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Glossary of Buzzwords
Buzzwords - Glossary
Full Database
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication ) - All communication which supplements or augments speech, including words, sign systems and written sy...
ACITT - Known as the National Association for Co-ordinators and Teachers of IT but for historical reasons co...
Adventure Game - A game which allows the exploration of a scenario or story in which the player is an 'adventurer'....
Application - The use to which a computer program is put. An application package is a program (and associated docu...
Archie - Archie is an indexing tool for FTP archives. Archie servers allow users to track down files (softwar...
Archiving - Storing old files which cannot be discarded but are taking up valuable space on a hard disc. This of...
ARPAnet (Advanced Research Projects Agency network) - A system developed by the American defence industry in the 1960's as the first resilient large-scale...
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) - (pronounced ass-key). A method of encoding the letters, numbers and special characters used in compu...
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) - A high-speed switching technology that uses short fix-length packets called cells to convey video, v...
Audiographics - A narrow range of technologies combining a live voice link with a shared screen for computer graphic...
B-channel - The main type of component channel of ISDN services, used for carrying data or voice (B stands for b...
B-channel - The main type of component channel of ISDN services, used for carrying data or voice (B stands for b...
Back Up - To make a duplicate copy of the contents of a computer held data set, software application , or indi...
Bandwidth - The range of signal frequencies to indicate how much data can pass along a channel at one time. Broa...
Bar Code - An arrangement of vertical lines of varying thickness with spaces in between. The spacing and line t...
BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) - One of the easiest languages for writing programs. Many computers come supplied with a version of BA...
Baud - A unit of data transfer speed ('Baud rate'). One baud equals one bit in most instances and is measur...
Binary (branching or decision) Tree - The sorting of objects by asking questions which can only be answered 'yes' or 'no' will produce a b...
Bit - A BInary digiT: the 'quantum' of information. The smallest unit of computer information, equal to ei...
Bit rate - The number of bits per second in a bit stream. For example, the bit rate of widely used modems is in...
Bookmark - When using the Internet, this is a method of saving addresses (URLs) of sites or pages that you freq...
Boolean operator (also known as Logical operator) - An operator which defines a logical relationship between two conditions. This relationship can be 'A...
Braille Notebook - A portable computer in which the user keys in Braille. The output can be printed either as raised do...
Broadband - The informal meaning is 'faster than commonly occurring networks', and so the actual meaning depends...
Browser - A client program used to search and retrieve information. Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer a...
Bug - An error or fault in computer software, which causes it to malfunction....
Bulletin Board System (BBS) - Software which allows callers to exchange information electronically (read and write messages, store...
Byte - A unit of information equal to eight bits. Usually each byte stores one character ...
CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Manufacturing) - Drafting and design through the aid of a computer which can handle technical geometric detail. It al...
Cards - Circuit boards that plug into computers to provide new functions, such as sound and video input and ...
Carroll diagram - This is named after the author Lewis Carroll and is a simple way of sorting objects. The simplest di...
CATV (CableTeleVision ) - The distribution of television in defined areas by the use of cable buried in ducts in the ground ...
CCITT (Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique) - See ITU...
CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) - Television which only broadcasts signals to a small, limited number of receivers that are linked by ...
CD ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) - A storage medium which resembles the 12cm audio CD, but contains a range of data types, e.g. words, ...
CDI (Compact Disc Interactive) - A machine which allows the user to access a CD-ROM without needing a separate computer system....
CGS (Colour Graphics Adapter) - One of the earlier IBM standards for displaying colour information on a VDU....
Chat Mode - Where a BBS, using Internet relay chat (IRC) is used to host a live discussion between simultaneous ...
Client - In the context of 'client-server' programs, a client is the software on the user's computer which ...
Clip Art - A library of freely copiable pictures (i.e. usually copyright free) stored on computer disc or CD-RO...
CMC (Computer Mediated Communications) - The use of computers to communicate as with computer conferencing and electronic mail....
CMS ( Content Management System ) - A database or application via which content of a web site can be changed using interfaces(Normally P...
Comms - Short for communications. A term, when used technically, refers to computer systems where one part i...
Communication Aid - ...
Compatibility - Pieces of equipment and/or software capable of being used together without special modification or a...
Compression - A range of techniques which reduce the amount of space required to store a specific amount of data. ...
