Glossary [1]

Absolute path: A designation of the location of a file which is given in relation to the root directory; it includes the root directory and the descending series of subdirectories leading to the end file.

 

Access code: The password, which the user must type in to get access into a computer system.

 

Active Server Page: (ASP) A specification for a Web page that is dynamically created by the Web server and contains both HTML and scripting code.

 

ActiveX: ActiveX is a model for writing programs so that other programs and the operating system can call them. ActiveX technology is used with Microsoft Internet Explorer to make interactive Web pages that look and behave like computer programs, rather than static pages.

 

Address resolution: Translation of an Internet address into its physical address (MAC or Ethernet address).

 

ADP: (Automatic Data Processing) The processing of information by means of a computer.

 

Anonymous FTP: To transfer files using anonymous FTP, you must log in as "guest" or "anonymous" and enter your email address as the password. By using the special user ID of "anonymous," the network user will bypass local security checks and will have access to publicly accessible files on the remote system. Many of these sites are provided by corporations, universities and government agencies. The publicly available files are usually in a directory called "pub", which is isolated from the files used by other users on the system and will not accept uploads from anonymous users.

 

ANSI: American National Standards Institute. The U.S. standardization body. ANSI is the U.S. member of the International Standards Organization. (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ANSI is an organization that develops standards for many things, only some having to do with computers, such as properties of diskettes, programming languages, etc. ASCII is an ANSI character set. ANSI standards are voluntary.

 

AOL: America Online. One of the largest providers of online services. AOL offers email, interactive newspapers and magazines, conferencing, software files, computing support, and online classes, in addition to full Internet and World-Wide Web access.

 

API: Application Program Interface. An interface between the operating system and application programs, which includes the way the application programs communicate with the operating system, and the services the operating system makes available to the programs.

 

ARPANET: Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. A Wide Area Network (WAN) developed in the 1960s by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, that linked government sites, academic research sites, and industrial sites around the world. ARPANET was the testing ground and original backbone of the Internet.

 

Applet: A little application. An applet can be a utility or other simple program. On the World Wide Web, there are many applets written in Java language which are attached to HTML documents.

 

ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A code in which each alphanumeric character is represented as a number from 0 to 127, translated into a 7-bit binary code for the computer. ASCII is used by most microcomputers and printers, and because of this, text-only files can be transferred easily between different kinds of computers.

 

Authentication: Verification of identity as a security measure. Passwords and digital signatures are forms of authentication.

 

Authoring tool: Software that allows developers to create multimedia presentations or World Wide Web pages. Typically, these tools automate some of the more difficult parts of generating program source codes so that developers can work on a higher, more abstract level.

 

B2B e-commerce: Business to business electronic commerce. Businesses conducting transactions with one another via the World Wide Web.

 

Baud: In common usage the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. One baud is roughly equal to one bit per second.

 

Backbone: In a hierarchical network, the backbone is the top level, employing high-speed data transmission and serving as a major access point; smaller networks connect to the backbone.

 

Back end: A computer that does the main processing but has a smaller, more friendly computer that the user interacts with (called the front end).

 

Backup: An extra copy of a file kept for safety.

 

Backward compatible: A backward-compatible version of software is able to coexist with older versions that may have been installed on the machine previously, and able to read files of the older version.

 

Bandwagon Standardization: A process of standardization whereby subsequent entrants to the market adopt the standard of an existing firm.

 

Bandwidth: The amount of data that can be sent through a network connection, measured in bits per second (bps). High bandwidth allows fast transmission or high-volume transmission.

 

Banner: A graphic display on a Web page used for advertisement. A banner ad is linked to an advertiser’s Web page.

 

BBS: Shorthand for bulletin board service. A BBS usually requires users to dial in through telephone lines to access specialized information or services.

 

Binary code: A system of numbers having 2 as its base and using 0s and 1s for its notation. Binary code is used by computers because it works well with digital electronics.

 

Boot: The process of loading a computer’s operating system.

 

Breach of Contract: A breakdown of contract, which entitles the non-breaching party to damages.  The contract breacher must compensate the non-breaching parties for damages that are caused by the breach.

 

Broadband: A transmission medium that can carry signals from multiple independent network carriers on a single coaxial or fiber optic cable, by establishing different bandwidth channels. Broadband technology can support a wide range of frequencies and is used to transmit data, voice, and video over long distances.

 

Broadcast: A transmission sent to many unspecified receivers at a time by means of a computer network, radio waves, or satellite. A broadcast is sent to everyone who has the equipment to receive it. On an Ethernet, a broadcast packet is one which is transmitted to all hosts on the network.

 

Buffer: A reserved area of memory for temporarily holding data. A buffer can hold data being sent from a high-speed device to a low-speed device until the slower device can accept the input; for example, to hold data sent to a printer until the printer is ready for it.

 

Bundled software: Software that comes free with the purchase of new hardware, usually a variety of basic programs and sometimes an encyclopedia, sample computer games, or other multimedia software.

 

Bus: A set of conductors which connect the functional units in a computer. It is called a bus because it travels to all destinations. There are local busses that connect elements within the CPU and busses which connect the computer to external memory and peripherals. Most personal computers use 32-bit busses both internally and externally.

