 Computer
Vocabulary
Anti-virus software - A program
that finds and removes viruses from a computer.
Backup - A copy on floppy disk
or tape of files on a PC's hard disk. A backup is used in case
the hard disk file(s) are erased or damaged.
Bit, bytes - A bit is the smallest piece of information
that computers use. For simplicity, a PC uses bits in groups
of 8 called bytes (8 bits = 1 byte).
Boot, boot up, boot disk - You boot (or boot up) your
computer when you switch it on and wait while it prepares itself.
Instructions for startup are given to the computer from the
boot disk, which is usually the hard disk.
Browser, to browse - A browser is a
program like Netscape or Internet Explorer.
You use it to view or browse the Internet.
Bug - A (small) defect or fault in a
program.
Cache - A kind of
memory used to make a computer work faster.
CD-ROM - A disk for storing computer information.
It looks like an audio CD.
CPU - Central Processing Unit. This is a PC's heart
or 'brains'.
DOS - Disk Operating System. The original system used
for PCs. You type in commands instead of pointing and clicking.
Driver - A small program that
tells a PC how a peripheral works.
Electronic mail (email, e-mail) -
Messages sent from one computer to another. You can see email
on the screen or print it out.
Floppy disk - A cheap, removable
disk used for storing or transferring information. It is floppy
(soft) because it is plastic. See
hard disk.
Floppy drive - The device used to run a
floppy disk (usually drive 'A'.)
Folder (directory) - A sub-division
of a computer's hard disk into which
you put files.
Font - A particular sort of lettering (on the screen
or on paper). Arial is a font.
Times New Roman is another.
Format - All hard disks and
floppy disks have to be electronically
prepared for use by a process called formatting. Hard disks
are pre-formatted by the computer manufacturer. If you buy a
floppy disk that is not pre-formatted, you format it yourself,
using a program that comes with your
PC.
Graphics card - The equipment inside a computer that
creates the image on the screen.
Hard disk - The main disk inside
a computer used for storing programs
and information. It is hard because it is metal. See
floppy disk.
Icon - A small image or picture on a computer screen
that is a symbol for folders, disks, peripherals,
programs etc.
Internet - International
network of computers that you connect to by telephone
line. Two popular services of the Internet are the
World Wide Web and electronic
mail.
Kb, Mb, Gb - Kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes. Used
to measure computer memory and storage.
Memory - Memory is for the temporary
storing of information while a computer is being used. See
RAM, ROM and Cache.
MHz - Megahertz. This describes the speed of computer
equipment. The higher the MHz the better the performance.
Modem - Equipment connected to
a computer for sending/receiving digital information by telephone
line. You need a modem to connect to the
Internet, to send electronic mail and
to fax.
OCR - Optical Character Recognition. OCR lets a PC
read a fax or scanned image and convert it to actual lettering.
Parallel port - A socket at the back of a computer
for connecting external equipment or peripherals,
especially printers.
PC card - A device that is the same size as a thick
credit card, for plugging into a slot on notebook computers.
You can buy memory, modems
and hard disks as PC cards.
Peripheral - Any equipment
that is connected externally to a computer. For example, printers,
scanners and modems
are peripherals.
Pixel - The image that you see
on the screen is made of thousands of tiny dots, points or pixels.
Program Software that operates
a PC and does various things, such as writing text (word-processing
program), keeping accounts (accounts program) and drawing pictures
(graphics program).
QWERTY - The first 6 letters on English-language keyboards
are Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The first 6 letters on French-language keyboards
are A-Z-E-R-T-Y.
RAM, ROM - Two types of
memory. RAM (Random Access Memory) is
the main memory used while the PC is working. RAM is temporary.
ROM (Read Only Memory) is for information needed by the PC and
cannot be changed.
Resolution - The number of dots or
pixels per inch (sometimes per centimetre)
used to create the screen image.
Scanner - Equipment for converting
paper documents to electronic documents that can be used by
a computer.
Serial port - Socket at the back of a PC for connecting
peripherals.
Taskbar, Start button - Two areas of the screen in
Windows 95. The taskbar, at the bottom
of the screen, shows the programs in
use. The start button, in the bottom left corner, is for opening
new programs.
TFT - Thin Film Transistor, a type of high quality
screen for notebook computers.
Virus - A small, unauthorized
program that can damage a PC.
Windows - An operating system
used by the majority of PCs. The current versions are Windows
98 and Windows NT.
World Wide Web, WWW, the Web - WWW
are initials that stand for World Wide Web. The Web is one of
the services available on the Internet.
It lets you access millions of pages through a system of links.
Because it is 'world-wide', it was originally called the World
Wide Web or WWW.
WYSIWIG - 'What You See Is What You Get.' With a WYSIWIG
program, if you print a document it looks
the same on paper as it looks on the screen.
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