This glossary of terms is driven by our articles and by our members asking for the clarification of pc related terminology. Feel free to contact us with terms, and descriptions, that you would like us to add to the list!
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ActiveX, or ActiveX controls, is Microsoft's answer to Java applets. Both are technologies designed to be downloaded and executed by web browsers like Internet Explorer. An ActiveX control is a Microsoft component program which is primarily based on COM (Component Object Model) technology. These components can be downloaded as small programs or animations on web pages or can be used for any commonly-needed task.
ActiveX will add additional software to your pc when you go onto a web page and SHOULD ask you for permission to be downloaded (you are asked if you trust a download from a particular company). Many of these are useful, like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Macromedia Flash Player and RealPlayer. Others are of concern, like Weatherbug and MemoryMeter, because they allow outside access to your pc for updates that could also contain spyware. Spyware and other badies are often based on ActiveX controls and so will try to load on your pc without letting you know.
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Ajax (also known as AJAX), shorthand for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML,is a web development technique for creating interactive web applications. The intent is to make web pages feel more responsive by exchanging small amounts of data with the server behind the scenes, so that the entire web page does not have to be reloaded each time the user requests a change. This is meant to increase the web page's interactivity, speed, andusability. Google's use of AJAX this year helped demonstrate how Web applications could rival the look and feel of existing desktop applications. And wider adoption of Web standards in browsers has given developers some assurance that AJAX applications will run on most PCs.
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Chat (also known as Blab on kids sites), is based on the concept of Instant Messaging. The original idea, started by Microsoft, was to allow internet users to have an "instant" way to contact your friends without having to open an email application. This evolved into web-based sites, like MySpace, that are sometimes subject oriented, sometimes not.
There are issues with both. PC-based applications, like Instant Messenger (IM), are famous for providing an open door for viruses and spyware. Web-based sites, since the contacts are not restricted to those you know, are famous for providing contact between children and would-be child molesters. Web-based chat "rooms" tend to be as safe as the needs of those sponsoring them, i.e., a site sponsored by a TV network featuring children's programs works very hard to monitor its chat room as it stands to lose a lot if something goes wrong. A chat room that only promises to provide a messaging service has nothing to lose and so can be the most risky to use.
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Cookies (called HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or web cookies) are small (about 4 kb) files of text. When you visit a web page, the server hosting that web page sends this cookie to the browser (like Internet Explorer on your PC) along with the page chosen to be viewed. The browser then sends the cookie back, unchanged, to the server each time the browser visits this server.
HTTP cookies are used to track, maintain and authenticate certain information about users, like site preferences and the contents of electronic shopping carts. PCs can be set up not to accept certain cookies, but rejecting these cookies may cause utilities like a shopping cart not to function. Since they can be used for tracking browsing behavior, both the United States and the European Union have enacted legislation restricting their use.
For more information see our articles on the WL Members pages!
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CRT monitor or a cathode-ray tube monitor works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the back of the screen, lighting up phosphor dots on the inside of the glass tube to create an image. These monitors are praised for their use of million of colors and wide-angle visibility, but demeaned for their large size and heavy weight. See LCD monitor for a comparison.
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File Extensions are the part of a file name seen to the right of the period, as in filename.ext and are usually 3 letters long. The general purpose is to identify what program should be used to open the file you have. If file extensions are hidden on your pc, open up any Windows folder (like My Computer or My Documents) and click on Tools, then Folder Options, then View. Make sure the option Hide extensions for known file types is NOT checked. Click Apply to all folders then OK.
If you wish to know what programs an extension may activate and a lot more about extensions in general, please visit http://filext.com/index.php
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IP (Internet Protocol) Address is the logical address of a network adapter. This is a unique address that identifies your computer or a web site on a network (such as the Internet) so information can be directed to there (like your mailing address for your home).
Every IP address is a 32-bit arithmetic code composed of 4 groups of number separated by 4 periods, such as Google's IP address which is 216.239.51.100. This IP address is also initiated when you type www.google.com into your web address field. These domain names are easier to remember than the numeric IP address.
An IP address can be private, for use on a LAN, or public for use on a WAN like the Internet.
You can see the IP address of your computer by going to www.ip-adress.com (note that "adress" has only one "d").