 

Business process re-engineering: (BPR ) To make radical changes in an organization from the ground up in an aim to improve performance and make more efficient use of resources. The concept of BPR generally includes the use of computers and information technology to organize data, project trends, etc.

 

Business Software Alliance: (BSA) An alliance of software publishers created to fight software piracy in countries around the world, by educating the public and getting laws passed.

 

Byte: The amount of memory space used to store one character, which is usually 8 bits.

 

Cache: A temporary storage area for frequently-accessed or recently-accessed data. Having certain data stored in cache speeds up the operation of the computer

 

Cable modem: A cable modem is an external device that hooks up to your computer and instead of getting an internet connection through your telephone wire (or another system), you get a connection through your cable network (same place your cable TV connection comes from).

 

Certificate: A document that is issued by a trusted third party, certificate authority, to identify the holder.

 

Certificate authority: A CA (certificate authority) is an authority in a network that issues and manages security credentials and public key for message encryption. As part of a public key infrastructure (public key infrastructure), a CA checks with a registration authority (registration authority) to verify information provided by the requestor of a digital certificate. If the RA verifies the requestor's information, the CA can then issue a certificate.

 

CHI: (Computer-Human Interaction)  An interdisciplinary filed combining education, information  science, graphic art, industrial design, mechanical engineering, psychology, artificial intelligence etc. to understand how human beings process information so that products can better be designed to enhance useability.

 

Chat room: A real-time electronic forum; a virtual room where visitors can meet others and share ideas on a particular subject. There are chat rooms on the Internet and other online services.

 

CGI script: Common Gateway Interface script. A program that is run on a Web server, in response to input from a browser. The CGI script is the link between the server and a program running on the system; for example, a database

 

Client/Server: An architecture in which one computer can get information from another. The client is the computer that asks for access to data, software, or services. The server, which can be anything from a personal computer to a mainframe, supplies the requested data or services for the client. 

 

Cluster: A group of sectors on a disk which is treated as a unit.

 

Communications protocol: A standard way of regulating data exchange between computers, including the rules for data transmission and the formatting of messages. Some communications protocols are TCP/IP, DECnet, AppleTalk, SNA, and IPX/SPX.

 

Compiler: A computer program that translates a high-level programming language into machine language.

 

CONTU: (Commision on New Technological Uses of Copywright) A national commission formed by Congress in the late 1970s to recommend the proper application of copyright law to new technology.

 

Cookie: A cookie is a set of data that a website server gives to a browser the first time the user visits the site, that is updated with each return visit. The remote server saves the information the cookie contains about the user and the user's browser does the same, as a text file stored in the Netscape or Explorer system folder. Not all browsers support cookies.

 

Contract: An agreement between two or more parties that is enforced by a court.  Oral contracts or agreements are generally enforceable.  However, all states have a Statute of Frauds, which require writing for certain categories of cases.  Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code requires a writing for the sale of goods which is $500 or greater.  Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code governing the lease of goods requires a writing for leases $1,000 or greater.  A sales contract, for example, is an agreement for the seller to tender conforming goods and the buyer to pay for them.  Contract is a broad field of law encompassing real estate, goods, services, licenses, online contracts, and performance contracts. Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code governs contracts for the sale of goods.  However, most contracts are governed by the common law.  The common law is general law as distinct from state law codes such as the Uniform Commercial Code or federal statutes governing contracts such as the Magnuson-Moss act.  A web site contract is an agreement by the web site visitor to adhere to the terms and the services of the site.  An electronic contract is an enforceable agreement where computers without human review transmit the offer and acceptance.

 

Cyberlaw: Relatively new field of Internet and computer law. The field includes new areas such as the responsibility of Internet Service Providers and bulletin-board system operators for the material that passes through or is stored on their systems and the framework for international electronic commerce, and a new look at traditional areas such as intellectual property rights and copyright and censorship.

 

Daemon: A UNIX program that runs continuously in the background, until it is activated by a particular event. This word is often used to refer to programs that handle email.

 

Debugging: Finding and removing errors, or bugs, from a computer program or system.

 

Digital Contracts: A report published by The Institute for Information Law, Amsterdam, discussing the formation and validity of online contracts.

 

Digital signature: Digital signature is an electronic signature that can be used to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of a document, and possibly to ensure that the original content of the message or document that has been sent is unchanged. Digital signatures are easily transportable, cannot be imitated by someone else, and can be automatically time-stamped.

 

Domain: A Domain is an Internet address in alphabetic form. Domain names must have at least 2 parts: the part on the left which names the organization, and the part on the right which identifies the highest sub domain, such as the country (fr for France, uk for United Kingdom) or the type of organization (com for commercial; edu for educational, etc.). Directory levels can be indicated in other parts. The IP address is translated into the domain name by the domain name server.

 

Download: To transfer files or data from one computer to another. To download means to receive; to upload means to transmit.

 

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line or Digital Subscriber Loop. Refers to the variety of different types of Digital Subscriber Line protocols – high-speed data transmission protocols that are compatible with regular copper telephone wire. DSL is typically used to provide a continuous, high-speed connection directly to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). There are several different types of DSL (ADSL, SDSL, UADSL, etc.), and many of them make it possible to talk on the telephone and use the Internet at the same time. It is also called High-Speed DSL (HDSL).

