Glossary of terms : A - D

A . B . C . D . E . F . G . H . I . J . K . L . M
N . O . P . Q . R . S . T . U . V . W . X . Y . Z

A

acceptance delay – the time after which the computer accepts a key or switch press. Prevents keys being entered at random if a pupil ‘drifts’ across the keyboard, or inadvertently presses a switch. The setting can be changed to meet the needs of the user.

accessibility – must be considered when selecting software or hardware, especially for pupils with severe and complex needs. Barriers to accessibility can be physical, sensory or cognitive.

accessibility options – most operating systems will allow you to make changes to how the system functions, e.g. keyboard repeat, mouse pointer speed. These options can be found in the Control Panel (!Configure on Acorn).

address – a unique combination of letters, numbers and other characters determining the recipient of an email message or the location of a computer on the Internet (e.g. a Web site).

address book – a function of email software, to hold frequently-used email addresses.

adjustable trolley – a movable, height-adjustable trolley for computer and peripherals. By adjusting the height, the screen and access devices can be readily moved to a suitable position for pupils who need to access the computer from a range of different sitting, lying or standing positions.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) – fast digital connection to your telephone exchange. ‘Asymmetric’ because data downloading is faster than uploading.

adventure game – computer-based game allowing the exploration of a scenario or story. The user is encouraged to make decisions based on a set of rules. The outcome depends on decisions made.

alternative keyboard – any keyboard which is not a standard computer keyboard. Examples include overlay keyboards, compact (or mini) keyboards, and expanded keyboards.

animation – display of a sequence of images to give the impression of movement.

anti-virus software – see virus. Software which detects and disables viruses as they enter the computer.

application – see software

archive – collection of computer files held together, e.g. to save space or for long-term storage. May be made into a single compressed file (see compression). Also a (searchable) store of the messages sent to an email forum.

arm support – device to allow a pupil to rest their arm while using the computer. Often useful for those with physical difficulties.

ASCII – acronym for ‘American Standard Code for Information Interchange’. Internationally adopted standard of numerical equivalents for characters representing numbers, letters, punctuation marks, etc. Plain ASCII text can be read by most computers and most text-reading software. Several different encodings are defined, to suit different alphabets (e.g. Cyrillic).

assistive technology – use of technology to give access to learning, recording learning, or more generally to the environment. Important for those who have physical, sensory or cognitive difficulties.

attachment – a file that is attached to an email message. Attachments are used when information other than plain text is to be sent.

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) – used to describe either electronic or non-electronic aids, which enhance a pupil’s ability to communicate more effectively.

authoring software – programs to aid the creation of multimedia or hypertext documents.

B

back up – to make a duplicate, but separately stored copy of computer data (files or programs) for security or other purposes.

bandwidth – the total rate at which information can be passed down a telecommunications link. Applications such as basic email exchange require lower bandwidth than, for example, audio or video transmission.

bar code – arrangement of vertical lines of varying thickness with spaces in between. The spacing and line thickness represent a numerical code used to enable a computer to identify the item. A scanner is used to read the code.

battery adaptor – connector to allow a switch to be connected to a battery-operated toy or other device.

baud – unit of measurement of data transfer speed (‘baud rate’), for example over a telephone line or to a printer. Roughly equivalent to bits per second (bps).

bit – contraction of ‘binary digit’. The smallest unit of computer information, equal to either of the digits 0 or 1; called binary because it has only two values, on or off. See also byte.

bitmap (.bmp) – graphic image held by a computer as a screen representation, with each bit relating to the setting of an individual pixel on the screen.

bits per second (bps) – unit of measurement of data transfer speed. For example, the bit rate of widely used modems is in the range 300 to 56000 bps (or 56 kbit/s: higher rates are given in kbit/s).

bookmarks – a function of Web browser software, to hold frequently-accessed Web site addresses. Also known as Favourites or the Hotlist.

boot – to start up a computer. Historically, a very small ‘bootstrap’ program was run, to load the rest of the operating system.

Braille notebook – portable computer in which the user keys in Braille, the system of representing letters with raised dots to allow reading by touch. The output can be printed either as Braille or in normal text format.

broadband – informally used to mean ‘faster than common networks’, so the actual meaning depends on what is common at the time. For example, ADSL may currently be considered ‘broadband’, since it is faster than analogue modems or ISDN.

browser – software used to search and retrieve information from the Web. Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer and ANT Fresco are examples of browsers.

bug – error or fault in computer software which causes it to malfunction. The first computer bugs were actually moths caught between the relay contacts of a computer at Harvard.

bulletin board – a space on the Internet where messages can be posted for others to see and comment on.

byte – unit of information, usually equal to eight bits.

C

cache – temporary memory used to access frequently used instructions, thus speeding up processing time. Also denotes temporary storage of Web pages by browser software.

card – circuit board that plugs into a computer to provide a new function, such as sound or video input and output.

case sensitivity – some operating systems make a distinction between upper and lower case letters, even in file names. This is the case with most Web servers, so you must be sure always to use the correct case for letters in a Web URL.

CCTV (closed circuit TV) – A CCTV uses a camera, either hand-held or fixed, to magnify text and display it on a monitor. Often used to enlarge text, images and diagrams for pupils who have visual impairment.

CD writer (compact disc writer) – hardware device which can save information on to a recordable CD. These may be CD–R (record only) or CD–RW (rewritable).

CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) – data storage medium; optical disc capable of storing data such as programs, text, still images and sound.

central processing unit (CPU) – generally used to mean the microprocessor, the integrated circuit which is the controlling core of a personal computer, usually situated in the box with the hard disc. Sometimes used to refer to the box and its contents.

chat room – unsupervised areas on the Internet where anyone can join online conversations. Pupils need to be alerted to the dangers of using these rooms and given strategies for safe use.

chip – popular name for an integrated circuit, also called a ‘silicon chip’ as all the circuitry is etched onto a thin slice of silicon.

clip art – library of pictures stored on disc, CD or Web site. Often copyright free (but check!) and useful for creating materials for pupils.

clipboard – area of computer memory where temporary items are stored when copied or cut, ready for pasting into a document.

clock speed – speed of a microprocessor expressed in megahertz (MHz) related to the number of instructions the computer can carry out each second.

comm port (communications port) – see serial port.

communication aid – used to describe either electronic or non-electronic aids, which enhance a pupil’s ability to communicate more effectively.

communication book – structured and personalized book of photos, pictures and symbols used for augmentative and alternative communication

communicator – usually used to refer to a simple message device, delivering either a single message or a few, compared with complex communication aid which can have very many messages stored.

compact keyboard – small keyboard, similar in size to laptop keyboard. Can be useful for those with limited movement.

compatibility – pieces of equipment and / or software which are capable of being used together without special modification are termed compatible.

compress – computer data can usually be compressed to take less space. Compression software is often used before adding an attachment to an email. Examples are WinZip (Windows) and StuffIt (Macintosh).

computer program – see program.

concept keyboard – particular make of overlay keyboard.

content-free program – software providing a framework and the tools and utilities necessary for users to create their own resources. Examples mentioned in these Units include SwitchIt! Maker, Clicker and PowerPoint. Using content-free software, resources and activities can be made which are meaningful and appropriate to particular pupils’ needs.

control panel – set of utilities, usually built into the operating system, that allow control of features such as keyboard repeat, mouse pointer speed, accessibility options etc.

cookie – special data sent from a Web server to be saved by a client machine. Cookies may be used to identify and track users of that site, allowing for personalization. Browsers can be set up to accept or reject cookies.

copy, cut and paste – techniques of duplicating or removing data from one place and inserting it elsewhere. See also clipboard.

crash – sudden failure of software or hardware, often resulting in no response to mouse or keyboard actions.

cursor – also known as the caret or ‘I-beam’. Marks the position in a document or text entry where new characters will be inserted.

cyberspace – popular term for the Internet, from William Gibson’s novel Necromancer (1984).

