Common Computer Terms

What is the Internet?

·        A network of computers around the world that uses the same Protocol.

Who owns/controls the Internet?

·        No-one and every-one.

Is it possible to stop the Internet?

·        Not Possible.

Which year did the Internet start?

·        1957 – Russia launched Sputnik.

·        1958 – USA developed ARTHUR.

Are the Internet and the World Wide Web (www) the same thing?

·        No the WWW use is based on HTTP, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, developed by Tim Burners Lee.

Which year was the WWW started?

·        1992

Which company was the first to develop computers that were not a Mainframe computer and develop a PC (Personal Computer)?

·        Apple in the 1970’s – Steve Jobe and Steve Wasneak.

URL what is it and what does it stand for?

·        URL is an address to a specific web page and stands for Universal Resource Locator.

What does Protocol stand for and what is the protocol for the Internet called?

·        Protocol stands for the rules of correct or appropriate behaviour, and;

·        The Internet Protocol is called TCP – IP, Transport Control Protocol – Internet Protocol

What is a Domain?

• A unique IP address – the name of a computer.

What is a file extension?

• A file extension is the suffix that tells the OS (Operating System i.e. XP, Vista and Win7) what program is associated with a particular file and should be used to open the file if no other instructions are given.

FILE EXTENSIONS:

.jpg	compressed image
.gif	image still & animation
.psd	Photoshop image document
.txt	text document
.exe	program executable
.rtf	rich text file document
.png	portable network graphic, e.g. Fireworks image file
.qt	QuickTime
.doc	document (Word)
.avi	audio video file
.bmp	bitmap image
.wmf	windows meta file , image
Most common on the internet: .jpg , .exe , .gif , .png , .qt ,  all compressed.

EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER JARGON

URL	Universal Resources Locator	Address of an internet resource ( usually a webpage)
TCP/IP	Transport/Transmission Control Protocol – Internet Protocol	Backbone of the internet uses packet switching for sending info around a network
ADSL Note: Asymmetric means the data does not flow in equal amount both ways.	Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line	Broadband connection to the internet using existing telephone lines. Allows the use of phone and internet concurrently. Asymmetric because upload bandwidth is narrower than download.
ISP	Internet Service Provider	Point of Presence on the internet who can sell access to users.
POP mail	Post Office Protocol/Point Of Presences	Mail services provided by ISP
HTML	Hyper Text Mark-up Language	The code used to create web pages
HTTP	Hyper Text Transport Protocol	Used to request and receive HTML pages
WWW	World Wide Web	All the resources and users interlinked on the Internet using HTTP
DNS	Domain Name System	The way that Internet Domain Names are located  and transferred in to IP Address
SPAM	“Spiced Ham”	Unsolicited email
IP address	Internet Protocol Address	Numerical code for an internet address
FTP	File Transfer Protocol	A standard Internet protocol that is the simplest way to transmit multiple files (in folders) between computers on the Internet.
Virus	A usually malicious self replicating program or code which is distributed and has a payload
.com	Business domain
.edu	Education domain
.org	Non profit domain
Internet	World wide network of computers using TCP/IP to share information
Search engine	Software or website which uses key words to locate information
Browser	Software which displays HTML (webpages)
Protocol	Prescribed way of doing something
eCommerce	Ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods electronically by the use of computers and telecommunications, but it also includes an intellectual exchange or social interaction.
Bandwidth	Amount of data receivable per second
Packet-switching	Breaking up info into packages, sending them through perhaps different routes and reassembling at destination
Cookie	Small text file planted on a client machine (you) by server (website)
Firewall	Software or hardware which stops unauthorized access to or from a computer or network
DOT Address	(150.229.98.44 – highest no 255) URL, Domain Address. Network computer, alternative to words.
Blog	Web log - like an online diary.