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Understanding all of the new terminology associated
with the
Internet can be a bit overwhelming, here is a short
glossary of
terms to assist you:
Access - The
ability to get information or use a resource by the
correct combination
of software and hardware.
Address - The string of
characters that identifies a sender or
receiver of messages, a computer
site, or the location of a
computer file (i.e.
president@whitehouse.gov). Much like a street
address, an e-mail
address is how you reach someone or something.
In the not too distant
past, e-mail was the only commonly used
method to communicate across
the Internet.
ASCII - Pronounced "askee";
abbreviation for American
Standard Code for Information Interchange,
a universal code
most personal computers understand. ASCII files are
plain
vanilla without special formatting codes. For many viewers,
these plain text files with no frills are hard to read. Most
e-mail for job seekers is sent and received as ASCII
messages.
Baud - A measurement of how fast a
modem can transmit
information over a telephone line from one computer
to another.
Sometimes used as a synonym for BPS (bits per second), but
not
exactly the same. Many people have 9600 baud and 14,400 baud
modems. Some have 28,800 baud modems. Speeds are getting faster
and faster. Generally, the faster the information zips along
telephone lines, the cheaper the telephone and network
bills.
BBS - Bulletin Board System - a
communication computer that has
one or more modems. Allows people
with modem equipped computers
to connect by telephone, or, to enter the
Internet, if the BBS
has an Internet connection. BBS participants
telephone the BBS
and swap information, computer files, and programs.
An
electronic version of a meeting hall where users with common
interests exchange information.
Byte - A
computer storage unit. Holds the equivalent of
a single character such as
the letter A, or a dollar sign, or a
decimal point. The word dog takes
three bytes of information.
Communications
Program - The program that controls the
transfer of data through a
modem to and from another computer.
You cannot use a modem to go
on-line without a communications
program.
Download - To retrieve or receive information (files or
order forms) from a remote computer. If you upload a file, you
transmit a file from your computer to a remote computer.
E-mail - The abbreviation for electronic mail, a network
service that allows you to send and receive messages via your
computer.
FAQs - Pronounced "fack";
Frequently asked
questions. A list of the most commonly asked
questions and
their answers. We suggest having FAQ's as a part of your
homepage.
Flames - Any abusive or angrily sent
e-mail message - or
posting to a newsgroup - usually containing words
better left
unsaid. This is what happens to authors of uninvited mass
e-mailings to sell a product.
Hypertext - Linking
and displaying information in
another portion of a document by selecting
or clicking on
highlighted text or icons on a screen. Hypertext is the
fundamental basis of the World Wide Web.
Information Highway - A term that originally meant running
an
optical fiber into most homes in the United States, a goal that
is at least ten years off. Commonly, the term, including its
contraction, "I-Way," is used to mean what is already
happening. As Microsoft CEO Bill Gates says, "When society
adopts electronic mail, when a corporation starts
electronically circulating resumes and job orders and product
orders and schedules, when small business begins using
electronic
channels to market products, that's the information
highway. When
you're logged into an on-line service, plugging
into a bulletin
board, that's the information highway. When you
use your PC send
mail or do your banking, that's the
information highway."
Internet - The global network of networks that
communicate with
each other. These communicating networks are of a
variety of
types, such as government, academic, military,
organizational,
research, and commercial. The trend is for all
networks to be
gateway linked (hooked up) to the Internet; this includes
long-standing private commercial networks.
Listserv - One of many programs that manage the creation
and
distribution of mailing lists.
Login - Your
name or identification number and password to hook
up to a computer,
usually one is part of a bulletin board or
internet gateway provider.
When used as a verb, it becomes two
words: log in.
Logoff - To disconnect.
Menu - A
list of computer program choices presented on screen;
just what it says -
electronic dishes to be served up.
Modem - Short for
MOdulator / DEModulator, a piece of computer
hardware that acts as an
interface between computers and
telephone lines, allowing your
computer to communicate with
other computers.
Netiquette - A pun on "etiquette." Proper behavior
on
the Net. Think of Miss Manners in cyberspace.
Newsgroup - A special interest group on Usenet, a network
in
which you can post and read messages.
Off-line - Not connected to any computer, information
service,
or network.
On line - Electronically
connected by modem or by hardwire to a
remote computer, information
center, or network.
On line Information Service - An
on-line service, generally
provided at a monthly rate that covers a
certain amount of free
access time or a set number of messages at no
additional
charge. Extra costs are incurred when you use more time or
send
more messages than provided for in the standard service
package. On-line services provide subscribers with access to
specialized databanks, including such interactive services as
making travel reservations, buying and selling stocks, sending
and
receiving e-mail, and otherwise conducting business
transactions.
Shell Account - A way to use a dial-up account with an
Internet
service provider. Can be simple menus - or complex UNIX
commands.
SLIP Account - Serial Line Internet
Protocol, a protocol that
lets a single computer with a telephone
line and modem directly
use the Internet protocols for virtually
any Internet function;
in contrast, a shell account offers Internet access
only
through your gateway provider's computer. In practical terms,
without a SLIP or PPP account, without downloading files, you
can't run Mosaic, which means you can get text, but no pictures
or sounds.
Sysop - System Operator, the person
in charge of keeping a
computer system up and running. A sysop may run a
bulletin
board system or a forum, keeping things humming and
maintaining
order. It's a thankless job, but somebody has to do
it!
T-1 Line - A high-capacity, direct connection to the
Internet.
Expensive, but fast and classy.
Telnet - A program that enables you to log into other
computers
from your own networked machine. This valuable program
saves
long-distance charges if you can log in via a local telephone
number.
UNIX - An operating system developed
by AT&T, usually found
on large computers. It's the software
backbone of the Internet.
Because of easy new programs you need not
know UNIX commands to
navigate the Internet. If you are using UNIX,
cheatsheets with
UNIX commands are available.
Upload - To send information and/or files from your computer
to
another computer.
URL - Uniform Resource
Locator. Technically, a standard
addressing system. In common usage,
an Internet address for
people who have placed data on the WWW. For
example, the URL of
our web site is: http://www.radiodude.com/
Ask questions about the
Internet and World Wide Web by calling
in during the show at (702)
642-1051 or AT&T & Alltel Cell at #1051.
E-mail questions and
comments
are taken during the show at surfsup@radiodude.com
during the broadcast.
Ask technical
questions, even call in and help others, compete for
prizes and learn
about cool and fun Web sites each and every show.
Each show and its
broadcast and Web sites featured are archived for
your future
enjoyment.
Tell your friends about Nevada's first and only Internet Show
and
we'll see you each and every Tuesday!
In the Las Vegas area fax 702-363-6230 for more information.