Computer conferencing - A development of electronic mail designed for supporting many-to-many communication. Computer confer...
Computer leasing - A financial arrangement with a supplier whereby the customer pays, for example, a monthly fee for th...
Computer program - A set of precise instructions to make a computer perform a particular task or sequence of tasks....
Computer system - A collection of hardware which usually consists of a computer, a monitor, a disc drive and a printer...
Concept ™ keyboard - A particular make of overlay keyboard used to input data into a computer....
Conference - On a BBS, a conference consists of a number of separate topics where each topic contains a number of...
Conferencing - A generic term used to cover various types of system which link people together. The main variants a...
Content free programs - Programs which provide a framework and all necessary tools and utilities for the user, but which of ...
Control interface - A box which has a number of output and input sockets and plugs into a computer. Lights, buzzers and ...
Control system - Control systems measure environmental changes and perform actions in response to those changes. They...
Convergence - A term applied to the way in which computing, telecommunications and, more recently, television are ...
CPD (Continuing Professional Development) - ...
CPU (Central Processing Unit) - Generally means the processor inside a PC - the part of a computer system, usually situated on the d...
CRM ( Customer Relationship Management ) - Integrates all contact a company has with it's clients. The relationship is now being made more on ...
CWIS (Campus wide information system) - ...
D-channel - A component channel of ISDN services, used for signalling and control purposes. Basic Rate ISDN cons...
Data - Any set of information that has been collected for a purpose. See also Database, Data file...
Data capture - The gathering of data using, for example, surveys, questionnaires, tape records, interviews, light p...
Data Compression - ...
Data file - A collection of information which has been saved on disc and which can be read into a database progr...
Data logging - The use of sensors to measure and record environmental changes, for example the changes in temperatu...
Database - A collection of information that is organised and stored for a purpose. In computer terms, a databas...
Database Driven - Web site or application that uses a database to store and retrive data....
Decision Tree - ...
Dedicated word processor - ...
Desktop computer - The traditional office or personal computer. This has three or more parts linked together by cables:...
Desktop conferencing - The use of desktop microcomputers for video conferencing. In general, the microcomputers used for th...
Dial-up - Connection to the Internet or an on-line database over an ordinary telephone line by dialling up a s...
Differentiation - The matching of work to the differing capabilities of individuals or groups of pupils in order to ex...
Digital data network - A network specifically designed for the transmission of data, wherever possible in digital form so t...
Digitised speech - An electronic way of recording, storing and reproducing human speech, similar to using a tape record...
Digitiser - ...
Display resolution - The clarity of pictures and letters drawn on a computer screen; often measured in dpi (dots per inch...
DNS (Domain Name Systems) - The Internet is divided up into domains on a hierarchical basis. A domain is an individual network. ...
Domain Name Systems (DNS) - The Internet is divided up into domains on a hierarchical basis. A domain is an individual network. ...
DOS (Disc Operating System) - An operating system designed for the access to the and management of files on a disc-based computer ...
Download - To obtain data from another computer, electronically. Downloaded information can be incorporated int...
DPI (Dots Per Inch) - Refers to the resolution or quality of display or printed word, often in association with monitors o...
DTP (Desktop Publishing) - A computer application which allows the user to create page layouts which combine words, graphics an...
E-business - The method of conducting business electronically, I.E e-commerce. ...
E-Commerce - Using the Internet to trade. Online sale of goods or services....
E-mail (Electronic mail) - This allows users to send and receive printed messages over any distance by using a modem which co...
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) - A system for exchanging trading information in standard form by computer systems through the use of ...
EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter) - PC graphics standard which succeeded CGA (Colour Graphics Adapter). Now like CGA, virtually obsolete...
Electronic Communication Aid - Used with a computer in order to allow a user to input words or phrases without typing. There are a ...
Electronic whiteboard - Originally, a device based on a whiteboard which transmitted pen movements to a pen moving over anot...
Embosser - A special type of printer that can produce Braille from a computer....
Emulator - A piece of hardware or software which enables one computer to behave like another....
Ethernet - The most common networking technology used for connecting computers in a local area network enabling...
Eudora - A popular e-mail reader for Apple Macintosh and PC....
Expanded keyboard - There are a range of expanded or extended keyboards available which can provide extra functionality ...
FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions ) - List of questions and answers to try and trouble shoot common problems....
FAQ (Frequently asked questions) - A document that contains common questions and answers, usually on-line and posted to Usenet lists....
Fax (Facsimile) - A technique for transmitting text and black and white pictures over the telephone network...
Fax Modem - A type of modem which, in addition to its normal data transmission capabilities, handles fax. In con...
Fibre optic cable - Very thin strands of pure glass, used for transmitting high volumes of data at high speed....
Fields - The headings under which data is collected, entered and stored in a database....
File - ...
File Library - A collection of central files. These might be database files, e-mail system files or software files....
File server - In a network, a computer which holds the system software on its hard disc, the most powerful machine...
File transfer - Copying a file from one computer to another...
Finger - An Internet application, that can find information about a named user....
Firewall - A computer configured for security reasons to filer and control network traffic to and from the outs...
Flaming - Attacking an author of a Usenet posting in a personal and unpleasant manner....
Floor turtle - A programmable device, sometimes called a floor robot, controlled by Logo or Logo-like languages. Th...
Floppy disc - A portable, magnetic disc storage device in which the disc is flexible. Usually 3.5 inch disc in a r...
Font - A typestyle. Each font has a name and can be displayed in different sizes. Many fonts are available ...
Framework Program - A content free program used in conjunction with associated resource packs....
Free text - A 'free text' database is one where the information is stored in normal written form. E.g. a written...
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A common method of transferring files from one computer to another over a TCP/IP network. Anonymou...
FTP [ File Transfer Protocol ] ( FTP:// ) - Protocol the allows files to be transmitted across the Internet. Allows access to a web server anon...
Full motion video - A video signal before it has been processed by video compression ...
Gateway - A device connecting different networks by carrying out protocol conversion between them. E.g. Typica...
GB (Gigabyte) - 1,024 megabytes or one thousand million...
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - Digitised pictures are often stored and exchanged in this format, as most popular software can cope ...
Gopher - An Internet navigating facility used for accessing Internet resources using a hierarchical menu-base...
Grammar checker - An application usually part of a word processing application, which scans through text on the screen...
Graphic calculators - A calculator which enables graphic displays of information on the LCD screen...
Graphics - Graphics are pictures or symbols on a computer screen which may be printed out or saved to disc. ...
Graphics card - A board connected to the computer to drive the monitor...
Grid - Used with an overlay or concept keyboard to separate information or concepts into key-press areas....
Groupware - A rather vague term covering a range of existing and emerging computer technologies used for compute...
GUI (Graphical User Interface) - A system such as Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh OS, in which anon-screen cursor is moved, usuall...
Hard disc or disk - A rigid disc, usually made from aluminium, coated with magnetic material and hermetically sealed, an...
Hardware - The physical components of a computer or a communications system, including both mechanical and elec...
Hardware compatibility - Computers that can use the same software because they share or can use the same operating system....
HD Disk (High Density disc) - A disc that is capable of carrying double the data of a normal disc. With 3.5 discs, the high densit...
HDTV (High Definition Television) - A concept of higher-definition, wider-screen television, being piloted in a number of countries. HDT...
Hits [ Hits to a web site ] - Sometimes misleading, a hit is when any file is accessed on a web server. ...
Hotlink - An area of a document which, when the screen pointer is over it (highlighting it), and is clicked, t...
Hotlist - A way of storing frequently visited locations on the WWW (World Wide Web) in a list to aid easy retr...
HTML [ Hyper Text Mark-Up Language ] ( .html .htm ) - Scripting language used to create internet documents, viewable through a web browser. ...
Hub - The centre of a star topology network or cabling system whereby each device is directly connected to...
Hypermedia - This is software which allows the user to combine still and moving images, sound, words, graphics, a...
Icon - A small symbol or picture on the computer screen, for example, representing a computer program or a ...
ICT [ Information and Communication Technology ] - ...
ILS (Integrated Learning System) - A computer-based system with a diagnostic capability that monitors and manages the delivery of cur...
Images - Pictures which appear on the computer screen. They may be created by the user using an art package, ...
Information age - A vague term applied to the present time, in which the dominant economic activity is said to be the ...
Information screens - Screens of information which look like teletext screens. The information can be entered and formatte...
