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COMPUTER VOCABULARY
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Adware |
A software
application which displays unwanted pop-up advertisements on your
computer while in use. Adware is often installed on your computer at the same
time as
free software or shareware. |
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Application |
An application
is any program designed to perform a
specific function directly for
the user. Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook or Adobe Photoshop are examples of
application programs. |
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Browser |
A program or tool such as Internet
Explorer or Mozilla that enables you to browse
or surf the World Wide Web and view internet sites. |
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Bug |
A defect or fault in a computer
program that prevents it from working correctly.
Bugs are caused by mistakes or errors made by the people who write the
programme. |
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Cache |
A sort of fast memory used for
temporary storage of recently accessed web pages,
which enables the browser to display them more quickly on the next visit. |
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Cookies |
A
cookie is a small piece of information on the times and dates you have
visited
web sites. A web server can temporarily store this information within your browser.
The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized
web pages
for them. |
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Crash |
A crash, in computing, is what
happens when a program, or the entire operation
system, unexpectedly stops working. |
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Cursor |
A blinking symbol on the screen that
shows where any new text will next be entered. |
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Driver |
A special program which enables a
computer to work with a particular piece of
hardware such as a printer. |
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E-business |
Business done over the internet or
any internet-based network. |
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E-mail |
Electronic mail : messages sent
from one computer to another over the Internet. |
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FAQ |
Frequently asked questions |
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Firewall |
Specialized
hardware or software designed to prevent unrestricted or unauthorized
access into or out of a computer or network. |
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Font |
A particular kind of lettering (for
example : Arial, Bookman, Times New Roman). |
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Hardware |
The physical equipment or touchable parts of a computer system, the CPU
(central processing unit), the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, the external
speakers, the scanner,
the printer, etc, |
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Hit |
A visit to a website. |
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Home page |
The main page or opening page that
appears when you visit a web site. It usually
contains links to the other pages. |
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Login |
Process by which a user enters a name
and password to access a computer. |
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Modem |
A device that enables a computer to
send and receive information over a telephone
line. You need a modem to connect to the Internet, to send email and to fax. |
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Netiquette |
Network etiquette : a set of informal
rules defining proper behaviour on the Internet |
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Portal |
A website that acts as a gateway or
entry point to the internet (for example, Yahoo).
Typically, a portal offers a search engine and
links to other sites grouped into
categories, as well as news or other services. |
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Program |
A
sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute in
order
to do a particular job. Programs are collectively referred to as "software". |
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Provider |
Company that provides access to the Internet. |
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Scanner |
A piece of hardware, or peripheral
device, used to scan a document and create a
digital copy. |
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Spam |
Unwanted, irrelevant or inappropriate
e-mail messages, especially commercial
advertising. Also referred to as "junk e-mail". |
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Spyware |
Software that collects information,
without your knowledge, about your web-surfing
habits and uses it for marketing purposes. Very often contained in free downloads
or shareware programs. |
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Trojan |
A
Trojan is a computer program that is hidden in a useful software
application and
actually used
to gain access to your computer. It then performs malicious actions
such
as displaying messages or erasing files. Trojans may be found in a hacked
legitimate program or
in free software . |
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Videoconference |
Interactive, audiovisual meeting between two or more people in different
geographic
locations using two-way video technology. |
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Virus |
A virus is a malicious
self-replicating program that spreads by inserting copies of
itself into other executable code or documents,
and whose sole intent is to cause
problems on a
computer.
It acts in a way similar to a biological virus, and the infected file is
called a host. |
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WYSIWYG |
What you see
is what you get. (pronounced 'wizzy-wig').
A WYSIWYG application enables
you to see on the screen exactly what will appear
when the document is printed. |
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WWW |
World Wide Web:
A hypertext information system consisting of a network of web
pages
which runs on the Internet and can be accessed with a browser. |
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Worm |
A
computer worm is a self-replicating computer program, similar to a
computer virus.
It infects additional computers (typically by making use of network
connections),
often clogging networks and information systems as it spreads. |
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Zip |
To
zip a file is to compress it so that it occupies less space in storage
and can be transferred quickly over the Internet. |
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