Bandwidth: the amount
of data that may be transferred in a fixed period of time. A
channel of communication that can transfer data quickly has
high bandwidth. Bandwidth is generally measured in bits per
second (bps.
Related Terms:
- Kbps: kilobits per second
- Mbps: megabits per second
- KBps: kilobytes per second
- MBps: megabytes per second
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Basic
Input Output System (BIOS): a built-in program on
a computer that tracks and stores information about various
computer components so that the operating system can function
properly.
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Browser: refers to software such Netscape Navigator,
Microsoft Internet Explorer that is the tool used to view HTML
documents. It is a program which allows a person to view hypertext.
The web browser gives a means of viewing the content of pages
on the World Wide Web (WWW). |
Byte: a unit of storage
that holds a single character (an individual letter, number
or symbol).
- 1 byte = 8 bits
- 1024 bytes = 1 kilobyte(KB)
- 1,048,576 bytes = 1 megabyte(MB)
- 1,073,741,824 bytes = 1
gigabyte(GB)
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| Cable
Modem: a modem that uses standard cable television lines
to transmit data. The usual bandwidth is 500-1000 Kbps
for downloads, 128-500 Kbps for uploads. |
| Central
Processing Unit (CPU), Processor: the area where most of
a computer’s internal operations take place. It is generally
referred to as the brain of a computer. The CPU is directly
related to a computer’s performance. |
| Device:
any component that may be used with a computer, such as a printer,
scanner, etc. |
| Device
Driver: a program the computer uses to control a specific
device, i.e., a printer. |
| Digital
Subscriber Line (DSL): a high-speed method of data transfer
over existing telephone lines, which is considerably faster
than standard modem connections. DSL speed varies considerably
depending on the service purchased. |
| Email:
a method of transmitting messages over a network. Usually refers
to transmitting messages over the Internet. |
| Extranet:
an intranet accessible to outside users. |
| Finder:
a program which is part of older versions of the Mac operating
systems. It manages a Macintosh's desktop and file system, which
is the basic means to interact with a Macintosh computer. |
| Floppy
Disk: A portable data storage device. They are slow and
hold little data compared to hard drives, but make up for this
in their low cost and widely portable nature. The most common
formats are 3.5", 5.25", and ZIP disks. |
| Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ): A compilation of answers to common
questions. |
| Hard
Disk: An internal data storage device. Hard disks are faster
and hold significantly more data than floppy disks. They are
generally permanent fixtures inside of a computer. |
| Hub:
A device used to connect various other devices in a network.
Hubs are generally used to connect sections of a LAN to one
another, such as connecting computers to a server. |
| Internet:
A worldwide network connecting many computers. It is decentralized,
which means there is no main host or server. Each Internet computer
operates independently. |
| Intranet:
A network of computers that is internal to a company and uses
Internet technologies to share information. |
| Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN): A method of data transfer
over digital or regular telephone lines similar to, but faster
than, standard modems. Usual transfer rates are either 64 Kbps/sec
or 128 Kbps/sec. |
| Local-Area
Network (LAN): According to OneNorthwest, a LAN is a group
of computers connected for the purpose of sharing resources.
Computers on a LAN can exchange files with each other, and share
common hardware, such as printers and modems. The computers
on a local area network are typically joined by a single transmission
cable and are located within a small area such as a single building
or section of a building. LANs can in turn be connected to other
LANs, forming a WAN, or connected to the Internet. |
| Memory:
An area of storage on the computer. Usually refers to RAM (random-access
memory), which dictates how much information the computer may
handle at a given moment. RAM is a critical part of any modern
computer's performance. |
| Modem:
A computer device that transmits data over standard telephone
lines. Modems may transfer data anywhere from 300 bps to 57.6
Kbps. Most modern modems are 14.4 Kbps, 28.8 Kbps, 44.4 Kbps,
or 57.6 Kbps. |
| Motherboard:
The main circuit board of a computer. It contains the most
integral parts of a computer such as the CPU, BIOS, RAM and
additional boards. It allows various parts of a computer to
communicate. |
| Multitasking:
The ability to execute more than one task at the same time.
Most modern operating systems do this by rapidly switching between
various tasks. |
| Operating
System: The program that controls how parts of a computer
work together. It includes the basic user interface (how one
interacts with the computer). It is required in order to run
specific software for a particular computer. Example operating
systems include MS-DOS, Windows, UNIX, Linux, and variants of
the MacOS. |
| Plotter:
A device that uses a certain type of pen for drawing images,
much like a standard printer. It is generally used for printouts
that are large, or require greater precision than a standard
printer offers. |
| Peer
to Peer Network (PTP): A network in which each computer
communicates directly with one another, rather than depending
on a server. This method is usually best suited to networks
with a light demand. |
| Program:
A list of instructions which, when executed, cause a computer
to perform a specific task. Software is an executable version
of a program; source code is the actual list of instructions. |
| Server:
A computer that controls the network it is part of and various
resources on it. A server may manage file storage, printing,
and network traffic across a network. |
| Software
License: Describes how an individual or group may use a
particular piece of software. |
| T1
Carrier / T3 Carrier: A dedicated network connection which
can transfer data at speeds up to 1.544 Mbps. Business and Internet
Service Providers often lease T1 lines from a telephone company
to connect to the Internet. T3s are higher speed versions of
T1s; they support data transfer rates up to 43 Mbps. The backbone
of the Internet is comprised of T3s. |
| Technology
Assessment: An evaluation of electronic resources in an
organization. The purpose of which is to help improve an organization's
understanding and use of technology to achieve their mission. |
| Uninterruptible
Power Supply (UPS): A power supply containing a battery
which can sustain power during power failures. A computer can
usually be kept running from 5 to 15 minutes with a UPS, allowing
one to save files and shut down the computer properly. |
| Virus:
A program which may be installed and run on a computer without
the user's knowledge. It may stand alone or attach itself to
another program. Many computer viruses cause damage to the data
stored on a computer. Safe sharing of software and use of anti-virus
programs offer some protection against computer viruses. |
| Wide-Area
Network (WAN): A computer network distributed over a large
geographical distance. It usually includes two or more LANs.
The largest WAN is the Internet. |
| World
Wide Web (WWW): Refers to the collective of Internet servers
which support HTML, a type of document formatting. These documents
let you link to other such documents as well as graphics, audio,
and video. A web browser (such as Netscape Navigator or Internet
Explorer) transfers the documents from the server to the user's
computer and displays them. |
