|
An application is a general term for a computer programme or software.
An attachment is the name given to a digital file such as a word processed document that is included with an e-mail message. Most e-mail programmes allow you to attach files with your message. When the message is received the reader can double-click on the attachment icon causing the file to open using the appropriate software. Sometimes the recipient does not have the right software to open your attachment - you should check before hand and consider other methods of sending the file. Attachment files that you receive can be saved onto your computer or a floppy disk.
You will visit some pages again and again - so bookmark them! Bookmarking saves you having to remember the address (URL) and type it into the Location box. You just click on the chosen page from your list to go to it. In Internet Explorer these hyperlinked references are called Favorites (American spelling!) and work in a similar way.
A browser is a type of software application or programme that allows the user to view web pages. There are different types of browsers, some only allow the user to view text, but browsers such Netscape and Internet Explorer for instance allow the user to view images and other media that may be integrated into a Web page design.
Cache is a storage area on the computer's hard disk where recently visited web pages and images are stored. The amount of storage room can be changed by the user from the Options Menu choosing Network Preferences. This can reduce the time that a user is connected to the Internet. The Reload button can compare the cached document to the networked document and show the most recent one depending on preference settings.
A CD-ROM (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory) is a storage device than can hold up to 650Mb of data. It has become a convenient way for publishers of multimedia materials to distribute their products. Increasingly people are using this medium as a way to store or make back-up copies of their work. This has become possible with the introduction of affordable CD-ROM writers and the fall in price of CD blanks.
A client is the end user or the end user's interface (such as web browser or e-mail software).
A computer's clipboard is a short-term storage area. If something, such as text or an image, is cut or copied it will be held in memory on the clipboard. The user can then use the paste function available in most applications to insert the contents of the clipboard. The clipboard can only hold the single most recent object cut or copied. Normally the user won't actually look at the clipboard. Using copying and pasting techniques is particularly useful for accurately inserting URLs to a browser's location bar.
A cookie is a text file located on the computer's hard disk. Information is automatically stored in this file under instruction of web sites or pages you may visit. It enables these sites to personalise the information they present to you. It is possible to disable cookies and thus prevent information being written to your hard disk (see preferences) though such information can be useful, especially on learning sites.
The cursor is the mark displayed on screen controlled by the movement of your mouse or according to the point at which you are typing. It takes different forms: an arrow shape is its default state. Over text it changes to an 'I-beam' and over a hot link it will change to a hand shape indicating that you can click the mouse button to perform an task.
Default is a term often used in conjunction with software. It describes the basic settings created for a piece of software by the manufacturer. Different software applications often give users the option of changing preferences from the default settings, thus customising the settings to suite their own needs. A good example would be the Home button on the browser tool bar. The default setting for this is Netscape's web site. Most users will alter this to link to a page which they find more appropriate - maybe a search engine or their own home page.
Digital information is information that is stored in a way that computers can understand. Computers can only understands two things though! The numbers 1 and 0. Therefore all computer files are composed only of a series of 0s and 1s. Because the computer works so fast at reading and writing these 0s and 1s it can manage to reinterpret them in ways that we can understand such as text, images and computer programmes.
A domain is the reserved Internet identity of an organisation which, for example, appears in the organisation's URL.
Downloading describes the process of retrieving and saving files from the Internet. Web pages, for instance, are downloaded from Internet servers (storage and delivery computers) to be displayed on the user's computer through a browser. Often downloading is used to describe the process of permanently transferring files. All sorts of files can be downloaded including whole programs of software. See Install for more information about downloading programs - including browsers.
E-mail is electronic mail used for sending messages and attachments (documents or files included with a message) across the Internet. Because e-mail is so quick and convenient it is not the best environment to write an essay which needs care and thought. A word processed essay can be refined and sent either as an e-mail attachment, or on disk or paper via the post.
A file extension is the term that describes the suffix to a file name - that is the letters that follow the name of a file after the dot. Common extensions include .txt (a text file), .doc (a Word document), .htm or .html (a web page), .gif (an image file type) and .exe (a programme). There are hundreds of different extensions. Their purpose is to identify the file so your computer knows what application to use to open them. For instance the computer will start up a web browser like Netscape to open a file that ends with .htm.
A floppy disk is one of many kinds of computer file storage device. Like the hard disk on your computer, a floppy disk will allow you to save a copy of a file to it. Floppy disks have the advantage of being portable. This allows files to be opened on different computers. Compared to other storage devices they are quite 'small'. This means their capacity to store files is limited (to 1.4Mb). They are still more than adequate for most people's needs, such as storing word processed documents.
FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. An FAQ is an information document which takes the form of questions and answers. On the Internet FAQs are a popular means of disseminating information on a wide variety of subjects. They are particularly useful for introducing new users to the basics of a subject. This Glossary could be described as an FAQ on computer terminology.