 

E-commerce: Electronic commerce. The use of computers and electronic communications in business transactions. E-commerce may include the use of electronic data interchange, electronic money exchange, Internet advertising, Web sites, online databases, computer networks, and point-of-sale computer systems.

 

ECPA: Electronic Communications Privacy Act.A law which prohibits phone tapping, interception of e-mail, and other privacy violations except under special law enforcement situations usually requiring a warrant.

 

EDI: Electronic Data Interchange. Conversion of a transmitted document into a format readable by the receiving computer.

 

EDP: Electronic Data Processing. Data processing using electronic machines (computers).

 

.edu: A top-level domain name used for educational web sites.

 

Electronic signature: Transformation of a message that allows the recipient to verify the source and integrity of the message.

 

E-mail: Electronic mail. A service that sends messages on computers via local or global networks.

 

E-mail address: The address that gives the source or destination of an e-mail message.

 

Encryption: Encryption is a form of putting data into a secret code so it is unreadable except by authorized users.

 

Ethernet: A very common and very fast method of networking computers in a LAN. Ethernet will handle about 10,000,000 bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer.

 

Extranet: An Extranet is the part of a company or organization's internal computer network which is available to outside users, for example, information services for customers.

 

FAQ: (Frequently Asked Questions) - FAQs are comilations of frequently asked questions on a particular topic and their answers. They are usually written by people who are tired of answering the same questions over and over.

 

 

FDDI: Fiber Distributed Data Interface. An ANSI standard for 100 Mbit/s data transmission through fiber optic cable, in a token ring setup. Many local area networks can be linked together with a backbone that uses FDDI.

 

Filters: A filter is a program or section of code that is designed to examine each input or output request for certain qualifying criteria and then process or forward it accordingly. This term was used in UNIX systems and is now used in other operating systems. A filter is "pass-through" code that takes input data, makes some specific decision about it and possible transformation of it, and passes it on to another program in a kind of pipeline. Usually, a filter does no input/output operation on its own. Filters are sometimes used to remove or insert headers or control characters in data.

 

Filtering software: Application software that blocks objectionable materials over the Internet or the LAN.

 

Finger: A UNIX command that enables a user to find another user's login name and e-mail address, and sometimes other information; it is necessary to know the name of the computer where the other person has an account.

 

Firewall: A firewall architecture which employs two routers to filter and transfer information between an organization's internal network and the Internet.

 

Firmware: Software stored in ROM or PROM; essential programs that remain even when the system is turned off. Firmware is easier to change than hardware but more permanent than software stored on disk.

 

Flat panel display: A type of video display that is relatively thinner than the desktop monitor. Most commonly used in laptops and few new desktops.

 

Flow chart: A graphic representation of the analysis and solution of a problem in which symbols are used to represent operations and the data flow.

 

Frame: 1.A variable-length packet of data that is transmitted in frame relay technology. 2.One complete scan of the computer display screen. 3.In video or film, a single picture of a series that, displayed in sequence, creates the illusion of motion. 4.In computer graphics, the boundary that surrounds a graphic image. 5.On World Wide Web pages, a bordered area that acts as an independent browser window.

 

Freeware:  It is software that is available free of charge, but which is copyrighted by the developer, who retains the right to control its redistribution and to sell it in the future. Freeware is different from free software, which has no restrictions on use, modification, or redistribution.

 

FTP: File Transfer Protocol. The Internet standard high-level protocol for transferring files from one machine to another over TCP/IP networks. FTP uses ports 20 and 21. FTP is commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers. It is also used to transfer Web page files.

 

Gateway: A device that connects two computer networks that use different protocols. It translates between protocols so that computers on the connected networks can exchange data. For example, commercial online services often have gateways for sending e-mail to Internet addresses.

 

GIF: Graphics Interchange Format. A format used for displaying bitmap images on World Wide Web pages, usually called a "gif" because .gif is the filename extension. These files use lossless compression and can have 256 colors. JPEG and GIF are commonly used for images on the Web; JPEG is considered best for photos and GIF for other graphic images.

 

Gigabyte: One billion bytes. Abbreviated GB, Gbyte or G-byte.

 

Gopher: Through Gopher, a user can access files from many different computers by looking through hierarchical menus to find specific topics. A document may be a text, sound, image, or other type file. Gopher sites can now be accessed through the World Wide Web.

 

Gray Market: A marketplace where goods are bought internationally and then resold to customers domestically, usually at a price far below the domestic price.

 

Gross Negligence: Negligence beyond garden variety or ordinary negligence.  One legal scholar stated that gross negligence could not be defined with precision and stated it was “negligence with an epithet.”  In Texas, punitive damages were once recoverable for gross negligence.  Today, most jurisdictions require the plaintiff to prove that the defendant was either intentionally or recklessly negligent in injuring the plaintiff.

 

GUI: Graphical User Interface. An interface that has pictures as well as words on the screen. Originally invented by Xerox, the idea was expanded and popularized by Apple Computers. With windows, icons, pull-down menus, and the mouse, the graphical user interface is easier to learn and work with.

 

Groupware: Software for people working together on a project. Groupware makes it possible for several people to work on the same file at once, via a network. It also helps with scheduling meetings and other kinds of group planning. Lotus Notes is a popular groupware package.

 

Hacker: 1.One who is knowledgeable about computers and creative in computer programming, usually implying the ability to program in assembly language or low-level languages. A hacker can mean an expert programmer who finds special tricks for getting around obstacles and stretching the limits of a system. 2.To some people it means an unconventional programmer or one who is not formally trained.

 

Hard disk: The main device that a computer uses to store information. Hard disks are rigid aluminium or glass disks about 3.5" in diameter in a personal computer, and smaller in a laptop. They are coated with ferromagnetic material and rotate around a central axle. Data is transferred magnetically by a read/write head. A hard disk drive for a personal computer may contain as many as eight hard disks, rotating around the same axle.

 

Hardware: The hardware is the physical part of a computer system; the machinery and equipment.

 

Harmless Error: An error in the trial which did not affect the outcome of the judgment.  A trivial error that does not substantially impact the outcome or prejudice the parties.

 

Header: 1.Text that appears at the top of every page in a document, which can be set up with a template in word processing and page layout programs.2.The part of a communications packet that contains control information for the packet such as source, destination, input sequence number, and priority level.

 

Hit: One visit to a World Wide Web page by a user. Many servers have counters on their home pages to tell how much traffic they are getting.

 

Home page: The first page on a World Wide Web site, to which supporting pages are linked.

 

Host: A computer connected to a network,  that provides data and services to other computers.

 

HTML: HyperText Markup Language. The language used to create World Wide Web pages, with hyperlinks and markup for text formatting (different heading styles, bold, italic, numbered lists, insertion of images, etc.).

 

HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol. The protocol most often used to transfer information from World Wide Web servers to browsers, which is why Web addresses begin with http://. Also called Hypertext Transport Protocol.

 

Hung: Referring to a state in which a system is up and running but for some reason cannot complete a process; the system can do some things but is not fully functional.

 

Hyperlink: A link in an HTML document that leads to another World Wide Web site, or another place within the same document. Hyperlinks are usually underlined or shown in a different color from the surrounding text. Sometimes hyperlinks are pictures.

 

Incompatible: Not able to work together. Can be said of hardware/hardware, software/software, or hardware/software combinations.

 

Information privacy: Aspects of privacy law that involve the right of individuals on the internet to determine when, how, and to what extent they choose to share their personal information with others.

 

Information superhighway: A global, high-speed communications network that will carry voice, data, video, and other forms of information all over the world, and that will make it possible for people to send email, get up-to-the-minute news, and access business, government and educational information. The Internet is already providing many of these features, via telephone networks, cable TV services, online service providers, and satellites.

 

Information Technology: (IT). The technology of data processing/information management.

 

Input device: A peripheral device that is used to enter commands or information into a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, joystick, modem, scanner, or touch screen.

 

Input/Output: (I/O).Transfer of data into a computer, and from the computer to the outside world.

 

Intellectual property law: It is the law of patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets. Generally, it is law that relates to intangible property that is in the nature of intellectual output, ie. works of authorship, inventions, etc.

 

Internet: Internet is a group of networks interconnected via routers. This worldwide information highway is comprised of thousands of interconnected computer networks, and reaches millions of people in many different countries.

 

Internet community: A group of people with similar interests who are organized on a Web site where they can chat and collaborate.

 

Internet Engineering Task Force: (IETF) The main standards organization for Internet. The IETF is a large international body of network designers, vendors, and researchers working to expand and improve the way Internet functions.

 

Interactive: A term for computer programs that accept input from the user while they are running; for example, a game that waits for the user to take an action, then responds to that action. The interaction between computer and user may take place through typed commands, voice commands, mouse clicks, or other means of interfacing. The opposite of interactive processing is batch processing, where all the commands are given before the program starts to run.

 

InterNIC: Internet Network Information Center. A group of three organizations which together provide services for NSFNet. General Atomics handles information services, AT&T handles directory and database services, and Network Solutions, Inc.(NSI) handles registration services. Network addresses and domain names for the Internet are assigned by InterNIC through NSI.

 

Interoperability: The ability of software and hardware on different machines to communicate with each other.

 

IP address: The Internet Protocol address; a numeric address such as 10.2.9.27 that the domain name server translates into a domain name.

 

ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network. Digital telecommunications lines that can transmit both voice and digital network services up to 128K, and are much faster and more reliable than high-speed analog modems. ISDN lines are offered by many telephone companies.

 

ISP: Internet Service Provider.  A company that provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet at speeds ranging from 300bps to OC-3, and other related services such as Web site building and hosting.

 

JAVA: A cross-platform programming language from Sun Microsystems that can be used to create animations and interactive features on World Wide Web pages. Java programs are embedded into HTML documents.

 

JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group. A format for storing high-quality color and grayscale photographs in bitmap form; also the group that developed the format. JPEG provides lossy compression by segmenting the picture into small blocks which are divided to get the desired ratio; the process is reversed to decompress the image. JPEG uses the JPEG File Interchange Format, or JFIF.

 

Kbps: Kilobits per second. Thousand bits per second. A data transfer rate.

