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Synonymous
with hyperlinks, anchor refers to non-linear links among documents. Or more
simply put, it's the word or phrase that can be selected to connect to another
page or resource.
Anchor Color
You
guessed it--the color on screen that represents the anchors. The reason so many
are blue is that is often the default color. This color can be changed to any
combination of red, green and blue.
Agent
Agents
are search tools that automatically seek out relevant online information based
on your specifications. Agents are also called intelligent agents, personal
agents, knowbots or droids.
Annotations
Personal
notes you can attach to the documents you have saved in your Web browser. The
notes are available to you whenever the document is viewed.
Archie
Derived
from the word archive, Archie is a Net-based service that allows you to
locate files that can be downloaded via FTP.
ASCII
(pronounced
"Ask-ee") An acronym for American Standard Code for Information
Exchange, ASCII is an international standard in which numbers, letters,
punctuation marks, symbols and control codes are assigned numbers from 0 to
127. Easily transferred over networks, ASCII is a plain, unadorned text without
style or font specifications.
Asychronous Connection
The type
of connection a modem makes over a phone line, this connection is not
synchronized by a mutual timing signal or clock.
AU Sounds
This is
an audio format developed for Sun workstations and often used to distribute
sound clips via the Web.
Authoring Software
This term
refers to software that enables the creation of multimedia or hypertext
documents and presentations.
Avatar
This term
refers to an interactive representation of a human in a virtual reality
environment; term was popularized by Neal Stephenson's novel "Snow
Crash."
The range
of transmission frequencies a network can use. The greater the bandwidth the
more information that can be transferred over that network at one time. The
term bandwidth also broadly includes throughput, meaning the amount of data
sent.
Baseband
A
transmission method in which a network uses its entire transmission range to
send a single signal.
Baud
A unit of
speed in data transmission, or the maximum speed at which data can be sent down
a channel. Baud is often equivalent to bits per second. Named after J. M. E.
Baudot (died 1903).
BBS
This is
an acronym for Bulletin Board System, a computer equipped with software and
telecommunications links that allow it to act as an information host for remote
computer systems.
BinHex
A file
conversion format that converts binary files to ASCII text files.
Bit
A
contraction of binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a
computer can hold. Eight bits is equivalent to a byte. The speed at which bits
are transmitted or bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps.
Broadband
A
transmission method in which the networks range of transmission frequencies is
divided into separate channels and each channel is used to send a different
signal. Broadband is often used to send different types of signals
simultaneously.
Browser
A type of
software that allows you to navigate information databases; examples are
Netscape Navigator and NCSA Mosaic.
Byte
The
number of bits used to represent a character.
Compact
Disk-Read Only Memory; an optical disk from which information may be read but
not written.
CD-R or Compact Disk-Recordable
Refers to
computer peripheral disk drives that allow the user to record content on to a
blank compact disk.
Client
A
computer that has access to services over a computer network. The computer
providing the services is a server. Note: in an X-11 environment, the
meanings of client and server are reversed.
Client-Server Architecture
An
information-passing scheme that works as follows: a client program, such as
Mosaic, sends a request to a server. The server takes the request, disconnects
from the client and processes the request. When the request is processed, the
server reconnects to the client program and the information is transferred to
the client. This architecture differs from traditional Internet databases where
the client connects to the server and runs the program from the remote site. Note:
in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
Configuration
This is a
general-purpose computer term that can refer to the way you have your computer
set up. It is also used to describe the total combination of hardware
components that make up a computer system and the software settings that allow
various hardware components of a computer system to communicate with one
another.
Configure
The act
of changing software or hardware actions by changing the settings.
CyberMall
A term
commonly used to describe an electronic site shared by a number of commercial
interests.
Cyberspace
A term
coined by William Gibson in his novel "Neuromancer" to refer to a
near-future computer network where users mentally travel through matrices of
data. The term is now used to describe the Internet and the other computer
networks.
