What is CDMA?

Stands for "Code Division Multiple Access." CDMA is a wireless transmission technology that was
developed during World War II by the English allies to avoid having their transmissions jammed. After
the war ended, Qualcomm patented the technology and made it commercially available as a digital
cellular technology. Now CDMA is a popular communications method used by many cell phone
companies.
What is CPU?
Stands for "Central Processing Unit." This is the pretty much the brain of your computer. It processes
everything from basic instructions to complex functions. Any time something needs to be computed, it
gets sent to the CPU. Every day, it's compute this, compute that -- you'd think the CPU would need a
break after awhile. But no -- it just keeps on processing. The CPU can also be referred to simply as the
"processor."
What
is CRT?
Stands for
"Cathode
Ray Tube."
CRT is the
technology
used in
traditional
computer
monitors and
televisions.
The image
on a CRT
display is
created by
firing
electrons
from the
back of the
tube to
phosphors
located
towards the
front of the
display. Once
the electrons
hit the
phosphors,
they light up
and are
projected on
the screen.
The color
you see on
the screen is
produced by
a blend of
red, blue,
and green
light, often
referred to
as RGB.

The stream
of electrons
is guiding by
magnetic
charges,
which is why
you may get
interference
with
unshielded
What is CTP?
Stands for "Composite Theoretical Performance." CTP is used to measure the performance of computer
processors. The values returned by CTP calculations are used for benchmarking purposes, which
compare the performance of different processors. For example, Intel and AMD use CTP calculations to
measure how many millions of theoretical operations per second (MTOPS) their processors can perform.
An Intel Pentium M 770, which runs at 2.13 GHz, has a CTP of 7100 MTOPs, while an AMD Opteron 146,
which runs at 2.0 GHz, has a CTP of 7168 MTOPS.
What is CAD?
Stands for "Computer-Aided Design." Also known by engineers and architects as the best invention of
all time. Today, CAD software is used for nearly all three-dimensional designing. Designers can turn an
object into an electronic representation more quickly and accurately than by diagraming it with a pencil
and paper. Better yet, objects created with CAD software can be moved, resized, and rotated instantly.
With a pencil and paper, you can only erase so much before it starts to smudge.
What is Cache?
This term is pronounced like "cash" -- not "catch," and definitely not "cashé." There are many different
types of caches but they all serve the same purpose. A cache stores recently-used information in a
place where it can be accessed extremely fast. For example, a Web browser like Internet Explorer uses
a cache to store the pages, images, and URLs of recently visted Web sites on your hard drive. With this
neat strategy, when you visit a page you have recently been to, the pages and images don't have to be
downloaded to your computer all over again. Because accessing your computer's hard disk is much
faster than accessing the Internet, caching Web sites can speed up Web browsing significantly. Most
Web browsers allow you to adjust the size of the cache in in browser preferenecs.
What is CD-ROM?
Stands for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory." A CD-ROM is a CD that can be read by a computer with
an optical drive. The "ROM" part of the term means the data on the disc is "read-only," or cannot
altered or erased. Because of this feature and their large capacity, CD-ROMs are a great media format
for retail software. The first CD-ROMs could hold about 600 MB of data, but now they can hold up to 700
MB. CD-ROMs share the same technology as audio CDs, but they are formatted differently, allowing
them to store many types of data.
What is Browser?
You are probably using a browser to read this right now. A Web browser, often just called a "browser," is
the program people use to access the World Wide Web. It interprets HTML code including text, images,
hypertext links, Javascript, and Java applets. After rendering the HTML code, the browser displays a
nicely formatted page. Some common browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape
Communicator, and Apple Safari.
What is DVI?
Stands for "Digital Video Interface." DVI is a video connection standard created by the Digital Display
Working Group (DDWG). Most DVI ports support both analog and digital displays. If the display is
analog, the DVI connection converts the digital signal to an analog signal. If the display is digital, no
conversion is necessary.
What is Analog?
As humans, we perceive the world in analog. Everything we see and hear is a continuous transmission
of information to our senses. This continuous stream is what defines analog data. Digital information,
on the other hand, estimates analog data using only ones and zeros.
What is Digital?
Digital information is stored using a series of ones and zeros. Computers are digital machines because
they can only read information as on or off -- 1 or 0. This method of computation, also known as the
binary system, may seem rather simplistic, but can be used to represent incredible amounts of data.
CDs and DVDs can be used to store and play back high-quality sound and video even though they
consist entirely of ones and zeros.
What is Trojan Horse?
In Greek mythology, there is a story about the Trojan War. This war lasted many years, as the Greeks
could not penetrate the heavily barricaded city of Troy. So one day, a few of the Greek soldiers brought
the people of Troy a large wooden horse, which they accepted as a peace offering. The horse was
moved inside the city walls, where it sat until the night. After the people of the city had fallen asleep,
Greek soldiers jumped out of the wooden horse, opened the gates to let their fellow soldiers in, and
took over the city.

