Here are some Technology Vocabulary
Keyboard- A set of keys with letters, numbers, and symbols on them. It is used to enter information and instructions into a computer.
Monitor- Another term for display screen. The term monitor, however, usually refers to the entire box, whereas display screen can mean just the screen.
Icon- A small picture that represents an object or program.
Freeze -A system error which causes the cursor to lock in place.
Menu- A list of program commands or options available within a program.
Delete- To remove or erase a character or selected block of text from a document – or – to remove a file from the disk.
Program- A set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.
Application- A program in which you do your work.
Window- The area on the screen that displays data, programs or information. A window can be moved, resized, opened, and closed, enabling you to organize the data on your computer screen. You can only work on one window at a time.
Crash -A system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted.
Mouse -A device that moves the onscreen pointer by spinning a rubber trackball.
Click- The act of pushing down and releasing the mouse button.
Double-click- Pressing and releasing the left-mouse button two times in quick succession (without moving the mouse between clicks).
Re-start -To start the computer again after a planned or unplanned termination.
Shut-down- To turn off the computer.
Removable drive - Flash drive; jump drive; USB drive Floppy disk; hard disk; compact disk (CD); used to store information or data. The disk is like a book. It has information that the computer can read. You can use the computer to read what is on a disk or to put new information on a disk.
CD / DVD -This is another kind of disk. It can store even more information than a regular disk, including pictures, sounds, and video.
Tool box / palette -A collection of buttons (icons) grouped on screen that provide a quick way to select available functions by pointing and clicking.
Backspace -To move the screen cursor one space to the left, deleting the character that was in that position.
Desktop -The main directory of the user interface. Desktops usually contain icons that represent links to the hard drive, a network (if there is one), and a trash or recycling can for files to be deleted. It can also display icons of frequently used applications, as requested by the user.
Save- To store information for later use on a floppy disk, hard drive, or CD.
Server- The computer that controls the entire network.
Disk drive- The mechanical device that reads the information on a disk.
Floppy- A removable disk, usually 3 ½ inches square.
Cursor- A flashing line on the screen that tells you where you will type.
Tool bar- A row or column of on-screen buttons used to activate functions in the application. Some toolbars are customizable, letting you add and delete buttons as required.
Graphics -The creation and manipulation of picture images in the computer.
Software- A set of instructions written in a programming language.
Network- A system of computers connected to each other for data transfer and communications.
Internet- The Internet spreads across the globe and consists of countless networks and computers, allowing millions of people to share information
Digital camera -A camera that takes an image on a floppy disk that can then be downloaded onto a computer.
Word processor -An application used to write and edit documents.
Scroll -The movement of text up and down on the screen to erase text or graphics.
Pull-down / drop-down menu -The common type of menu used with a graphical user interface (GUI). Clicking a menu title causes the menu items to “drop down” and be display from that position.
File- A collection of related records or a simple unit of storage.
Folder -A folder holds data, applications and other folders. A folder is known as a directory, and a subfolder (folder within a folder) is a subdirectory.
Font -The name of a character design, size and style.
Point Size (font size)- Makes a character smaller or larger
Drag- To move an on-screen object with the mouse.
Drag and drop -A graphical user interface (GUI) capability that lets you perform operations by moving the icon of an object with the mouse into another window or onto another icon. For example, files can be copied or moved by dragging them from one folder to another.
Hardware -Machinery and equipment (CPU, disks, tapes, modem, cables, etc.).
Peripheral -Any hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor, keyboard, printer, disk, tape, graphics tablet, scanner, joy stick, paddle or mouse.
Multimedia -Information in more than one form. It includes the use of text, audio, graphics, animation and full-motion video. Multimedia programs are typically games, encyclopedias and training courses on CD-ROM or DVD.
Virus- Software used to infect a computer. After the virus code is written, it is buried within an existing program. Once that program is executed, the virus code is activated and attaches copies of itself to other programs in the system. Infected programs copy the virus to other programs.
