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A B C
D E F H I J
L M N P R S U W
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Database driven web pages. Depending on
a users input one page can display different content from the database
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ADSL
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ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a
technology for transmitting digital information at high bandwidths on existing phone lines
to homes and businesses. Unlike regular dialup phone service, ADSL provides
continuously-available, "always on" connection. ADSL is asymmetric in that it
uses most of the channel to transmit downstream to the user and only a small part to
receive information from the user. ADSL was specifically designed to
exploit the one-way nature of most multimedia communication in which large amounts of
information flow toward the user and only a small amount of interactive control
information is returned.
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The essential job of saving and storing data on a
tape or other storage device, such as a CD-ROM, outside of your computer hard disk or
computer network. |
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Bandwidth
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The capacity of data that a line or channel can
carry every second. Digital bandwidth is measured in bps. |
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BPS (Bits Per Second)
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The rate at which one bit can be carried,
normally expressed in thousands, Kbps, or millions, Mbps. |
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Broadband
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A communication operating at a bandwidth greater
than 2 Mbps. |
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Browser
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Software such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft
Explorer to let you navigate round the Web. Many browsers are provided free of charge from
Internet Service Providers, the companies which you pay to provide you with access to the
Internet. |
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A network that has a powerful main computer (the
server or file server) and a string of computers linked to it (clients). |
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A database collects information into an
electronic file, for example a list of customer addresses and associated orders. Each item
is usually called a ‘record’ and the items can be sorted and accessed in many
different ways. |
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DHTML
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Dynamic Hypertext Mark-up Language -
this is a more complex version of HTML, which allows text to be moving or
hidden (see HTML) |
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Digital
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The term describes the technology used by
cellular phones. Here phone conversations and information are converted into digital
format: a series of electronic numbers. The benefit of this is that the digital
information can be transferred quickly. |
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Drive
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The device in a computer that reads data from a
disk. |
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Commercial
transactions completed on the Internet. Usually this involves payment by
credit/debit card.
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E-mail
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An e-mail, and any computer file attached, can be sent over
the phone lines in minutes - distance is no object. Its cheap, quick, convenient and
flexible. You can send an e-mail to a colleague if your company’s computers are
networked. Or to customers around the world via the Internet.
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Encryption
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A method of scrambling sensitive messages or data
so that it cannot be read without a password. |
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Ethernet
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A popular standard for linking computers into a
network. Thin Ethernet uses the same coaxial cable that is used to connect a TV to an
aerial. |
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The fax is still a useful business tool.
Computer based faxes allow you to save time and paper by sending faxes (and receiving
them) directly to your computer. It means that you can send numerous faxes all at the
press of a button, and programme them to be sent at off-peak phone times. |
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File server
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Also known as a server, this is a central,
dedicated machine which runs the networking operating system that services all the other
computers in the network - known as clients. All the working files of a company are stored
centrally on this server. |
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Flash
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A program used to create interactive
animations and movies, that can be displayed on a web page. |
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FTP
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FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of
transferring files from one computer to another. |
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Situated inside the computer, the hard disk
stores permanent data. |
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Hits
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Hits are defined as the no. of files transferred
from a web site. This includes all images, script files and pages.
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Home page
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The first page that you see every time you
connect to a Web site. |
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HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language) is the computer
language the Web is written in. If you don’t know how to write the HTML code, there
are inexpensive software packages which will do all or most of the coding for you, behind
the scenes. The results are not as impressive or effective as professionally designed pages but could
be adequate for your business. |
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HTTP
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HTTP (HyperText
Transfer Protocol) is the method of transferring web pages from one
computer to another.
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Hyperlink
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A connection linking different pieces of
information on the Web. They appear as hot spots on a Web page in the shape of highlighted
words or images. By clicking on the hyperlink, the reader can jump to another Web page. |
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The Internet is a global network of computers with millions
of users all over the world. Anyone can join this network and from your computer you can
send and receive information anywhere in the world - all at the cost of a local phone
call, 24 hours of the day. The Internet offers so many different business benefits.