Information superhighway - The term 'superhighway' is usually taken to refer to a broadband network capable of transferring ver...
Information technology - The application of modern communications and computing technologies to the creation, management and ...
Input device - A device which is capable of entering programs and data to a computer system, such as a keyboard, mo...
INSET - In-service education and training; the professional training and development of staff (including non...
Integrated package - A suite of application programs which have a consistent interface and include a minimum of word-proc...
Interactive Video (IV) - A computer linked by software to a video system which allows the user to control a video disc and ex...
Interface - Equipment or software that enables users to communicate with the 'raw' system they are accessing. E....
Interface box - ...
Internet - The inter-communicating set of computer networks which provide access to the World Wide Web, on-line...
Interrogate - Framing a question which will allow you to extract information to answer a particular enquiry. The s...
Ion Camera - A still video camera which captures video images as photographs which can then be used with a digiti...
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - Internet users would wide logged in simultaneously can 'talk' to each other by sending text messages...
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - An internationally compatible high speed network allowing the transfer of data between two points. D...
ISDN - Basic Rate - A version of ISDN which allows a total of 144 kbits per second to be transferred between 2 points. T...
ISDN - Broadband - A version of ISDN allowing greater data transfer at a faster speed (essential for large data transfe...
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) - The ISO is a voluntary activity of the national standardisation organisations of each member country...
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - Internet Service Provider is an organisation with a direct connection to the Internet that provides ...
ITU (International Telecommunications Union) - Previously known as the CCITT, this is part of a special agency of the United Nations with responsib...
JANET (Joint Academic NETwork) - A data communications network linking education and research communities, universities and other ter...
Joystick - An input device which has a stick which can move left, right, forwards and backwards to control the ...
JPEG - A data compression standard designed by the Joint Photographics Experts Group, to store digitised co...
Jughead - A searching tool for finding information on specific Gophers. Unlike Veronica it only searches the m...
Justify - Text is said to be justified when the words line up along a margin. Most text is left justified but ...
K-12 - Kindergarten to 12th grade: the American primary and secondary sectors of education....
Kbits/sec - Transmission rate, 1000 bits per second. ...
Key words - These are particularly associated with 'free text' databases. Important words within descriptions ar...
Keyboard emulator - A device attached to the computer which enables switch users to use standard software. A grid of num...
Keyboard overlay - A sheet that is placed over the touch-sensitive membrane of an overlay keyboard. The overlays can co...
Keyguard - A rigid frame place over the keyboard. It is raised above the keys and has holes in it to allow acce...
Keypad - A touch-sensitive pad which has letters, numbers or symbols on it. With the keypad, the user can giv...
Kilobyte (K) - 1,024 bytes or one thousand. ...
KS1-4 (Key Stages) - The four stages of pupils' progress in acquiring knowledge and skills as set out the National Curric...
LAN ( Local Area Network ) - A communications system linking computers within a restricted geographical area such as a building o...
Laptop computers - Laptop or 'Notebook' computers are powered by rechargeable batteries and are small enough and light ...
Lease purchase - A lease whereby the customer has the option or may be obliged, to purchase the leased equipment at t...
Leased line - A permanent connection over the telephone network to, for example, a Pop Telephone charges are per l...
List server - A method of supporting a conferencing system using e-mail. There is no permanent message storage in ...
Logical operator - ...
Logo - Logo is a programming language. The name comes from the Greek 'logos', meaning 'word'. It allows the...
MB ( Megabyte ) - 1,024 kilobytes or one million bytes...
Mbits/sec - One million bits per second...
Memory - The storage medium used by computer systems to hold programs and data. Usually RAM (a form of volati...
Micromike - A special microphone attached to the computer which acts as a switch triggered by the volume of the ...
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) - A device which allows the interchange of signals between a computer and a music synthesiser....
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) - A standard for e-mail attachments on the Internet...
Mini keyboard - A reduced size keyboard with small buttons to represent the keys. Can be useful for those with limit...
Model - A representation of a real or imagined situation governed by certain rules which are managed by a co...
Modem ( MODulator-dEMulator ) - A modem converts computer information into a form which can be transmitted via a telephone line and ...
Monitor - The screen used with a computer, also known as a VDU (visual display unit)...
