Glossary of terms : S - U

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S

scanner – device by which hard-copy pictures and text can be converted into digital form for use on a computer. Small hand-held devices work by rolling the scanner head across the paper. Larger flatbed scanners work rather like a portable photocopying machine. With OCR and a speech synthesizer, it is possible to scan text into the computer and hear it read aloud. It can also be used to read bar codes and convert them into numerical data.

screen magnification – software utility to enlarge the screen, or an area of the screen. Simple utilities may be provided in the Control Panel. Commercial utilities are also available.

screen reader – Software which will ‘read’ areas of the screen, menus etc, outputting synthesized speech. Especially useful for pupils with visual impairments, but requires good cognitive skills and training.

screen resolution – see resolution

screen saver – facility to switch a computer screen off or alter the display if the keyboard or mouse has not been used for a while. This is to prevent the current image from being burnt into the screen if it is left on for an extended period.

screen turtle – in Logo, representation of the floor turtle on a computer screen. The screen turtle can be shaped like an arrow head, a turtle or other user-defined shape. Also described in statutory curriculum documents as a ‘screen image’.

scroll – when a window is not big enough to show all of its contents at once, scroll bars may be provided, by which one may move the display up / down or left / right around the document.

SCSI – ‘small computer systems interface’ – an internationally defined standard for connecting fast peripheral devices to a computer.

search engine – software, often found on Web sites, which searches for information on the Web or text-based databases.

sensor – device used to measure environmental changes such as light, temperature and movement. Sensors may be connected to control interfaces or data-logging devices.

serial port – hardware interface (plug) for attaching modems, other computers etc. Also allows devices such as switches or overlay keyboards to communicate with the computer. Sometimes called a comm port.

server – a computer permanently connected to the network that provides services to other computers. In the context of the client / server model, a server is the software on a remote computer servicing a client with the resources the client requests. In a local network, a file server holds system software on its hard disc, and is usually the most powerful machine in the system. Network users can access their own files remotely and interchange information with the central store. Other examples are Web, FTP, news, and email servers on the Internet.

shareware – software that is freely available but developers will ask for fees and depend on the user’s honesty for payment. Not to be confused with public domain software or freeware.

silicon chip – see chip

simulation – a pre-defined but dynamic model of a situation which allows the user to pretend to do things that might be impractical or dangerous in real life. This could be motor racing at Silverstone or heart surgery. There are also decision-making simulations such as moving house.

single message communicator – simple digitized speech device. Record a voice message. The pupil can then press the device to play back the message.

softbraille – Braille output provided by a computer attachment which uses small raised pins to produce Braille characters.

software – generic term for all computer programs. Software falls into two major types: applications such as spreadsheets or databases, and systems software such as MS-DOS or Windows. In addition, there are utilities or tools. Contrasted with hardware.

sound card – expansion card that can be plugged into a slot in the motherboard of a computer to expand its capabilities for sound input / output. Sometimes this function is integrated into the motherboard.

speech synthesizer – device with accompanying software used with a computer to ‘speak’ text by selecting elements from stored sounds or by breaking down the text into individual elements (phonemes) which are then produced in the correct sequence. See also augmentative and alternative communication, synthesized speech.

spellchecker – electronic dictionary, usually part of a word-processing application, which scans text on the screen and highlights any word it does not recognize. The writer is given the option to correct, ignore or add the word to the dictionary. The spellchecker can be set to offer alternative spellings to the writer. See also grammar checker.

spreadsheet – computer program which allows words and figures to be entered into individually identifiable cells on a grid format. Cells can be linked by formulae, so that altering numbers in individual cells will produce an alternative set of results. Spreadsheets may be used to model situations whose rules are governed by mathematical relationships such as the management of a budget account.

standard keyboard – see QWERTY keyboard.

sticky keys – utility usually found in the Accessibility / Easy Access Control Panel. Allows keys to be pressed sequentially rather than together. So to type a capital P, the pupil can press Shift followed by p, rather than having to press them at the same time.

surf – popular term for exploring the Web.

switch – a device which can make or break an electrical connection. In the context of ICT and learners with special educational needs it usually refers to an input device which at any time can be either on or off. Where a user’s physical movement is impaired, switches may be required to operate the computer. Many switches have been designed to meet the particular needs of disabled people.

switch cap – a clear plastic cap which fits over a switch, allowing an image to be placed on the switch so the pupil can identify the action of the switch

switch interface – a means of connecting switch(es) to the computer; usually a small box. Switch interfaces usually connect to the keyboard socket, mouse socket or serial port on the computer.

switch latch / timer (switch latching box) – a device for setting up how a switch will operate. For example, a single press may turn on a device for a set length of time, or the pupil may press once to turn on and again to turn off.

switch mains adaptor – an adaptor that allows the connection of switch(es) to a mains device, such as a radio or food mixer.

switch mounting – a system of clamps and rods that allows switch(es) to be mounted securely in an appropriate position so that a pupil with physical difficulties can access the switch reliably and comfortably.