So what is the moral of this story? Mainly, beware of Trojan horses. But how does that relate to
computers? That's a good question. In the computing world, Trojan horses are more than just a myth.
They really exist and can cause damage to your computer. Trojan horses are software programs that
masquerade as regular programs, such as games, disk utilities, and even antivirus programs. But if they
are run, these programs can do malicious things to your computer.
What is URL?
A Uniform Resource Locator, URL, or Web address, is a standardized address for some resource (such as
a document or image) on the Internet (or elsewhere). First created by Tim Berners-Lee for use on the
World Wide Web, the currently used forms are detailed by IETF standard.
What is USB?
Stands for "Universal Serial Bus." USB is the most common type of computer port used in today's
computers. It can be used to connect keyboards, mice, game controllers, printers, scanners, digital
cameras, and removable media drives, just to name a few. With the help of a few USB hubs, you can
connect up to 127 peripherals to a single USB port and use them all at once (though that would require
quite a bit of dexterity).

USB is also faster than older ports, such as serial and parallel ports. The USB 1.1 specification supports
data transfer rates of up to 12Mb/sec and USB 2.0 has a maximum transfer rate of 480 Mbps. Though
USB was introduced in 1997, the technology didn't really take off until the introduction of the Apple
iMac (in late 1998) which used USB ports exclusively. It is somewhat ironic, considering USB was
created and designed by Intel, Compaq, Digital, and IBM. Over the past few years, USB has become a
widely-used cross-platform interface for both Macs and PCs.
What is Waveform?
A waveform is an image that represents an audio signal or recording. It shows the changes in amplitude
over a certain amount of time. The amplitude of the signal is measured on the y-axis (vertically), while
time is measured on the x-axis (horizontally).
What is Worm?
Worm has two widely different definitions. One refers to a computer virus and the other is an optical
storage technology:

1) A type of computer virus

Just like regular worms tunnel through dirt and soil, computer worms tunnel through your computer's
memory and hard drive. A computer worm is a type of virus that replicates itself, but does not alter any
files on your machine. However, worms can still cause havoc by multiplying so many times that they
take up all your computer's available memory or hard disk space. If a worm consumes your memory,
your computer will run very slowly and possibly even crash. If the worm affects your hard disk space,
your computer will take a long time to access files and you will not be able to save or create new files
until the worm has been eradicated.

Worms are hard to detect because they are typically invisible files. They often go unnoticed until your
computer begins to slow down or starts having other problems. Unlike viruses and Trojan horses, worms
can replicate themselves and travel between systems without any action from the user. For these
reasons, it is good to have an antivirus program installed on your system that can detect and remove
worms before they have a chance to replicate or spread to other computers. Security updates such as
Windows Update also patch security holes that allow worms to infect your computer. So keep your
security updates and virus definitions up-to-date and you should be able to keep your computer worm-
free.

2) An optical storage technology

WORM can also mean "Write Once, Read Many." It is an optical storage technology that allows a disc to
be written only once but read an unlimited number of times. WORM devices were introduced in the
1970's and gained popularity as a way of archiving data. The storage capacity of WORM discs began
around 140MB, but increased to more than 3.0GB over the past few decades. Yet the WORM technology
has no standard format, so WORM discs are only compatible with the drives that wrote them. This
limitation has kept WORM equipment relatively expensive and has kept the technology from gaining
widespread acceptance.

