Reanimated Residue Multimedia Studios

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.

Access Time - The time taken for a computer to react after an instruction has been given to read/write to memory.

Active Window - The window containing the program actually in use at any given time.

Algorithm - A sequence of steps that specify the solution to a given problem.

Alpha Numeric - A set of characters containing both letters and numbers.

Analogue - The input or output signal, of a circuit or device, which consists of a single, continuously changing, electrical wave.

Anti-Virus Software - A security application designed to detect viruses, trojans, and worms, on or from, an infected computer system. The software constantly scans the computer system using a list of known viruses and code, repairing or deleting infected files, or blocking unauthorised changes to files or system activities. Unfortunately, the list of known viruses requires constant updates to secure against attack from new viruses, trojans, and worms. Many thousands of computer systems may be infected before an update is written or distributed to users.

Application - A set of computer instructions which provide the user with an interface of tools designed to accomplish specific tasks or functions. Also known as a program, or software.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Technique of simulating human reasoning and emotion with computers.

Assignment - Giving a value to a variable/addressable location.

Backup - An identical copy of a file kept on a separate storage device to the original file. Its purpose is to protect the loss of important information due to corruption, computer failure, or deletion of the original file.

Backwards Compatible - A term describing a product that is designed to be compatible with its predecessors.

Benchmark - Test to measure the time it takes for particular software or hardware to process a set of instructions. Often test results are compared between different computer systems.

Binary - A numbering system based on 2 digits (0 & 1). All computers function on a binary system.

BIOS - Basic Input/Output System. The programs permanently stored in ROM which are automatically executed when a computer is switched on, allowing it to boot. BIOS is unaffected by upgrades to the OS stored on disc.

Bit - A Binary digIT, either 0 or 1, is a measurement of the smallest possible unit of information.

Boot - The process of starting up a computer. A small program (BIOS) executes automatically at start-up and triggers initial processes and the main Operating System.

Boot disc or Start-up Disc – An external storage medium (such as floppy disc or CD) containing the necessary files to boot a computer without needing to access the hard disc. A boot disc is typically used in emergencies where recovering from system corruption or when installing a new operating system.

Byte - A sequence of 8 bits, which operating together, represent one alphanumeric character.

CAD - Computer-Aided Design. The use of computers in creating and editing design drawings. CAD often allows testing of designs or animated three dimensional views of designs.

Character - A letter (A-Z), a numerical (0-9), or a special symbol (@ or #).

Clipboard - A temporary storage location in the OS used to copy information, files, pictures, text, etc. between programs.

Crash - The result of an error that has caused a computer system to become inoperative. The mouse, tools, and menus may not respond, and the screen appears 'frozen'. Often changes made to a file, since the last 'save', are lost.

Cursor - A movable indicator (sometimes blinking) on a visual display screen. Moving the cursor allows the user to point to commands or screen positions where the next change or action will occur.

Debug - Locate and correct errors in a computer program code, or to correct malfunctions in the computer or peripheral equipment.

Default - A factory setting for user-configurable options that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified.

Desktop - The part of a graphical user interface against which icons and windows appear. A desktop can be configured with different backgrounds, icons, and levels of access, preferred for each user.

Digital - The input or output signal, of a circuit or device, which is coded as numbers and uses two states, either on/off or high/low voltage pulses, to encode, receive, and transmit information.

Directory or Folder - A list of files stored in memory, usually on a hard disk or CD.

Often there are multiple directories on one storage medium. Commonly, a directory is presented as a folder icon, and most can be named to suit the needs of individual users or organisations. A directory may contain further subdirectories and files relating to the main directory.

Directory Tree - A collective name for a directory and all its subdirectories.

DOS - Disk Operating System. A collection of programs, stored on a disk, which control the execution of software applications.

Ergonomics - The study of the relationship between people and their environment at work. Ergonomics help to improve work performance by using furniture, tools, and machinery in a safe manner, within a generally pleasing environment, so as to reduce muscular stress and general fatigue.

Executable - A file, always a program of some kind, which can be run by the computer directly.

File -A collection of data, or a program, stored in memory such as on a hard-disc.

File type or File format - The specific way data is stored as a file, such as a program or system file, text document, graphics, audio, etc. A file type is indicated by the last three letters of a file name (extension), and is often exclusive to the program in which it was created. Filters allow the conversion of some common file types across multiple program platforms, or older program versions. Some common file types include .exe, .com, .txt, .doc, .gif, .jpg, .mp3, .wav, etc.