switch scanning – method of accessing software using one or two switches. A scanning cursor (usually a coloured box) moves around the display and the switch user has to press the switch when the scan is over the object they want. When the pupil is using two switches, they can use one switch to control scan movement and the other switch to select. Switch scanning requires complex training and cognitive ability.

symbols – can be used to represent words. There are several electronic symbol libraries available; currently the most commonly used in the UK are PCS, Rebus, and Makaton (others available include - Bliss and Compic).

synthesized communication aid – a communication aid that uses artificial speech which can be used more flexibly than digitized human speech (see above). Some of the more powerful and expensive communication aids offer both digitized and synthesized speech.

synthesized speech – electronic speech produced by a computer or speech synthesizer from text rather than from a real voice. The vocabulary that can be spoken is not limited to the available memory (as with digitized speech), but the accuracy and clarity of the speech may be affected, as the computer pronounces speech according to a set of rules stored inside the machine. Often the spelling of a word can be adjusted to improve its pronunciation.

systems software – see software

T

tactile imaging – the production of tactile diagrams for students with a visual impairment. There are several ways of constructing tactile images such as fuser and swell paper or vacuum forming.

When using a fuser, a print version is produced on standard paper with clear black outlines or areas and photocopied onto micro-capsule or swell paper. This then passes through the fuser where it is heated; as the black areas absorb more heat than the white areas, they rise and swell to form tactile areas.

Vacuum-formed diagrams use a raised diagram or collage as a template over which plastic is vacuum-formed to produce a more permanent tactile resource. The equipment is often referred to as a Thermoform. It is often used to reproduce complex diagrams which include Braille labels or where multiple copies of Braille texts are required.

tag – formatting code used in hypertext mark-up language (html).

TCP/IP – ‘transmission control protocol / Internet protocol’. The rules used by networking software to communicate with other machines on the Internet.

telecommunications – transmission of information over distance using telephone lines, cables, or radio signals to send and receive images, sounds and words.

teletext – a low-bandwidth data transmission system whereby pages are hidden in the unused lines of television pictures. Suitable TV sets can receive these to display screens of information, or subtitles on TV programs to assist people with a hearing impairment.

template – a file which is set up for particular use, e.g. a blank writing document or worksheet, which has been set to the appropriate font, font size, font colour etc, and is saved for future use. A pupil will then load the blank template to start from, but save work under another file name. The template is still there to be used again.

terminal adaptor – interface equipment between a computer and an ISDN line (the equivalent of a modem).

terminator – component at the end of a cable segment, often required for correct operation.

text file – file of plain, unformatted text composed of ASCII characters.

text manipulation program – term embracing software which allows the manipulation, storage, retrieval and printing of words, graphics and images. Also used for programs for language learners where the tutor inputs the text and the computer creates activities including Cloze, gap-filling, re-ordering etc.

TIFF – ‘tagged image file format’, a graphic format developed by Aldus and Microsoft.

toolbar – bar across the top (usually) of a program, giving access to menu items, such as print, save etc. With some software you can configure how many tools are available to the pupil, and introduce more as they are needed.

touch screen – sensitive display screen which enables the computer to react to the touch of a finger or stylus. May be an add-on window for a normal monitor, or built into a special monitor (Touch Monitor).

track pad – touch-sensitive pad used to control the pointer, often found on laptop computers.

tracker ball (or trackball) – see rollerball.

turtle graphics – diagrams drawn by a screen turtle controlled using Logo or a Logo-like program. It is also called ‘turtle geometry’ since it allows the user to explore shape, space and angle of turn.

U

uninstall – use of a program to remove unwanted software from a computer.

upgrade – new version of a piece of software which is made available to registered users of an earlier version at a lower price than is charged to new users. Usually identified by a later version number e.g., 1.1, 1.2, show updates on version 1.0, whereas 2.0 would signify a major upgrade.

upload – the process of sending files from your computer to a server computer on the Internet. If you write pages for a Web site, you have to upload them to the Web server, for them to be seen by other Web users. The opposite of download.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) – a unique address for any file on a server on the Internet. URLs starting with ‘http://’ specify a Web server, and the page you want to view; the ICTS Programme URL, for instance, is: http://www.inclusive.net See also domain name system.

USB – ‘universal serial bus’ – standard for connecting peripherals to personal computers simply and quickly. Transfer speeds are much higher than with the older RS232 serial standard.

usenet – see newsgroup.

user group – people who get together to discuss a particular product or technology. Each of the main computer manufacturers has one or more associated user groups.

user profile – in Windows, a user profile can hold particular keyboard, mouse and display settings, and what appears in the Start menu and on the desktop. When the pupil ‘logs on’ with his or her name, the personalized settings are loaded and the desktop only shows the required short cuts and folders.

utility – software, usually small, which is designed to perform a single routine task, either on whole files, such as copying, deleting and sorting files, or as an extra add-on which extends the capacity of an applications package.

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