Glossary of Terminology
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N
- nameserver:
- A computer that runs a program for converting Internet domain names into the corresponding IP addresses and vice versa.
- NAT:
- Network Address Translation; a standard that enables a LAN to use a set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a single IP address for communications with the Internet.
- netiquette:
- Short for network etiquette; refers to using basic good manners in your electronic communications. It's advisable to never write anything you would feel uncomfortable repeating in person.
- Netscape:
- A client program for Macintosh and Windows distributed via the OIT Software Downloads web site; enables you to browse the World Wide Web.
- network:
- A group of interconnected computers capable of exchanging information. A network can be as few as several personal computers on a LAN or as large as the Internet, a worldwide network of computers.
- network adapter:
- A device that connects your computer to a network; also called an adapter card or network interface card.
- network hub:
- A common connection point for devices on a network.
- network news:
- A method of exchanging information on the Internet. Similar topics are arranged into a wide variety of newsgroups. Also referred to as "Usenet news"or "electronic bulletin boards".
- newsgroup:
- A online forum that contains articles or postings devoted to a similar topic. Some articles are formal and are written by paid reporters and some are posted only with the approval of a moderator in what is called a "moderated" newsgroup. The majority of articles are informal and are exchanged among individuals with a common interest or area of expertise.
- news server:
- A networked computer dedicated to supporting network news. At OSU, the major server is called nntp.service.ohio-state.edu.
-
- NNTP:
- Network News Transport Protocol; the protocol used
for posting, distributing, and retrieving network news messages.
O
- OCR:
- Optical character recognition; the act of using a visual scanning device to read text from hard copy and translate it into a format a computer can access (e.g., an ASCII file). OCR systems include an optical scanner for reading text and sophisticated software for analyzing images.
- online:
- A term that has commonly come to mean "connected to the Internet". It also is used to refer to materials stored on a computer (e.g., an online newsletter) or to a device like a printer that is ready to accept commands from a computer.
- online learning:
- Also referred to as distance education; courses offered online that do not require the student to be on campus for most or all class participation. Students can work with course materials at their own convenience or they can work collaboratively on class projects using tools like chat and discussion groups (bulletin boards).
- OSU Internet username:
- All OSU faculty, staff, and students automatically are assigned a username in the format lastname.nn (e.g., doe.999). This username is part of what is referred to as your "osu.edu address" which is a generic e-mail address that can be set up to direct your incoming messages to whatever machine you actually use for reading mail. In most cases, it also is your OSU Internet username, and it must be activated before you can take advantage of services like access to various secure servers.
P
- packet:
- A unit of transmission in data communications. The TCP/IP protocol breaks large data files into smaller chunks for sending over a network so that less data will have to be re-transmitted if errors occur.
- palette:
- The range of colors a computer or an application is able to display. Most newer computers can display as many as 16 million colors, but a given program may use only 256 of them. Also refers to a display box containing a set of related tools within a desktop publishing or graphics design program.
- page:
- Refers to an HTML document on the World Wide Web or to a particular web site; usually pages contain links to related documents (or pages).
- parallel port:
- An interface on a computer that supports transmission of multiple bits at the same time; almost exclusively used for connecting a printer. On IBM or compatible computers, the parallel port uses a 25-pin connector. Macintoshes have an SCSI port that is parallel, but more flexible in the type of devices it can support.
- password:
- A secret combination of characters used to access a secured resource such as a computer, a program, a directory, or a file; often used in conjunction with a username. OIT requires the password used for accessing OSU network services to consist of both letters and numbers.
- PC:
- Usually refers to an IBM PC or compatible, or when used generically, to a "personal computer". In a different context, PC also is an abbreviation for "politically correct."
- PDA:
- Personal Digital Assistant; a small hand-held computer that in the most basic form, allows you to store names and addresses, prepare to-do lists, schedule appointments, keep track of projects, track expenditures, take notes, and do calculations. Depending on the model, you also may be able to send or receive e-mail; do word processing; play MP3 music files; get news, entertainment and stock quotes from the Internet; play video games; and have an integrated digital camera or GPS receiver.
- PDF:
- Portable Document Format; a type of formatting that enables files to be viewed on a variety computers regardless of the program originally used to create them. PDF files retain the "look and feel" of the original document with special formatting, graphics, and color intact. You use a special program or print driver (Adobe Distiller or PDF Writer) to convert a file into PDF format. The Acrobat Reader program distributed via the OIT Software Downloads Web site is required to view a PDF file.
- peer-to-peer:
- A type of connection between two computers; both perform computations, store data, and make requests from each other (unlike a client-server connection where one computer makes a request and the other computer responds with information).
- Pentium:
- A type of microprocessor available in new IBM PC and compatible computers; it is the next step up from the Intel 80486 processor.
- Perl:
- Practical Extraction and Report Language; a programming language that is commonly used for writing CGI scripts used by most servers to process data received from a client browser.
- personality:
- A method of setting up a computer or a program for multiple users. Example: In Windows, each user is given a separate "personality" and set of relevant files.
- PGP:
- Pretty good privacy; a technique for encrypting e-mail messages. PGP uses a public key to give to anyone who sends you messages and a private key you keep to decrypt messages you receive.
- Ph:
- A type of directory service often referred to as a "phone book". When accessing this type of directory service, follow the directions from the particular site for looking up information.
- PING:
- Packet Internet Groper; a utility used to determine whether a particular computer is currently connected to the Internet. It works by sending a packet to the specified IP address and waiting for a reply.