Download -To receive a file transmitted over a network. In any communications session, "download" means receive, and "upload" means send.
Scanner -An optical device that reads a printed page or transparency and converts it into a graphics image for the computer.
Browser- A program that lets you look through a collection of data.
Copy -To make a duplicate of the original.
Cut and Paste /Copy and Paste -To move text and images from one document to another or from one application to another. All modern operating systems and applications have cut and paste capability selected from an Edit menu. The term "cut and paste" is commonly used to refer to "copy and paste."
World Wide Web (www) -A major service on the Internet. The World Wide Web is made up of "Web servers" that store and disseminate "Web pages," which are "rich" documents that contain text, graphics, animations and videos to anyone with an Internet connection.
Search engine- Software that searches for data based on some criteria.
Modem (MOdulator-DEModulator)- Until the late 1990s, the term stood for a device that allowed a computer or terminal to transmit data over a standard dial-up telephone line. Since the advent of high-speed cable and DSL connections, modem may refer to devices for low-speed dial-up or high-speed broadband.
Bookmark or Favorites- A stored location for quick retrieval at a later date. Web browsers provide bookmarks that contain the addresses (URLs) of favorite sites.
Address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) -The address that defines the route to a file on an Internet server (Web server, FTP server, mail server, etc.).
Clipboard- A reserved section of memory that is used as a temporary holding area for data that is copied or moved from one application to another using the copy and paste and cut and paste (move) menu options. Each time you transfer something into the clipboard, the previous contents are deleted.
RAM (Random Access Memory) -A group of memory chips which function as the computer's primary workspace.
ROM (Read Only Memory)- A memory chip that permanently stores instructions and data.
Hard drive -The main area where information is stored. It is located inside the computer case.
Import -To convert a file into the format required by the application being used. Applications are often capable of importing a variety of popular formats, converting them into the native format of the application.
Export- To save a copy of the current open document, database, image or video into a file format required by a different application.
Multi-tasking- The running of two or more programs in one computer at the same time. The number of programs that can be effectively multitasked depends on the sophistication of the operating system, the speed of the CPU and the speeds and capacities of memory and disk.
Monitor- Another term for display screen. The term monitor, however, usually refers to the entire box, whereas display screen can mean just the screen.
Icon- A small picture that represents an object or program.
Freeze -A system error which causes the cursor to lock in place.
Menu- A list of program commands or options available within a program.
Delete- To remove or erase a character or selected block of text from a document – or – to remove a file from the disk.
Program- A set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.
Application- A program in which you do your work.
Window- The area on the screen that displays data, programs or information. A window can be moved, resized, opened, and closed, enabling you to organize the data on your computer screen. You can only work on one window at a time.
Crash -A system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted.
Mouse -A device that moves the onscreen pointer by spinning a rubber trackball.
Click- The act of pushing down and releasing the mouse button.
Double-click- Pressing and releasing the left-mouse button two times in quick succession (without moving the mouse between clicks).
Re-start -To start the computer again after a planned or unplanned termination.
Shut-down- To turn off the computer.
Removable drive - Flash drive; jump drive; USB drive Floppy disk; hard disk; compact disk (CD); used to store information or data. The disk is like a book. It has information that the computer can read. You can use the computer to read what is on a disk or to put new information on a disk.
CD / DVD -This is another kind of disk. It can store even more information than a regular disk, including pictures, sounds, and video.
Tool box / palette -A collection of buttons (icons) grouped on screen that provide a quick way to select available functions by pointing and clicking.
Backspace -To move the screen cursor one space to the left, deleting the character that was in that position.
Desktop -The main directory of the user interface. Desktops usually contain icons that represent links to the hard drive, a network (if there is one), and a trash or recycling can for files to be deleted. It can also display icons of frequently used applications, as requested by the user.
Save- To store information for later use on a floppy disk, hard drive, or CD.
Server- The computer that controls the entire network.
Disk drive- The mechanical device that reads the information on a disk.
Floppy- A removable disk, usually 3 ½ inches square.
Cursor- A flashing line on the screen that tells you where you will type.
