Mr. Kaucher's Technology Glossary

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Applet:  Small program, designed to be embedded within a larger system and run within a controlled environment.

Avatar: Within a talk facility, a small picture or figure that moves and talks on your behalf.

Bandwidth:  The capacity to transmit data. On the Internet, bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps).

Binary data:  Any data that is not text.

Binary file: A file that contains binary data.

Binary system:  A mathematical system, based on powers of 2 (such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and so on), used by computer scientists and programmers to work with computer memory.

Bit: The smallest unit of data storage; there are 8 bits in 1 byte.  Mathematically, bits are represented by quantities that can have a value of either 0 or 1.  The name "bit" stands for "binary digit".

Bits per second: (Abbreviated as bps) The unit of measurement used to describe the speed of an Internet connection.

Blind copy:  A secret copy of a mail message sent to one or more recipients.  With in the header of the message, the recipients who are to receive a blind copy are specified on the Bcc line.

Bot:  Within IRC, a program that, within a channel, performs certain actions automatically. (The name comes from the word "robot".)

Byte:  Within a computer, a unit of data storage consisting of a 8 bits. Each byte can store a single character.

Cache:  Within a browser, a temporary storage area used to hold the contents of recently viewed Web pages.

Compression utility:  Any program that provides the service of creating and unpacing archives, in particular, zip file programs.

Cookie:  Data sent by a Web server and stored in a file on your computer by you browser.

CU-SeeMe--Desktop video-conferencing software which allows interactive multi-party vido and voce communication over the Internet or local TCPIP network.

DNS:  (domain name system) The system used to orgaize all the hostnames on the Internet, and to translate a hostname into an IP address.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) 1.) A family of technologies that allows high-speed Internet connection over a telephone line. ADSL (Asymmetric DSL), HDSL (High bit-rate DSL), RADSL (Rate Adaptive Asymmetric DSL), SDSL (Symmetric DSL) and VDSL (Very high-bit-rate DSL)

DVD: (Digital Versatile Disk) A type of CD that can store computer data, sound and video. DVDs store a lot more data than CD-ROMs and music CDs, and are used to distribute movies.

Encoder:  A program that converts wav files to mp 3 format.

Encrypt:  To encode data in such a way that it cannot be read or used until it is decrypted.

Ethernet:  A technology used to connect computers to a local network.

FrontPage Express:  A free wysiwyg Web page editor, distributed by Microsoft to omplement the Internet Explorer browser.

FTP:  (File Transfer Protocal) An Internet service that allows you to copy files from one computer to another.

FTP Server:  A server to which (or from which) you can copy files using FTP.

GB- Abbreviation for gigabyte

Geographical domain:  A two-letter top-level domain that is assigned to a particular country or region.

Gif: (Graphics Interchange Format) A file format commonly used to store non-photo pictures, such as drawings, cartoons and icons. Compare to JPEG

HTML: Hypertext Markup Language) the system of specifications used to define the appearance and structure of Web pages.

Hypertext:  Data that contains links to other data or to resources.  On the Web, hypertext is displayed on Web pages.

Imap:  (Internet Message Access Protocol)  A protocol used by a mail client program to receive incoming messages from a mail server.  With IMAP, messages remain on the server until they are deliberately deleted by the user. Compare to the POP.

Instant messaging:  A talk facility that makes it easy to establish a direct connection with another person.

IP: (Internet Protocol) The protocol, used along with TCP, to send data over the Internet.  IP sends the data packets.  TCP manages the flow and ensures that the data arrives intact without errors.

IRC: (Internet Relay Chat) An Internet service that allows people all over the Net to have multiple, multi-user conversations, each one in a separate "channel".

ISDN:  (Integrated Services Digital Network) A service, offered by a telephone company, that allows you to connect to an ISP using all-digital technology.

ISP: (Internet Service Provider) A company that provides Internet access to the public.

Java: A set of specifications developed by Sun Microsystems, used to create programs (called applets) that can be embedded within Web pages and run within a controlled environment ( the Java virtual machine), thereby ensuring a measure of safety and security to the computer on which the applet is running.

JavaScript: Similar to Java, however not the same, developed by Netscape after Java was developed.

