APPENDIX C: Internet terms explained

    Are you baffled by all the acronyms and fancy Net terms? Don't be put off. Here is a list of the most important ones along with a brief description of each.

    Glossary of terms

    Bandwidth: The rate at which data can travel over a network connection.

    Baud: When transmitting data, the number of transitions in modem signal per second - how quickly information is passed by the modem. Since each transmission can correspond to multiple bits of data, the actual bit rate may exceed the baud rate. Baud rates rarely go higher than 9600 per second, whereas the bps rate is usually 14,000 or 28,000 bps depending on your modem.

    Bits per second (bps): The speed at which bits are transmitted over the Internet.

    Bookmark: A way of marking a site on your browser you may wish to visit again, without having to type in the URL.

    Browser: Software used to surf the World Wide Web. The most popular are Netscape, Internet Explorer, and Mosaic.

    Cyberspace: That indefinable electronic space in which the Internet happens - coined by William Gibson in his novel "Neuromancer" used to describe the collective world of networked computers.

    Download: Bringing text, pictures or files, etc. to your computer through an on-line connection.

    E-Mail: Method of sending letters and other files from one computer to another.

    FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions; a file for newcomers to read that stops the same old questions being asked.

    Flame: An angry or abusive message.

    FTP: File Transfer Protocol; a way of getting software, etc. from a file archive.

    Gateway: A computer system to transfer data between otherwise incompatible networks.

    GIF: Graphical Interchange Format, developed by CompuServe is a graphics format which allows quicker transfer of images over telephone lines.

    Gopher: A menu-based system for exploring the Internet.

    Home page: The first page you see when you enter a Web site.

    HTML: HyperText Markup Language; computer language used to create World Wide Web sites.

    HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol; system used to allow you to access and read Web pages.

    Hypertext: Documents that contain links to other Web pages. By clicking on a link, the browser will automatically display the linked page.

    Internet: Worldwide network of computer networks connected using IP protocol.

    ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network combines voice and digital network services in one medium.

    IRC: Internet Relay Chat; instant conversations between people, using E-mail.

    Login: The process of identifying yourself on an on-line system. Generally a two-stage process involving the input of your username followed by your password.

    Mailing List: A discussion group whose messages are distributed by E-mail.

    Modem: A 'modulator/demodulator' connects your computer to the telephone line. This converts computer signals to telephone signals and vice versa.

    Net: Generally used as another name for the Internet.

    Newsgroup: Discussion group where people post and read messages to a shared discussion forum. Think of a teletext system where everyone can create the pages of text.

    On-Line: Refers to when two computers are connected by means of modems. For example, when you dial your ISP on your modem and connect to their server you are on-line.

    POP: Point of Presence; a branch of your ISP which is just a local phone call away, thus saving you making long distance calls.

    PPP: Point to Point Protocol. This allows a computer to use TCP/IP (Internet protocols) with a standard phone line and a modem.

    Shareware: Software made available for free on a trial basis. You are usually asked to pay a nominal fee if you decide to keep and use it.

    Signature: A personal tag line on the end of messages posted to on-line services.

    Search Engine: A Web tool used to find pages on the WWW. Just type in a few key words, and the search engine will give you a list of relevant sites.

    Server: Powerful computer at your POP that allows you Internet access.

    Service Provider: Particular company that allows you Internet access, e.g. Ireland On-Line, Indigo, HomeNet.

    Smiley: Little faces (look at them side ways) used in E-mail to indicate emotions such as :-) -happy, :-( -sad, ;-) -winking. There are many of these which are made up using keyboard characters. They are also called emotions.

    Snail Mail: The sending of mail using the traditional land-based postal system as opposed to E-mail.

    Subscribe: Joining a mailing list or other on-line service. This may involve a fee for certain services.

    Surfing: Moving about the Internet.

    TCP: Transmission Control Protocol, one of the protocols upon which the Internet is based.

    Telnet: An Internet protocol that allows you to log into other computer systems on the Net.

    UNIX: The operating system which was very important in the development of the Internet.

    Upload: Sending a file from your computer to another computer or server.

    Username: The name you receive from your service provider to identify your account on their server. Generally, this is some derivative of your real name. It will be on the left of the @ in your E-mail address.

    URL: Uniform Resource Locator, an attempt to standardise the location or address details of Internet resources.

    Webmaster: The person who maintains a Web site.

    White Pages: A list of Internet users, accessible through the Internet itself.

    WWW: World Wide Web; an interconnected network of files, usually in the form of graphic pages, that makes up most of the Internet; a wonderful place to explore!



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