It is hard keeping abreast of all the technical terms bandied around these days, do you have a glossary of technical terms

Asks dobedo

A. Some of the most popular technical terms of 2001 include the following:

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Ad-Hoc Mode: A client setting that provides independent connectivity in a wireless LAN.

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AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port. This is a PC interface for 3D graphics.

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AP (Access Point): A hardware device, or software used in conjunction with a computer, that serves as a communications "hub" for wireless clients and provides a connection to a wired LAN. An AP can double the range of wireless clients and provide enhanced security.

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CD-R: Compact disc recordable format - a blank CD on which you can record information - but unlike an audio cassette, you can only record on it once.

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CD-RW Compact disc rewritable format - a blank CD that can be recorded on over and over again - similar to an audio cassette.

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Client: Any computer connected to a network that requests services (files, print capability) from another member of the network.

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Driver: Software needed to allow Windows (and other operating systems) to communicate with a peripheral.

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Encryption: coding or scrambling data that locks a file and prohibits anyone reading it without a password.

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Ethernet: The most widely used LAN access method, which is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN meaning all devices on the network segment share total bandwidth.

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Gateway: A network point that acts as an entrance to another network.

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GHz: Short for gigahertz, usually used to measure how fast a PC works and is equivalent to a thousand megahertz.

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HTML: Hypertext mark-up language - used to create web pages.

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Hyperlink: A clickable link on a web page that takes you to another page or another website.

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IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (www.ieee.org). Sets standards for computers and technology.

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IP: The Internet Protocol is a method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another on a network, i.e. the Internet. Each computer on the Internet has at least one address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet. When you send or receive data (e.g. by e-mail) the message gets divided into little chunks called packets. Each of these packets contains both the sender's Internet address and the receiver's address.

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ISP (Internet Service Provider): An organisation that provides access to the Internet.

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LAN (Local Area Network): A communications network that serves users within a defined geographical area. The benefits include the sharing of Internet access, files and equipment like printers and storage devices. Special network cabling (10BaseT) is often used to connect the PCs together. Wireless LANs use wireless communications, in a home or office, to network all PCs together so there is no need to run an extra set of cables.

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MB: Megabyte - measures storage capacity (memory) on a computer.

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Memory card: These are small cards (similar in principle to floppy disks) that can store multiple megabytes of data and are usually used in conjunction with removable storage units - like palmtops and digital cameras.

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MP3: The standard for recording digital audio.

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PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect. An expansion slot for PCs that allows you to connect PCI components like modems and sound cards.

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QMGR (also known as Microsoft QMgr) is part of a programme called Quality Manager - which is installed automatically onto your PC if you use MSN Messenger or MSN Explorer. Its purpose is to provide Microsoft with data about how well or how poorly these two programs are performing. Firewalls such as Zone Alarm will alert you when attempts are made by the Quality Manager (QMgr) to transmit this information back to Microsoft. If you don't like the idea of this, you can disable the QMgr and prevent it from accessing the Internet without causing any problems or affecting the performance of MSN Explorer or Messenger. Within Windows it can be disabled by going to Start/Run and typing in MSCONFIG in the blank space. Select Start Up from the window that appears and then delete the cross mark in the box next to LoadQM. If you want to disable QMgr from within Explorer click Help/Settings, then Privacy/Service Quality Monitoring and delete the cross mark next to Send Quality Monitoring Information. Restart your PC once QMgr has been removed from within Windows or Explorer.

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TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): A protocol used along with the Internet Protocol (IP) to send data in the form of individual units (called packets) between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the packets that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet.

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USB: Universal Serial Bus. A standard that allows external peripherals access (connection) to your PC e.g. printers, scanners etc.

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WAN (Wide Area Network): A wide area network connects local area networks together. Typical WAN interfaces include plain old telephone (POT) lines, digital subscriber lines (DSL), cable, T1/T3 and ISDN, T1/T3.

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