A web form is like a conventional form that needs to be filled in and then sent off or 'submitted'. Some web sites use them for gathering market research type information - they are ideal for gathering short responses. Some On-line Learning sites also use forms. Questions may be presented as multiple choice questions or offer users areas where they are expected to type their answers to provide feedback. As with e-mail, forms are not the best environment for writing anything which requires a lot of thought and care. When completed a form is transmitted back to the host server (for instance a University's Internet computer) by the user pressing a Submit button.
Frames are a device used by web page authors to subdivide the web browser screen. Separate web pages appear in each frame-window of a frame set. This gives the web designer more flexibility in presenting information. The contents of one frame-window can be changed by another. Not all browsers can display frames. Recent versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer (versions 2.0 and later) understand how to display framed sites.
Your computer's hard disk is the part of your computer where you store your document files and programme files. Disks are sometimes referred to as 'disk drives'. It is similar to a floppy disk but has a much greater capacity and works a lot faster. Typically on a Windows PC it will have the drive letter C and your floppy disks will use drive A.
History is a hypertext list of the pages you have looked at. At the end of the Location or Address box note the arrow button. Click on this and a list of the pages appear ready for you to click on. The list is also available from the Window menu in Netscape Navigator. Internet Explorer keeps an extensive history record - select the Go menu and choose Open History folder.
1. A home page is the page that first opens up when you start your browser. You can choose what page you want to appear. Some people choose a favourite site, some their favourite search engine or their bookmarks page. Others design their own page using HTML. 2. A home page is also the name given to the entry page of a web site.
A host refers to the computer server on which files are held.
Hot text is text that can be clicked on with the mouse cursor. This interaction causes the display of either another web page or another part of the current web page.
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is the computer language used by web authors in creating web pages. HTML is understood by web browsers which display the HTML files as web pages. It is quite a simple language to learn. There are some software applications available now which can automatically create web pages.
Hyperlinks are links between one web page and another or one part of a web page and another part of the same page. Hyperlinks usually take the form of text or images on the web.
Computer program software needs to be installed for it to work. Often when you download a program (such as a browser) it will come down neatly as a single file. This file will often have a name that ends with '.exe' or '.zip' (see extension). Think of such a file as a parcel that contains other files that together will make your program work. Therefore this parcel has to be opened (sometimes referred to as 'exploded') before the files within it can set themselves up in the right place on your machine. This process is called installation and nowadays is usually automated. All you have to do is 'run' the .exe file by double-clicking on it. A zip file type parcel is slightly different - this kind of 'parcel' is shrunk or 'compressed' to make it smaller to deliver. To open a zip file you will need some software such as Winzip, Stuffit, or PKunzip. Do a web search for any of these or look out for them on the cover CDs of computer magazines. Tip: Software usually comes with a small text file called Readme.txt. This file should be read! Apart from details to do with the licensing, it will give you detailed instructions about installation and any known problems or bugs you may come across. If you are lucky it will contain a manual for operating the software as well. Delete the 'parcel' or exe file once you have 'exploded' it - its contents are no longer required after installation and take up room. Finally, remember to uninstall software when you have finished with it. Increasingly software comes with uninstall programs that will remove all associated files.
The Internet describes a global network of computers. This network has evolved rapidly in most sectors though was originally established by the military in the USA and then spread to educational institutions. Business and domestic users have added to the rapid expansion of this communications network. The Internet can be used in many ways for transferring information. The most popular applications for the Internet are the World Wide Web and E-mail.
Internet Explorer is a very popular web browser developed by Microsoft. It is likely that the web browser will become totally integrated into the PC user's computer working environment. Microsoft maintain that this direction encourages the user to see the web as being integral to everything they do on their computers.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Your Internet Service Provider is the company that administers your Internet connection. Demon and Pipex are two ISPs you may have come across. It may be that your connection is administered by the Computer Services Department of an educational institution, organisation or business.
Links are instructions hidden within hot text, hot images or bookmark and history lists. The instruction commands the browser to display a named web page or to target a different part of the current web page.
The term 'local' refers to your immediate computer environment. In other words the facilities to hand that are not on a network.
This is the area at the top of your browser window where you type or paste the URL or web address. It is possible to hide this bar and so increase the room your browser has to display a web page.
A mail-to is a link in a web page that when clicked opens up the user's default e-mail programme. A new message, automatically addressed to the person named in the mail-to link, is ready to be completed. This can be a handy way of prompting students to communicate with their tutors in on-line learning courses. It is bad practice to include too many mail-tos in an on-line course as each message causes more expense and work for all concerned. Students expecting to use mail-to communication should make sure their browser knows which e-mail software to use.
A modem is like a telephone that is used to pass digital information from the computer onto the Internet. It is found either inside or attached to your computer and often uses your telephone line. When you go on-line, your modem will call another modem at the offices of your ISP - and the two modems will communicate (i.e. move information between them).