The most
popular form of Net connection for the home user, this is a connection from
your computer to a host computer over standard telephone lines.
Direct Connection
A
permanent connection between your computer system and the Internet. This is
sometimes referred to as a leased-line connection because the line is leased
from the telephone company.
DNS
An
acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names and
addresses which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol numbers
and vice versa.
Document
When used
in reference to the World Wide Web, a document is any file containing text,
media or hyperlinks that can be transferred from an HTTP server to a client
program.
Document Window
This is
the Web browser's scrollable window in which HTML documents can be viewed.
Download
To
transfer to your computer a copy of a file that resides on another computer.
DSU
The
abbreviation for Digital Services Unit, DSU replaces the modem in synchronous
connections to the Internet.
The
abbreviation for Electronic Data Interchange, EDI system allows linked
computers to conduct business transactions such as ordering and invoicing over
telecommunications networks.
External Viewer
A program
used for presenting graphics, audio and video files. Programs that allow the
viewing of GIF and JPEG files and the hearing of AU files fall into this
category.
This is
the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. A common feature on the Internet,
FAQs are files of answers to commonly asked questions. Read FAQs before wasting
electrons asking obvious questions. Saves you from receiving flames.
Firewall
This term
refers to security measures designed to protect a networked system from
unauthorized or unwelcome access.
FTP
File
Transfer Protocol is a protocol that allows the transfer of files from one
computer to another. FTP is also the verb used to describe the act of
transferring files from one computer to another.
This
acronym stands for Graphic Interchange Format, a commonly used file compression
format developed by CompuServe for transferring graphics files to and from
online services.
Gopher
A
menu-oriented tool used to locate online resources developed at the University
of Minnesota.
Gopherspace
A term
used to describe the entire gopher network.
Groupware
This term
refers to software applications that facilitate shared work on documents and
information.
GUI
An
acronym for Graphical User Interface, this term refers to a software front-end meant
to provide an attractive and easy to use interface between a computer user and
application. The Macintosh operating system has a GUI, DOS does not.
The
document displayed when you first open your Web browser. Home Page can also
refer to the first document you come to at a Web site.
Hotlists
Lists of
frequently used Web locations and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).
Host
A
computer acting as an information or communications server.
HTML
An
acronym for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the language used to tag various
parts of a Web document so browsing software will know how to display that
document's links, text, graphics and attached media.
HTML Document
A
document written in HyperText Markup Language.
HTTP
The
abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP is used to link and transfer
hypertext documents.
Hypermedia
The
hypertext concept extended to include linked multiple media.
Hypertext
This term
describes the system that allows documents to be cross- linked in such a way
that the reader can explore related documents by clicking on a highlighted word
or symbol.
The
abbreviation for Internet Architecture Board, the IAB is the council that makes
decisions about Internet standards.
IETF
The
abbreviation for Internet Engineering Task Force, IETF refers to a subgroup of
the Internet Architecture Board that focuses on solving technical problems on
the Internet.
Inline Images
These are
the graphics contained within a Web document.
IP
The
abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication
standards that control communications activity on the Internet. An IP address
is the number assigned to any Internet-connected computer.
ISDN
The
abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN is a
telecommunications standard that uses digital transmission technology to
support voice, video and data communications applications over regular
telephone lines.
ISOC
This is
the abbreviation for Internet Society, an organization formed to support a worldwide
information network. ISOC is the sponsoring body of the Internet Architecture
Board.
The
acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG is an image compression
format used to transfer color photographs and images over computer networks.
Along with GIF, it's one of the most common ways photos are moved over the Web.
These are
the hypertext connections between Web pages. This is a synonym for hotlinks or
hyperlinks.
Live
When used
in reference to a World Wide Web file, this term designates an object linked to
another layer of information.
From the
novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, this term describes a virtual
online representation of reality.
MIME
An
acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a messaging standard
that allows Internet users to exchange e-mail messages enhanced with graphics,
video and voice. MIME file types are also used in Mosaic.