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Intranet
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An intranet is a private Intranet which is not
necessarily linked to the Internet itself. If it is linked to the larger Internet, it will
be via secure ‘firewalls’ which protect your private information. Intranets are
extremely useful in two situations. First an intranet can help a business which has
several different kinds of computer - Windows or DOS PCs, Macintosh computers, Unix
workstations - which need to talk to one another. Internet standards are designed to allow
different computers and network types to communicate, so an intranet can remove many
potential technical headaches. Secondly, for businesses installing their first network,
setting up an intranet rather than using technology from one manufacturer has some
advantages in ‘future-proofing’ investment. |
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ISDN
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IDSN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a
fast phone line which significantly increases the rate at which you can transmit and
receive information, for example when you transfer data over the Internet. So if you have
large files of data to transmit (such as video or high resolution photography) or you want
to video and data conference regularly then you might consider an ISDN line. |
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ISP
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An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company
that provides third party access to the Internet. Customers simply use their modem to
connect to the ISP which then links them to the Internet automatically. There are over 100
ISPs. Although their prices and facilities differ, they all offer some standard basic
services such as 24 hour Internet access, a unique e-mail address for your company,
storage space for your own Web site and basic software programmes for browsing the
Internet. Some ISPs, also referred to as on-line information providers, provide extra
services such as access to databases of business information. |
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Java is a special programming language used in
creating more sophisticated or enhanced Web pages - for example with animated graphics or
built in spreadsheets. |
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LAN (Local Area Network)
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A way of linking computers in one building
together so that they can share files, software, hard disks and peripherals such as a
printer or CD-ROM. |
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Modem (modulator/demodulator)
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A device that enables computer signals to travel
over phone lines. Modems come in different speeds. Low speed modems can be sufficient for
simple e-mails but if you intend to use and download information from the Internet then
you should usually go for the fastest modem you can afford - ideally a fast 56 k-bit
modem. |
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Multimedia
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Applications combining the use of more than one
media i.e. data, voice and video. |
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The Net is a common term for the Internet. |
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Personal computer |
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POP
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It is important that when you dial to log on to
the Internet, you do so though a local Point-of-Presence (POP). This means that all your
call connections are charged at the local rate phone charges i.e. the same STD code or an
0345/0645/0990 number. If you have to call long-distance, your phone bill would soon mount
up. |
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Plug & play
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A Windows 95 option which allows multimedia
peripherals, such as a CD-ROM drive, to be automatically recognised and set up to work by
the operating system. |
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Peer-to-peer
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One of the simplest network arrangements,
involving linking a series of computers together without the use of a server. |
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Protocol
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The set of rules which govern the format and
control of messages being sent around a network. |
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Random Access Memory - the main memory of a
computer. |
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ROM
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Read Only Memory |
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Search Engine software packages (such as Yahoo,
Alta Vista, WebCrawler or Lycos) helps you find what you are looking for on the Web.
You can type in a word or phrase to describe what you are looking for and the search
engine matches this against it’s index, recording all likely matches. Most search
engines are free. |
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Software
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Also called programs - software is the
instructions that tell a computer what to do. There are two basic types of software: the
‘operating system’ which controls the basic workings of a computer, and the
‘application software’ which allows you to do particular jobs. There are other
types of software - for example network software which enables a group of computers to
communicate with one another, and language software which enables programmers to write
other software. |
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Surfing
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Slang for the process of moving around the Web. |
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An UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a system
which allows computers to continue to run for a limited period of time during a power
failure. It lets you save data from your computer before the whole system crashes. |
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URL
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A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address
of a file accessible on the Internet, such as a Web site address. |
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WAN (Wide Area Networks)
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A way of linking computers at different
office sites, perhaps hundreds of miles apart, so that they can share information and peripherals
like printers. |
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The World Wide Web
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The Web gives you user friendly access to pages of business
information. A collection of pages is known as a Web site. Having your own Web site lets
you promote and sell your products and services to the world. Customer could browse your
catalogue, place an order and pay by credit card - all on line, 24 hours a day. Its a real
opportunity for smaller businesses to compete.
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Web
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The Web is the common term for the World Wide
Web. |
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Web page
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A ‘page’ of information available to
anyone via the Internet. |
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Web site
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A collection of Web pages. |
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