S

satellite transmission:

A method of data transmission; the sender beams data up to an orbiting satellite and the satellite beams the data back down to the receiver.

scroll bar:

In a graphical user interface system, the narrow rectangular bar at the far right of windows or dialog boxes. Clicking on the up or down arrow enables you to move up and down through a document; a movable square indicates your location in the document. Certain applications also feature a scroll bar along the bottom of a window that can be used to move from side-to-side.

search engine:

A tool that searches documents by keyword and returns a list of possible matches; most often used in reference to programs such as Google that are used by your web browser to search the Internet for a particular topic.

secure server:

A special type of file server that requires authentication (e.g., entry a valid username and password) before access is granted.

self-extracting file:

A type of compressed file that you can execute (e.g., double-click on the filename) to begin the decompression process; no other decompression utility is required. Example: on IBM PC or compatibles, certain files with an ".exe" extension and on Macintoshes, all files with a ".sea" extension.

serial port:

An interface on a computer that supports transmission of a single bit at a time; can be used for connecting almost any type of external device including a mouse, a modem, or a printer (although most printers are connected to a parallel port). On personal computers, most serial ports use an RS-232C or RS-422 type connector.

server:

A computer that is responsible for responding to requests made by a client program (e.g., a web browser or an e-mail program) or computer. Also referred to as a "file server". Example: the "myers.edu" web server that provides Myers-related information or the "pop.service" mail server that handles incoming e-mail messages.

shareware:

Copyrighted software available for downloading on a free, limited trial basis; if you decide to use the software, you're expected to register and pay a small fee. By doing this, you become eligible for assistance and updates from the author. Contrast to public domain software which is not copyrighted or to freeware which is copyrighted but requires no usage fee.

Shockwave:

A technology that enables web pages to include multimedia objects such as audio, animation, and video; you use an authoring tool by Macromedia called "Director" to create a shockwave object and a program called "Afterburner" to compress the object. A plug-in available from Macromedia's web site is required to see a Shockwave object included on a web page.

signature:

A file containing a bit of personal information that you can set to be automatically appended to your outgoing e-mail messages; many network newsreaders also have this capability. Large signatures over five lines generally are frowned upon.

SIMM:

Single In-line Memory Module; a small circuit board that can hold a group of memory chips; used to increase your computer's RAM in increments of 1,2, 4, or 16 MB.

SMTP:

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol; a method of handling outgoing electronic mail.

snail mail:

A colloquial term for paper mail handled by the U.S. Post Office.

software:

Any program that performs a specific function. Examples: word processing, spreadsheet calculations, or electronic mail.

spam:

In the context of the Internet, electronic junk mail that promotes a commercial product or web site.

streaming (streaming media):

A technique for transferring data over the Internet so that a client browser or plug-in can start displaying it before the entire file has been received; used in conjunction with sound and pictures. Example: The Shockwave plug-in from Macromedia gives your computer the capability for streaming audio; RealPlayer is used for viewing sound and video.

Stuffit:

A common file compression utility for Macintoshes. Compressed files are referred to as "stuffed" and usually end with a ".sit" file extension. A special kind of stuffed file is self-extracting and ends with a ".sea" extension. Stuffed binary files can be converted to ASCII format for transfer over the Internet; such files have a ".sit.hqx" or ".sea.hqx" extension.

subdirectory:

An area on a hard disk that contains a related set of files; on IBM PC or compatibles, a level below another directory. On Macintoshes, subdirectories are referred to as folders.

subscribe:

Commonly refers to the act of selecting a network newsgroup as one you want to read on a regular basis or of sending a request to join a mailing list (discussion group) that interest you. The opposite action is called "unsubscribing".

SVGA:

Super VGA (Video Graphics Array); a set of graphics standards for a computer monitor that offers greater resolution than VGA. There are several different levels including 800 x 600 pixels, 1024 by 768 pixels, 1280 by 1024 pixels; and 1600 by 1200 pixels. Although each supports a palette of 16 million colors, the number of simultaneous colors is dependent on the amount of video memory installed in the computer.

synthesizer:

An electronic musical instrument capable of generating sound using real-time control over the key parameters of sound: frequency, timbre, amplitude, and duration. Today most synthesizers include a MIDI interface. Also may refer to an internal sound card or external box for use with multimedia sequencing software.