Today, most optical drives are based on either CD-R or DVD-R technology. Unlike WORM discs, CD-Rs
and DVD-Rs can typically be read by any CD or DVD drive, regardless of the manufacturer. Because of
their improved compatibility and lower costs, writable CDs and DVDs have all but replaced WORM
media.
What is VGA?
Stands for "Video Graphics Array." It is the standard monitor or display interface used in most PCs.
Therefore, if a montior is VGA-compatible, it should work with most new computers. The VGA standard
was originally developed by IBM in 1987 and allowed for a display resolution of 640x480 pixels. Since
then, many revisions of the standard have been introduced. The most common is Super VGA (SVGA),
which allows for resolutions greater than 640x480, such as 800x600 or 1024x768. A standard VGA
connection has 15 pins and is shaped like a trapezoid.
What is Streaming?
Data streaming, commonly seen in the forms of audio and video streaming, is when a multimedia file
can be played back without being completely downloaded first. Most files, like shareware and software
updates that you download off the Internet, are not streaming data. However, certain audio and video
files like Real Audio and QuickTime documents can be streaming files, meaning you can watch a video
or listen to a sound file while it's being downloaded to your computer. With a fast Internet connection,
you can actually stream live audio or video to your computer.
What is Hyperlink?
A hyperlink, or simply a link, is a reference in a hypertext document to another document or other
resource. As such it would be similar to a citation in literature. However, combined with a data network
and suitable access protocol, it can be used to fetch the resource referenced. This can then be saved,
viewed, or displayed as part of the referencing document.
What is Firewall?
While the term "firewall" creates a powerful visual picture, in reality, it doesn't involve any fire or
pyrotechnics. A computer firewall is used to protect a networked server or client machine from damage
by unauthorized users. The firewall can be either hardware or software-based. A router is a good
example of a hardware device that often has a built-in firewall. Software programs that monitor and
restrict external access to a computer can also serve as firewalls. A network firewall allows only certain
messages from the Internet to flow in and out of the network. So, I guess in a way it really is like a wall
of fire. Well, sort of.
What is FAQ?
Stands for "Frequently Asked Questions," and can be pronounced "fak" or simply "F-A-Q." An FAQ is a
text file that is created to answer common questions a user may have about a certain software program
or that a newcomer to a Web site might have regarding the site. Web sites will often refer visitors to an
FAQ before asking them to e-mail their questions, which helps cut down on tech support. While FAQs are
common for software programs and Web sites, FAQs can be written for other topics such as company
information, computer hardware, technology standards, and video games.
What is Format?
In order for storage media, such as a hard drive, to be recognized by your computer, it needs to be
formatted. Formatting a disk involves testing the disk and writing a new directory structure, or "address
table," onto the disk. If you would like to erase or initialize a hard drive, you can use a disk utility
program to reformat it. This will create an blank, empty disk for storing your files. While the disk
appears to be empty, most of the files on the disk are actually untouched by the formatting process.
When you format a disk, it creates a new address table, making the entire disk available for writing.
However, the files are still on the disk -- they just don't show up since the are no longer part of the
directory structure. So if you accidentally format a disk (which is pretty hard to do), you can still
retrieve most of your files using an advanced disk utility such as Norton Disk Doctor or DiskWarrior.
What is AIFF?
Stands for "Audio Interchange File Format." AIFF is an audio format originally developed by Apple
Computer for storing high-quality sampled audio data. AIFF files are similar to Windows WAVE files in
both size and quality. Both AIFF and WAVE files can hold CD quality audio and therefore can be burned
onto an audio CD. Though the AIFF format was created by Apple, audio programs on both the Mac and
PC can typically read the files.
What is Adware?
Adware is free software that is supported by advertisements. Common adware programs are toolbars
that sit on your desktop or work in conjunction with your Web browser. They include features like
advanced searching of the Web or your hard drive and better organization of your bookmarks and
shortcuts. Adware can also be more advanced programs such as games or utilities. They are free to
use, but require you to watch advertisements as long as the programs are open. Since the ads often
allow you to click to a Web site, adware typically requires an active Internet connection to run.
What is Bandwidth?
The word bandwidth is also used to mean the amount of data that can be transferred through a digital
connection in a given time period (i.e., the connection's bit rate). In such cases, bandwidth is usually
measured in bits or bytes per second.
What is Broadband?
