A
abend : abnormal ending
abort : duh!
absolute coding : coding that uses machine coding and absolute addresses, directly executable by the processor
accumulator : register or other storage location
acoustic coupler : how do you think your modem talks to street phones?
acronym : ROTFL, LOL, AWT, PC, IBM, DEC, VM, FY :), IMHO, ETC
ADA : a high level language of the 70's
assembly language : machine language through human-readable mnemonics
ATM: Assichronous Transfer Mode or Automated Teller Machine
B
b : abbreviation for byte or baud
babble : cross-talk in various channels in a system
background processing : execution of low-priority programs at less busy CPU times
backspace tape: sending a magnetic tape to the preceding record
backup: duh!
bandwidth: ammount of data simultaneously transferrable in a medium, refers to network speeds in most common use
BASIC : Begginners All Purpose Symbloic Instruction Code - a very basic programming language that is normally thought as a first language in computer schools
C
c : the greatest microprocessor programming language ever created.
CAD : computer aided design/drafting
canned software : software provided in ready-to-use binary form
capacitor : electronic component capable of storing electric charges
caret : a symbol used to indicate the location of the radix point of a number (^ or >)
CBASIC : compiled basic. much faster, and not interpreted
cfdtrttrte : ?
child : not a kid, but a data record branched from a higher hierarchy record in a database
chop: discard unneeded data
clipboard : a piece of memory reserved for transfering data from one prog to another
clobber: to write data on top of otherwise good data so it becomes unusable Example: Windows
clock: a timimng device. could be a real time clock or hardware frequency clock Difference: one measures seconds and other measures hertz
clockwise: a smart clock...duh, wait....from left to right
D
da : direct access
d-a: digital to analog
database: a group of data records
DBMS: database management system
E
energy: mcsquared
F
flag: an indicator that something has happened, normally just a 1 or 0 bit value
float: the ammount of time between the completion of a task and the start of the next
flop: Floating Pint Operation
flow: sequence of events
flowchart: a diagram used to display data
foo-bar: fucked up beyond all recognition
fortran: formula translator, a language used mostly by academics.
forward pointer: a pointer to the next member of a data structure
free form: a type of optical scanning where operation is controlled by symbols read by the input device.
frob: to fiddle with a picking device such as a joystick or mouse
function: a process that generates a value
funware: games in firmware ;)
fuse: plug your 110volt equipment in 220 and you'll toast it
fuzzy logic: a method of handling imprecision that attaches various measures of credibility to propositions.
G
garbage collection: the process of freeing memory/resources no longer in use by a program
gateway: a connection between two unequal networks
gating circuit: acts as a gate selecting voltages and signals that pass
general register: temporary storage for intermediate results
G-flops: one billion floating point operations per second
gibberish: unnecessary data, visit the Microsoft site for lots of gibberish data
GIGO: garbage in garbage out
global: a general term implying great breadth of scope
graceful degradation: eocounter an error and still continue without crashing every other running process
gulp: a small group of bytes
gun: emitter of electrons
gynoid: humanlike female robot
H
** hacker: A PERSON TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT COMPUTERS BY TRIAL AND ERROR......DAMN DICTIONARIES...
halt instruction: a machine instruction that stops the execution of a program
hand calculator: duh!
hard copy: a printed copy of machine output
hard error: malfunction in hardware
hard sector: a physical way of marking sectors in disks, like with holes in the surface of the disk opposite of soft sector
hardware: physical stuff in computers
hashing: key-to-address transformation where data is located by keys
header: first part of a message
heap: storage locations a prog can borrow and later return
HELLO: a common greeting :)
hertz: cycles per second
hexadecimal: a numbering system with radix 16 (0-9 & A-F)
hit: a match
housing: a cabinet or else....
hue: color
Hz: hertz
high-order: in 10 the high-order bit is 1 / in 90210 the HO digit is 9
I
invariant: constant
insane: what you are if you try to put a whole computer dictionary in a page in one afternoon....
IP: internet protocol
ICMP: internet control message protocol
internet: the huge clobbered heterogenous network that allowed this page to be served to you ;) through TCP/IP
ic: integrated circuit
image: exact duplicate stored somewhere else
impedance: resistance
inactive: loaded but not yet executed
inclusive OR: 1 INOR 1 = true ..... 1 INOR 0 = true 0 INOR 0 = false , got it?
microwave: electromagnetic wave whos bandwidth is < 1 cm
mips: million instructions per second
modem: modulator/demodulator, a serial line device that turns sounds into digital signals through telephone lines allowing computers to interconnect
J
jacket: the plastic container that holds a floppy
job: a group of specified tasks that make up a unit of work for a computer
jump: like a GOTO in more technical, less vulgar, terminology
junk: see Windows
K
kilo: prefix meaning 1000
kernel: the set of programs in a OS that implement the basic functionality of it
keyboard: close your eyes, and drop your head all the way, you'll hit it....
KWIC : key word in context
L
LAN: local area network
land: the area of a circuit board used for 'landing' components | a denial of service attack
lag: the relative difference between two states, events, mechanisms
LF: line feed ASCII 0x10
lamers(z): individuals with no interest in learning, that exist for the sole purpose of being manipulated, humiliated, flamed, nuked, and dumped by most social groups on the Internet and general computing community.
M
M: prefix for one million 1 000 000
memory board: an expansion board that expands a system's main memory, currently replaced by...
memory modules: little expansion cards holding various chips of memory. They fit in a different slot than those of normal ISA expansion boards
MOS: metal oxide semiconductor
N
NMOS: N-channel MOS
node: a 'link' in a network. May be a workstation, printer, router, etc...
NOP: acronym for No Operation (a valid assembly instruction too)
numeric character: same as digit
O
oasis: a multiuser OS used on several microcomputer systems
obey: the process whereby a computer carries out an operation as specified
object code: output from compiler or assembler, machine code, ready for execution or further processing
octal: numbering system with radix 8
octet: eight bits
one-chip computer: duh!
P
parallel: handling of all components of a word simultaneously
parallel printer: the printer receives one character at a time through eight wires simultaneously
parent: the higher hierarchy record to which many CHILD records are linked
Pascal: language named after Blaise Pascal(1623-1662)
passive device: passes signals on without changind them
PC-DOS:An IBM Ms-Dos version developped for Ibm PC's see CLUBBER
PC/IX: an implementation of UNIX for Ibm PC's
putz: lamerz
pph: pages per hour....isn't this old.....
Q
query language: a high level language that allows a user to make system queries without any codes or low level structures
queue: a group of items waiting to be acted upon by the processor
QUERTY: the most common keyboard layout. Alternatives were the Dvorak keyboard and the Maltron keyboard
R
r: abbrev. for reset, request, register
rack: a metal frame or chassis that may hold computer peripherals and other components
Radio Shack: hummm, well, this one we all know of.....
radix: the base number in a number system Example 0xA base 16 is = to 10 base 10
RDBMS: relational database management system
S
Snoopy: another cartoon character, never talked to him
T
trash: see Windows
U
UNIX: a multiuser OS that still predominates in the internet environment
V
VMS: operating system designed for DEC VAX systems
W
wacawaca: ask kermit
Windows: a great way some folks found to make BIG bucks
weed: undesirable material in a file | smoked by many.....
X /Y /Z
XENIX: MSFT's attempt to creating a UNIX system
XOR: eXclusive OR, bit to bit operator - 1 EOR 1 = false .... 1 EOR 0 = true ... 0 EOR 0 = false