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T

10Base-T:

An adaptation of the Ethernet standard for Local Area Networks that refers to running Ethernet over twisted pair wires.

table:

With reference to web design, a method for formatting information on a page. Use of tables and the cells within also provide a way to create columns of text. Use of tables vs frames is recommended for helping to make your web site ADA-compliant.

TCP/IP:

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol; an agreed upon set of rules that tells computers how to exchange information over the Internet. Other Internet protocols like FTP, Gopher, and HTTP sit on top of TCP/IP.

Telnet:

A program that enables you to open an interactive login session over TCP/IP networks like the Internet. Commands you enter from your own computer are executed exactly as if you were seated at the remote machine. Some computers require you have an account for access, while others function as public archives where no unique login is necessary. Example: telneting to UNIX or similar computers using VT00 terminal emulation (as opposed to IBM3270 or fullscreen emulation).

telnet:

A generic term that refers to the process of opening a remote interactive login session regardless of the type of computer you're connecting to.

terminal emulation:

The act of using your desktop computer to communicate with another computer like a UNIX or IBM mainframe exactly as if you were sitting in front of a terminal directly connected to the system. Also refers to the software used for terminal emulation. Examples: the Telnet program for VT100 emulation and QWS3270 (Windows) and TN3270 (Macintosh) for IBM3270 fullscreen emulation.

thread:

Commonly refers to a series of messages that have been posted as replies to each other in a network newsgroup. Client programs like the Free Agent (for Windows) and NewsWatcher (for Macintosh) newsreaders group these messages together so that you can choose particular threads to read.

TIFF:

Tag Image File Format; a popular file format for storing bit-mapped graphic images on desktop computers. The graphic can be any resolution and can be black and white, gray-scale, or color. Files of this type usually have the suffix ".tif" as part of their name.

TN3270:

A program for Macintosh; provides IBM3270 terminal emulation when you connect to an IBM mainframe. Example: fullscreen TSO and WYLBUR sessions.

tool bar:

On a graphical user interface system, a bar near the top of an application window that provides easy access to frequently used options.

trolling:

The act of deliberately posting false or inflammatory information in a network newsgroup to elicit responses from other serious readers.

TrueType:

A technology for outline fonts that is built into all Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Outline fonts are scalable enabling a display device to generate a character at any size based on a geometrical description.

twisted pair cable:

A type of cable that is typically found in telephone jacks; two wires are independently insulated and are twisted around each other. The cable is thinner and more flexible than the coaxial cable used in conjunction with 10Base-2 or 10Base-5 standards.

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U

UNIX:

A popular multitasking computer system often used as a server for electronic mail or for a web site. UNIX also is the leading operating system for workstations, although increasingly there is competition from Windows NT which offers many of the same features while running on an IBM PC or compatible computer.

upload:

The process of transferring one or more files from your local computer to a remote computer. The opposite action is download.

USB:

Universal Serial Bus; a connector on the back of almost any new computer that allows you to quickly and easily attach external devices such as mice, joysticks or flight yokes, printers, scanners, modems, speakers, digital cameras or webcams, or external storage devices. Current operating systems for Windows and Macintosh computers support USB, so it's simple to install the device drivers. When a new device is connected, the operating system automatically activates it and begins communicating. USB devices can be connected or disconnected at any time.

Usenet news:

A method of exchanging information on the Internet. Similar topics are arranged into a wide variety of newsgroups. Also referred to as "network news"or "electronic bulletin boards".

username:

A name used in conjunction with a password to gain access to a computer system or a network service.

URL:

Uniform Resource Locator; a means of identifying resources on the Internet. A full URL consists of three parts: the protocol (e.g., ftp, gopher, http, nntp, telnet); the server name and address; and the item's path. The protocol describes the type of item and is always followed by a colon (:). The server name and address identifies the computer where the information is stored and is preceded by two slashes (//). The path shows where an item is stored on the server and what the file is called; each segment of the location s preceded by a single slash (/). Examples: The URL for the Myers home page is http://www.myers.edu.

utility:

Commonly refers to a program used for managing system resources such as disk drives, printers, and other devices; utilities sometimes are installed as memory-resident programs. Example: the suite of programs called Norton Utilities for disk copying, backups, etc.

uuencode:

A method of converting files into an ASCII format that can be transmitted over the Internet; it is a universal protocol for transferring files between different platforms like UNIX, Windows, and Macintosh and is especially popular for sending e-mail attachments.

