| A | B |
|---|
| Absolute Link | hyperlinks that always take you to the same location |
| Address bar | contains the URL of the active Web page |
| Address bar | Where you type the location for the Web page you want to visit |
| Address book | list of e-mail contacts |
| Applications Software | programs designed for users to perform tasks |
| Productivity Software | Another term for Applications Software |
| Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) | Performs arithmetic computations and logical operations |
| Bit | A zero or one; the smallest measurement of computer information |
| Biometric Security Measures | Using examination of a fingerprint, voice pattern, or the iris or retina of the eye when high-level security is required |
| Body | on a web page, contains information |
| Boolean Logic | A way that you can search databases, using AND, NOT and OR |
| Bookmark | Location or Web site you have marked to come back to |
| Browser | Software that allows you to retrieve information from the WWW |
| Byte | Eight bits, or combinations of ones and zeros, that represent a character, such as A or 1 or ? |
| Cell | The intersection of a column and row in a spreadsheet |
| Central processing unit | the microprocessor; the "brains" of the computer |
| Column | vertical sectiosn of a spreadsheet; identified by letters |
| Communications Channel | type of link through which data can be transmitted from one computer to another |
| Computer | An electronic device that receives, processes, stores and produces data |
| Computer Fraud | Conduct that involves the manipulation of a computer or computer data to dishonestly obtain money, property or value, or to cause loss. |
| Computer System | Hardware, software and data working together |
| Control Unit | coordinates CPU's activities |
| Copyright | Exclusive right, granted by law for a certain number of years, to make and dispose of literary, musical or artistic work. |
| Currency | on a web page, refers to the age of the information |
| Cursor | a marker that can be moved about the screen using the keyboard, mouse or joystick |
| Data Communication | Technology that enables computers to communicate between each other. Transmission of text, numeric, voice or video data from one machine to another |
| Data | Information entered into a computer, consisting of text, numbers, sounds, images |
| Telecommunications | Electronically transferring information |
| Desktop | The first screen you see when the operating system is up and fully running |
| Desktop Publishing | Process of producing professional-looking documents using a desktop computer and a printer |
| Digital Cash | A way of making a payment from one computer to another |
| Distance Learning | Using technology as a medium for schooling |
| Domain name | The part of the website address that identifies the host site; has an extension like .com, .org, .edu or .net |
| DOS (Disk Operating System) | An operating system in which the user types commands to the computer; it only allows the user to run one program at a time |
| Editing | changing an existing document |
| Cut-and-Paste | Taking information from one location or program and moving it to another. |
| Efficiency | Placing information so it's easy to find; a method of judging a web site |
| Electronic Commerce | On-line business |
| E-Mail | The capability to send a message from one computer to another where it is stored until read by the receiving person |
| Fair Use | An exception to copyright for short, cited excerpts |
| Field | An individual piece or item of information in a database |
| File Transfer Protocol (FTP) | Internet standard that allows users to download and upload files |
| Download | Bringing information in from another computer |
| Upload | Sending information to another computer |
| Finder | Program that dispalys the Macintosh desktop |
| Focus | Element that pulls the reader's eye to a particular location |
| Folder | Location created by the user to store files; also called a directory |
| Font | A typeface, size and style |
| Footer | information at the bottom of a document or web page, usually identifying author or contact person and date of revision |
| Form | Design for entering, maintaining and viewing information in a database or web site |
| Formatting | Process of preparing a disk to receive data, or erasing all information from a disk; organizes disk into tracks and sectors |
| Formatting | Adjusting the appearance, layout, spacing, margins, indentations and alignments of a document |
| Formula | Statement that performs a calculation |
| Formula View | Printing a spreadsheet to show the calculations instead of their results |
| Function | A built-in formula that is a shortcut for common calculations like addition and average |
| Graphical User Interface (GUI) | Symbolic "dekstop" where various objects or icons represent files, disks, programs, and other objects. Uses a pointing device like a mouse, pen or touchpad |
| Hacking | Invading someone else's computer, whether for gain or amusement |
| Hardware | tangible, physical equipment of a computer, including input, output, storage and processing devices |
| Header | On a web page, contains a link to the sponsoring institution |
| Header | In a document, contains information like the author, date or page number at the top of the page |
| Heading | Manner of displaying the title of a document or web page |
| History | In a web browser, a listing of sites visited recently |
| Hits | Number of returns on a search of the internet |
| Hits | The number of times a web site has been visited |
| Home page | First page displayed when you launch your browser |
| Home row keys | The keys on which you rest your fingers, from which all keystrokes are made: a, s, d, f, j, k, l, ; |
| HTML tags | codes used to create a web page |
| Hyperlink | Area on a web page or document that, when clicked, takes you to another location |
| Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) | Text-based pogramming language used to create documents for the WWW. Series of tags integrated into a text document |
| Input Devices | Enable you to input data and commands into the computer |
| Internet | The largest computer network in the world; the government originally designed it to allow researchers around the world to share information |
| Keyboard | The most common input device; based on a typewriter |
| Keyboarding | The ability to enter text by using the correct fingers without looking at the keyse. This is sometimes called touch typing |
| Keywords | Words used to search for information on the web or a database |
| Label | Alphabetical text in a spreadsheet |
| Local Area Network (LAN) | A group of computers connected to each other to share information within a single building or organization |
| Logic Bomb | Computer Visrus which is triggered by the appearance or disappearance of specified data |
| Random-access Memory (RAM) | The chips where the computer stores the information it's currently using; it disappears when the computer turns off; also referred to as main or primary memory |
| Menu bar | Location on the screen where commands are displayed |
| Modem | Communications hardware device |
