| A | B |
|---|
| expert system | a programmed system containing the collective knowledge of experts in a given area. |
| fibre optics | glass fibres used to transmit digital data (infra-red or visible lights) via a carrier. |
| field | a single element of data in a single record within a database. |
| file | an electronic digital sequence of bits representing ASCII characters or other code sets. |
| file conversion | the conversion of files formatted for one application into a form that can be used by another application. |
| file transfer protocol(FTP) | a protocol used between clients and servers allowing one computer to transfer files to and from another computer over a TCP/IP network. |
| firewall | a software program or machine device that prevents unauthorized access to computers or computer files. |
| flame | 1) electronic mail or Usenet news that insults or provokes. 2) the sending of such a message. |
| flat-file | an ASCII file containing data and usually serving as a database file. |
| folder | a division of a file system into which files are placed. |
| freeware | software, often copyrighted, produced for free distribution and use. |
| fuzzy logic | a type of Boolean logic used to process conditions of partial truth. |
| graphic interchange format(GIF) | 1) a file name extension. 2) a file compression developed by Compuserve to reduce file sizes by counting repeating pixels, and storing the pixel color and number of repititions. |
| gigabyte(GB) | 1 Gb=1 billion bytes. |
| global positioning system(GPS) | a system using satellites to determine accurately the location of any place on earth's surface. |
| gopher | 1) a program that retrieves documents. |
| graphical user interface(GUI) | a praphically-based computer monitor interface in which images, icons, dialogue boxes and standard widgets are used to faciliate communication between humans and machines. |
| hacker | a person who enjoys the details of programmin, is often obsessive about programming and can work quickly. |
| hard disk and hard drive | devices for storage of digital data. |
| hardware | computers and network equipmetn consisting of transistors, circuit boeards, wiring, connectors, disk drives, and similar physical or tangible components. |
| host computer | a computer connected to a network. |
| hypertext markup language(HTML) | a set of tags or commands used by World Wide Web browsers to format and display text images, to play sound or video, or to run programs. |
| hyperlink | links or references within Web documents that on selection cause jumps to antoher location within the document, to other documents, or to programs that process images, sound or videos that operate on databases, or perform other functions. |
| hypermedia | like hypertext, but includes graphics, sound, video and other kinds of data. |
| hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP) | the client-server TCP/IP protocol used on the World Wide Web for the exchange of HTML documents. |
| icon | images, often small, that represent an idea or object. |