Mosaic
This is
the common name of a World Wide Web multimedia browser program developed at the
National Center for Supercomputing Applications in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. The
official, copyrighted name of the program is NCSA Mosaic(tm).
MPEG
The
acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard for
video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing application
is needed to run MPEG files on your computer.
This is
the abbreviation for National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the
University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
NFS
The
abbreviation for Network File System, NFS is a protocol suite developed and
licensed by Sun Microsystems that allows different makes of computers running
different operating systems to share files and disk storage.
NIC
The
abbreviation for Network Information Center, NIC is an organization responsible
for supplying information for component networks that comprise the Internet.
NOC
The
abbreviation for Network Operations Center, NOC is the organization responsible
for the day-to-day operations of the Internet's component networks.
Node
A device
attached to a network. A node uses the network as a means of communication and
has an address on the network.
NREN
The
abbreviation for National Research and Education Network, NREN is an effort to
combine the networks operated by the U.S. government into a single high-speed
network.
The Open
Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model for describing network protocols
was devised by the Internet Standards Organization. It divides protocols in to
seven layers to standardize and simplify definitions.
An
acronym for Point of Presence, POP is a service provider's location for
connecting to users. Generally, POPs refer to the location where people can
dial into the provider's host computer. Most providers have several POPs to
allow low-cost access via telephone lines.
POTS
This is
an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service.
PPP
The
abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol, PPP is an Internet connection where
phone lines and a modem can be used to connect a computer to the Internet.
Protocol
A set of
standards that define how traffic and communications are handled by a computer
or network routers.
This is a
digital video standard developed for Apple Macintosh computers. Special viewing
applications are needed to run QuickTime movies.
A
communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route
possible.
This term
refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented
databases.
Server
A
computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers. Note:
in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
SGML
The
abbreviation for Standard Generalized Markup Language, SGML is an international
standard for the publication and delivery of electronic information.
Shareware
This term
refers to software that is available on public networks and BBSs. Users are
asked to remit a small amount to the software developer, but it's on the honor
system.
SLIP
The
acronym for Serial Line Internet Protocol, SLIP refers to a method of Internet
connection that enables computers to use phone lines and a modem to connect to
the Internet without having to connect to a host.
Socket
This is a
communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of the UNIX
operating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and receiving data
between computers.
Synchronous Connection
An analog
to analog or digital to digital connection that is able to perform two or more
processes at the same time by means of a mutual timing signal or clock.
High-speed
data line connection. T-1 operates at 1.45 Mbps.
Tags
These are
formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document
will appear when displayed by browsing software.
TCP-IP
The basic
protocols controlling applications on the Intn the Internet; it stands for
"transmission control protocol/Internet protocol."
TIFF
This is
the acronym for Tagged Image File Format, a graphic file format developed by
Aldus and Microsoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.
Trumpet Winsock
A
popular, cheerier TCP/IP protocol stack.
This is
the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the addressing system used in
the World Wide Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains information
about the method of access, the server to be accessed and the path of any file
to be accessed.
This is a
search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows
users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired
information. The name is an acronym for "very easy rodent oriented
net-wide index of computerized archives." Honest!
The
abbreviation for Wide Area Information Service, WAIS is a Net-wide system for
looking up specific information in Internet databases.
WAIS gateway
This term
refers to a computer that is used to translate WAIS data so it can be made
available to an otherwise incompatible network or application. Mosaic must use
a WAIS gateway.
Web Browser
This is
the software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of
Web browsers include Netscape, Mosaic, Cello and Lynx.
Web Document
An HTML
document that is browsable on the Web.
Webmaster
This term
refers to the person in charge of administrating a World Wide Web site.
Web Node
This term
is synonymous with Web site or Web server.
Web Page
An HTML
document that is accessible on the Web.
Webspace
This term
refers to the space created by the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web
Also
known as WWW or W3, the World Wide Web is a hypertext- based Internet service
used for browsing Internet resources.