A computer on the Internet, also called a host. Computers that
provide a service, such as FTP sites or places that run Gopher, are also
called servers.
O
off line
This is working on a computer that is currently not connected to the
Internet.
on-line
This is working on a computer that is currently connected to the
Internet.
P
Packet
A chunk of information sent over a network. Each packet contains the
destination address, the sender's address, error-control information,
and data.
Page
A document, or collection of information, available by way of the
World Wide Web. To make information available over the WWW, it is
organized into pages. A page may contain text, graphics, video, and/or
sound files.
Ping
A network management tool that checks to see whether you can
communicate with another computer on the Internet. It sends a short
message to which the other computer automatically responds. If the other
computer does not respond to the ping, you usually cannot establish
communications.
POP
Point of Presence. A physical site in a geographic area where a
network access provider, such as UUNET, has equipment to which users
connect. The local phone company's central office in a particular area
is also sometimes referred to as their POP for that area. (As an
example, AT&T's POP for the Seattle area is in downtown
Seattle.)
POP
Post Office Protocol. A system by which a mail server on the
Internet lets you grab your mail and download it to your PC or
Macintosh. Most people refer to this protocol with its version number
(POP2, POP3, and so on) to avoid confusing it with Point of
Presence.
posting up
To send a message to a discussion group or mailing list.
PPP
Point-to-Point Protocol. A scheme for connecting two computers over
a phone line (or a network link that acts like a phone line). Similar to
SLIP.
protocol
A language Computers use when talking to each other.
Q
R
remote access
When you access a computer that you are unable to see. This is done
via a modem or computer network.
S
screen resolution
The number of dots per square inch (dpi) displayed on a screen. The
higher the number of dots, the better the resolution.
search engine
A software application found on-line which allows you to search for
information, by key words, available on the Internet (e.g. web sites,
newsgroups)
Server
A computer that provides a service to other computers on a network.
An Archie server, for example, lets people on the Internet use
Archie.
service provider
A service provider is a company who supplies Internet services to
personal users or business. Among other things they provide access to
the Internet or somewhere to place Web Pages making them available to
the WWW. You pay the service provider a set fee.
ShockWave
Similar to Java, bringing enhanced multimedia to
the internet. ShockWave is a development tool
created by the company Macromedia.
site
A site is the term given to a place where information can be found
on the World Wide Web. (i.e. A web site)
SLIP
Serial Line Interface Protocol. A software scheme for connecting a
computer to the Internet.
Socket
When your computer is on the Internet via a SLIP connection, a
socket is a conversation your computer is having with a computer
elsewhere on the net. You may have one socket for an FTP session,
another socket for a Telnet session, and another socket taking care of
getting your mail.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol A protocol used to transfer e-mail
between computers.
Synchronous Communication
Communication that occurs at the same time, between two or more
individuals, for e.g. telephone conversations, Internet Relay Chat,
face-to-face communication
T
TCP/IP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol A protocol used to transfer e-mail
between Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The system that
networks use to communicate with each other on the Internet.
Telnet
The command and program used to login from one Internet site to
another. The Telnet command/program gets you to the "login"
prompt of another host.
Terminal
A device that allows you to send commands to a computer somewhere
else. At a minimum, this usually means a keyboard and a display screen
and some simple circuitry. Usually you will use terminal software in a
personal computer--the software pretends to be ("emulates") a
physical terminal and allows you to type commands to a computer
somewhere else.
U
UNIX
A computer operating system (the basic software running on a
computer, underneath things such as word processors and spreadsheets).
UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time (it is
"multiuser") and has TCP/IP built in. It is the most common
operating system for servers on the Internet.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator. The standard way to give the address of
any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW). A
URL looks like this: http://www.matisse.net/seminars.htm. The most
common way to use a URL is to enter into a Web browser program, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
USENET
An informal group of systems that exchange "news." USENET
predates the Internet, but today, the Internet is used to transfer much
of USENET's traffic.
V
Veronica
Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives. A
program that uses word searches to locate articles in Gopherspace.
Developed at the University of Nevada, Veronica is a constantly updated
database of names of almost every menu item on thousands of Gopher
servers. (See also: Gopher).
Viewer
A program used by Gopher, WAIS, or WWW client programs to show files
with contents other than text. You would use a viewer to display
graphics or video files, or to play sound files.
VRML
Virtual Reality Markup Language. A standard by which the internet
uses for delivering 3-dimensional virtual reality over the the Web.
W
WAN
Wide Area Network. Any internet or network that covers an area
larger than a single building or campus. (See also: Internet, LAN,
network)
World Wide Web
The newest and most ambitious of the special Internet services. The
World Wide Web provides full text and graphical access to documents
created using Hypertext Markup Language(HTML). It is the first Internet
service that incorporates many of the most popular platforms (e-mail,
Gopher, FTP, Wais, Newsgroups). Attributed to the world wide success of
the Internet. Often abbreviated 'WWW'.
Web
An abbreviated term for the World Wide Web.
Web document
Is a collection of information stored on the World Wide Web (WWW)
which has the benefit of using hypertext links to link to other
documents on the (WWW).
web site
A collection of html files, graphic files and any other file types
that are supported by the World Wide Web that can be viewed by using a
World Wide Web browser.
Windows Socket
(WinSock). Windows Sockets is a standard way for Windows-based
programs to work with TCP/IP. You can use WinSock if you use SLIP to
connect to the Internet.
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