 

Kernel: The essential part of a program or operating system, that performs the basic functions.

 

LAN: Local Area Network.  A group of PCs and other computer devices, generally within a single building that are connected together. Computers on a LAN can exchange information and share resources.

 

Leased line: A dedicated line that is leased exclusively to connect two points, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.A leased line gives the highest-speed connection.

 

Legacy system: An information system that has been in use for a long time, usually on a mainframe or minicomputer.

 

License - end user: A license that gives a user right to use a particular kind of software and specifies the conditions under which it may be used; for example, how many copies may be made, whether or not it may be distributed to other users, whether it can be modified by the user.

 

Link: 1.A connector; anything that connects two or more things. 2.A pointer in an HTML document that leads to another World Wide Web site, or to another place within the same document; also called a hyperlink. Linked text is usually underlined or shown in a different color from the surrounding text. Sometimes graphics are links or contain links. A link is activated by clicking on it. 3 A pointer embedded in a database record that refers to data or the location of data in another record.

 

Listserv: The most common kind of maillist, Listservs are common on the Internet.

 

Load: 1.) To copy a program into memory so it can be run. 2.) To put a disk or tape into a drive so it can be used. 3.) To put data onto a disk so it can be used.

 

Log: A record of a computer's or application's activity, used for system information, backup, and recovery.

 

Logon: The process of connecting to a network or remote system.

 

Logic Bomb: A lockout feature implemented in software programs whereby the program will shut down unless it receives a license or a security key from the programmer.

 

Logoff: The act of disconnecting from a network or remote system.

 

Machine language: The language which is actually read and understood by the computer. Machine language consists of instructions, written in binary code, that a computer can execute directly. Each machine language statement corresponds to one machine action. An operation that requires one machine-language instruction in one computer may require several instructions in another computer.

 

Macro: One instruction that represents a sequence of simpler instructions.

 

Magnetic tape: A data storage medium used for backup. The tape is made of a thin plastic strip with a magnetisable oxide coating on one side. To read or write, the tape drive winds the tape from one reel to another, causing it to move past a read/write head. Tapes are available in reels and cartridges of various sizes. The data is written in blocks with interblock gaps between them. To find a specific block of data on the tape the computer must read everything in front of it.

 

Mailbox: A box that holds incoming mail; a box for electronic mail is a file where mail messages are stored until the addressee opens and reads them.

 

Mailing list: An email discussion forum. Participants subscribe to a list, receive copies of messages sent by other members, and can email their own comments. In some mailing lists there is a moderator who receives all mail, screens it, and decides which messages to pass on. Unmoderated lists simply redirect all mail received to the list of recipients. Mailing lists may be highly technical, or social and recreational.

 

Mainframe: A "mainframe" originally meant the cabinet containing the central processor unit of a very large computer. After minicomputers became available, the word mainframe came to refer to the large computer itself eg. IBM mainframe.

 

Memory: Also called main memory. The working space used by the computer to hold the program that is currently running, along with the data it needs, and to run programs and process data. The main memory is built from RAM chips. The amount of memory available determines the size of programs that can be run, and whether more than one program can be run at once. Main memory is temporary, and is lost when the computer is turned off.

 

Metatags: Metatags are HTML tags which provide information that describes the content of the webpages a user will be viewing. Search engines have recognized that website owners and administrators can use this resource to control their positioning and descriptions in search engine results. Many search engines have now incorporated reading metatags as part of their indexing formulas.

 

Microchip: Also called microelectronic or integrated circuit. A microelectronic device comprising many miniature transistors and other electronic components on a single thin rectangle of silicon or sapphire. A microchip can contain dozens, hundreds, or millions of electronic components.

 

MIME: (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). Extensions to the Internet mail format that allow it to carry multiple types of data (binary, audio, video, graphics, etc.) as attachments to e-mail messages.

 

Modem: MOdulator/DEModulator - A simple analog data communications device for transmitting data over a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) line. Digital signals are converted to analog signals and vice versa. Modems are used to send data signals (digital) over the telephone network, which is usually analog. The modem modulates the digital data of computers into analog signals to send over the telephone lines, then demodulates back into digital signals to be read by the computer on the other end; thus the name "modem" for MOdulator/DEModulator.

 

MPEG: Motion Picture Expert Group. Group that sets standards for compressing and storing video, audio, and animation in digital form. MPEG is a lossy compression method. MPEG-1 is a standard for CD-ROM video and audio.MPEG-2 is a standard for full-screen, broadcast quality video.MPEG-4 is a standard for video telephony.

 

MP3: MP3 stands for Motion Picture Experts Group, Audio Layer 3.A popular music download format.MP3 produces CD-quality music in a compressed file that can be transferred quickly, and played on any multimedia computer with MP3 player software.

 

MS-DOS: (Microsoft Disk Operating System) A personal computer operating system from Microsoft. It is a single user system that runs one program at a time because of limited memory.

 

Multimedia: Multimedia is communication that uses any combination of different media. Multimedia may include text, spoken audio, music, images, animation and video. The large amounts of data required for computer multimedia files makes CD-ROMs a good option for storage; but there are other ways of receiving multimedia communications, such as the World Wide Web. Multimedia programs are often interactive, and include games, sales presentations, encyclopedias, and more.