This refers to high-speed data transmission in which a single cable can carry a large amount of data at
once. The most common types of Internet broadband connections are cable modems (which use the
same connection as cable TV) and DSL modems (which use your existing phone line). Because of its
multiple channel capacity, broadband has started to replace baseband, the single-channel technology
originally used in most computer networks. So now when you see companies like AT&T and SBC
pushing those fancy "broadband" ads in your face, you'll at least know what they are talking about
What is Bit?
The computer term "bit" comes from the phrase "Binary DigIT," which is different than that thing you
put around a horse's mouth. A bit is a single digit number in base-2 (a zero or a one) and is the smallest
unit of computer data. A full page of text is composed of about 16,000 bits.
What is Byte?
A byte is a set of 8 bits that represent a single character in the computer's memory. Do not confuse this
term with "bite," as in taking a bite of a cookie, because that is totally different. While bits are often
used to measure data transfer speeds, bytes are used to measure file sizes, hard disk space, and
computer memory. Larger amounts of data are measured in units such as megabytes, gigabytes, and
terabytes. For example, one kilobyte is equal to 1,024 bytes.
What is Boot Disk?
A boot disk is actually not a computer disk in the shape of a boot. If it was, most disk drives would have
a difficult time reading it. Instead, a boot disk is a disk that a computer can start up or "boot" from. The
most common type of boot disk is an internal hard drive, which most computers use to start up from.
The operating system installed on the hard drive is loaded during the boot process.
What is CMYK?
Stands for "Cyan Magenta Yellow Black." These are the four basic colors used for printing color images.
Unlike RGB (red, green, blue), which is used for creating images on your computer screen, CMYK colors
are "subtractive." This means the colors get darker as you blend them together. Since RGB colors are
used for light, not pigments, the colors grow brighter as you blend them or increase their intensity.
What is CD-RW?
Stands for "Compact Disc Re-Writable." A CD-RW is a blank CD that can be written to by a CD burner.
Unlike a CD-R (CD-Recordable), a CD-RW can be written to multiple times. The data burned on a CD-RW
cannot be changed, but it can be erased. Therefore, you have to completely erase a CD-RW every time
you want to change the files or add new data. While it may be somewhat inconvenient, this capability
makes CD-RWs a good choice for making frequent backups. However, because CD-RWs can be erased,
they don't store data reliably for as long as CD-Rs do. Therefore, you should use regular CD-Rs for long-
term backups.
What is Cookie?
It seems like everyone who tries to explain what a cookie is just has to make a joke out of it (because of
the name), so I'm not even going to bother. In computer terminology, a cookie is data sent to your
computer by a Web server that records your actions on a certain Web site. It's a lot like a preference file
for a typical computer program. When you visit the site after being sent the cookie, the site will load
certain pages according to the information stored in the cookie.
What is Cable Modem?
A cable modem is used for connecting to the Internet and is much faster than a typical dial-up modem.
While a 56K modem can receive data at about 53 Kbps, cable modems support data transfer rates of up
to 30 Mbps. That's over 500 times faster. However, most ISPs limit their subscribers' transfer rates to
less than 6 Mbps to conserve bandwidth.
What is Cable Modem?
A cable modem is used for connecting to the Internet and is much faster than a typical dial-up modem.
While a 56K modem can receive data at about 53 Kbps, cable modems support data transfer rates of up
to 30 Mbps. That's over 500 times faster. However, most ISPs limit their subscribers' transfer rates to
less than 6 Mbps to conserve bandwidth.
What is DVD+RW?
Stands for "Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable." A DVD+RW is like a DVD+R, but can be erased and
rewritten. DVD+RWs must be completely erased in order for new data to be added. DVD+RW discs can
hold 4.7GB of data and do not come in double-sided or double-layer versions like DVD+Rs do. Still,
4.7GB of data is a lot of storage space. Combined with their ability to be re-recorded, DVD+RWs are a
great choice for making frequent backups of your data. To record data onto a DVD+RW disc, you'll need
a DVD burner that supports the DVD+RW format.
What is Download?
The process of retrieving information from any computer to your computer is called downloading.
What is DHTML?
Dynamic HTML or DHTML designates a technique of creating interactive web sites by using a
combination of the static markup language HTML, a client-side scripting language (such as JavaScript)
and the style definition language Cascading Style Sheets.
What is Digitize?
When you "digitize" something, you convert it from analog to digital. For example, if you import a VHS
tape from a VCR into your computer, you might use an analog-to-digital converter (DAC) to convert the
analog signal to a digital stream of data. This is because computers are digital devices and can only
read digital data.