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V

V.32:

A standard that applies to 9600 bps modems; V.32 modems automatically adjust their transmission speeds based on the quality of the line.

V.32 BIS:

A standard that applies to increased transmission speed from 9600 bps to 14,400 bps.

V.34:

A standard for modem transmission speed up to 28,800 bps; V.34 modems automatically adjust their transmission speeds based on the quality of the line.

V.42:

A standard that applies to error control in relation to high-speed modems.

V.42 BIS:

A standard that applies to data compression in relation to modems; it roughly corresponds to MNP Level 5.

VGA:

Video Graphics array; a graphics display system for PCs developed by IBM. Provides a resolution of 720 by 400 pixels in text mode and 640 by 480 (with 16 colors) or 320 by 200 (with 256 colors) in graphics mode. The total palette of colors is 262,144.

virtual memory:

A technique that enables a certain portion of hard disk space to be used as auxiliary memory so that your computer can access larger amounts of data than its main memory can hold at one time.

virtual reality:

An artificial environment created with computer hardware and software to simulate the look and feel of a real environment. A user wears earphones, a special pair of gloves, and goggles that create a 3D display. Examples: manipulating imaginary 3D objects by "grabbing" them, taking a tour of a "virtual" building, or playing an interactive game.

virus:

A program intended to alter data on a computer in an invisible fashion, usually for mischievous or destructive purposes. Viruses are often transferred across the Internet as well as by infected diskettes and can affect almost every type of computer. Special antivirus programs are used to detect and eliminate them.

VT100:

A type of terminal emulation required when you open an interactive network connection (telnet) to a UNIX system from your desktop computer.

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W

WAIS:

Wide Area Information Server; a program for finding documents on the Internet. Usually found on gopher servers to enable searching text-based documents for a particular keyword.

WAP:

Wireless Application Protocol; an application environment and set of communication protocols for enabling wireless access to the Internet.

Wavetable synthesis:

A method of translating digital data into analog sounds; it relies on recordings of real instruments to produce sounds.

Whois:

A searchable database containing basic name and address information.

wild card:

A special character provided by an operating system or a particular program that is used to identify a group of files or directories with a similar characteristic. Useful if you want to perform the same operation simultaneously on more than one file. Example: the asterisk (*) that can be used in DOS to specify a groups of files such as *.txt.

window:

On a graphical user interface system, a rectangular area on a display screen. Windows are particularly useful on multitasking systems which allow you to perform a number of different tasks simultaneously. Each task has its own window which you can click on to make it the current process. Contrast to a "dialog box" which is used to respond to prompts for input from an application.

Windows:

A casual way of referring to the Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Winsock:

Short for Windows Socket; an Application Programming Interface (API) for developing Windows programs that can communicate with other machines via the TCP/IP protocol. New Windows computers have Winsock built in.

WinZip:

A Windows-based file compression utility for IBM PC and compatibles. Compressed files are referred to as "zipped" and usually end with a ".zip" file extension. A special kind of zipped file is self-extracting and ends with a ".exe" extension.

wireless (netwoking):

The ability to access the Internet without a physical network connection. Devices such as cell phones and PDAs that allow you to send and receive e-mail use a wireless Internet connection based on a protocol called WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). At this point, web sites that contain wireless Internet content are limited, but will multiply as the use of devices relying on WAP increases.

wizard:

A special utility within some applications that is designed to help you perform a particular task. Example: the wizard in Microsoft Word that can guide you through creating a new document.

workstation:

A graphical user interface (GUI) computer with computing power somewhere between a personal computer and a minicomputer (although sometimes the distinction is rather fuzzy). Workstations are useful for development and for applications that require a moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities. Leading manufacturers are Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics Inc., and Digital Electronics Corporation.

World Wide Web:

A hypertext-based system of servers on the Internet. Hypertext is data that contains one or more links to other data; a link can point to many different types of resources including text, graphics, sound, animated files, a network newsgroup, a telnet session, an FTP session, or another web server. You use a special program called a "browser" (e.g., Netscape or Internet Explorer) for viewing World Wide Web pages. Also referred to as "WWW" or "the web".

WS_FTP:

A program for Windows that enables you to transfer files across the Internet to or from your desktop computer.

WWW:

An abbreviation for World Wide Web.

WYSIWYG:

What You See Is What You Get; a kind of word processor that does formatting so that printed output looks identical to what appears on your screen.

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X

Y

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Z

zip: