Computer terminology

Infrared

2011-08-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Having a frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum in the range just below that of red light. Objects radiate infrared in proportion to their temperature. Infrared radiation is traditionally divided into four somewhat arbitrary categories based on its wavelength. See the table. Acronym: IR.

Updading Blog

2011-08-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Updating the blog www.compterms.blogspot.com

Fuzzy computing

2011-08-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

1. A computing technique that deals with vague, incomplete, or ambiguous data in a precise mathematical way while providing solutions based on the human way of thinking. The term fuzzy relates to the type of data it processes, not to the technique itself, which is very exact. Fuzzy computing is also known as fuzzy set theory or fuzzy logic, and covers fuzzy control and fuzzy expert systems, for example. 2. A computing technology in which the computer interprets data by looking for patterns in problems while completing tasks. Using fuzzy computing, the computer is able to examine patterns in the data it receives and to make inferences based on that data, and act accordingly.

Statistics

2011-08-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

The branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships among groups of measurements and with the relevance of similarities and differences in those relationships. See also binomial distribution, Monte Carlo method, probability, regression analysis, standard deviation, stochastic.

Relational calculus

2011-08-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

In database management, a nonprocedural method for manipulating relations (tables). There are two families of relational calculus: domain calculus and tuple calculus. The two families of relational calculus are mathematically equivalent to each other and to relational algebra. Using either family, one can formulate a description of a desired relation, based on the existing relations in the database.

Thick film

2011-08-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

A term describing a method used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. Thick film technology uses a stencil-like technique called photosilkscreening to deposit multiple layers of special inks or pastes on a ceramic substrate. The inks or pastes can be conducting, insulating, or resistive. The passive components (wires, resistors, and capacitors) of the integrated circuits are formed by depositing a series of films of different characteristics and patterns. Compare thin film.

Run-length limited encoding

2011-08-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

A fast and highly efficient method of storing data on a disk (usually a hard disk) in which patterns in the bits representing information are translated into codes rather than being stored literally bit by bit and character by character. In RLL encoding, changes in magnetic flux are based on the number of zeros that occur in sequence. This scheme allows data to be stored with fewer changes in magnetic flux than would otherwise be needed for the number of data bits involved and results in considerably higher storage capacity than is possible with older technologies, such as frequency modulation (FM) and modified frequency modulation (MFM) encoding. Abbreviation: RLL encoding. Compare frequency modulation encoding, modified frequency modulation encoding.

Synchronous operation

2011-08-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

1. Two or more processes that depend on the occurrences of specific events such as common timing signals. 2. A data transmission method in which there is constant time between successive bits, characters, or events. The timing is achieved by the sharing of a single clock. Each end of the transmission synchronizes itself with the use of clocks and information sent along with the transmitted data. Characters are spaced by time and not by start and stop bits. 3. A function call that blocks execution of a process until it returns. See also asynchronous operation.

Inherit

2011-08-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

To acquire the characteristics of another class, in object-oriented programming. The inherited characteristics may be enhanced, restricted, or modified. See also class.

Static1

2011-08-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

In information processing, fixed or predetermined. For example, a static memory buffer remains invariant in size throughout program execution. The opposite condition is dynamic, or ever-changing.

Tab character

2011-08-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

A character used to align lines and columns on screen and in print. Although a tab is visually indistinguishable from a series of blank spaces in most programs, the tab character and the space character are different to a computer. A tab is a single character and therefore can be added, deleted, or overtyped with a single keystroke. The ASCII coding scheme includes two codes for tab characters: a horizontal tab for spacing across the screen or page and a vertical tab for spacing down the screen or page. See also Tab key.

Event property

2011-08-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

A characteristic or parameter of an object that you can use to respond to an associated event. You can run a procedure or macro when an event occurs by setting the related event property.

Paintbrush

2011-08-17T03:47:00.000-07:00

An artist’s tool in a paint program or another graphics application for applying a streak of solid color to an image. The user can usually select the width of the streak. See also paint program. Compare spraycan.

Eiffel#

2011-08-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

Pronounced “Eiffel Sharp.” A subset language of Eiffel specifically designed to target the .NET Framework and embody the full extent of Design by Contract. See also Design by Contract.

Array

2011-08-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

In programming, a list of data values, all of the same type, any element of which can be referenced by an expression consisting of the array name followed by an indexing expression. Arrays are part of the fundamentals of data structures, which, in turn, are a major fundamental of computer programming. See also array element, index1, record1, vector.

Time-synchronization service

2011-08-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

A program used to ensure that all systems on a network use a common time. Time-synchronization services on the Internet typically update real-time clocks to Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) using Network Time Protocol (NTP). Windows Time Synchronization Service (Win32Time) is a time-synchronization service. See also clock (definition 2), Network Time Protocol, Universal Time Coordinate.

Internet

2011-08-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

The worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational, and other computer systems, that route data and messages. One or more Internet nodes can go off line without endangering the Internet as a whole or causing communications on the Internet to stop, because no single computer or network controls it. The genesis of the Internet was a decentralized network called ARPANET created by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1969 to facilitate communications in the event of a nuclear attack. Eventually other networks, including BITNET, Usenet, UUCP, and NSFnet, were connected to ARPANET. Currently the Internet offers a range of services to users, such as FTP, e-mail, the World Wide Web, Usenet news, Gopher, IRC, telnet, and others. Also called: the Net. See also BITNET, FTP1 (definition 1), Gopher, IRC, NSFnet, telnet, Usenet, UUCP, World Wide Web.

Byte-oriented protocol

2011-08-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

A communications protocol in which data is transmitted as a string of characters in a particular character set, such as ASCII, rather than as a stream of bits as in a bit-oriented protocol. To express control information, a byte-oriented protocol relies on control characters, most of which are defined by the coding scheme used. The asynchronous communications protocols commonly used with modems and IBM’s BISYNC protocol are byte-oriented protocols. Compare bit-oriented protocol.

Conceptual schema

2011-08-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

In a database model that supports a three-schema architecture (such as that described by ANSI/X3/SPARC), a description of the information contents and structure of a database. A conceptual schema (also known as a logical schema) provides a model of the total database, thus acting as an intermediary between the two other types of schemas (internal and external) that deal with storing information and presenting it to the user. Schemas are generally defined using commands from a DDL (data definition language) supported by the database system. See also internal schema, schema.

Diskless workstation

2011-08-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

A station on a computer network that is not equipped with a disk drive and that uses files stored in a file server. See also file server.

Descendent key

2011-08-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

All the subkeys that appear when a key in the registry is expanded. A descendent key is the same as a subkey. Also called: descendant key. See also key, subkey.

Select

2011-08-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

1. In general computer use, to specify a block of data or text on screen by highlighting it or otherwise marking it with the intent of performing some operation on it. 2. In database management, to choose records according to a specified set of criteria. See also sort. 3. In information processing, to choose from a number of options or alternatives, such as subroutines or input/output channels.

Full-motion video

2011-08-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Video reproduction at 30 frames per second (fps) for NTSC signals or 25 fps for PAL signals. Also called: continuous motion video. See also frame (definition 1). Compare freeze-frame video.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

2011-08-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

The U.S. government agency that provided the original support for the development of the interconnected networks that later grew into the Internet. Acronym: DARPA. See also ARPANET.

Raster display

2011-08-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

A video monitor (typically a CRT) that displays an image on the screen as a series of horizontal scan lines from top to bottom. Each scan line consists of pixels that can be illuminated and colored individually. Television screens and most computer monitors are raster displays. See also CRT, pixel. Compare vector display.