Freeware - Software that is distributed without charge or copyright. Often the source code for the program is also available to edit freely.

Gigabyte - A unit of information equal to 1024 megabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes), or roughly one billion bytes.

GUI - Graphical User Interface. The user-friendly environment on a computer screen in which the user interacts with the OS, and other applications, through icons, menus, and windows.

Hardcopy - Computer output printed on paper.

Hardware - The physical equipment (mechanical, magnetic, electronic, electrical components) which make up a computer system. Hardware components process, input, and/or output data.

Heuristics - A process by which a program attempts to improve its performance by learning from its own experience.

Icon - A small picture on the GUI, representing a file, application, command, or function.

Internet - A global computer network linked via communication cables, service providers, and computer system modems.

Kilobyte (kb) - A unit of information equal to 1024 bytes.

LAN - Local Area Network. A network restricted to a single room or building.

Megabyte (Mb) - A unit of information equal to one million (1,048,576) bytes.

Menu - A list of available options, within an application, from which a user selects further functions, features, and actions.

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

Multimedia - The combination of media (audio, graphics, text) to produce a single finished product.

Multitasking - The use of several different applications at the same time, on one computer.

Network - Two or more computers connected by communications lines in order to share data.

OCR - Optical Character Recognition. Automatic identification of graphic characters by light sensitive devices.

Operating System (OS) - Software that controls the execution of computer programs from a graphical user interface (GUI). The OS performs tasks such as scheduling internal diagnostic and maintenance jobs, assigning memory locations, controlling input/output devices, and provides various other services.

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

Program - A set of instructions which control the operation of a computer. A program may be coded (written) in any one of a number of programming languages, which is then translated into machine code before it can be executed by the computer.

Resolution - The number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display; the greater the resolution, the better the picture.

Shareware and Trial ware - Software that has been copyrighted but is distributed freely so that users have the opportunity to test its functionality and ability to meet their requirements before paying a small registration fee directly to the author. The fee may be anything from a postcard to fifty dollars; however this usually entitles the user to future upgrades, or additional functions or documentation. Trial ware often has a ‘use-by’ date by which, if the unlock code is not entered before a given date or number of days, the software becomes inactive.

Software - A set of written computer instructions, procedures, and rules stored in read/write memory, which provide the user with an interface of tools and associated documentation, designed to accomplish specific tasks or functions.

Subdirectory - A directory that is contained within another directory.

Subroutine - A commonly used, self-contained portion, of a computer program, that may be referred to several times by the main program. Example: square-root subroutine.

SYNTAX - The rules regulating structure of expressions and statements in a programming language.

Update – A highly recommended security procedure, where a security program (anti-virus, anti-spy ware) or an operating system is manually or automatically brought up to date, or patched against, malicious attacks on a regular basis.

Upgrade – Improved version of an existing hardware component or software program. Software upgrades are often available free, or at low cost, to registered owners of previous versions.

Virus, Trojan, Worm - A small program, that can replicate and transfer itself from one computer to another (via a network or storage media such as a floppy disc or CD), without the user being aware of it. Some viruses are relatively harmless, but others can be quite malicious, damaging or destroying data or hardware, clogging communication lines as in the payload of worms, or circumventing security functions as in a trojan horse virus. Releasing a new virus is an illegal offence, so most virus authors remain anonymous. Firewalls and Anti-virus software are used to protect computers from infection; however they require constant updates to secure against new viruses, trojans, and worms.

Window - A rectangular area on the computer screen that contains a display different from the main desktop. A window may contain drop down menus, tools, and a workspace, and can also be manipulated by the user: minimise, maximise, resize, restore, move, and close. Several windows may be open at one time.

Wizard – An interactive tool that takes users step-by-step through complex program operations, such as creating a template or a presentation. The wizard asks simple questions in ordinary language, and then automatically prepares the document, according to the preferences chosen, as a template for editing.

WYSIWYG - What you see is what you get. A term commonly used to describe word-processing software which prints text exactly as it is viewed on the screen during editing.

Reanimated Residue Forums »
Need help with your course? Discuss information technology, visual art, cultural theology, and much more at our community forums. Visit ...