| Terminology means Technical Definition, here are some terminologies used for computers, they are categorized alphabetically, either you scroll down the page until you reach the terminology you wants, or it would be easier to click the terminology you want from the list. I hope you like this page and make a good use of it, also there will be an updates in the future, you may visit it regularly. | |
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| Letter U : | UNIX - UPS - USB |
| UNIX |
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| UNIX is an
operating system that originated at Bell Labs in 1969 as an interactive time-sharing
system. Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie are considered the inventors of UNIX. The name
(pronounced YEW-nihks) was a pun based on an earlier
system, Multics. In 1974, UNIX became the first operating system written in the C
language. UNIX has evolved as a kind of large freeware product, with many extensions and
new ideas provided in a variety of versions of UNIX by different companies, universities,
and individuals. Partly because it was not a proprietary operating system owned by any one
of the leading computer companies and partly because it is written in a standard language
and embraced many popular ideas, UNIX became the first open or standard operating system.
A composite of the C language and shell (user command) interfaces from different versions
of UNIX were standardized under the auspices of the IEEE as the Portable Operating System
Interface (POSIX). In turn, the POSIX interfaces were specified in the X/Open Programming
Guide 4.2 (also known as the "Single UNIX Specification" and "UNIX
95"). The "official" trademarked UNIX is now owned by the The Open Group,
an industry standards organization, which certifies and brands UNIX implementations. UNIX operating systems are used in widely-sold workstation products from Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, IBM, and a number of other companies. The UNIX environment and the client/server program model were important elements in the development of the Internet and the reshaping of computing as centered in networks rather than in individual computers. Linux, a UNIX derivative distributed as "free software," is increasing in popularity as an alternative to proprietary operating systems.
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| UPS |  |
| A UPS
(uninterruptible power supply) is a device that allows your computer to keep running for
at least a short time when the primary power source is lost. It also provides protection
from power surges. A UPS contains a battery that "kicks in" when the device
senses a loss of power from the primary source. If you are using the computer when the UPS
notifies you of the power loss, you have time to save any data you are working on and exit
gracefully before the secondary power source (the battery) runs out. When all power runs
out, any data in your computer's random access memory (RAM) is erased. When power surges
occur, a UPS intercepts the surge so that it doesn't damage your computer. Software is available that automatically backs up (saves) any data that is being worked on when the UPS becomes activated.
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| Selected Links | |
| American Power Conversion is one of the leading makers of UPS devices. | |
| There is an Uninterruptible
Power Supply FAQ.
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| USB | |
| USB
(Universal Serial Bus) is a "plug-and-play" interface between a computer and
add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones, scanners, and
printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your computer without having to add an
adapter card or even having to turn the computer off. The USB peripheral bus standard was
developed by Compaq, IBM, DEC, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom and the
technology is available without charge for all computer and device vendors. USB supports a data speed of 12 megabits per second. This speed will accommodate a wide range of devices, including MPEG-2 video devices, data gloves, and digitizers. It is anticipated that USB will easily accommodate plug-in telephones that use ISDN and digital PBXs. Since October, 1996, the Windows operating systems have been equipped with USB drivers or special software designed to work with specific I/O device types. USB is integrated into Windows 98. Today, most new computers and peripheral devices are equipped with USB. A different "plug-and-play" standard, Firewire/IEEE 1394, originated by Sony, is designed to support much higher data rates and devices such as video camcorders and digital video disk (DVD) players. Both standards are expected to exist together, serving different device types.
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| Selected Links | |
| Texas Instruments provides the USB 1.0 Specifications in a PDF version. | |
| Intel's USB site describes the USB components and how USB works. | |
| There is a USB Implementors Forum Home Page.
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| Designed
By Wessam Sherif, All Rights Reserved.
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