Mosaic was a popular web browser. It once held a supreme position in the browser market and was the precursor of Netscape.
Navigation describes the act of browsing or 'surfing' around web pages using various means including following links and entering URLs or addresses to other web pages.
Netscape Navigator is a popular web browser. It is part of the Netscape Communicator software. Version 2.0 and later are particularly powerful.
A computer network is what describes the linking together of two or more computers. These computers may sit on the same desk as each other or in different parts of the world. Networks create the ability to communicate from one machine to another.
A Newsgroup is an Internet based discussion area that has an agreed topic. Newsgroups are accessed using news reader software from Usenet (the Internet system reserved for news group discussion). News groups exist to discuss most areas of interest. Strictly speaking 'on-line' means being connected to the Internet. If you 'go' on-line you are making that connection live and are able to send information across the Internet and get information back. Sometimes the term is also used to describe having access to electronic media generally. An on-line archive may be a collection of digital information stored in one place or on a CD-ROM for instance.
A 'plug-in' is an add-on piece of software that enhances another application. Plug-ins for web browsers have been created to enable browsers to show multimedia elements and perform other tasks. The best known plug-ins include Shockwave (this allows for fully powered multimedia movies and animations to be included by web authors) and Real Audio (which enables digital radio broadcasts to be played in a web browser). The companies who produce browsers are faced with the dilemma of expanding their browser's capabilities themselves or leaving it up to third party developers and their customers to look after their own particular needs through the use of plug-ins. Many users already object to the amount of disk space that their web browser uses and so additional multimedia functionality is left up to other companies and their users. Users can then choose whether to download and install plug-ins or make-do with the default functionality that comes with their browser.
Software applications, including web browsers, often allow users to customise the software. Customisation of a web browser may include changing the default font face for type, changing the default home page or specifying how long links that have been taken to other pages should be remembered (i.e. how long it should show its visited link colour).
Many search engines exist that scan the World Wide Web in order to locate web pages (and other Internet resources sometimes) that will satisfy a user's query. Some web sites such as university web sites have their own search engine which will search just their site. These search engines make the World Wide Web very powerful and it is worthwhile for all users to spend some time getting to know how to use the search engines properly.
A server is often thought of as a computer on the Internet that contains files like web pages that other people can access. Actually it is software installed on a computer that operates like a telephone exchange. That is, it receives calls or requests for information and delivers the requested information.
Software is what a computer (hardware) uses. It takes many shapes and forms. Without software a computer would be little more than a collection of metal and plastic. Software is the general term that describes all kinds of computer programmes and files that make the things you do with a computer work!
Spam is the term given to unsolicited e-mail.
The status bar is the grey strip at the bottom of the web browser and other applications. As the user interacts with a web page information appears in this area keeping the user informed about what is happening and what is available. When the mouse cursor moves over a link the status bar displays the address (URL) of that link. If a user clicks on a link information is displayed relating to the request to be connected to the new site and the status of the downloading (how big is the file being downloaded and how long is it expected to take, etc.). It is possible to hide this bar and so increase the room your browser has to display a web page. (see Preferences)
The Toolbar is the grey bar at the top of you browser window that has the buttons arranged on it. It is possible to hide this bar and so increase the room your browser has to display a web page. (see Preferences)
Software on your computer takes up room. Sometimes you may have installed it just to test it, or perhaps it has been superseded by better software. Unwanted software should be uninstalled - that means cleanly removed. Often this involves more than just deleting the programme files. Your computer may have created other references to it on other parts of your machine and these references will need to be cleaned up too. A lot of software comes with its own Uninstall programme which will carry out the clean up. Computers increasingly have a general uninstall utility that will also remove the unwanted files and references.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) The Uniform Resource Locator is the address of a given page. When typing the URL into the Location field or Address box you should be exact. Often the best way of getting it exact is to copy and paste it via your clipboard from a reference made elsewhere.
Uploading is the opposite to downloading. This means therefore the transfer of a computer file to another place across the Internet. When web page authors are creating web sites they will usually start by creating the web page files on their computer's hard disk. This file will therefore need to be uploaded (transferred) to a web server so that Internet users can access it. E-mail provides the most common example of uploading. A message is first composed on a computer before being uploaded, or delivered, across the Internet.
See Newsgroup
A web page is a single document. It may be very long and not fit on the user's screen in one go. Scroll bars then become available allowing the user to view the rest of it. When printed it may be several paper pages long. A web page can contain text, images and other media. Links to other pages can usually be found in web pages. Many related web pages may make up a web site.
A web site is a collection of related web pages that are usually located in one place. The pages will be inter-linked. Each of the web pages will probably have a similar but unique address.
The World Wide Web (also referred to as WWW and 'the Web') is part of the Internet. It is made up of web pages on web sites. These web sites can offer links to other web sites. Search engines offer a means of locating pages of interest on the World Wide Web.
|
