Computer Vocabulary
Anti-virus software - A program
that finds and removes viruses from a computer.
Backup - A copy on floppy disk or
tape of files on a PC's hard disk. A backup is used in case the hard disk
file(s) are erased or damaged.
Bit, bytes - A bit is the smallest piece of information
that computers use. For simplicity, a PC uses bits in groups of 8 called bytes
(8 bits = 1 byte).
Boot, boot up, boot disk - You boot (or boot up) your
computer when you switch it on and wait while it prepares itself. Instructions
for startup are given to the computer from the boot disk, which is usually the
hard disk.
Browser, to browse - A browser is a program like Netscape or Internet Explorer. You use it to
view or browse the Internet.
Bug - A (small) defect or fault in a program.
Cache - A kind of memory used to make a computer work faster.
CD-ROM - A disk for storing computer information. It
looks like an audio CD.
CPU - Central Processing Unit. This is a PC's heart or
'brains'.
DOS - Disk Operating System. The original system used
for PCs. You type in commands instead of pointing and clicking.
Driver - A small program that
tells a PC how a peripheral works.
Electronic mail (email, e-mail) -
Messages sent from one computer to another. You can see email on the screen or
print it out.
Floppy disk - A cheap, removable
disk used for storing or transferring information. It is floppy (soft) because
it is plastic. See hard disk.
Floppy drive - The device used to run a
floppy disk (usually drive 'A'.)
Folder (directory) - A
sub-division of a computer's hard disk into which you
put files.
Font - A particular sort of lettering (on the screen or
on paper). Arial is a font.
Times New Roman is another.
Format - All hard disks and
floppy disks have to be electronically prepared for use
by a process called formatting. Hard disks are pre-formatted by the computer
manufacturer. If you buy a floppy disk that is not pre-formatted, you format it
yourself, using a program that comes with your PC.
Graphics card - The equipment inside a computer that
creates the image on the screen.
Hard disk - The main disk inside
a computer used for storing programs and information. It
is hard because it is metal. See floppy disk.
Icon - A small image or picture on a computer screen
that is a symbol for folders, disks, peripherals,
programs etc.
Internet - International
network of computers that you connect to by telephone line. Two popular
services of the Internet are the World Wide Web and
electronic mail.
Kb, Mb, Gb - Kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes. Used to
measure computer memory and storage.
Memory - Memory is for the
temporary storing of information while a computer is being used. See
RAM, ROM and Cache.
MHz - Megahertz. This describes the speed of computer
equipment. The higher the MHz the better the performance.
Modem - Equipment connected to a
computer for sending/receiving digital information by telephone line. You need
a modem to connect to the Internet, to send
electronic mail and to fax.
OCR - Optical Character Recognition. OCR lets a PC read
a fax or scanned image and convert it to actual lettering.
Parallel port - A socket at the back of a computer for
connecting external equipment or peripherals,
especially printers.
PC card - A device that is the same size as a thick
credit card, for plugging into a slot on notebook computers. You can buy
memory, modems and
hard disks as PC cards.
Peripheral - Any equipment
that is connected externally to a computer. For example, printers,
scanners and modems are
peripherals.
Pixel - The image that you see on
the screen is made of thousands of tiny dots, points or pixels.
Program Software that operates a
PC and does various things, such as writing text (word-processing program),
keeping accounts (accounts program) and drawing pictures (graphics
program).
QWERTY - The first 6 letters on English-language
keyboards are Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The first 6 letters on French-language keyboards are
A-Z-E-R-T-Y.
RAM, ROM - Two types of
memory. RAM (Random Access Memory) is the main memory
used while the PC is working. RAM is temporary. ROM (Read Only Memory) is for
information needed by the PC and cannot be changed.
Resolution - The number of dots or pixels per inch (sometimes per centimetre) used to create the
screen image.
Scanner - Equipment for
converting paper documents to electronic documents that can be used by a
computer.
Serial port - Socket at the back of a PC for connecting
peripherals.
Taskbar, Start button - Two areas of the screen in
Windows 95. The taskbar, at the bottom of the screen,
shows the programs in use. The start button, in the
bottom left corner, is for opening new programs.
TFT - Thin Film Transistor, a type of high quality
screen for notebook computers.
Virus - A small, unauthorized
program that can damage a PC.
Windows - An operating system
used by the majority of PCs. The current versions are Windows 98 and Windows
NT.
World Wide Web, WWW, the Web - WWW
are initials that stand for World Wide Web. The Web is one of the services
available on the Internet. It lets you access millions
of pages through a system of links. Because it is 'world-wide', it was
originally called the World Wide Web or WWW.
WYSIWIG - 'What You See Is What You Get.' With a WYSIWIG
program, if you print a document it looks the same on
paper as it looks on the screen.