Mouse - A peripheral which may be attached to the computer and is used as a tool for pointing to objects on ...
Mouse pen - An input device that is shaped like a thick pen and has a ball on the end. It behaves in the same wa...
MPC ( Multimedia PC ) - A personal computer designed with built-in facilities for high quality graphics, text, video and sou...
MPEG ( Moving Photographic Experts Group ) - A standard drawn up by the Moving Photographic Experts Group for storing digitised video in compress...
MS-DOS (Microsoft Disc Operating System) - The most common operating system used with PC-compatible microcomputers....
MUD (Multi-User Dungeon/Dialogue/Dimension) - An interactive games environment allowing role play, e.g. on the Internet ...
Multimedia - A combination of hardware which accesses moving images, graphics, words and sound controlled by a co...
My SQL [ My Structured Query Language ] - An open source database package for use on the internet. ...
National Curriculum - The programmes of study laid down by law for all pupils aged from 5-16 in state schools...
NCSA ( National Centre for Supercomputing Applications ) - ...
Network - An electronic communications system that links computers, computer systems and peripherals such as f...
Newsgroup - A Usenet bulletin board topic such as films, recipes, or education...
NNTP ( Network News Transport Protocol ) - A method of retrieving a batch of articles from Usenet....
Notebook - This term is used to describe the most recent full size laptop computers. They are lighter and thinn...
NREN ( National Research and Education Network ) - The proposed broadband successor to the Internet in the USA....
OCR ( Optical Character Recognition ) - A type of scanner where light source and photo cell recognise patterns of dark and light on a sheet ...
OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education: a non-ministerial government department established in 1992 to ke...
OMR ( Optical Mark Reader ) - A scanner which can detect straight marks in given places on a sheet e.g. a completed multiple choic...
On-line database - A remote database which can be accessed using a modem via a telephone line. See also Data, Database,...
On-line service - A service, often but not always an electronic mail or database service, that is accessed remotely vi...
Open Source [ www.opensource.org ] - SCRIPT that is completely open to be viewed, edited and bettered. IE Linux, NOT Microsoft Products....
Optical head pointer - An input device which allows the user to control the computer with a pointer attached to a headband...
OS ( Operating System ) - The software usually held on a ROM chip or loaded in from a disc, that provides all of the basic con...
OS/2 - A development of the PC-DOS operating system for IBM PCs and compatible microcomputers using more po...
OSI (Open System Interconnection) - Standards relating to protocols allowing different communication systems to be linked together. Stan...
Overlay keyboard - A flat, touch-sensitive surface on which paper overlays containing words, pictures or objects can be...
Package - A suite of related pre-written computer programs designed for a particular application or job, such ...
Packet switching - A data transmission method that breaks down a flow of data into smaller units called packets. These ...
Palmtop computer - Pocket-sized hand-held computer with a screen in a folding lid. The keyboards are very small and the...
PC ( Personal Computer ) - A computer designed to be used by an individual user rather than by several users at any one time....
Peripheral - A device which can be plugged into the computer to perform some additional function, for example, a ...
Perkins Brailler - A machine for writing in Braille...
PHP [ Personal Home Page { Hyper-text Processor } ] ( .php ) - An open source scripting language, created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. PHP handles data before it be...
Pixel [ Picture Element ] - A single point that makes up a larger image. The more pixels per an inch, the clear picture quality...
Plotter - An output device which draws on paper or film with pens usually to produce graphics....
Point to point - A term used to describe a data channel which connects two, and only two, terminals...
Pop (Point of Presence) - A location and telephone number provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for local dial-up acc...
POP (Post Office Protocol) - POP2 and POP3 are e-mail standards....
POP3 [ Post Office Protocol ] - Now a commonly used e-mail protocol. The language that provides the e-mail service....
Port - An interface between the central processing unit and any peripheral devices....
Portable computer - A generic term covering all kinds of personal computers which are light enough to carry with one han...
PPC (Pay Per Click) - Scheme used by search engines, where advertisers pay for each click on a link, garenteed to be at th...
PPP (Point to Point Protocol) - Permits interactive TCP/IP over telephone lines where Ethernet is not available, as if your computer...
Predictive typing utility - Software which will attempt to anticipate words as text is entered into the computer. A useful utili...
