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ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Computers store all
information as binary numbers. In ASCII, the letter "A" is stored as 1000001,
whether the computer is made by IBM, Apple or Commodore. ASCII also refers
to a method, or protocol, for copying files from one computer to another
over a network.
ANSI
Computers use several different methods for deciding how to put information
on your screen and how your keyboard interacts with the screen. ANSI is
one of these "terminal emulation" methods. To use it properly, you will
first have to turn it on, or enable it, in your communications software.
Archie
The best known file search program until the Web came along. Archie creates
an FTP index by periodically logging into FTP servers and copying files
to compile an archive. There are Archie servers in many parts of the world.
archie.au serves Australia and the Pacific Basin.
Attachment
A file that is attached to email. The file can be any file on your computer,
graphics, fomatted text, sound or a complete application or program.
Bandwidth
The maximum carrying capacity of a network for data traffic. The greater
the bandwidth, the greater the amount of information that can travel on
the network.
Baud
Modem speed. One baud is roughly equal to one bit per second. It takes eight
bits to make up one letter or character. Modems rarely transfer data at
their listed baud rate because of static or computer problems. More expensive
modems use systems which can correct for these errors or which "compress"
data to speed up transmission. 1200, 2400, 9600, 14.4 and 28.8 are common
descriptions of the baud rates of modems in ascending order of speed. Get
the fastest you can afford, 28.8 is now the "standard".
BBS
Bulletin Board System. A local system where users can dial in to transfer
files and chat. A computerised cork board where notices are posted for all
to see.
Binary
Non plain-text files are binary: programs, word processor documents, sound
clips, images and compressed files.
BinHex
Mac format for converting binary files into ASCII format for email or file
transfer.
Browser
A piece of software that displays Internet information and HTML or WWW documents
in a graphical user friendly environment. Software programs such as Netscape
Navigator and NSCA Mosaic are popular browsers.
Chat or IRC (Internet Relay Conversation)
A text style phone conversation. Two people, or more, can share comments
back and forth over the Internet with the text appearing on both users screens
as it is typed.
Command line
On Unix host systems, this is where you tell the machine what you want it
to do, by entering commands.
Communications Software
Software that allows your computer to 'talk' or share information with other
computers usually over a modem or network.
Compression
Compressed files are smaller than the originals and have to be expanded.
They take less disk space and are faster to download. Zip and Stuffit are
two common compression formats.
Daemon
Unix program that normally works out of sight of the user. On the Internet,
you'll most likely encounter it only when your e-mail is not delivered to
your recipient -- you'll get back your original message plus a detailed
message from a "mailer daemon".
Domain
The last part of an Internet address, such as "mq.edu.au"
DNS
Domain Name Server, the computer that records to names of other computers
and their IP numbers.
Down
When a public-access site runs into technical trouble, and you can no longer
gain access to it, it's down.
Download
Copy a file from a host system to your computer. There are several different
methods, or protocols, for downloading files, most of which periodically
check the file as it is being copied to ensure no information is inadvertently
destroyed or damaged during the process. Some, such as XMODEM, only let
you download one file at a time. Others, such as batch-YMODEM and ZMODEM,
let you type in the names of several files at once, which are then automatically
downloaded. Opposite of upload
E-mail
Electronic mail. A way to send and receive private messages on the Net.
Encryption
Data is coded so that it must be decoded to be used. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)
is a popular and very powerful encryption program for internet users.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. A compilation of answers to these. Many Usenet
newsgroups have these files, which are posted once a month or so for beginners.
Flame
Inflamatory messages often intended to start an arguement. Can result in
flame wars if not ignored.
Followup
A Usenet posting that is a response to an earlier message.
Freeware
Software that doesn't cost anything.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A system for transferring files across networks.
A software program that carries out the file transfer.
GIF
Graphic Interchange Format. A format developed in the mid-1980s by CompuServe
for use in photo-quality graphics images. Now commonly used everywhere online.
Gopher
Information retrieval system that searches through layers of menus to find
what you are looking for. Wherever the information is located, in a Gopher
search it simply appears as another menu item. When you find the resource
you want you select it from the menu.
Handshake
Two modems trying to connect first do a handshake to agree on how to transfer
data.
Hang
When a modem fails to hang up.
Home Page
A home page is really the top page a set of web pages. It works like a title
page and table of contents in a book, directing users to different sub-sections.
These sub-sections are like chapters in a book, which can be looked at in
any order, depending on which link a user selects. The home page, along
with all of the pages it links to, is often called a "Website."
