America online - (AOL) An online information system. Backbone - The top level of a network through which other networks are connected. Baud rate - A measurement of data transmission speed. It is sometimes referred to as bps (bits per second). If your modem has a baud rate of 14.4 Kbs, it transmits data at 14,400 bits per second. Bulletin board system - (BBS) A computer system that your computer can dial into through your modem. You can read and leave messages, and you can download files. Chat - online chat is similar to talking to someone on the phone only you type your words. The other person sees what you write almost instantly. CompuServe - A computer information service which is part of the Internet network. Cyberspace - The "place" in which computer users travel when they go online. It is a universe inside computer networks. Domain Name - A name given to a host computer on the Internet. Download - The process of receiving information from another computer. See also upload. E-mail - Short for electronic mail. E-mail is sent through the computer instead of through your local post office. This allows you to send and receive messages with your computer. File Transfer Protocol - (FTP) A part of a software program that allows you to send files from one computer to another on the Internet. Forum - A place to discuss certain subjects within online services. Gateway - A computer system that translates messages between different types of protocols or formats so they can be transmitted on the Internet. Home Page - The document that is accessed first on a World Wide Web server. Host - A computer that is connected directly to the Internet. Your service provider's computer is a host. HyperText Markup Language - (HTML) The language used to create hyperlinks and describe documents to be used with World Wide Web browsers. Internet - 1) Internet - The global network of networks that evolved from the ARPANET. 2) internet - any network of networks. Joint Photographic Experts Group - (JPEG) A file format that reduces the size of image files by up to 20 times while only slightly reducing image quality. Logging On - Connecting your computer to a remote computer system usually by typing in a username and a password (same as logging in). Logging Off - Disconnecting your computer from a remote computer system usually by typing a command such as exit. Modem - (modulator-demodulator) A device that converts digital signals from your computer into analog signals and converts phone analog signals into digital signals. This allows your computer to link up with other computers over telephone lines. Net - Short for Internet. Newsgroup - A place to discuss certain subjects by leaving messages for others to read. online - The state of being connected to another computer. Posting - Sending a message to a newsgroup. Protocol - A set of rules that defines how computers transmit information to each other which allows different types of computer and software programs to communicate. Public Domain Software - Software programs which are not owned by anyone. Some software programs available on the Internet are public domain and you can freely use and distribute them. Service Provider - An organization that provides a connection to Internet. Spamming - Sending Particularly Annoying Messages. Sending inappropriate postings to newsgroups and/or sending an article to everyone instead of the specific group that might be interested. Surfing The Net - Traveling through cyberspace via your computer. Upload - The process of sending information from your computer to another. See also download. Universal Resource Locator - (URL) An address that identifies the location of any type of Internet resource. Username - The name you use to log on to a network. Also referred to as userid (user I.D.) World Wide Web - A hypertext system that allows users to jump from one place to another, rapidly becoming one of the most popular services on the Internet.
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