http://www.qdeck.com/fish_brochure/geekspeak.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
jargon buster
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"GeekSpeak"
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jargon buster
- address
- Can be either an address of a place on the Internet or
the address of a person (not something you wear).
- backbone
- High speed links that connect networks - see lumbago.
- BBS
- Bulletin Board System, a computer equivalent of a public
notice board.
- browser
- Program used to search and retrieve information from on-
line services.
- chat
- An on-line conversation - its no use shouting at your
computer.
- CIS
- Compuserve a US on-line service.
- CIX
- Compulink Information eXchange, the UK's most popular
on-line service.
- conference
- An area on CIX where people exchange comments on any
given subject. Called a Forum on CIS and Delphi, and a
Newsgroup on Usenet.
- cyberspace
- A term used by hip people who know nothing or nerds that
refers to the on-line environment.
- dial-up
- Connecting to another computer via the telephone lines.
- DOS
- The basic PC operating system.
- download
- Transferring a file from another computer to your
computer.
- e-mail
- Exchanging messages from computer to computer - not
(electronic mail) necessarily on the Internet, but generally
accepted to be via the
Internet.
- emoticon
- Term to describe an icon placed in a message that
describes an emotion, eg the smiley :-) or the face for
being sick :-#
- FAQ
- Frequently asked question (like what is a FAQ?)
- file server
- A computer who's data can be accessed by other
computers.
- finger
- No, you're not giving someone the finger. Finger is a
way of getting more information about someone on the
Internet.
- ftp (file transfer protocol)
- Mechanism for transferring data files over the Internet.
- forum
- See conference (no, not a naughty magazine). [fish graphic right justified]
- Gopher
- An Internet tool that lets you search for files,
graphics, and more using on screen menus.
- HomePage
- An introductory page or starting point on a
part of the web.
- host
- A computer that allows users to
communicate with other computers.
- HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
- Used
for linking hypertext documents on the
World Wide Web.
- LAN
- Local Area Network. A collection of
computers connected together.
- log in
- The process of getting on-line, usually with
an Id (effectively your on-line name)
and a password.
- lurker
- Someone who reads messages but
doesn't join in. Equivalent of standing in the
kitchen at a party.
- Microsoft Windows
- A graphical operating environment that
runs with DOS.
- Modem
- MOdulator/DEModulator, a device that
connects the computer to the phone line
and allows computer to transmit and
receive data to and from other modems.
- Mosiac
- Web browser.
- nettiquette
- Rules of good behavior on the Internet.
- Quarterdeck
- A truly wonderful company with
wonderful staff and wonderful products.
You aren't likely to come across a better
company, oh no. (that's enough grovelling
to the bosses - ed)
- protocol
- A way of computers talking to each
other, but not dating.
- service provider
- Companies offering connections
to the Internet.
- sig
- A users signature put at the end
of a message.
- snail mail
- Post office mail - not mail carried by
snails, although...
- upload
- Sending a file to another computer
- Veronica
- Search tool on the web.
- World wide web - WWW - W3
- Graphical system developed for the
Internet allowing easy access to other
WWW sites. Not where Spider Man lives