IS101 - 2

gigabits per secind (Gbps)

1 billion bits per second.

megabits per second (Mbps)

1 million bits per second.

kilobits per second (Kbps)

1,000 bits per second.

XML (extensible markup language)

A Web-document tagging and formatting language that two computers can use to exchange information.

internet2

A cooperative university/business education and research project that enables high-end users to quickly and reliable move huge amounts of data over high-speed networks.

browser hijacker

A damaging kind of spuware that changes settings in your browser without your knowledge.

search hijacker

A damaging kind of spyware that ca intercept your legitimate search requests made to real search engines and return results from phony search services.

keyword index

A form of search tool that allows you to search for information by typing one or more keywords; the search engine then displays a list of web pages, or "hits", that contain those key words.

DSL (digital subscriber line)

A hardware and software technology that uses regylar phone lines to transmit data in megabits per second.

domain

A location on the internet, the particular web server.

window

A rectangular area on a computer display screen that contains a document or activity.

network access point (NAP)

A routing computer at a point on the internet where several connections come together.

password

A secret word or string of characters that enables you to log on, or make a connection to a remote computer.

pharming

A type of phishing in which malicious software is implanted on a victim's computer that redirects the user to an impostor web page even when the individual types the correct address into his or her browser.

plug-in

Also called player or viewer; program that adds a specific feature to a browser, allowing it to play or view certain files.

frame

An independently controllable wection of a web page.

radio buttons

An interactive tool displayed as little circles in front of options; selecting an option with the mouse places a dot in the corresponding circle.

blog = web log

An internet journal. They are usually updated daily; they reflect the personality and views.

netiquette = "Network etiquette"

Appropriate online behavior.

listserv

Automatic mailing list-server that sends email to cubscribers who regularly participate in discussion topics. To subscribe, the user sends an email to its moderator and asks to become a member, after which he or she automatically receives email messages from anyone who responds to the server.

server = host computer

Central computer supplying data or services.

point of presence (POP)

Collection of modems and other equipment in a local area.

HyperTextTransferProtocol (HTTP)

Communications rules that allow browsers to connect with web servers.

Internet service provider (ISP)

Company that connects you through yout communications line to its servers, or central computer, which connects you to the Internet via another company's network access points.

Java

Complex programming language that enables programmer to create animated and interactive web pages using applets.

client

Computer requesting data or services.

e-commerce (electronic commerce)

Conducting business activities online.

hypertext links = hyperlikns, hotlinks, links

Connections to other documents or web pages that contain related information.

spyware

Deceptive software that is surrptitiously installed on a computer via the web.

cable modem

Device connecting a personal computer to a cable-TV system that offers an internet connection.

modem

Device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and from computers.

tags

Do-it-yourself labels that people can put on anything found on the internet, from articles to photos to videos.

web page

Document on the World Wide Web that can include text, pkctures, sound, and video.

bit per second (bps)

Eight bits make up a character.

B2B (business-to-business) commerce

Electronic sale or exchange of goods and services directly between companies, cutting out traditional intermediaries.

email program = email client software

Enables you to send email by running email software on your computer, which interacts with an email server at your internet access provider to send and receive email.

bandwidth = channel capacity

Expression of how much data - text, voice, video, and so on - can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of time.

search (text) box

Fill-in text box.

packet

Fixed-length block of data for transmission.

pop-up ads

Form of online advertising in which, when you visit certain websites, a new window opens, or "pops up", to display advertisements.

newsgroup = forum

Giant electronic bulletin board on which users conduct written discussions about a specific subject.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

Global, private-sector, nontprofit corporation that was established to regulate human-friendly Internet domain names, those addresses ending with .com, .org, .net, and so on, that overlie IP addresses and identify the website type.

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Guides that explain expected norms of online behavior for a particular group.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

Hardware and software that allow voice, video, and data to be communicated over traditional copper-wire telephome lines (POTS).

3G (third generation)

High-speed wireless technology that does not need access points because it uses the existing cellphone system.

internet backbone = backbones

High-speed, high-capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology.

Transmission Control Protocol = TCP

Is used to reassemble the packets in the correct order.

Internet Protocol = IP

Is used to send the packets across the internet to their final destination.

adware = pop-up generators

Kind of spyware that tracks web surfing or buying online.

cookies

Little text files, such as your log-in name, password, and preferences, that are left on your hard disk by some websites you visit; the websites retrieve the data when you visit again.

website = site

Location of a web domain name in a computer somewhere on the internet.

narrowband

Low-bandwidth connection, such as dial-up (telephone).

FTP ( File Transfer Protocol)

Method whereby you can connect to a remote computer called an FTP site and transfer publicly available files to your own microcomputer's hard disk via TCP/IP over the internet.

scrolling

Moving quickly upward or downward through text or some other screen display, using the mouse and scroll arrows (or the arrow keys on the keyboard).

wireless network

Network that uses radio waves to transmit data, such as Wi-Fi.

search service

Organization that maintains databases accessible through websites.

streaming audio

Process of downloading audio in which you can listen to the file while the data is still being downloaded to your computer.

streaming video

Process of downloading video in which the data is transferred in a continuous flow so that you can begin viewing a file even before the end of the file is sent.

newsreader

Program included with most browsers that allows users to access a newsgroup and read or type messages.

