Let me start off by saying that I am a space cadet. Cyberspace that is. I didn’t know an ASCII from a DMA. I deserved an illiteracy award for computer knowledge, until I learned a little jargon. Following, I will let you know what some of the computer jargon means, and I hope it helps you all out a bit.
Address: The location where the information is stored in the computer.(That was an easy one)
DMA: Direct memory access. The path in the computer for high speed transfer of information and data.
Bit: The smallest measurement used by a computer in terms of storage.
Byte: Equaling 8 bits, or 1 character.
Kilobyte: Equals 1000 bytes.
Megabyte: 1 million bytes.
Gigabyte: 1 billion bytes.
RAM: Random access memory. The ability to run files and temporarily store data. A information on your RAM is lost at shut down.
ROM: Read only memory. This allows you to run files and permanently store the information. This does not get lost when you shut down.
CPU: Central processing unit. The main computer chip where most of the processing of data occurs.
Ascii: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. This is a computer code that represents each character on a computer.
Baud: The rate of speed which data is transferred between computers.
Modem: The device used to connect computers to phone lines and to transfer the signals into readable(analog)form.
File: A place where information is stored.
Port: Where you connect all the different lines in and out of your computer.
Boot: To turn on and load your computer system.
And I’ll end with the dreaded Virus: A program that attaches itself to your files(unknown to you) and then proceeds to travel from computer to computer causing everything from little glitches and annoyances to complete data loss and system crash.
These are a few of the new terms I’ve learned so far in my quest to become a little more computer literate and to help me stop floating in cyberspace. I hope they helped you a little too.
Happy computing and maybe we’ll meet in cyberspace somewhere. =)