Host system
A public access site. Your Information Service Provider or the computer
you connect to for accessing the net. As a computer connected to a host
you are a client.
HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language. The tags used to create web pages.
HTTP
Hyper Text Transport Protocol. The protocol underlying web links, you see
"http://" at the beginning of each web address.
Hyperlink or link
A phrase in a HTML or WWW document that when selected forwards you to another
document. Usually displayed in browsers as blue or red in colour and underlined.
Imagemap
A clickable image that acts as a hyperlink.
Internet
A worldwide system for linking smaller computer networks together. Networks
connected through the Internet use a particular set of communications standards
to communicate, known as TCP/IP.
IP
Internet Protocol. IP addresses uniquely identify each computer on a network
and look like this 137.111.1.11.
ISP
Internet Service Provider. A company that sells connection time on its direct
access route to the main Internet network.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. A graphics compression system that can
reduce the size of graphics. Sometimes the compression is over 90 percent.
LAN
Local Area Network. Two or more computers linked together so they can exchange
information.
Listserv
A mailing list which you can subscribe to in which messages posted to the
list are forwarded to subscribers as e-mail.
Log on/log in
Connect to a host system or public-access site.
Log off
Disconnect from a host system.
Mailing list
A conference or discussion group in which messages are delivered right to
your mailbox, rather than to a Usenet newsgroup. You get on these by sending
a message to a specific email address, which is often that of a computer
that automates the process.
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. Web standard for transferring sound
and graphics by email.
Modem
A modem connects your computer at home to the Host computer via the phone
lines.
Netiquette
A set of common-sense guidelines for not annoying others.
Network
A communications system that links two or more computers. It can be as simple
as a cable strung between two computers a few feet apart or as complex as
hundreds of thousands of computers around the world linked through fibre
optic cables, phone lines and satellites.
Newsgroup
A Usenet conference where people post messages on various topics for other
users to see and respond too. Newsgroups include topics about almost anything,
not just computers.
NIC
Network Information Center. Where you'll find information about that particular
network.
Offline
When your computer is not connected to a host system or the Net, you are
offline.
Online
When your computer is connected to an online service, bulletin-board system
or public-access site.
Ping
A program that can trace the route a message takes from your site to another
site.
Post
To compose a message for a Usenet newsgroup and then send it out for others
to see.
Postmaster
The person to contact at a particular site to ask for information about
the site or complain about one of his/her user's behaviour.
PPP
Point to Point Protocol. Enables a direct connection to the net using TCP/IP
with a modem over standard phone lines.
Prompt
When the host system asks you to do something and waits for you to respond.
For example, if you see "login:" it means type your user name.
README files
Files found on FTP sites that explain what is in a given FTP directory or
which provide other useful information (such as how to use FTP).
Search Engine
A program that helps you search the internet by typing in key words. Net
Search, Exite, Alta Vista, Wombat
are all search engines.
Server
A computer that provide services over a network, such as FTP, login access,
printing etc.
Shareware
Software that is freely available on the Net, but which, if you like and
use it, you should send in the fee requested by the author, whose name and
address will be found in a file distributed with the software.
SLIP
Serial Line Internet Protocol. A dial up connection to the net. Earlier
system than PPP
SMTP
Simple Mail Transport Protocol. Email transfer method from the net.
Sysadmin/sysop
The system administrator/system operator; the person who runs a host system.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The particular system for
transferring information over a computer network that is at the heart of
the Internet.
Telnet
A program that lets you connect to other computers on the Internet, using
a command line interface.
Terminal emulation
There are several methods for determining how your keystrokes and screen
interact with a public-access site's operating system. Most communications
programs offer a choice of "emulations" that let you mimic the keyboard
that would normally be attached directly to the host-system computer.
UUCP
Unix-to-Unix Copy. A method for transferring Usenet postings and e-mail
that requires far fewer net resources than TCP/IP, but which can result
in considerably slower transfer times.
Upload
Copy a file from your computer to a host system. Opposite of download.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator. The addresses used on the Web, like http://www.chepd.mq.edu.au/boomerang/songnet/
User name
On most host systems, the first time you connect you are asked to supply
a one-word user name. This can be any combination of letters and numbers.
Usenet
The network of discussion groups or newsgroups.
VT100
A terminal-emulation system. Supported by many communications program, it
is the most common one in use on the Net. VT102 is a newer version.
Webmaster
A person who operates a WWW site.
WWW
The World Wide Web, an Internet service of hypertext-linked documents. It's
very easy for beginners because of its point and click interface, and is
a growing part of the Internet. Used for browsing, email, ftp etc. |
