Glossary of terms : V - Z

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V

VDU – see monitor

video disc – also known as ‘laser disc’, analogue storage medium – a large disc like a long-playing record. Not to be confused with ‘digital video disc’. See digital versatile disc.

virtual reality (VR) – simulation of an environment by presentation of three-dimensional and moving images and an appropriate soundtrack, giving the user the impression of being able to move around within the environment.

virus – mischievous or destructive software transferred covertly to files and applications, often via the Internet (e.g. email attachments) or with other files on a disc. Some can disable a computer or network once activated and must, be removed using anti-virus software. There are, however, many hoax virus warnings and users should not pass on such warnings unless they are sure of their reliability.

VOCA – Voice output communication aid. May use digitized or synthesized speech, with the most sophisticated devices using both.

voice activated software (VAS) – software allowing you to control the computer through voice. Commands are spoken and writing can be ‘dictated’. Relatively new way of controlling a computer with potential for pupils with physical, sensory or literacy difficulties.

voice recognition system – see voice activated software.

W

WAN – see wide area network.

Web address – see URL, address.

Web browser – see browser.

Web conferencing – a Web site that enables you to participate in an online discussion on particular topics.

Web page – a single page on a Web site. Web pages are written in hypertext markup language (html), so that they can include graphics and hyperlinks to other pages.

Web ring – a group of Web sites with similar themes linked together.

Web server – a server computer on the Internet or an intranet, holding Web pages.

Web site – area on a server linked to the Internet which is devoted to one organization’s or individual’s Web pages.

wide area network – in contrast to a local area network (which links computers at the same site), a network which links computers over a large geographical area, including telecommunication links such as satellites.

wild card – symbol used in command or search instructions to stand for a range of characters. Thus, a question mark is used to stand for ‘any single character’, while an asterisk is used to mean any character or group of characters or none.

WIMP – ‘windows icons menus pointer’, components that make up a graphical interface system such as Windows. WIMPs enable a computer to be controlled without typing in complex commands, by using a pointing device (mouse) to move the pointer (arrow) around the screen and to click on pictures (icons) or items in menus which run and control software applications.

Windows – the name for Microsoft’s version of a graphical user interface. Since Windows 95 this has included the underlying operating system as well.

wizard – on-screen step-by-step guide that helps a user perform a particular task, e.g. installing a program.

word bank – a vocabulary list to support writing, usually on screen. The pupil can click on a word to enter it into a writing document. Clicking with the right button will usually speak the word. Word banks can also be presented on an overlay keyboard.

word processor – software originally devoted to the creation, editing, formatting, storage, revision and printing of text, but currently often including the capacity to include graphs, spreadsheets, and photographs, and to produce sophisticated page layouts.

world wide web (WWW or the Web) – a world-wide collection of server computers holding hyperlinked documents, connected through the Internet, accessed with a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape or Opera.

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) – international non-profit organization devoted to developing the potential of the Web. Activities include setting standards and common frameworks in this rapidly evolving field, including an accessibility initiative.

wrist rest – a soft pad, placed in front of the keyboard and used to rest the wrists when typing.

write protect – to protect a disc or file so that its contents cannot normally be altered or erased, usually by moving a tab on the disc casing, or amending the file’s properties.

WWW – see world wide web

WYSIWYG – 'what you see is what you get' – accurate representation on the screen of the appearance of the final output.

X

Y

Z

zip – a compression format used to archive and reduce the storage space occupied by files.

zip disc – a high capacity disc, capable of storing 100Mb (or 250Mb) of information on sturdy pocket-sized discs.

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