Welcome to our plain-English Glossary Of Computer, Networking, & Telephony Terms. Don't see a word you're looking for? Just use CTS Contact/Request. | - application — see program.
- computer — a toolused for data storage, sorting, and retrieval.
- device — printers, drives (CD-ROM,Zip drives, hard disks and the like), modems, etc.
- drive — a drive (floppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, Zip drive,tape drive, etc.) is simply a data storage device, very similar to thatbig grayfiling cabinet you keep stubbing your toes on. When you install aprogram, it copies its files onto your computer's hard drive, manyprograms that you run from your CD-ROM stay mostly on the CD-ROM; whenyou save your data files they are generally on yourhard drive and sometimes on your floppy disk(s).
- driver — software that tells your computer how to use a piece of hardware that is connected to it, such as a printer.
- hard disk — a small, hard disk, inside your computer used for data and program storage.
- hardware — anything you can trip over, INCLUDING the CD-ROMs, floppies, etc. that programs are loaded onto.
- Memory — accidentally (?) refers to both your hard disk and your RAM.
- monitor — a video screen that lets you see what (basically) is going on inside your computer.
- program (application) — this is simply a list of instructions for the computer to carry out when you click a button or type a letter. Itwill generally let you input data, and then spit it back out in theform that you want. There are programs for word processing, games, youname it.
- RAM — electronic storage space that is your computer's "workspace" for running programs and modifying your data files. It is emptied when you turn your computer system off.
- resources — things the computer can use to do your work, such as RAM, hard drive space, video capabilities, etc.
- server — a faster/bigger-than-normal computer used for storing files that users can access.
- software — any program that you can install.
- network — any number of computers connected together so that they can share files, printers, fax systems, Internet connections, etc.
- network application — network version of a program; any program that lets more than one user open the same data file (the file that thatprogram creates) at the same time.
- shared device — these are devices on the network that many users can access such as printers, drives (CD-ROM, Zip drives, hard disks and the like), modems, etc.
- workstation — a workstation is generally a computer on a network. This means it is connected to other computers in your building and/orin your company where ever they may be. A single computer by itself isusually referred to as simply a "computer" - neat name, huh?
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Glossary