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Query: Interrogazione.
User's request for information, generally as a formal request to a database or search engine.

RAM: Memoria ad accesso casuale.
Random Access Memory portion of a computer. The term "memory" typically refers to RAM as opposed to hard disc and optical disc storage of files that cannot be randomly accessed without searching by sectors. RAM stores instructions and other files potentially needed for immediate processing of a task at hand. Memory usually can be accessed "randomly" at relatively high speeds. Files stored on computer tape, floppy discs, hard drive, optical drives, etc. are not available until they are "loaded" into RAM.

(To) Reboot : Riavviare.
Restart the computer, from boot, with the implication that the computer has not been down for long.

Refresh rate: The maximum number of frames that can be displayed on a monitor in a second, expressed in Hertz. The scan rate is controlled by the vertical sync signal generated by the video controller, ordering the monitor to position the electron gun at the upper left corner of the raster, ready to paint another frame. Increasing the refresh rate decreases flickering, reducing eyestrain, but few people notice any change above 60-72 Hz.

(To) Resize: Ingrandire o impicciolire.
To make an image larger or smaller. Once selected, an image can be resized by dragging its handles; however, this does not change the image file size. To change the file size, along with the appearance, an image must be resized in an image editing application.

ROM: Memoria di sola lettura.
Read Only Memory whose files can be accessed, executed, and possibly copied. However, ROM files cannot be deleted or otherwise altered on the ROM device; for example, a CD-ROM compact disc can be read only but not written upon by the user.

Router: Hardware and software that routes data between similar or dissimilar network on the protocol level. Routers can support more than one protocol. They make decisions about which path through the network traffic will follow. Each network connected by the router has a unique identity with its own Internet address. A device (hardware) that regulates traffic on the Internet and selects paths for the information to travel.

(To) Run: Funzionare, girare.
The process of carrying out the instructions in a computer program by a computer.

Scalability: Espandibilità.
How well a system performs as it grows. For example, a central server of some kind with ten clients may perform efficiently. It has a scalability problem if it fails with an increasing number of clients.

Scalable: Espandibile.
Hardware or software can be expanded as required in the future. For instance a particular application program may be set up to run for 2 concurrent users but can be scaled up for more users if the company using it needs to expand in the future. Very important when making purchasing decisions.

Scanner: Both hand-held and flatbed hardware and software for copying graphics images and text into computer files. Both color and black and white options are available.

Scan rate: Velocità di scansione.
To read text or images into a computer. To quickly read through information, either online or offline.

(To) Scroll: Scorrere.
To move through text or images horizontally or vertically on-screen. This allows you to see a large document a little bit at a time.

Scroll bar: Barra di scorrimento.
A bar that appears at the bottom and/or right (or left) edge of a window whose contents are not entirely visible. Each scroll bar contains a scroll box and two scroll arrows.

Search engine: Motore di ricerca.
Www sites that allow users to type in a word or phrase and then search for other www sites linked to that word or phrase.

Server: A computer on a network that offers shared hardware or software resources to multiple users. The term may apply in a general sense to a computer that "serves" shared files or applications over a LAN, or it may apply to a computer running a specific application, such as a web server or mail server.

SET (Secure Electronic Transactions): A standard for transmitting credit card data securely over the Internet, SET uses a series of digital certificate exchanges to verify the identities of consumers, merchants and banks. Although most major e-commerce players endorse SET, the standard's cost and complexity have hindered its progress. For now, the simpler SSL standard secures most e-commerce transactions.

(To) Set up: Installare. Installazione.
To install and configure hardware or software. Most Windows applications come with a program called SETUP.EXE or INSTALL.EXE, which installs the software on the computer's hard disk. The configuration of hardware or software.

Shareware: Software that you can obtain for free. The author of the software does request a small fee to pay for registration, documentation, etc.

Shell: Conchiglia (interprete dei comandi, i quali vengono inviati tramite un terminale al sistema operativo. L'utente comunica con il sistema operativo e le periferiche tramite la shell, i programmi invece accedono a queste direttamente, con le chiamate di funzione).
Struttura (in Internet definisce solitamente i programmi d'interfaccia).
Software that allows users to interact with the operating system. For example, a user could develop a shell script to tell the operating system to delete all files in a given directory, which have not been changed in the last 3 months. Different Operating Systems have there own shell script languages.

SIMM (Single In-line Memory Module): Plug-in memory module containing all the chips needed to add blocks of RAM to a computer.

Slot: Fessura.
An opening in a computer where you can insert a printed circuit board. Slots are often called expansion slots because they allow you to expand the capabilities of a computer. The boards you insert in expansion slots are called expansion boards or add-on boards. Do not confuse slots with bays. Bays are sites within the computer where you can install disk drives. Typically, slots are in the back of the computer and bays are in the front.

(To) Spam: Basically sending e-mail to people who in no way asked you to send that information, normally done in huge numbers to promote a product.

(To) Span: To form a bridge including all the space from one end to the other end.

Spec (Standard performance evaluation corporation): A non-profit corporation set up by many computer and microprocessor vendors to create a standard set of benchmark tests.

State-of-the-art: Tecnologicamente all'avanguardia.
The most updated method applied to hardware software design and development.

(To) Support: Supportare.
To have a specific functionality. For example, a word processor that supports graphics is one that has a graphics component. The word support, however, is vague. It could mean that the word processor enables you to create graphics illustrations, that you can insert graphics created by another program, or something entirely different. As another example, an operating that supports multiple users is one that enables several users to run programs at the same time. (n) Short for customer support, the assistance that a vendor offers to customers. Support can vary widely, from nothing at all to a phone hotline to house calls.

(To) Surf: Navigare in rete.
To cruise in search of information on the Internet. To move from place to place on the Internet searching for topics of interest. Web surfing has become a favorite pastime for many Internet users. The links on each page enable you to start virtually anywhere on the Web and eventually find interesting pages. The term surfing is generally used to describe a rather undirected type of Web browsing in which the user jumps from page to page rather whimsically, as opposed to searching for specific information.

Switch: (1) In networks, a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) and therefore support any packet protocol. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs. (2) A small lever or button. The switches on the back of printers and on expansion boards are called DIP switches. (3) Another word for option or parameter. A symbol that you add to a command to modify the command's behavior.

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