M.T. Ciaffaroni, Sailing Across - Zanichelli editore

MODULE D - Lexicon
Information Technology
 

Printable version

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W

Gateways: Connectors between two or more dissimilar networks that facilitate communication in such instances. Gateways have their own processors to perform both protocol and bandwidth conversions. Gateways between the Outernet and the Internet translate different protocols such as e-mail protocols of different networks into Internet protocols.

GIF: This acronym stands for Graphic Interchange Format, a commonly used file compression format for transferring graphics files to and from online services. This is an extremely popular standard because it is so widely read in graphics software alternatives and is commonly used as the "GIF" file extensions of images carried on bulletin boards and transported across networks. A major drawback is the loss of color depth in GIF compression. Animated GIF are popular at web sites.

Gigabit: One billion bits. Used frequently to describe the bandwidth capacity of LANs and high-speed Internet connections.

Gopher: A menu-driven and user-friendly system of Internet sites that facilitate searching and browsing of documents and files around the world. Gopher has been largely overtaken by more modern web browsers. Gopher was the first system that communicated easily between different types of operating systems and computer installations.

GUI (Graphical User Interface): Interfaccia grafica.
A way of interacting with a computer based on graphics instead of text. GUIs use icons, pictures, and menus, and use a mouse as well as a keyboard to accept input.

Hacker: Pirata informatico.
A hacker is a person who relies only upon technology to hack into the system (e.g., by breaking the encryption code). Whereas a hacker usually breaks in without intention to harm the system or for personal gain, a "hacker" turns into a "cracker" when the intention becomes more sinister.

Hard disc: A "hard disc" file storage disc (usually a magnetic disc) on a computer that has higher storage capacity and faster access time than slower devices such as floppy disc drives and optical disc drives. This is not the same as memory or random access memory (RAM). Usually the term "hard drive" refers to rigid discs coated with magnetic material.

Hertz: Unit of measure that equals a frequency of one cycle per second.

Highlighted: Evidenziato.
Indicates that an object or text is selected and will be affected by your next action. Highlighted objects may change color or be surrounded by some sort of selection cursor.

Host: Computer ospite.
A generic term that refers to any computer providing information or services to others. The term originated with large mainframe computers that acted as a "host" to a set of terminals. Now, however, it may refer to a web server that functions as a host to web browsers, a file server that acts as a host to other computers on a local area network and so on.

Hot spot: Buttons or other programmable objects that can activate objects or linked events.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): HTML is the language used to tag various parts of a Web document so browsing software will know how to display that document's links, text, graphics and attached media.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The set of standards that lets web servers and browsers communicate with each other.

Hyperlink: Web developers use HTML to create hyperlinks that a user clicks on to view another web page. Hyperlinks can appear as graphics or as areas of differently colored or underlined text.

Hypermedia: Ipermedia.
Hypertext with added features for audio and video. Hypermedia may also entail touch screen or remote control capabilities such that users can navigate by touching the computer screen or remote control devices. Eventually hypermedia will entail other senses such as smell. The key to hypermedia is random access that allows lightning-fast non-linear navigation based upon reader choice or other reader actions such as responses to questions. The term "multimedia" is not totally synonymous with "hypermedia," because multimedia may not entail hypertext authoring.

Hypertext: Ipertesto.
Pages of computer text that are authored in software allowing for non linear navigation based upon button controls, hot words, or other controls that make sequencing of pages virtually irrelevant. Hypertext authoring packages typically differ from word processing packages that are intended primarily for preparing text for hard copy printing. Hypertext software may have options to print particular pages, but the intent is for computer use rather than printing. The key to hypertext is random access that allows lightning-fast non-linear navigation based upon reader choice or other reader actions such as responses to questions.

Icon: Icona.
A simple picture used to denote a program, command, file, or concept in a GUI such as Windows or the Macintosh.

(To) Import: Importare.
To move an item or file into an application or environment which is different than that native to it. The file is converted to the new format while attempting to change as little as possible about the appearance of the file when printed. For instance, MS Word for the Macintosh is able to import files from a few MS-DOS word processors.

Information highway: Autostrada informatica.
A world wide combination of fiber optic cable and satellite receivers in a future time when homes and offices around the world will be linked by highways of electronic information that can be traversed interactively both to and from a connected user. In homes and offices, a single piece of interactive TV digital television equipment (let's call it the PCTV computer/television superhighways terminal) will combine what are now television sets, telephones, stereos, videotape players, videodisc players, compact disc players, and computers.

Interface: Interfaccia.
Part of a computer, program, or peripheral that communicates with other components. Interface also refers to the user interface.

Internet: An international grouping of computer networks. The Internet started as a relatively tiny United States Department of Defence (DOD) Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) project in 1969. It commenced with the networking of four computers. The Internet was not widely known between 1969 and 1991. Its popularity exploded when HTML, HTTP, and the World Wide Web made it much easier to use the Internet.

Internet 2: The Internet 2 Consortium of more than 100 universities and other organizations collaborating to develop the next-generation Internet technology. In addition to bandwidth issues, the Consortium is dealing with such issues as audio and video integration, interactive distance learning, telemedicine, online research collaboration, and real-time simulation and modeling.

Intranet: The use of the Internet and Internet-type software for sub-systems of computing for private organizations and individuals. Companies are storing key forms and documents on web sites inside their operations, making it easy for employees to find information using standard web browsers, not special-purpose database programs. Most Intranets use the "free" connections of the Internet, and turn the Internet into an Intranet with passwords or other access barriers to documents and databases.

ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network means of connecting to digital networks, including the Internet, via a common (digital) telephone line. It is the fastest way for many individuals to connect to digital networks via a modem. However, at the present capacity of 128,000 Bps, it is very slow relative to cable TV modems that can do over 1 million Bps and exponentially faster direct connections that do not use modems at all.

Java: A platform-independent programming language developed by Sun Microsystems to support widespread software distribution, particularly over the Web. It is a slimmed down and more secure version of the C++ programming language. Java runs on Web servers and downloads small application programs called applets to Web browsers on an as needed basis. Because of strict built-in controls over software distribution the Java design protects against the delivery of incompatible software or viruses. Java is specifically built so that an application can be run on any kind of system.

JavaScript: A cross-platform, Web-based scripting language that will allow a lay person to author HTML pages that use Java applets, objects, and classes without having to know how to program in Java. It can also be used to build stand-alone applications that can run on either clients or servers.

JPEG: A format for compressed graphic images, which produces much smaller files than GIF. The compression algorithm, however, will not reproduce the original image exactly. Various settings are available, to allow more compression at the cost of a greater loss of image quality.

Kbps (Thousands of bits per second): A measurement of data transfer rates.

Kilobit: One thousand bits. Abbreviated as Kb.

Kernel: Nucleo.
Software, which is the heart of the operating system. Manages the vital parts including memory, files, peripherals, and application programs.

Keyword: Lettera di tastiera, campo, parola chiave.
(1) A button on a keyboard. (2) In database management systems, a key is a field that you use to sort data. It can also be called a key field, sort key, index, or key word. Most database management systems allow you to have more than one key so that you can sort records in different ways. One of the keys is designated the primary key, and must hold a unique value for each record. A key field that identifies records in a different table is called a foreign key. (3) A password or table needed to decipher encoded data.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W