Digital files are created by taking samples of analog data, typically at the rate of several thousand per
second. For example, a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, which is what standard audio CDs use, indicates that
the audio is being sampled 44,100 times every second. Therefore, the higher the sampling rate, the
better the quality of the digitized file.
What is DNS?
The Domain Name Server (System) or DNS is a system that stores information about host names and
domain names in a kind of distributed database on networks, such as the Internet. Most importantly, it
provides an IP address for each host name, and lists the mail exchange servers accepting e-mail for
each domain.
What is Driver?
This term usually refers to the person behind the wheel of a moving car. In the computer world,
however, a driver is a small file that helps the computer communicates with a certain hardware device.
It contains information the computer needs to recognize and control the device. In Windows-based PCs,
a driver is often packaged as a dynamic link library, or .dll file. In Macs, most hardware devices don't
need drivers, but the ones that do usually come with a software driver in the form of a system
extension, or .kext file.
What is Dongle?
This funny-sounding computer term has two widely different definitions that are completely unrelated:

1. A security key. This is a little hardware device that plugs into the serial or USB port of a computer. Its
purpose is to ensure that only authorized users can use certain software applications. If you have never
seen a dongle, don't be surprised. They are only used with expensive, high-end software programs that
most people have never heard of, much less use. When a program that comes with a dongle runs, it
checks the dongle for verification as it is loading. If it doesn't find the dongle, the computer explodes.
Well, not really -- usually the program just quits. If more than one application requires a dongle,
multiple dongles using the same port can be daisy-chained together. Basically, if you ever find yourself
daisy-chaining multiple dongles together, you must be doing pretty well in life.

2. A laptop Ethernet card adapter. This is a little connector that attaches to a PC card in a laptop on one
end, and to an Ethernet cable on the other end. Since most PC (or PCMCIA) network interface cards are
too small to connect directly to a standard RJ-45 Ethernet cable, they need this little adapter that
connects the card to the cable. (3Com cards that use an "X-Jack" connector do not need a dongle.) As
far as why the name dongle is used, I have no idea
What is End User?
An end user is the person that a software program or hardware device is designed for. The term is
based on the idea that the "end goal" of a software or hardware product is to be useful to the consumer.
The end user can be contrasted with the developers or programmers of the product. End users are also
in a separate group from the installers or administrators of the product.

To simplify, the end user is the person who uses the software or hardware after it has been fully
developed, marketed, and installed. It is also the person who keeps calling the "IT guy" with questions
about why the product isn't working correctly. Generally, the terms "user" and "end user" mean the
same thing.
What is FTP?
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a software standard for transferring computer files between machines
with widely different operating systems. It belongs to the application layer of the Internet protocol suite.
What is Frozen?
While this word describes the state of Minnesota from November to March, it also refers to an
unresponsive computer. When a computer does not respond to any user input, it is said to be frozen.
When a computer system freezes, or "locks up," the screen stays the same and does not change no
matter what buttons you press on your mouse or keyboard. Often, the cursor will not move when you
move the mouse.
What is File Extension?
A file extension is a suffix at the end of a filename indicating what type of file it is. For example, in the
filename "myreport.txt," the .txt part indicates the file is a text document. Some other examples
include "Document1.doc," which is a Microsoft Word document, and "Image.psd," which is a Photoshop
document.