RSS newsreaders = RSS aggregators

Programs that scour the web, sometimes hourly or more frequently, and pull tolgether in one place web "feeds" from several websites.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Protocol that enables all computers to use data transmitted on the internet by determining the type of error checking to be used, the data compression nethod, if any, how the sending device will indicate that it has finished sending a message, and how the receiving device will indicate that it has received a massage. It breaks data into packets, which are the largest blocks of data that can be sent across the internet (less than 1,500 characters, or 128 kilobutes).

hot spot

Public access to Wi-Fi networks.

podcasting

Recording of internet radio or similar internet audio programs.

internet access provider

Regional, national, or wireless organization or business that connects you to the internet.

search engine

Search tool that allows you to find specific documents through keyword searches and menu choices, in contrast to directories, which are lists of websites classified by topic.

instant messaging (IM)

Service that enables any user on a given email system to send a message and have it pop up instantly on the screen of anyone else logged onto that system.

webcasting

Service, based on push technology, in which customized text, video, and audio are set to the user automatically on a regular bases.

protocol

Set of communication rules for exchanging information.

hypertext markup language (HTML)

Set of special instructions (called "tags" or "markups") used to speciry web document structure, formatting, and links to other documents.

hit

Site that a search engine returns after rumming a keyword search.

applets

Small programs that can be quickly downloaded and run by most browsers.

scroll arrows

Small up/down and left/right arrows located to the bottom and side of your screen display.

push technology

Software that automatically downloads information to your computer, as opposed to pulll technology, in which you go to a website and pull down the information you want.

web browser = browser

Software that enables users to locate and view web pages and to jump from one page to another.

communications satellite

Space station that transmits radio waves called microwaves from earth-based stations.

spider = crawler, bot, agent

Special program that crawls through the World Wide Web, following links from one web page to another.

access point

Station that sends and receives data to and from a Wi-Fi network.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

String of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web. It consists of the web protocol, the name of the web server, the directory (or folder) on the server and the file within that directory (perhaps with an extension such as html or htm).

spoofing

The forgery of an email sender name so that the message appears to have originated from someone or somewhere other than the actual source.

Wi-Fi = wireless fidelity

The name given to any of several standards - so-called 802.11 standars - set by the Institute of Electrical and electronic Engineers for wireless transmission.

animation

The rapid sequencing of still images to create the appearance of motion, as in a cartoon.

phishing = password harvesting fishing

The sending of a forged email that directs recipients to a replica of an existing web page, both of which pretend to belong to a legitimate company.

keyword

The subject word or words that refer to the topic you wish to find.

blogosphere

The total universe of blogs.

surf

To explore the web by useng your mouse to move via a series of connected paths, or links, from one location, or website, to another. It requires a browser.

log on

To make a commection to a remote computer.

upload

To transmit data from a local computer to a remote computer.

download

To transmit data from a remote computer to a local computer.

POTS (plain old telephone system)

Traditional kind of connection to the internet.

T1 line

Traditional trunk line that carries 24 normal telephone circuits and has a transmission rate of 1.5 Mbps.

metasearch engine

Type of dearch tool that allows you to search several search engines simultaneously.

web-based email

Type of email in which you send and receive messages by interacting via a browser with a website.

web portal

Type of gateway website that functions as an "anchor site" and offers a broad array of resources and services, online shopping malls, enail support, community forums, current news and weather, stock quotes, travel information, and links to other popular subject categories. The most popular ones are America Online, Yahoo, Google, Microsoft Network, Netscape, Lycos.

subject directory

Type of search engine that allows you to search for information by selecting lists of categories or subjects.

key logger = keystroke logger

Type of spyware that can record each character you type and transmit that information to someone else on the internet.

real-time chat (RTC)

Typed discussion among participants who are online at the same time; it is just like a telephone conversation, except that messages are typed rather than spoken.

Internet Protocol (IP) address

Uniquely identifies evedry computer and device connected to the internet; consists of four sets of nubers between 1 and 255 separated by decimals - for example, 1.160.10.240. This address is similar to a street address. However, street addresses rarely change, but IP addresses often do.

spam

Unsolicited email in the form of advertising or chain letters.

dial-up connection

Use of a telephone modem to connect a computer to the internet.

broadband

Very high speed sonnection.

Usenet

Worldwide network of servers that can be accessed through the internet.

flamming

Writing an online message that uses derogatory, obscene, or inapproptiate language.

internet telephony = VoIP phoning (Voice over Internet Protocol)

using the internet to make phone calls, either one to one or for audioconferencing.

home page = welcome page

web page that, somewhat like the title page of a book, identifies the sebsite and sontains links to other pages at the site.