 

Multiprocessing: Using two or more processors in the same computer, or two or more computers connected together, to execute more than one program or instruction at the same time.

 

Navigate: To find one's way around on the World Wide Web by following hypertext links from document to document, and from computer to computer.

 

Netiquette: The etiquette of the Internet.

 

NetSearch: A group of internet search engines that allow you to search if you do not know the URL of the information you are seeking.

 

Network: A group of interconnected computers, including the hardware and software used to connect them.

 

NIC: (Network Interface Card) The circuit board or other form of computer hardware that serves as the interface between a computer (or other form of data terminal equipment) and the communications network; in ADSL, a common NIC is an Ethernet NIC, which serves as the interface to the ADSL modem from the computer.

 

NNTP: (Network News Transfer Protocol) Internet protocol for connecting to Usenet newsgroups and post messages.

 

Node: A computer or a terminal connected to a network.

 

Nonexludability: A characteristic of a public good whereby the creator of the good is unable to prevent those who do not pay for the good from consuming it.

 

Nonrivalrous: A characteristic of a public good whereby additional consumers of the good do not deplete the supply of the good available to others.

 

OEM: (Original Equipment Manufacturer) A company that manufactures a product and sells it to a reseller.

 

Online: Connected to the Internet or other online service that demands the use of a modem by the user; or, referring to a user who has an account which gives access to the Internet or other online service.

 

Open source software: Software in which the program source code is openly shared with developers and users. Benefits of OSS are that developers can customize programs, and these innovations, in turn, are shared within the programming community so that everyone learns from each other. Linux is one popular example.

 

Operating System (OS): The main control program of a computer that schedules tasks, manages storage, and handles communication with peripherals. Its main part, called the kernel, is always present. The operating system presents a basic user interface when no applications are open, and all applications must communicate with the operating system.

 

OSI: (Open Systems Interconnection, or Open Systems Interconnect). A model developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) to allow computer systems made by different vendors to communicate with each other. The goal of OSI is to create a worldwide open systems networking environment where all systems can interconnect. Most communications protocols today are based on the OSI model.

 

Outsourcing: Paying an outside contractor to provide certain services which they may specialize in, such as software development.

 

Package: An application program or group of programs developed for the general public. Rather than being custom designed for a specific user or company, the software is designed to meet the needs of a variety of users.

 

Packet: A unit of data formatted for transmission on a network. Data is broken up into packets for sending over a packet switching network. Each packet has a header containing its source and destination, a block of data content, and an error-checking code. All the data packets are reassembled once they have arrived.

 

Packet switching: A technology for sending packets of information over a network.

 

Parameter: In computing, a value sent to a program or operation by the user.

 

Password: A secret sequence of letters and other symbols needed to log in to a computer system as an authorized user. When a user enters a password, it appears as a line of asterisks ******* so no one can read it.

 

Patch: A quick modification of a program, which is sometimes a temporary fix until the problem can be solved more thoroughly.

 

Path: The exact directions to a file on a computer. These directions are usually described by means of the hierarchical filing system from the top down, stating the drive, directory, any subdirectories, the file itself, and its filename extension if it has one.

 

PC: (Personal Computer) There are many kinds of personal computers; PC usually refers to personal computers that conform to the standard of the IBM PC.

 

PCS: (Personal Communication Services). Wireless communications services that use the digital technology for transmission and reception.

 

PCT: (Patent Cooperation Treaty) An international treaty signed in 1970 which allows a patent applicant in a member country to delay subsequent member country applications for up to 30 months while still maintaining her original priority date.

 

Peripheral: Any piece of hardware connected to a computer; any part of the computer outside the CPU and working memory. Some examples of peripherals are keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, scanners, disk and tape drives, microphones, speakers, joysticks, plotters, and cameras.

 

PGP: (Pretty Good Privacy) An encryption program based on RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) public-key cryptography. PGP allows users to exchange files and messages, with both privacy and authentication, over all kinds of networks. The messages are unreadable unless the receiver has an encryption key.

 

PICS: (Platform for Independent Content Section) It is a cross-industry working group whose goal is to facilitate the development of technologies to give users of interactive media, such as the Internet, control over the kinds of material to which they and their children have access. PICS members believe that individuals, groups and businesses should have easy access to the widest possible range of content selection products, and a diversity of voluntary rating systems.

 

Piracy: The illegal copying of software for personal or commercial use.

 

Platform: the platform refers to the type of operating system (Windows, DOS, Unix) or computer (PIII) on which a software can run.

 

Plug-in: An accessory program that enhances a main application (eg.) Internet Explorer plug-in.

 

Point-to-Point Protocol: (PPP) A protocol for communication between computers using TCP/IP, over standard telephone lines, ISDN, and other high-speed connections.

 

Port: A socket at the back of a computer used to plug in external devices such as a modem, mouse, scanner, or printer. A logical channel identified for network communications.

 

Portable software: Software that can be used on more than one hardware platform, and easily switched from one to another.

 

Programming: Designing and writing a computer program. The programmer must decide what the program needs to do, develop the logic of how to do it, and write instructions for the computer in a programming language that the computer can translate into its own language and execute.

