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TermsDefinitions

Active Matrix Display Flat-screen liquid crystal display (LCD) the provides sharper contrast and faster screen refresh than passive displays.
Adapter Card A circuit board in a computer that is used to transmit data from its memory to a device like a monitor.
Algorithm Procedure for solving a problem, used mainly in programming.
Alphanumeric Set of characters allowing both numbers and letter.
Applet A Small self contained software program performing a specific task.
Attenuation A decrease in the strength of a signal.
Authoring The process of creating a software program.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) The programs of the system forming the basic interface between PC hardware and software.
Backbone Usually a main part of a telecommunications network that is used to carrying a large amount of traffic.
Backplane A high speed communications card that iindividual card plug into. (Like a motherboard on a PC)
Bandwidth The capacity a media can transmit. The range of frequencies a media can transmit.
Binary
The numbering system based on 0’s and 1’s used as the bases in digital electronics including computer.
Bit One digit in a binary system
Bitmap
A type on computer graphic image
Byte A unit representing eight bits or data or a single character.

C A very flexible high level programming language
C++ Object-oriented programming language based on C.
CPU (Central Processing Unit) The CPU is the brains of a computer and includes the arithmetic logic unit, the control unit, and other important components.
Cache A fast intermediate memory between a fast CPU and slower RAM memory.
Chat Activity on the Internet and other on-line services in which people talk by typing messages to each other in real time.
Checksum A method of error detection used in communications and data validation.

DOS (Disk Operating System) A standard and old operating system.
DRAM (Dynamic RAM) The memory where information is usually stored. The charge used to hold the information must be recharged periodically.
Data Meaningful Information stored on a computer, disk, tape ...
Data Processing Operation(s) performed on data to make it useable by someone.
Dial-Up Connection made between computers using modems and phone lines.
Distributed Processing The use of multiple computers working together to complete a large task.

EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter ) An old style graphics adapter the comprises 640 x 400 pixels resolution
Electronic Cash (E-Cash) The name of many ways to enable simple electronic transactions.
Encryption The altering of data into a form that is unreadable by anybody except the sender and receiver.
Ethernet A networking standard running at a maximum speed of 10 Mbps. Requires the use of T-connectors and terminators for proper operation.

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