- pixel:
- Stands for one picture element (one dot on a computer monitor); commonly used as a unit of measurement.
-
- plug-in:
- A program used for viewing multimedia files that your web browser cannot handle internally; files using a plug-in do not need to be moved to your computer before being shown or played. Contrast to a helper application which requires the file to first be moved to your computer. Examples of plug-ins: Macromedia's Shockwave (for animation) and RealAudio (for streamed files over the Internet).
- plug and play:
- A set of specifications that allows a computer to automatically detect and configure a device and install the appropriate device drivers.
- POP:
- Post Office Protocol; a method of handling incoming electronic mail. Example: E-mail programs may use this protocol for storing your incoming messages on a special cluster of servers called pop.service.ohio-state.edu and delivering them when requested.
- pop-up blocker:
- Any application that disables the pop-up, pop-over, or pop-under ad windows that appear when you use a web browser.
- post:
- The act of sending a message to a particular network newsgroup.
- PostScript:
- A page description language primarily used for printing documents on laser printers; it is the standard for desktop publishing because it takes advantage of high resolution output devices. Example: A graphic design saved in PostScript format looks much better when printed on a 600 dpi printer than on a 300 dpi printer.
- PostScript fonts:
- Called outline or scalable fonts; with a single typeface definition, a PostScript printer can produce many other fonts. Contrast to non-PostScript printers that represent fonts with bitmaps and require a complete set for each font size.
- Power PC:
- A line of microprocessors developed by Motorola, Apple, and IBM; this chip is used in Power Macintoshes.
- PPP:
- Point-to-Point Protocol; a type of connection over telephone lines that gives you the functionality of a direct ethernet connection.
- program:
- A set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a specific task.
- protocol:
- A set of rules that regulate how computers exchange information. Example: error checking for file transfers or POP for handling electronic mail.
- proxy:
- Refers to a special kind of server that functions as an intermediate link between a client application (like a web browser) and a real server. The proxy server intercepts requests for information from the real server and whenever possible, fills the request. When it is unable to do so, the request is forwarded to the real server. Example: OIT supports an HTTP proxy server called wwwcache.service.osu.edu; its function is to speed up requests for the same web pages. If someone else has recently requested the same page, it's much faster to download the page from the proxy server instead of forwarding the request over the Internet to the place where the page really is located.
- public domain software:
- Any non-copyrighted program; this software is free and can be used without restriction. Often confused with "freeware" (free software that is copyrighted by the author).
- pull:
- Frequently used to describe data sent over the Internet; the act of requesting data from another computer. Example: using your web browser to access a specific page. Contrast to "push" technology when data is sent to you without a specific request being made.
- push:
- Frequently used to describe data sent over
the Internet; the act of sending data to a client computer without
the client requesting it. Example: a subscriptions service that
delivers customized news to your desktop. Contrast to browsing
the World Wide Web which is based on "pull" technology;
you must request a web page before it is sent to your computer.
Q
-
- QuickTime:
- A video format developed by Apple Computer commonly
used for files found on the Internet; an alternative to MPEG. A special
viewer program available for both IBM PC and compatibles and Macintosh
computers is required for playback.
R
- RealPlayer:
- A program or plug-in that gives you access to multimedia files, both on the Internet and those stored locally on your computer. With the program you can find and play clips (e.g., video, audio, video with audio, etc.) without having to launch your web browser first. The plug-in works in conjunction with your web browser to allow you to access streaming media files.
- RAM:
- Random Access Memory; the amount of memory available for use by programs on a computer. Also referred to as "main memory". Example: A computer with 8 MB RAM has approximately 8 million bytes of memory available. Contrast to ROM (read-only memory) that is used to store programs that start your computer and do diagnostics.
- record:
- A set of fields that contain related information; in database type systems, groups of similar records are stored in files. Example: a personnel file that contains employment information.
- registry:
- A database used by Windows for storing configuration information. Most 32-bit Windows applications write data to the registry. Although you can edit the registry, this is not recommended unless absolutely necessary because errors could disable your computer.
- remote desktop:
- A Windows feature that allows you to have access to a Windows session from another computer in a different location (XP and later).
- remote login:
- An interactive connection from your desktop computer over a network or telephone lines to a computer in another location (remote site).
- ResNet:
- A direct network connection available in OSU residence halls. ResNet is supported by OSU Housing, Food Services and Event Centers.
- RGB:
- Red, green, and blue; the primary colors that are mixed to display the color of pixels on a computer monitor. Every color of emitted light can be created by combining these three colors in varying levels.
- RJ-45 connector:
- An eight-wire connector used for connecting a computer to a local-area network. May also be referred to as an Ethernet connector.
- ROM:
- Read Only Memory; a special type of memory used to store programs that start a computer and do diagnostics. Data stored in ROM can only be read and cannot be removed even when your computer is turned off. Most personal computers have only a few thousand bytes of ROM. Contrast to RAM (random access or main memory) which is the amount of memory available for use by programs on your computer.
- ROTF:
- Commonly used in electronic communications to express humor; an acronym meaning "rolling on the floor". A similar acronym is "ROTFLML" which means "rolling on the floor madly laughing". Can be written in either upper- or lower case.
- router:
- A device used for connecting two Local Area Networks (LANs); routers can filter packets and forward them according to a specified set of criteria.
- RTF:
- Rich Text Format; a type of document formatting
that enables special characteristics like fonts and margins to be included
within an ASCII file. May be used when a document must be shared among
users with different kinds of computers (e.g., IBM PC or compatibles
and Macintoshes).