 

Privacy: The common law tort of privacy was first defined by Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis in “The Right to Privacy,” 4 Harvard Law Review 193 (1890).  Warren and Brandeis argued that individuals had a legally protectible “right to be left alone.”  The common law tort has developed to protect citizens from intrusion upon seclusion, the right of publicity, public and the disclosure of private facts.

 

Private key: Private key is a form of cryptography in which sender and receiver have the same key or similar keys.

 

Protocol: a communications protocol is a set of rules or standard designed so that computers can exchange information with a minimum of errors.

 

Proxy: A special software program that runs on a firewall gateway server, intercepts the communications sent across the Internet, and repackages it so that it can be sent to a secure internal network.

 

PSTN: (Public Switched Telephone Network). A voice and data communications service which uses switched lines.

 

Public key: Public key is a form of cryptography in which each user has a public key and a private key. Messages are sent encrypted with the receiver's public key; the receiver decrypts them using the private key. Using this method, the private key never has to be revealed to anyone other than the user.

 

RAM: (Random Access Memory) The working memory of the computer. RAM is the memory used for storing data temporarily while working on it, running application programs, etc

 

Reversal or Reversed Judgment: A reversal occurs when an appellate court overturns the decision of the lower court.  Many cases are reversed as the result of the improper introduction of evidence or procedural errors.  A court has the power to modify a lower court’s judgment in part.  For example, a court may uphold compensatory damages but reverse the punitive damages.  A losing party may file an appeal to a higher court if the reviewing court is not the final court.  For example, a court of appeals decision to reverse a judgment may be appealed to the state supreme court.

 

Reversal (i.e. of trial court or appellate court): The overturning by an appellate or supreme court of a lower court judgment.

 

Router:  A device that finds the best path for a data packet to be sent from one network to another. A router stores and forwards electronic messages between networks, first determining all possible paths to the destination address and then picking the most expedient route, based on the traffic load and the number of hops.

 

RSA: (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) RSA is an Internet encryption and authentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman. The RSA algorithm is the most commonly used encryption and authentication algorithm and is included as part of the Web browser from Netscape and Microsoft. It's also part of Lotus Notes, Intuit's Quicken, and many other products. The encryption system is owned by RSA Security. 

 

SAN: (Storage Area Network) It is a high-speed special-purpose network (or subnetwork) that interconnects different kinds of data storage devices with associated data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. Typically, a storage area network is part of the overall network of computing resources for an enterprise.

 

SDMI: (Secure Digital Music Initiative) is a forum that brings together more than 180 companies and organizations representing information technology, consumer electronics, security technology, the worldwide recording industry, and Internet service providers. The sole purpose of this forum is to provide consumers with convenient access to music both online and in new emerging digital distribution systems, enable copyright protection for artists' works, and promote the development of new music-related business and technologies.

 

Search engine: A program on the Internet that allows users to search for files and information. Such as Yahoo, Google, AltaVista etc.

 

Security software: a component that can be used to restrict access to the computer system from the internet.

 

Server: The computer in a client/server architecture that supplies files or services. The computer that requests services is called the client. The client may request file transfer, remote logins, printing, or other available services.

 

SLIP: (Serial Line Internet Protocol) Software which uses the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over a serial line. SLIP makes it possible for a computer to communicate with other computers by means of a dial-up connection; for example, a serial port hooked to a modem that makes a connection between two local area networks or is used to access the Internet and World Wide Web. Serial Line Internet Protocol. Software which uses the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over a serial line. SLIP makes it possible for a computer to communicate with other computers by means of a dial-up connection; for example, a serial port hooked to a modem that makes a connection between two local area networks or is used to access the Internet and World Wide Web.

 

Smart card: A plastic card the size of a credit card that has an embedded microprocessor for storing information, used for banking, medical alerts, etc. It is used by inserting it into a reading device which is connected with a main computer.

 

Smart Money: A term referring to punitive or exemplary damages.  Smart money was used to compensate for the “smarts suffered by the injured person.”  Smart money also refers to the deterrent function of punitive damages.  Smart money is assessed to encourage the defendant to change his conduct.

 

Software: Software is the computer program that tells a computer's hardware what to do. System software is the operating system that controls the basic functioning capabilities of the computer, network software enables multiple computers to communicate with one another, and language software is used to develop programs.

 

Software piracy: Copying, installing or using a software programme without paying for the software access license.

 

Source code: A computer program written by a programmer in a source language. Source code is input to a compiler or assembler, in order to derive machine code.

 

Spamming: The practice of sending copies of a message to many different newsgroups, with no regard to whether the subject matter is appropriate; or sending the same message by email to large numbers of people indiscriminately. Sometimes spams are advertisements. Spamming is considered very unethical because it not only wastes everyone's time, but also costs money. The sender of the messages does not pay the cost; it is paid by the sites of the recipient and others on the route.

 

SSL: (Secure Sockets Layer) A protocol from Netscape Communications Corporation, which is designed to provide secure communications on the Internet.

 

Stand-alone workstation: A workstation that can do its own processing independent of a server or host system.

 

Storage: A device into which data can be placed, held, and later retrieved. Refers to memory, disks, diskettes, magnetic tape, and other media for holding data.

