point - A flashing line that appears on the screen when words are being written to show where they will begin. Interface- across which two independent systems meet and act on or communicate with each other, such as, user interface, hardware interface or software interface Internet – A worldwide computer network, through which computers can communicate with each other. Intranet- private networks that use the same technical standards and technologies as the Internet. ISP (Internet Service Provider) a company that provides access to the Internet. Keyboard- The computer input device that allows you to type letters and numbers on the computer. Laptop – a portable computer that is powered by a rechargeable battery. LAN (local area network) A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Link - Menu – A list of options from which a user can select something, usually at the top of the screen Modem- ** mod ** ulator-**dem**odulator. A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Monitor – A screen used to display the computer’s visual output. Mouse – a computer input device that translates its movements in the movement of the cursor on the screen. Multimedia- a combination of text, graphics, sound, animation, and video Netiquette- A code of good conduct and a manners, developed by Internet users, that suggests acceptable and unacceptable ways of behaving on the Internet. Network – a group of computers that are connected for common use, such as printers. OS (operating system) – the main piece of software needed by all computers to allow them to function properly. Password – before a network will allow your computer to log on, it requires you to enter a public username and a private password. You should never tell anyone your password. Printer- a computer output device that allows you to print onto paper what is on the monitor. RAM – Random Access Memory, the location of the list of instructions the computer needs. ROM- read-only memory, computer memory on which data has been prerecorded. Server- provides a service to other computers Software- same as applications. Sound Cards enables a computer to manipulate and output sounds. URL (uniform resource locator) the global address of documents and other resources on the World Wide Web. Username – every computer user has a unique name to log in to a network Web page – a computer document written in HTML, which is linked to other web pages. Web site – a collection of web pages WAN (Wide Area Network)