Computer Talk
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World Almanac for Kids
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Flat-screen computer monitor
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artificial intelligence or AI
The ability of computers and robots to imitate human intelligence by learning and making decisions.
bit
The smallest unit of data.
blog
is short for "Web log." It's a personal journal or diary that people put on a website for others to read.
bookmark
A feature in web browsers that lets the user save a favorite website. It can be used instead of typing in the URL.
boot
To start up a computer.
browser
A program to help get around the Internet.
bug or glitch
An error in a program or in the computer.
byte
An amount of data equal to 8 bits.
chip
A small piece of silicon holding the circuits computers use to store and process information.
cookie
Some websites store information, like your passwords and other preferences, on your computer's hard drive. When you go back to that site later, your browser sends the information (the "cookie") to the website.
database
A large collection of information organized so that it can be retrieved and used in different ways.
desktop publishing
The use of computers to design and produce magazines, newspapers, and books.
download
To transfer information from a host computer to a personal computer, often through a modem.
e-mail or electronic mail
Messages sent between computers over a network.
encryption
The process of changing information into a code, especially passwords, or financial or personal information, to keep others from reading it.
FAQ
"Frequently Asked Questions" is a document often found on a Web site, containing answers to common questions users ask.
gig or gigabyte (GB)
An amount of information equal to 1,024 megabytes.
hacker
A computer expert who likes to look at the code of operating systems and other programs to see how they work. Some hackers tamper with other people's information and programs illegally.
hard copy
Computer output printed on paper or similar material.
home page
The page at a Web site.
html
The abbreviation for HyperText Markup Language, a computer language used to make web pages.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol is the method of file exchange used on the World Wide Web.
Internet
A worldwide system of linked computer networks.
Internet Service Provider or ISP
An organization that connects a modem to the Internet.
K
This stands for kilo, or "thousands," in Greek. It is used to represent bytes of data or memory. For example, "6K" is shorthand for 6,000 bytes.
laptop or notebook
A portable personal computer that can run on batteries.
mainframe
The largest type of computer. A mainframe can be used by many people at the same time.
megabyte (MB)
An amount of information equal to 1,048,516 bytes, or (in some situations) 1 million bytes.
meltdown
The collapse of a computer network from heavy traffic.
multimedia
Software that includes pictures, video, and sound. In multimedia software, you can see pictures move and hear music and other sounds.
network
A group of computers linked together so that they can share information.
password
A secret code that keeps people who do not know it from using a computer or software.
PC or personal computer
PC is another name for a microcomputer, which is a small computer often used in homes, schools, offices, and small businesses.
PDA or personal digital assistant
A handheld computer that can store addresses, phone numbers, and other information that's useful to have handy.
pixel or picture element
The smallest unit of an image on a computer monitor. It can be used to measure the size of an image.
portal
A web site that serves as a gateway to the Internet.
program
Instructions for a computer to follow.
RAM or random access memory
The memory your computer uses to open programs and store your work until you save it to the hard drive or a disk. The information in RAM disappears when the computer is turned off.
ROM or read only memory
Memory that contains permanent instructions for the computer and cannot be changed. The information in ROM remains after the computer is turned off.
scanner
A device that can transfer words and pictures from a printed page into the computer.
spam
Electronic junk mail.
thread
A series of messages and replies that relate to a specific topic
upload
To send information from a personal computer to a host computer.
URL or uniform resource locator
The technical name for a website address.
user-friendly
Easy for the person using the computer to figure out without a lot of reading.
virtual reality
Three-dimensional images on a screen that are viewed using special equipment (like gloves and goggles). The user feels as if he or she is part of the image and can interact with everything around.
virus
A program that damages other programs and data. It gets into a computer through telephone lines or shared disks.
Web site
A place on the Internet's World Wide Web where text and pictures are stored. The contents are sent to computers when the correct World Wide Web address (which begins with http:// or www.) is entered.
Wi-Fi or wireless fidelity
Technology that allows people to link to other computers and the Internet from their computers without wires.
Computadoras e Internet: Idioma de las computadoras (Spanish Version)