 

Stricken/Stricken from the Record: A court’s decision to delete evidence from the written transcript of a court proceeding.  A jury may be instructed to disregard the proffered evidence.

 

Sub Rosa: Confidential, secretive.

 

Subsidiary: A corporation in which the stock is owned or controlled by another corporation called the parent corporation.  Parent corporations may be liable for the torts of their subsidiaries in some circumstances.

 

Surfing: Traveling from site to site, exploring the Internet.

 

SUP: HTML tags indicating superscript type.

 

Switch: A communications device that controls the operation and routing of a signal path. A networking device which can send packets directly to to port associated with a given network address.

 

TCP/IP: The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) on top of the Internet Protocol (IP). These protocols were developed by DARPA to enable communication between different types of computers and computer networks. The Internet Protocol is a connectionless protocol which provides packet routing. TCP is connection-oriented and provides reliable communication and multiplexing.

 

Terminal: A device that acts as the point of communication between user and computer. Usaually a terminal is a screen and keyboard with no intelligence of its own, which is connected a main computer, and used for simple data entry and retrieval.

 

Thin client: A simple client machine or program that performs very little processing.In this client/server arrangement, most of the application processing is done in the server. The advantage of a thin client is simpler hardware and simpler maintenance; the maintenance for applications is done on the server.

 

Thread: A series of messages related to a specific topic on a newsgroup or a mailing list.

 

Time sharing: A computer environment that allows multiple users to work independently at the same time, usually from separate terminals.Time sharing resembles multitasking (one user, many tasks) in that the processor takes turns between the different tasks, giving each task a tiny amount of time, so that it appears the different tasks are running at the same time.

 

Traffic: The amount of data traveling across a network.

 

Trojan horse: A program that appears to be useful and harmless but which has harmful side effects such as destroying data or breaking security on the system on which it is run.It is similar to a virus except that it does not propagate itself as a virus does.

 

UNIX: A multi-user, multitasking operating system developed by AT&T's Bell Laboratories. It was originally designed for minicomputers, then revised for use on mainframes and personal computers. There are now many versions of UNIX which can be used on many different platforms. UNIX is written in the C programming language, which was also developed at AT&T.

 

Upload: To transfer files or data from one computer to another. To download means to receive; to upload means to transmit.

 

URL: Uniform Resource Locator. An Internet address which tells a browser where to find an Internet resource. For example, the URL for Computer Currents Interactive is http://www.suffolk.edu/.

 

 

Usenet: Users' Network.A giant public bulletin board system on the Internet for news and electronic mail. Usenet was started in 1979 by graduate students at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, using the UUCP communications protocol. It now has over 12,000 discussion areas which cover every imaginable topic are read by millions of people all over the world. Messages and news articles are posted and users respond by email.

 

User interface: The means by which a user interacts with a computer. The interface includes input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, stylus, or microphone; the computer screen and what appears on it; the way commands are given, etc. With a command-line interface, only text appears on the screen, and the user must type in commands; with a graphical user interface, windows, mice, menus, and icons are used to communicate with the computer.

 

Validation: The evaluation of software at the end of its development, to make sure it meets the requirements of the intended user(s). The process of checking data to make sure it is correct and presented in the proper format.

 

Vendor: A company that specializes in the development and sale of computer software or hardware.

 

Virtual reality: A computer simulation of reality, using 3D graphics and sound effects, often with user interfaces such as special goggles and gloves, to create a lifelike environment for entertainment, experimentation, and training.

 

Virus: A program that infects a computer by atttaching itself to another program, and propagating itself when that program is executed. A computer can become infected by files downloaded over a internet, or by the installation of new software or floppy disks that are infected with viruses. Viruses can destroy files or wipe out an entire hard drive.

 

VPN: Virtual Private Network is an Internet-based system for information communication and enterprise interaction. A VPN uses the Internet for network connections between people and information sites. However, it includes stringent security mechanisms so that sending private and confidential information is as secure as in a traditional closed system.

 

WAN: (Wide area network) A network in which computers are connected to each other over a long distance, using telephone lines and satellite communications.

 

Watermarks: Invisible marks embedded in source data that can be traced to discover illegal copying of digital material.

 

Web: The World Wide Web (WWW). A hypermedia-based system for browsing Internet sites. It is named the Web because it is made of many sites linked together; users can travel from one site to another by clicking on hyperlinks. Text, graphics, sound, and video can all be accessed with browsers like Mosaic, Netscape, or Internet Explorer.

 

Webcast: Broadcasting information over the World Wide Web.

 

Webmaster: The person who administers a website. The webmaster is often also the designer of some or all of the site’s pages.

 

Web publishing: Creating hypertext documents and making them available on the World Wide Web. Web documents can include many different media, and often have text, pictures, animated graphics, sound and movie clips, and interactive forms. Web pages can also contain hyperlinks to other documents, electronic mail links, and search engines.

 

Web site: A server computer that makes documents available on the World Wide Web. Each Web site is identified by a hostname.

 

Workstation: A one-person computer that is more powerful and faster than most personal computers, and is typically used for graphics, scientific computing, CAD, CAE, and other applications requiring high performance and memory