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LAN (Local Area Network) is a computer network that spans a comparatively small area such as a single building or group of buildings. They usually connect workstations and personal computers. Each PC in a LAN is referred to as a node and not only can execute programs on its own CPU, but can also access data and devices anywhere on the LAN. This allows users on the LAN to all share data and printers, etc., and to communicate with each other using internal email and chat rooms. The most common type of LAN for PCs is the Ethernet.
LANs can transfer data much faster than what can be transmitted over telephone lines, but the distances and number of PCs on a single LAN is limited. However, LANs can be connected through the public telephone network, leased lines or satellites to form Wide Area Networks (see WANs).
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LCD monitor or a liquid crystal display monitor consists of an acitve-matrix and polarizers located in front of a uniform backlight. The panel is connected to row- and column-driver chips to handle the picture data display. These monitors are praised for their flat-panel design and light weight, but demeaned for their small angle of visbility and lower amount of color capabiltiy. See CRT monitor for a comparison.
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Peripherals are essentially computer additions. They are usually quite visible, like your keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, microphone, speakers, etc. They are a connectible device that have a separate function outside the primary computer system.
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POP3 is Post Office Protocol version 3. Although you may see it listed as just POP, POP 1 and 2 are no longer used. This is an application-layer Internet standard protocol that is used to retrieve email from a remote server (your ISP email account) over a TCP/IP connection (a link between the eamil server and your pc). This and IMAP are the most common ways to access email.
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PPPOE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) is a specific method for connecting users on an Ethernet to the Internet through a broadband line such as a single DSL line, wireless device or cable modem. All Ethernet users share a common serial connection so they can transfer data from point-to-point over a LAN (local area network).
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RAM (random access memory) is the most common type of computer memory and is the place where the operating system, programs and current data are stored so they can be quickly, and directly, accessed by the processor. This means that any byte of memory stored here can be reached without have to touch any of the other bytes.
There are two basic types of RAM. Dynamic RAM (DRAM) is the most common type and needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second. Static RAM (SRAM) is faster as it does not need to be refreshed, but it is also a most expensive system. Both types of RAM lose their contents when the power is turned off. When you turn on your computer again, your operating system and other files are reloaded in RAM, usually from your hard disk.
RAM is faster to read from and write to than the hard disk or a CD-ROM, but only focuses on the current workload and can only have so many bytes of memory accessed at one time. If the RAM fills up, the processor will go to the hard disk (which is a much slower process than reading from RAM) to overlay the old data in RAM with new data. This will continue to slow down the computer?s operation as the RAM struggles to cope with this additional data.
There is a great presentation that will tell you more than you will ever want to know about RAM at
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm
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Router is a device that forwards and directs data packets along at least two networks. This may be between two or more LANs (Land Area Networks, usually a small area network confined to a single building or group of buildings) two or more WAN's (wide-area networks) or an LAN and its ISP's (Internet Service Provider) network. The router keeps the data flowing between the networks and connects the network to the Internet. It also directs where each packet of information is going using protocols (an established way in which the data is formatted so it can be transferred from one network to another).
A router is a great tool that is rapidly gaining popularity in homes because it can allow more than one computer to connect to the Internet without the need of a separate account (and fee) for each. Wireless routers allow many wireless-capable computers to connect to the Internet without the hassles of running wires throughout a home or business. Laptops typically have internal wireless cards but you can buy external cards for a desktop to take advantage of a network.
Security is always a concern with wireless networks. Typical wi-fi signals only go for about 200 feet in any direction from the router so someone would have to be "on your doorstep" to use it. Wi-fi cafes and businesses set up security protocols on their systems to allow only chosen users to have access (homes can as well).
We have tried a couple of router systems and have found that Linksys routers and cards have been the more reliable and suited to our needs.
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Safe mode is a diagnostic tool used by Windows, Mac OS X and many other operating systems and complex electronic devices. When an operating system is in Safe Mode, your PC will not have access to all functions and programs as many non-primary components are not running. It loads as few executable files as possible and usually disables all devices (like printers, etc) except for those needed to display information and accept input. This makes it easier to isolate problems. Safe Mode may offer you options to boot from a text-based “recovery console” or other modes that will run a dysfunctional operating system.
For more information, see our article on the "Using Windows" tab.
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Server is a computer that delivers information and software to other computers linked by a network.
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WANs (Wide Area Networks) is usually a series of local area networks (see LANs) connected via the public telephone lines, leased lines, or satellite. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.
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