JPEG:  (Joint Photographic Experts Group)  A file format commonly used to store photographs. Compare to GIFs.

KB:  Abbreviation for Kilobyte, one thousand bytes (actually 2 to the 10th power or 1,024)

List Server: (same as Mailing List Program)  A program that automatically performs the routine tasks needed to support a mailing list.

Listserv:  A type of mailing list program

Mailing List: A facility used for group discussion in which the messages are sent by mail to the members of the group.

Majordomo:  A type of mailing list program.

MB:  (Abbreviation for Megabytes) One million bytes or one thousand kilobytes.(acutally 2 to the 20th power.)

MHZ: (Abbreviation for megahertz) The unit of measurement used to describe the speed of a processor. Megahertz means millions of cycles per second.

MIDI:  (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A file format used to store and manipulate music on computers, synthesizers, keyboards, and other electronic music devices.

Modulation:  The process used by a modem to convert digital data to analog data.

MUD:  (Multi-User Domain)An elaborate, multiuser, text-based imaginary environment, used for talking and role-playing, often based on a fantasy, gothic or science fiction theme.

MOO:  (Multi-User Domain Object Oriented)  Similar to Muds but with graphics as well as text.  Can also be used as an educational environment such as Moose Crossing or Tapped In.

Network:  Two or more computers connected together in order to share resources or information.

Newsgroup:  A Usenet discussion group.

Outlook Express: A mail program and Usenet newsreader, part of the Microsoft Internet Explorer suite of Internet software.

Plug-in: A program designed to enhance the capabilities of a browser by processing a particular type of data that the browser cannot handle on its own.

POP:   1.(Point of Presence) An access point provided by an ISP and is usually accessed by dialing a telephone number.  2. (Post Office Protocol) A protocol used by a mail client program to receive incoming messages from a mail server.  With POP, messages are deleted from the server once they are sent to the client. Compare to the IMAP protocol.

Port Number: A number, used by a client program, to indicate to a server exactly what type of service is being requested.

Preferences:  Within Netscape, a setting that contains configuration information or that allows you to control some aspect of the operation of the browser.

Protocal: A specification (set of technical rules) used by client and server programs to communicate with one another.

Readme file: A file, included within an archive, containing important information about the other files in the archive.  If the archive holds a program, the readme file will usually contain information about installing and using the program.

Real-time:  Describes a process in which you sense and respond to something as it is happening.

Ripper:  A program that reads data from music CD and converts the music to mp 3 format.

Skin:  An accessory that changes the appearance of a program without changing its functionality.

Smiley: A series of characters, such as :   -) or ((((:----)J, that looks like a sideways face, indicating that what you are saying should not be taken as being offensive.

SMTP:  (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) The protocol used to send messages to a mail server.

Spam:  Unsolicited advertisements or inappropriate messages sent by email or posted to Usenet newsgroups.

Streaming:  Describes a system used to transmit audio or video, in which data is played in real time as it arrives.  Streaming is what makes continuous broadcasting possible over the Internet.

Subscribe: 1. Within Usenet, to indicate to your newsreader that it should put a specific newsgrou0 on the list of groups you read. 2.  With respect to a mailing list, to tell a mailing list program that your address should receive copies of all messages sent to the list.

TB: (Abbreviation for terabyte) a thousand million or one billion bytes.

TCP/IP:  The family of protocols used to run the Internet.

telnet:   service that allows you to connect to a remote computer, log in and run programs on that computer.

Tilde: ~  The character "~" (pronounced "til-duh"), used within a Unix pathname to indicate the home directory of a particular user.

URL: (uniform resource locator) A formal specification used to identify specific Internet resources.  In particular, URLs are used to identify Wb pages.

Usernet:  A worldwide system of discussion groups.  Same as the News or  Netnews.

Virtual:  Describes objects and experiences that xist only on the Net or on your computer.

Virus:  A small program designed to inser itself into a file containing another program, becoming active when that program runs.

Wav:  A file format used to store sounds.

Web Ring:  A collection of Web sites organized into a loop such that, from any Web site in the ring, y9ou can follow links to move forward or backward so as to traverse the entire ring.

Wysiwyg:  What you see is what you get.