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Information Technology Links

W3C »
The World Wide Web Consortium develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential. W3C is a forum for information, commerce, communication, and collective understanding.

W3 Schools »
Completely free web building tutorials from basic HTML and XHTML to advanced XML, SQL, Database, Multimedia and WAP. An essential resource for those studying web development.

Jakob Nielsen »
Dr. Nielsen is an author, researcher, and consultant on user interfaces, especially Web usability, Web design strategy, and user-centered methodology. His internationally renowned "alertbox" is an invaluable resource for all website designers.

Bus - A path along which bits are transmitted from one part of the computer to another.

Cables - Electrical or optical leads used to connect components and computers, transmit signals between them, and provide electrical power.

Cache - An area of the immediate access memory reserved as buffer storage which is continually updated. It is used to optimize data transfers when accessing frequently used instructions and data.

CD-ROM Drive - Compact-Disc Read-Only Memory. Computer storage device developed from the audio compact disc technology, which uses an optical laser to record and read data on a digital compact disc. They can store multiple data, audio, and video formats. CD-R discs can be written to once only, while CD-R/W discs may be overwritten several times.

CD-R/W Drive - Compact Disc Recordable/Rewritable. A computer storage device which can repeatedly overwrite data on a CD-R/W disc. The optical laser of a CD-R/W drive heats and melts a layer of dye on the disc to 700°C when deleting and burning new data. Typically a CD holds approximately 700Mb of data or 80 minutes of audio.

Chip - A small semi conductive silicon crystal, onto which is etched a microscopic integrated circuit fabricated to carry out a number of electronic functions.

CPU - Central Processing Unit. A microprocessor chip that does most of the data processing in the computer, controlling arithmetic and logic functions.

Digital Camera - A camera used to take pictures which are stored as digital data rather than on film. The pictures can be downloaded onto a computer for editing, storage, and distribution as computer files.

Disk, Diskette, or Disc - A memory device consisting of a flat disk, covered with a magnetic coating, onto which digital information is stored. Common disks in use are: floppy-disc, hard-disc.

Driver - Software that controls the communication between a peripheral device and the computer. Every component connected to the PC requires a driver program, which may also include a software interface of user options.

DVD - Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc. The physical size of a DVD is no larger than a compact disc however the storage capacity of DVD is much larger, some holding approximately 8.5GB of data or 4 hrs of video. Like a CD drive, a DVD drive uses an optical laser to record and read data on DVD storage media. They can store multiple data, audio, and video formats.

External Device - Hardware that is connected to the computer system unit, but is located and used outside of the system unit, such as a printer, keyboard, external hard-drive, etc.

Fax – Facsimile Transmission or Telefax. The transmission of images over a telecommunications link, usually the telephone network. The original image is scanned by a fax machine, converted into coded signals, transmitted via telephone lines, and received by a second fax machine, which creates a copy of the original image.

Floppy Disk Drive – A device used to read and write data on a 3.5” plastic, magnetic, diskette.

Game Controller, Joy Pad, or Game Pad – A hand-held input device, similar in use to a conventional joystick, which enables directional and other controls to be activated by buttons.

Graphic Card / Adapter or Video Card – The internal circuit board which processes the data to display graphics and colour on a computer monitor.

Graphic Tablet – An input device in which a stylus or cursor is moved, by hand, over a flat surface. Points on the graphic tablet correspond with screen positions and enable the operator to input drawings or diagrams.

Hardware - The physical equipment (mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components) which make up a computer system.

Hard Disk – A storage device usually consisting of a rigid, spinning, metal or glass disc, coated with magnetic material, onto which data can be recorded and read by means of a read/write head on a moving arm.

Headphones – Audio output device worn on the head. It allows audio output to be heard by an individual without disturbing an entire room of people.

Headset - Communications device consisting of both headphones and microphone.

Hub – A device used as a central distribution point in a computer network.

Input - Entering information into a computer using an input device, such as a keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, etc.

Internal Device - Component located inside the system unit case, such as the CPU, soundcard, hard-drive, CD-ROM, etc.

Joystick - A hand-held input device consisting of a vertical control handle which moves freely to indicate direction and movement of a computer operated external device (such as a Robot or remote control car), a cursor on the visual display, or a character in a computer game.

Keyboard – An input device resembling a typewriter keyboard, used to enter instructions and data. Most keyboards have a standard QWERTY layout and various special-purpose function keys, which may be assigned specific tasks by software.

Laptop Computer – Portable personal computer, consisting of a single unit, incorporating a keyboard, display, trackball, processor, memory, floppy disc, hard-disc, and CD drive.

Light Pen – A pen shaped device used to indicate locations on a computer screen or input freehand illustrations to a computer as they are being drawn on a graphic tablet. A light pen may also interact directly with the computer screen, emitting signals from a photoreceptor at its tip as light passes beneath it.