While most file extensions are three characters in length, they can be anywhere from one to five
characters long. The extension tells the computer's operating system what program it should use to
open the file. It also helps the user see what kind of file a certain document is by just looking at the
filename. Both Windows and Mac OS X allow users to change file extensions, which can change the
program the computer uses to open the file. While this may work for some files, it can also cause the
file to not open at all. For example, if you change a file with a .txt extension to a .doc extension,
Microsoft Word should open it. However, if you change a .txt file to a .psd file, Photoshop will not
recognize it
What is Firewire?
This high-speed interface has become a hot new standard for connecting peripherals (no pun intended).
Created by Apple Computer in the mid-1990's, Firewire can be used to connect devices such as digital
video cameras, hard drives, audio interfaces, and MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod, to your
computer. A standard Firewire connection can transfer data at 400 Mbps, which is roughly 30 times
faster than USB 1.1. This blazing speed allows for quick transfers of large video files, which is great for
video-editing professionals. If 400 Mbps is still not fast enough, Apple Computer released new
PowerMacs with Firewire 800 ports in early 2003. These ports support data transfer rates of 800 Mbps --
twice the speed of the original Firewire standard.
What is Hard Disk?
When you save data or install programs on your computer, the information is typically written to your
hard disk. The hard disk is a spindle of magnetic disks, called platters, that record and store
information. Because the data is stored magnetically, information recorded to the hard disk remains
intact after you turn your computer off. This is an important distinction between the hard disk and RAM,
or memory, which is reset when the computer's power is turned off.
What is Interlaced?
A common way to compress video is to interlace it. Each frame of an interlaced video signal shows
every other horizontal line of the image. As the frames are projected on the screen, the video signal
alternates between showing even and odd lines. When this is done fast enough, i.e. around 60 frames
per second, the video image looks smooth to the human eye.

Interlacing has been used for decades in analog television broadcasts that are based on the NTSC (U.S.)
and PAL (Europe) formats. Because only half the image is sent with each frame, interlaced video uses
roughly half the bandwidth than it would sending the entire picture.

The downside of interlaced video is that fast motion may appear slightly blurred. For this reason, the
DVD and HDTV standards also support progressive scan signals, which draw each line of the image
consecutively.
What is Intranet?
Contrary to popular belief, this is not simply a misspelling of "Internet." "Intra" means "internal" or
"within," so an Intranet is an internal or private network that can only be accessed within the confines
of a company, university, or organization. "Inter" means "between or among," hence the difference
between the Internet and an Intranet.
What is Install?
Most software programs require that you first install them on your computer before using them. For
example, if you buy Microsoft Office, you need to install it on your computer before you can run any of
the included programs such as Word or Excel. You can install software from a CD or DVD, an external
hard drive, or from a networked computer. You can also install a program or software update from a file
downloaded from the Internet.

Installing a software program writes the necessary data for running the program on your hard drive.
Often the installer program will decompress the data included with the installer immediately before
writing the information to your hard drive. Software updates, which are typically downloaded from the
Internet, work the same way. When you run the update, the installer file decompresses the data and
then updates the correct program or operating system.

Installing software is usually a simple process. It involves double-clicking an installer icon and then
clicking "I Agree" when the license agreement pops up. You may have to choose what directory on your
hard disk you would like to install the software in, but often the installer will even choose that for you.
Some software can be installed by simply dragging a folder or application program onto your hard
drive. Either way, installing software is a rather simple process and should not be intimidating. If you
can cook you dinner in the microwave, you can install your own software.
 What is Installer?
In order to install new software on your computer, you often need
to run an installer program. This program unpacks compressed
data included with the installer and writes new information to
your hard drive. While some installers do not use compressed
data, most use some level of compression since it reduces the
size of the files included with the installer. This is especially
helpful when downloading programs or software updates from the
Internet.

An installer can either install a new program on your computer or

can update a program currently on your hard drive. It can also
update or add files to your operating system. Most installers can
be run by simply double-clicking the installer icon and then
choosing the folder you want to install the software into. The nice
thing about installers is that they do all the work for you,
decompressing and writing the data on the hard drive. Once the
installer is finished, you can often use the new or updated
software right away. If any system files were installed, you will be
asked to restart your computer before using the new software.
This is because system files can only be loaded during the
computer's boot process.

