Jargon Buster
Computing terms explained in plain English
"A"
AAC
Advanced Audio Coding. A type of music file.
Access point
Links wireless network users to a wired network.
ActiveX
Technology for adding extra features to a web browser.
Add-in
Generic term for a piece of software that adds extra features to another program.
Address bar
An area of a web browser into which internet addresses can be typed. Pressing enter then directs the browser to that exact page. The address bar is sometimes confused with a search bar. Typing addresses into a search field will produce a list of websites that may or may not match what you are looking for.
ADF
Automatic Document Feeder. A device that feeds sheets of paper into a photocopier or scanner, one by one.
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A technology that converts a standard phone line into a broadband internet connection.
ADSL2
A newer, faster type of ADSL broadband.
Adware
Software that displays adverts.
Aero
The technology that provides fancy window effects in Windows 7 and some versions of Vista.
AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port. A slot used to connect graphics cards in older computers.
AI
Artificial Intelligence. A computer program designed to mimic the behaviour of humans or animals.
AIFF
Audio Interchange File Format. A digital audio format often associated with Apple Mac computers.
Ajax
Asynchronous Javascript and XML. A technology that allows websites to fetch fresh information from the web without loading a new page.
Analogue
A signal whose value varies over time, as opposed to a digital signal which is either on or off.
Android
An operating system for portable computers and mobile phones, based on the Linux system that is used on some PCs.
Animated GIF
A type of simple animation found on the internet.
Annotation
A comment on a document, rather like a note jotted down on a paper document.
Anti-virus
Software that protects against and removes computer viruses.
Aperture
An opening that controls the amount of light entering a camera lens.
API
Application Programming Interface. A system built into a program so that other programs can work with it.
App
A small program designed to run on a phone or handheld computer (short for application). Could be a game, utility or any other type of program.
App
A small program designed to run on a phone or handheld computer (short for application). Could be a game, utility or any other type of program.
Applet
A small program, often one that runs within a larger program to perform a specific task.
Application
A computer program that performs a specific task, such as Microsoft Word for creating documents.
Aspect ratio
A measurement of the shape of a display. Traditional computer screens are 4:3. Widescreen displays are 16:9 or 16:10.
ATRAC
Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding. A type of music file used by some older Sony players.
Attachment
A computer file, such as a word-processing document, sent along with an email.
Audible
A company that sells downloadable audio books. Also used to describe the files it uses.
Audio book
A book read aloud and recorded on tape, CD or as a digital file.
Autocorrect
A technology that corrects words as you type them.
Autoplay
A Windows feature that allows a program to be automatically started when a disk is connected to a computer
Autosum
A tool in Excel that provides a quick total of the selected cells.
Autotrace
A tool in some photo editors that attempts to trace an image, converting it into vector graphics that can be resized.
AV
Audio/Visual. Any device that can show video or play sound.
Avatar
A graphic or icon used to represent a computer user, either online or in a video game.
AVCHD
Advanced Video Coding High Definition. A standard for storing high-definition video. AVCHD discs can be played by most Blu-ray players.
AVI
Audio Video Interleave. A type of video file. AVI is known as a container format, as it can hold many types of audio and video.
AV Sender
A device that sends audio and video signals wirelessly.
0 comments:
Post a Comment