Printer - A peripheral device used to obtain hard copy (paper copy) from a computer. Various types are availab...
Procedure - Ordered and structured commands to perform a particular task. For example a Logo procedure for turni...
Program - Instructions written for use by a computer....
Programmable toys - Toys which will obey a sequence of stored instructions entered by the user through a keypad. See als...
Programming language - An artificial language constructed to enable the user to communicate with a computer. The most commo...
Project Gutenberg - This project aims to encourage the creation and distribution of electronic text, particularly books....
Protocol - A set of rules or procedures usually formally governed by an international standard, e.g. File Trans...
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) - The traditional analogue telephone network....
Public Telephone Operator (PTO) - BT, cable companies, etc. ...
QWERTY - A standard computer keyboard with keys laid out in the same order as a traditional typewriter. The f...
QWERTY keyboard - A computer keyboard with keys laid out in the same order as a traditional typewriter (i.e., the firs...
RAM (Random Access Memory) - The memory used whilst executing a program, e.g. Word Processing. IT can both read and write (record...
Repeater - A device that extends the maximum length of transmission line that can be used in a single network. ...
Retrieval - The 'calling back' into the computer's memory of data which has been previously entered and stored. ...
RFC ( Request for Comment ) - A set of Internet documents dealing with standards and proposals....
Robot - A mechanical device which can be programmed by the user to follow a sequence of commands. See also F...
ROI [ Return on Investment ] - ...
ROM (Read only Memory) - A form of memory whose contents are permanent, cannot be altered and does not lose data when the pow...
Router - A piece of hardware or a software routine that chooses which routes by which information should trav...
Routing - The selection of a communications path for the transmission of information from source to destinatio...
Satellite TV - A satellite can be used to relay telecommunications and TV broadcasts throughout the world. In order...
Scanner - A peripheral which reads across a paper image and produces a signal which can be interpreted by a co...
Scanning - A selection method whereby pictures, words, symbols are presented on a grid; the highlight or select...
Screen Saver - A facility to switch a computer screen off or alter the display if the keyboard or mouse has not bee...
Screen saver - A facility to switch a computer screen off or alter the display if the keyboard or mouse has not bee...
Screen turtle - A representation of the floor turtle but shown on a computer screen. The screen turtle can be shaped...
Scroll - To move through a document or window to view or access its contents....
SCSI card (Small Computer Systems Interface card) - This card provides the computer with the standard (SCSI) used to connect high speed peripherals su...
Search - Searching a database allows the user to specify which data is called back into the computer's memory...
SEN - Special Educational Needs...
Sensor - A device used to measure environmental changes such as light, temperature and movement. Sensors may ...
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) - The process of preparing a website to gain the highest placement in results from keywords on Interne...
Server - A computer system that provides a particular service to devices on a network. E.g. File server. In t...
Shareware - Software that is obtained outside normal distribution channels. It may be freely available over the ...
Sign Language - Language that uses manual gestures rather than speech....
Simulation - A pre-defined computer model of a situation which may allow the user to try different strategies and...
SLIP ( Serial Line Internet Protocol ) - Permits interactive TCP/IP over telephone lines where Ethernet is not available, as if your comput...
SMTP ( Simple Mail Transfer Protocol ) - A standard on the Internet for electronic mail...
Softbraille - Braille output provided by a computer attachment which uses small pins to produce Braille characters...
Software - A generic term for all computer programs associated with a computer system. Software falls into two ...
Software compatibility - The ability of packages to work with one another....
Software upgrades - An improved version of a piece of software which is made available to existing users at a lower pric...
Solutions [ IT Solutions, Web Solutions, E-business Solutions ] - Providing goods or services in solution to a problem. A common method of business in which the supp...
Sound Card - A printed circuit board that can be plugged into a slot in the motherboard of a computer to expand i...
Soundboard - A printed circuit board that can be plugged into a slot in the motherboard of a computer to expand i...
Speech synthesiser - A device that can be used with a computer to speak the text on the screen. Uses synthesised speech....
Spellchecker - An electronic dictionary, usually part of a word processing application, which scans through text on...
Spreadsheet - A computer program which allows words and figures to be entered into cells on a grid format. Cells c...
Sprite - A picture file. Many art packages save work produced on them as sprites. Some clip art is also saved...