D

data – in computing terms this means information that is structured and can be processed by a computer.

data capture / collection – acquisition and input of information to a computer using manual or computer input devices.

data compression – see compression

data logging – acquisition of information by a computer through use of sensors to measure and record environmental changes; for example, the changes in temperature of water in a pond over the period of several hours

data projector – screen projector that can be attached to a computer to project the screen display to a large screen.

Data Protection Act 1984 – UK Act of Parliament which sets out rules for the storage of data about individuals. Defined data users must register with the Data Protection Registrar and comply with principles of fairness, privacy, accuracy, confidentiality, accessibility and security.

database – structured collection of conceptually related data or data files organized and stored in a computer system. The simplest are tables with a row for each record (a set of related items, such as an individual’s name and address) and a column for each field (the categories within each record such as last name, house number, street, town, etc). Hierarchical databases hold their data in tree structures, e.g. one for a school might divide into staff and students at a high level, with individual names at the lowest and divisions like department or class in between. The most powerful databases use a method of storing data which does not restrict the way users can interrogate it, called the Structured Query Language (SQL).

default – computer or software settings as set in the factory or by the software creator.

desktop computer – a personal computer workstation, consisting of a central processing unit, with disc drives for storage, input (keyboard, mouse) devices and output (monitor, loud speakers) devices.

desktop publishing (DTP) – production via a desktop or personal computer of page layouts which combine words, graphics and images with different sizes and styles of type and form the master copies of materials such as newspapers, magazines and leaflets.

dial up – connect to the Internet or another computer over an ordinary telephone line.

digital – The representation of information as discrete digits, or bits. Contrasted with analogue representation.

digital camera – camera which captures and stores images as digital (electronic) information. Images can be stored in memory in the camera or in plug-in cards, or on discs. Images may be transferred to the computer for use in documents or content-free programs. Some printers can print photos directly from memory cards.

digital data network – network specifically designed for the transmission of data in digital form, so that people, computers and other devices can communicate (e.g. ISDN).

digital versatile disc (DVD) – data storage medium, optical disc capable of storing high quality video as well as data such as programs, text, still images and sound (also known as ‘digital video disc’).

digitized communication aid – a communication aid that enables human speech to be recorded and digitized via a microphone (usually built-in). There is a limit to the number of messages that can be stored.

digitized speech – electronic means of recording, storing and reproducing human speech, similar to using a tape recorder. Digitized speech is increasingly used in electronic communication aids as well as or in place of synthesized speech.

directory – also known as a folder, it is a named collection of files. Used for storing information on a computer so that it can more easily be found later. Directories can sit within other directories, creating a ‘tree’ structure.

display resolution – see resolution

domain name system (DNS) – hierarchical naming system used to locate computers on the Internet, matching the number by which one networked computer recognizes another (the IP number) to a name which assigns the computer owner to a domain or category of user. Top-level domains are indicated by the abbreviations at the end of the name.

For countries outside the US, top-level domains are countries (uk, au, fr).

Within the US at the top-level and at the second level elsewhere, domain names describe degree-awarding universities (edu in the US, ac in the UK), commercial organizations (com, co), government agencies (gov), non-profit and charitable organizations (org), etc.

The next level down, and often the first element of the name, is the name or alias of an organization or individual. For example, Inclusive Technology’s Internet identity inclusive.co.uk is inclusive (name of organization) co (type of organization) uk (country).

DOS (disc operating system) – standard operating system designed to manage files for personal computers, e.g. MS-DOS – Microsoft’s DOS for the IBM PC.

dots per inch (dpi) – measure of printer or screen resolution or quality. The higher the dpi the sharper and clearer the image.

download – the process of collecting information from the Internet – information is transferred from a server on the Internet to your computer.

drag – to use a mouse or similar device to move material appearing on one part of the screen to another position. The material to be moved is chosen (selected), and then the mouse is moved, while holding down the button. On releasing the button, the object is released. Often called drag-and-drop.

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