| Monitor | A video display screen, either color or monochrome |
| Mouse | A pointing device that rolls around on a flat surface and controls the pointer on the screen |
| Microcomputer | Also called a personal or desktop computer, it is the type of computer used at home or in the office by one person |
| Motherboard | The circuit board that contains many integram components, including CPU, RAM and expansion slots |
| Navigation | The ability to move through a web site |
| Network | A connection between several computers and peripherals |
| Network operating system | Allows a group of two or more computers to be connected |
| Newsgroup | A discussion group, forum or bulletin board on the internet, focusing on a particular topic |
| Operating System | Software that allows the user and the applications software to communicate with the hardware |
| Optical Storage Device | Uses lasers to read and write data |
| Output Devices | Enable the computer to give you the results of processed data |
| Parallel Port | Transmits data eight bits at a time; usually used by the printer |
| Presentation Graphics Program | Software to create a sequence of ideas and images to be shown as a presentation |
| Primary Key | Uniquely identifies a field for each record |
| Printers | Output device that transfers data to paper |
| Protocol | A standard format for transferring data between two devices, such as FTP, TCP/IP, or ASCII |
| Query | A search for database records that meet given criteria |
| Read Only Memory (ROM) | Chips that are manufactured to contain certain information, regardless of whether the computer is on or off |
| Record | An entry in a database, made up of fields |
| Related Search | Pre-programmed query or question suggested by the search engine |
| Relative Link | hyperlink that gives location in relation to where you currently are located. |
| Report | A manner of displaying or summarizing the information stored in a database |
| Ribbon | Also known as the formatting toolbar, it is the area of your screen that allows you to change the appearance of your document |
| Row | Horizontal area of a spreadsheet; identified by numbers |
| Ruler | Tool in a word processor that allows you to change indentations and margins |
| Search Engine | A tool that helps you locate information on the Internet |
| Serial Port | A connection on the computer through which bits travel in single file; usually used by the mouse or modem |
| Shareware | Software that you can use for free for a specified trial period. You must pay for it if you decide to keep it |
| Simulation | Software that mimics real-world activities |
| Site License | Ability to distribute one copy of a program across several computers in an organization or network, paying the company based on the number of users |
| Software | Intangible set of computer instructions |
| Software Piracy | The Illegal copying and use of computer software |
| WYSIWYG | "What You See Is What You Get": Displaying information on the screen as it will appear when printed |
| Worm | A computer virus that makes many copies to slow down or freeze the system |
| World Wide Web (WWW) | A protocol that makes use of the Internet; often used as a synonym for Internet |
| Word wrap | Text will wrap around the right margin and continue on the next line |
| Word Processing | One of the most common software applications; using the computer to create and print all kinds of text documents |
| Wizard | Program that guides you through several steps of a task |
| Macro | Small program or sub-program that performs a task for you |
| Windows | Name for the graphical user interface produced by Microsoft |
| Window | Rectangular area of the screen in a GUI that displays a particular program or message; it can be closed, moved or resized |
| Wildcard character | The use of ? or * to represent information you don't know when performing a search |
| Wide Area Network | A computer network that covers a large geographical area; made up of several connected LANs |
| What-if-analysis | Spreadsheet tool used to play out different situations to determine outcome |
| Web server | Computer that stores web pages so that they can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection |
| Web Page | Internet document |
| Voice Recognition | Software and hardware that allow the user to enter commands by voice |
| Virtual Reality | A computer environment that imitates the real world, using 3D images, sound, and sometimes touch |
| Usenet | A protocol for transmitting information in newsgroups |
| Universal Resourcse Location (URL) | Web site address |
| Typeface | Another word for a Font |
| Updating | Adding, changing or deleting information to keep it current and accurate |
| Trojan Horse | Computer virus that disguises itself as a different kind of program |
| Transmission Media | The wire, cable or wireless system for connecting computers in a network |
| Transitions | Special Effects what dispaly when you move from slide to slide in a presentation, like curtains or fade-out |
| Topology | The physical arrangement of how computers are networked: a ring, a star or a bus |
| Toolbar | Area on the screen where icons of commonly used commands are displayed |
| Title Bar | Area of the window that displays the name of the software and document |
| Icons | Little pictures that represent commands or programs |
| Time Bomb | Computer Virus that activates at a certain time or after an amount of time has passed |
| Title | Name of a web page |
| Thumbnail Sketch | A rough draft drawing used to design the layout for a document |
| Thumbnail | A smaller copy of a picture used to help identify it before opening the larger one |
| Thesaurus | A tool that helps find synonyms and antonyms for a given word |
| Text area | Area where you can type information |
| Templates | Pre-designed documents that are already formatted for specific tasks: they include letters, faxes, databases and presentations |
| Technology | Application of scientific discoveries to the production of goods and services |
| Table | A display of information by rows and columns, in a database, word processor or spreadsheet |
| Systems Software | Programs that coordinate and control the resources and operations of a computer system |
| Subject Directories | A method of searching for information on the WWW by topic |
| Margin | The distance between the edge of the page and where the text begins |
| Indent | A space placed between the text and the left or right margin; used especially to identify paragraphs or quotations |
| Justify | How the text lines up against the margin: solid on the left and jagged on the right; solid on the right and jagged on the left; centered; or solid on both sides |
| Spell Checker | A tool that compares the words in a document to the computer's dictionary, and identifies words that it cannot find |
| Spider | Software that the search engine uses to find pages that match certain keywords; it constantly searches the Internet for new pages |
| Spreadsheet | Software used to analyze numbers, usually for financial purposes; arranges the information in columns and rows |
| * | Means multiply |
| / | Means divide |
| + | Means add |
| - | Means subtract |