Standard keyboard - A keyboard with keys laid out in the same order as a traditional typewriter. ...
SuperJANET - The upgrade to the existing JANET network used by UK universities for high speed data traffic, inclu...
SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array) - An IBM graphics standard which superseded VGA....
Switch - An input device which at any time can be in one of two states, on or off. Where the child's physical...
Switch Interface box - A box with sockets into which switches can be connected which can in turn be attached to a computer....
Synthesised speech - Electronic speech produced by a computer or speech synthesiser from text rather than from a real voi...
System unit - Usually taken to mean the box that houses the processing unit, the motherboard, expansion slots, har...
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - A collection of networking standards which underpin the Internet, enabling different computers to co...
Telecommunications - A system which uses telephone lines, cables or satellite signals to transmit and receive images, sou...
Teletext - An ordered and structured system for displaying a limited number of information screens on a video o...
Telnet - A protocol enabling a user to log on to other computers, usually over the Internet....
Terminal adapter - Interface equipment between a computer and an ISDN line (the equivalent of a modem)....
Terminator - The component at the end of a cable segment...
Text manipulation program - A term increasingly used to embrace programs which allow the manipulation, storage, retrieval and pr...
Touch screen - A frame attached to the front of the computer monitor; infra-red beams cross in front of the screen ...
Touch window - A clear plastic touch-sensitive membrane in a plastic frame which can be attached to the computer mo...
Trackerball - An alternative pointing device frequently used in place of a mouse. The device is rather like an ups...
Turtle graphics - Diagrams drawn by a screen turtle controlled using Logo or a Logo-like program. It is also called 't...
Upload - To transfer data from a smaller computer (such as a PC) to a more powerful one (such as a mainframe)...
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - A unique reference locating a file on the WWW - the Lewisham Council's for instance is: http://www....
Usenet - A world-wide news and message network...
Usenet newsgroup - A collection of Usenet messages on a single subject...
User Group - A collection of like-minded people who get together to discuss a particular product or technology. E...
Utility programs - Programs, usually small, which are designed to perform a single routine task. Either on whole file...
UUCP (Unix-to-UNIX Copy Protocol) - Method of exchanging batches of news and mail with another computer, said to be dying out in favour ...
V.22bis - The ITU standard for 2,400 bits/sec modems...
V.32bis - The ITU standard for 14,400 bits/sec modems...
V.34 - The ITU standard for 28,800 bits/sec modems....
VDU (Visual Display Unit) - The monitor or screen part of a computer....
Veronica (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computerised Archives) - A server which maintains an index of Gopher servers and can be searched using any Gopher client. It ...
VGA (Video Graphics Adapter) - An IBM standard for displaying information on a VDU which is the base standard for PC colour monitor...
Video clip - A short segment of video such as might be used in a video message or retrieved from a database...
Video conferencing - This involves the use of video links to hold meetings between people who are in different locations....
Video digitiser - A device which converts a video image into a form which can be stored and displayed on a computer sc...
Video telephony - This is a term similar to video conferencing. However, the general emphasis is different: video conf...
Videotex - A generic term for a service concerned with the transmission of pages of data over telephone lines a...
Viewdata - An interactive system using electronic information services that link remote computer databases to t...
Virus - A program written with the deliberate intention of corrupting files which stores and sometimes repli...
VSAT ( Very Small Aperture Terminal ) - A satellite system (for voice, data, or video) where the satellite dish is less than about 3 metres ...
WAIS ( Wide Area Information Service ) - A full text indexing tool for building keyword-searchable database servers....
WAN (Wide Area Network) - As opposed to a local area network, which links computers at the same site, a WAN links computers ov...
Web Hosting - Providing disk space and services on a web server, in order to keep a site online, use e-mail etc....
Windows - A graphical user interface (GUI) between the applications and the operating system, developed by Mic...
Word processor - A program for computer-aided writing, editing, storage, revision and printing of words....
WORM (Write Once Read Many) - This refers to optical discs on which information can not be erased or amended once it has been reco...
Write Protect - To render a disc read-only so that its contents cannot be altered or erased, usually by moving a not...
WWW ( World Wide Web ) - Also know as the WWW, W3 or simply the Web. A distributed information service on the Internet based ...
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - It applies to programs that accurately represent on the screen the appearance of the final printed o...