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Cutting out the computer jargon

Technology talk can often seem like a different language. Well, you are not alone. To all intents and purposes it often is an entirely new vocabulary, dreamt up by a software wizard in some bunker in Seattle or Silicon Valley. Here Saga's Technology zone attempts to cut through the buzzwords and explain, in simple, everyday language, what the common terms mean:

Anti-virus software

An application designed to protect PCs from malicious computer code

Blogging

A 'blog', which is short for 'web log' or 'weblog', is a diary on the internet usually revolving around someone's thoughts, opinions or activities.

It is generally published frequently, and often daily. A highly-entertaining example of a current blog running on the Saga website is that of yachting veteran Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who at the age of 68 is taking part in the Velux 5 Oceans round the world sailing race. View Sir Robin's blog here.

Bookmark

A way of flagging favourite websites in your web browser for later reference. For example, Google or Yahoo.

Chatroom

Online venues for typed chat, rather like the premium-rate chat lines you see advertised on TV.

Cookies

Text files generated by website your visit and stored on your computer’s hard disk. Cookies contain preferences and other information about your use of the sites, and are not harmful.

Drag and drop

The action of clicking on a virtual object and dragging it to a different location.

Field

Forum

Discussion areas on a website. Saga's very own free online community site - Saga Zone - has many lively forums where members go to discuss interests such as gardening, money, relationships, health, nostalgia and current affairs.

Hard disk

A high-capacity disk drive fitted in almost all PCs and used to store both applications and the documents and files they create.

High definition or HD

A high-quality television standard that makes the most out of large screen TVs.

Icon

A small image used by Windows to identify a file or application.

Internet

A global network that links millions of computers, using phone and cable links.

ISP

A company that provides an internet connection, either for a fixed monthly fee or for the cost of local call charges. For example, TalkTalk, Tiscali or AOL.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Technology used to create low-power, slim display panels.

MacOS

The operating system found on Mac computers that allows you to control your computer and run programs.

Megabyte

A unit measurement of information. For example, a large picture, page or file online could 'weigh' several Megabytes, or 'Megs' or 'MB'. You will also come across the terms Gigabyte, byte and, more commonly for in everyday use, Kilobyte, or KB. That's all you really need to know!

Network

Meaning two or more computers linked together. This way, users can share documents and hardware such as printers. The stuff of offices, really.

Operating system

Software that governs the way the hardware and software components in a computer work together. For example, Microsoft Windows or Windows XP.

Password

A string of characters that must be supplied to gain access to a multi-user computer system or its data resources.

Pdf

A file format that allows formatted pages of text and graphics to be viewed and printed correctly on a variety of machines, without the original author having to worry about the recipients.

Phishing

A form of internet fraud that tries to trick you into revealing personal details. For example, notification emails sent from banks or building societies.

Podcast

An audio or video file which can be downloaded to a portable audio or video player, such as an iPod (hence the term) or a computer.

Ripping

Or 'to rip': a colloquial expression for the process of copying music from CDs onto a computer.

SMS messages

Or in layman's terms, text messages. Short for 'short message service'. It is the transmitting of short text messages, of 160 characters or fewer, from one mobile phone to another.

Streaming

This is a video or audio file that plays while still downloading, instead of making you wait for the full download to finish.

Thumbnail

A small image used to give a quick preview of a much larger image.

Toolbar

A strip of icons that runs across the top of most Windows applications. Used to provide quick access to certain important features, such as saving and printing.

Virus

A malicious computer program designed to cause annoyance or even damage to computer data.

Web browser

An application that enables you to view pages on the internet. For example, Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox.

Zip file

A file or files that have been compressed using a program like PKZip or WinZip to save disk space or to make them quicker to email.

404 error

If a web page does not exist, or you accidentally put in a duff link into the address bar (the www bit) you will often get a so-called '404 error' message. This simply means the page doesn't exist or is not available at the address you typed in.

This article was created: 27 November 2006.
This article was last edited: 19 March 2007.

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