What is Java?
Java is an object-oriented programming language developed primarily by James Gosling and colleagues
at Sun Microsystems. The language, initially called Oak (named after the oak trees outside Gosling's
office), was intended to replace C++, although the feature set better resembles that of Objective C.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript, often mistyped as "Javascript", is an object-oriented scripting language based on the
concept of prototypes. The language is most well known for its use in websites. It was originally
developed by Brendan Eich of Netscape Communications under the name Mocha and then LiveScript
but then renamed to "JavaScript". JavaScript has a syntax close to that of Sun Microsystems’ Java
language. But beside name and syntax the language has more in common with Self than with Java.
JavaScript was first standardized in 1997–1999 by ECMA under the name ECMAScript. The standard (as
of December 1999) is ECMA-262 Edition 3, and corresponds to JavaScript 1.5. This is also now an ISO
16262 standard.
What is JPEG?
Joint Photograhic Experts Group - a common image format. Art and photographic pictures are usually
encoded as JPEG files.
What is Kbps?
Stands for "Kilobits Per Second." Don't confuse this with Kilobytes per second (which is 8 times more
data per second). This term is commonly used in describing data transfer rates. For example, two
common modem speeds are 33.6 Kbps and 56 Kbps.
What is Kbps?
Stands for "Kilobits Per Second." Don't confuse this with Kilobytes per second (which is 8 times more
data per second). This term is commonly used in describing data transfer rates. For example, two
common modem speeds are 33.6 Kbps and 56 Kbps.
What is Kernel?
This is a term for the computing elite, so proceed at your own risk. To understand what a kernel is, you
first need to know that today's operating systems are built in "layers." Each layer has different
functions such as serial port access, disk access, memory management, and the user interface itself.
The base layer, or the foundation of the operating system, is called the kernel. The kernel provides the
most basic "low-level" services, such as the hardware-software interaction and memory management.
The more efficient the kernel is, the more efficiently the operating system will run.
What is Keyword?
A word searched for in a search command. Keywords are searched in any order. Use spaces to separate
keywords in simple keyword searching.
What is Keyboard?
As the name implies, a keyboard is basically a board of keys. Along with the mouse, the keyboard is one
of the primary input devices used with a computer. The keyboard's design comes from the original
typewriter keyboards, which arranged letters and numbers in a way that prevented the type-bars from
getting jammed when typing quickly. This keyboard layout is known as the QWERTY design, which gets
its name from the first six letters across in the upper-left-hand corner of the keyboard.
What is LAN?
LANs are typically high speed networks that connect computers, printers and other network devices
together.
What is Lossy?
Lossy file compression results in lost data and quality from the original version. Lossy compression is
typically associated with image files, such as JPEGs, but can also be used for audio files, like MP3s or
AAC files. The "lossyness" of an image file may show up as jagged edges or pixelated areas. In audio
files, the lossyness may produce a watery sound or reduce the dynamic range of the audio.
What is LCD?
Stands for "Liquid Crystal Display." LCDs are super-thin displays that are used in laptop computer
screens and flat panel monitors. Smaller LCDs are used in handheld TVs, PDAs, and portable video
game devices. The image on an LCD screen is created by sandwiching an electrically reactive
substance between two electrodes. This color of this substance can be changed by increasing or
reducing the electrical current. Since LCD screens are based on the principle of blocking light (rather
than emitting it), they use up much less power than standard CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) monitors.

What is Codec?

No, this is not just a cheap rip-off of Kodak. The name "codec" is short for "coder-decoder," which is pretty
much what a codec does. Most audio and video formats use some sort of compression so that they don't take
up a ridiculous amount of disk space. Audio and video files are compressed with a certain codec when they are
saved and then decompressed by the codec when they are played back. Common codecs include MPEG and AVI
for video files and WAV and AIFF for audio files. Codecs can also be used to compress streaming media (live
audio and video) which makes it possible to broadcast a live audio or video clip over a broadband Internet
connection.