Tool bar- A row or column of on-screen buttons used to activate functions in the application. Some toolbars are customizable, letting you add and delete buttons as required.
Graphics -The creation and manipulation of picture images in the computer.
Software- A set of instructions written in a programming language.
Network- A system of computers connected to each other for data transfer and communications.
Internet- The Internet spreads across the globe and consists of countless networks and computers, allowing millions of people to share information
Digital camera -A camera that takes an image on a floppy disk that can then be downloaded onto a computer.
Word processor -An application used to write and edit documents.
Scroll -The movement of text up and down on the screen to erase text or graphics.
Pull-down / drop-down menu -The common type of menu used with a graphical user interface (GUI). Clicking a menu title causes the menu items to “drop down” and be display from that position.
File- A collection of related records or a simple unit of storage.
Folder -A folder holds data, applications and other folders. A folder is known as a directory, and a subfolder (folder within a folder) is a subdirectory.
Font -The name of a character design, size and style.
Point Size (font size)- Makes a character smaller or larger
Drag- To move an on-screen object with the mouse.
Drag and drop -A graphical user interface (GUI) capability that lets you perform operations by moving the icon of an object with the mouse into another window or onto another icon. For example, files can be copied or moved by dragging them from one folder to another.
Hardware -Machinery and equipment (CPU, disks, tapes, modem, cables, etc.).
Peripheral -Any hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor, keyboard, printer, disk, tape, graphics tablet, scanner, joy stick, paddle or mouse.
Multimedia -Information in more than one form. It includes the use of text, audio, graphics, animation and full-motion video. Multimedia programs are typically games, encyclopedias and training courses on CD-ROM or DVD.
Virus- Software used to infect a computer. After the virus code is written, it is buried within an existing program. Once that program is executed, the virus code is activated and attaches copies of itself to other programs in the system. Infected programs copy the virus to other programs.
Download -To receive a file transmitted over a network. In any communications session, "download" means receive, and "upload" means send.
Scanner -An optical device that reads a printed page or transparency and converts it into a graphics image for the computer.
Browser- A program that lets you look through a collection of data.
Copy -To make a duplicate of the original.
Cut and Paste /Copy and Paste -To move text and images from one document to another or from one application to another. All modern operating systems and applications have cut and paste capability selected from an Edit menu. The term "cut and paste" is commonly used to refer to "copy and paste."
World Wide Web (www) -A major service on the Internet. The World Wide Web is made up of "Web servers" that store and disseminate "Web pages," which are "rich" documents that contain text, graphics, animations and videos to anyone with an Internet connection.
Search engine- Software that searches for data based on some criteria.
Modem (MOdulator-DEModulator)- Until the late 1990s, the term stood for a device that allowed a computer or terminal to transmit data over a standard dial-up telephone line. Since the advent of high-speed cable and DSL connections, modem may refer to devices for low-speed dial-up or high-speed broadband.
Bookmark or Favorites- A stored location for quick retrieval at a later date. Web browsers provide bookmarks that contain the addresses (URLs) of favorite sites.
Address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) -The address that defines the route to a file on an Internet server (Web server, FTP server, mail server, etc.).
Clipboard- A reserved section of memory that is used as a temporary holding area for data that is copied or moved from one application to another using the copy and paste and cut and paste (move) menu options. Each time you transfer something into the clipboard, the previous contents are deleted.
RAM (Random Access Memory) -A group of memory chips which function as the computer's primary workspace.
ROM (Read Only Memory)- A memory chip that permanently stores instructions and data.
Hard drive -The main area where information is stored. It is located inside the computer case.
Import -To convert a file into the format required by the application being used. Applications are often capable of importing a variety of popular formats, converting them into the native format of the application.
Export- To save a copy of the current open document, database, image or video into a file format required by a different application.
Multi-tasking- The running of two or more programs in one computer at the same time. The number of programs that can be effectively multitasked depends on the sophistication of the operating system, the speed of the CPU and the speeds and capacities of memory and disk.