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RAM
Random Access Memory. A computer's working
memory, where programs store information when they are running. The bigger it is, the less time
your computer will have to wait to get data from the hard disk drive.
Really simple syndication. RSS
An online tool used
to send out instantaneous news and updates from a website to subscribers on computers, mobile
phones, or personal digital assistants. PDFA such as Blackberry
Registry
A large, constantly changing file in
Windows 95, containing details of how your computer is set up, and all the programs stored on the
hard disk.
RFC
Request for Comments. Online documents that
have to do with technical standards for the Internet.
Scandisk
A Windows utility that checks the
integrity of data stored on a hard disk drive, identifies problems, and where possible puts them
right.
Scanner
A machine that scans a printed image, such
as a photograph or a page of text, and turns it into a file that can be displayed and manipulated
on a computer.
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface [pronounced
'Scuzzy']. A high speed data interface that uses a card, which plugs into an ISA [integrated system
architecture] socket on the computer motherboard. SCSI cards that use PCI slots are also
available.
Search Engine
An online service which can trawl
through the contents of the Web (Websites, newsgroups, email addresses) looking for specific
phrases or words. The engine asks you for keywords and then provides a list of web sites that
contain your chosen words. Clicking on the listed web sites will take you to the relevant web page.
A good example is Google.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Making sure that
web users can easily find a particular website when they type in a specific words or phrases
into a search engine.
SOAP
Simple Object Access Protocol - which
provides a way for applications to communicate with each other using XML.
Spam
Slang for posting the same message to
multiple newsgroups - frowned on by most people on the Internet.
SQL
Structured Query Language - a standard
language for talking to databases.
SSL
Secure Socket Layer - secures Web sites with
encrypted traffic to and from the site user (see HTTPS).
Streaming
A technology for delivering audio or
video files so that they can be heard or seen whilst downloading, without having to wait for the
complete file.
Style sheet
A template or a file which defines the
layout of a document or a series of documents.
3G
Third generation mobile telephony related to
improving the transmission of data from the internet to mobile phones
Telnet
Allows users remote access to computers,
most often at libraries, universities, and government agencies. The remote computer thinks you are
using its own keyboard.
Templates
A ready-prepared document layout. Many
word-processors have simple pre-formed letterheads, fax headers, memos, and invoices. To customise
them for your own needs, you simply change the sample text.
Unix
A computer operating system which allows
multiple clients to access one host at the same time.
URL
Uniform Resource Locater. This is the (rather
clumsy) name for the address of any resource on the Internet. You type the URL into your browser,
and are taken to that address.
Usenet newsgroups
More than 17,000 topic-oriented message bases that can be read and posted to. Also called
newsgroups.
Viral marketing
A web strategy that encourages
people to pass it on, with little effort, a marketing messages to others, often offering free
products or services or sharing cool pics
Virus
A special type of program which is designed
for malicious purposes. It spreads by attaching itself to other programs and then carrying out
unwanted and often damaging operations.
Virtual
A computer-generated environment.
VRML
Virtual Reality Modelling Language. This is a
file format which allows you to create 3D graphics for the Internet.
WAP
Wireless application protocol
A protocol or format that allows the internet to be viewed over a wireless device such as mobile
phone.
Wizard
A self-activating program that guides
you through a simple set-up routine for a particular feature or application.
World Wide Web
A revolutionary browsing system
that allows point-and-click navigation of the Internet. The Web is a spider web-like
interconnection of millions of pieces of information located on computers around the world. Web
documents use hypertext, which incorporates text and graphical links to other documents and files
on Internet-connected computers.
XML
Extensible Markup Language - a new standard
for marking up documents and data. It is based on SGML, but with a reduced feature set that is more
appropriate for distribution via the Web. XML allows authors to create customised tags not
available in HTML.
Zipping
The process of compressing a file so it
takes up less space. There are two types of Zip files, normal (which require a program to extract
them) and self-executing that open up automatically. PKZip and WinZip are popular zipping and
unzipping programs.
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