Memory - The part of a computer system used to store data and programs, either permanently or temporarily. Memory is measured in kilobytes, megabytes, etc.

Memory Stick – Removable memory used in portable devices, such as digital cameras and MP3 players, to store data. A memory stick can be erased and rewritten several times.

Microphone – Audio input device, often used to input voice. Can be used in audio / video conferencing, recording vocals, and in conjunction with speech recognition software.

Microprocessor - A chip that forms the control unit for electronic devices such as watches and computers.

MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A standard protocol allowing communication between digital musical instruments and computers for composing and recording.

Modem - MOdulator / DEModulator. An electronic device used to connect computers to the Internet by converting digital data into high frequency communication signals that can be transmitted over telephone lines.

Monitor or Screen – Graphical output device on which a computer displays information for the operator.

Motherboard – The main printed circuit board to which all other internal computer components are connected. The motherboard, housed within the system case, consists of sockets and expansion slots for connecting CPU, Memory, and expansion cards (such as sound and video).

Mouse – A hand-held input device, consisting of 2-3 buttons and sometimes a scroll wheel, used to control a pointer (cursor) on a computer screen. It is a feature of GUI operating systems and is used to manipulate objects, select icons and buttons, and make menu choices.

MP3 player – Portable MP3 audio output and storage device. An MP3 player may interface with the computer to download new songs and files on the storage device inside. Some MP3 players use a small hard-disc, while others use a removable memory stick or card.

Network Interface Card – Device which allows a computer to be connected to a computer network.

Output - A hard-copy, master, or any display, of results from the processing carried out by a computer, in a form intelligible to the user. Output devices include the monitor, printer, speaker, etc.

Peripheral - An electronic device connected by cable to the CPU and main memory of a computer, such as a printer or disk drive.

PC - Personal Computer. A computer designed to be used by one person at a time.

PDA - Personal Digital Assistant. Portable hand held device used to store personal information such as contact details, appointment schedule, memos, important documents, etc. Typically, a personal digital assistant can interface with a computer for download of data, contains word processing and other business or personal software, and may even play games and connect to the Internet.

Peripheral - An electronic device connected by cable to the CPU and main memory of a computer, such as a printer, soundcard, or disk drive.

Plug and Play – A term describing components and software that do not require complicated setup procedures or configuration when first installed on the computer system.

Port – A socket that enables a computer processor to communicate with an external device. It may be an input port (such as a joystick port), an output port (such as a printer port), or an I/O port (such as MIDI or Hard-disc port).

Power Supply – Component within the system unit which provides a socket connecting the computer to mains power.

Printer – An output device for producing hardcopies of text and graphics on paper.

Protocol – An agreed set of standards for the transfer of data between different devices. They cover transmission speed, format of data, and signals required to synchronize transfers.

RAM - Random-Access Memory. The most common memory chip used by computer programs to perform necessary tasks, independent of the location where data is stored on a disk. While the computer is on, RAM allows information to be stored temporarily, or accessed in any order, and all storage locations are equally accessible, which increases access time.

Read/Write Head - A tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write (record), read, and erase patterns on magnetic media such as a disk.

ROM - Read-Only Memory. A type of high speed memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed or erased.

Scanner – A device used to scan, input, and produce a digital image of a hardcopy document for storage on a computer. Scanners are commonly used to input graphics for desktop publishing.

Soundcard – Printed circuit board that, coupled with a set of speakers, enables a computer to reproduce music and sound effects. Many soundcards also provide ports for a microphone, headphones, game controllers, and MIDI.

Speakers – Output device which connects to the computer via a soundcard, to hear music and sound effects.

Storage Media or Storage Device – External backup media such as CD-R disc, DVD-R disc, Floppy Disc, Zip Disc are storage media, while a Hard-disc, Floppy Drive, Zip Drive, CD-ROM Writer, and DVD Writer are storage devices.

System Unit Case - The main box of the computer contains the computer power supply, components for processing and storage, and sockets to connect peripherals and the outside world to the PC. There are two types of System Unit Case: an upright tower and a flat desktop case (often with the monitor on top).

TV Tuner Card – An expansion board designed to receive an incoming stream of television signals for output to a computer monitor or television.

USB – Universal Serial Bus. A general-purpose port which allows external devices to be easily connected and disconnected from the computer, without having to shut down the system.

Video Capture Card – An expansion board which digitizes an incoming stream of analogue video for editing, storage, and distribution as files, on a computer.

Visual Display Unit (VDU) – A computer screen for displaying graphic output.

WAP Mobile Phone – Mobile phone that can be used to send e-mails and connect to the Internet.

Web Cam – Small video camera used in the transmission of live streaming video data across the Internet.

Wireless or Cordless – Device which delivers instructions to the computer via infrared sensors, rather than cables.

Zip Drive – Portable 3.5” disc drive, capable of storing approximately 120 Mb on each disc.

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