Explore computer terminology here...

Black Magic Computers & Wireless

PRODUCTS | TERMINOLOGY | WIRELESS PHONES

For those who are learning the language we speak in the age of computers this page will help better educate. Follow the links to explore the meaning or definition.

COMPUTER -- The American Heritage Science Dictionary defines the word computer as: a programmable machine that performs high-speed processing of numbers, as well as of text, graphics, symbols, and sound. All computers contain a central processing unit that interprets and executes instructions; input devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse, through which data and commands enter the computer; memory that enables the computer to store programs and data; and output devices, such as printers and display screens, that show the results after the computer has processed data.

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ADWARE -- Definition: a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user's knowledge or consent; also called [advertising-supported software]. A form of spyware (see below) that collects information about the computer user's online behavior in order to display targeted advertisements in the Web browser.

BLACK SCREEN -- Also known as black screen of death.

CD-ROM -- Short for read-only memory. Computer hardware that stores programs or data that cannot be added to, modified, or deleted. ROM does not require power to maintain its contents, and is often used to save instructions that enable the computer's operating system to communicate with other hardware.

COOKIES -- web cookies - A collection of information, usually including a username and the current date and time, stored on the local computer of a person using the World Wide Web, used chiefly by websites to identify users who have previously registered or visited the site.

CRASH -- "My computer crashed?!"

EMOTICON -- Also known as the Morse code of computer emotions.

HARD DRIVE -- The bulk of the memory of a personal computer is magnetically stored on hard disks that constitute the hard drive. Information in the hard drive is durable, in that it remains magnetically stored when the computer is turned off.

HARDWARE -- A computer, its components, and its related equipment. Hardware includes disk drives, integrated circuits, display screens, cables, modems, speakers, and printers.

MOTHERBOARD -- The main printed circuit board in an electronic device, particularly a computer, which may contain sockets that accept additional boards ("daughter-boards"). In a personal computer, the motherboard contains the bus, the microprocessor, and integrated circuits used for controlling any built-in peripherals such as the keyboard, text and graphics display, serial ports and parallel ports, joystick, and mouse interfaces.

SOFTWARE -- The programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them.

SPYWARE -- (Or see above "adware") Any type of software that transmits information without the user's knowledge.
Information is sent via the Internet to a server somewhere, normally as a hidden side effect of using a program. Gathering this information may benefit the user indirectly, e.g. by helping to improve the software he is using. It may be collected for advertising purposes or, worst of all, to steal security information such as passwords to online accounts or credit card details. Spyware may be installed along with other software or as the result of a virus infection. There are many tools available to locate and remove various forms of spyware from a computer. Some HTTP cookies could be considered as spyware as their use is generally not made explicit to users. It is however possible to disallow them, either totally or individually, and some are actually useful, e.g. recording the fact that a user has logged in.

VIRUS -- A computer program that duplicates itself in a manner that is harmful to normal computer use. Most viruses work by attaching themselves to another program. The amount of damage varies; viruses may erase all data or do nothing but reproduce themselves.

WORM -- A computer worm is self-replicating and causes harm.

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