Cave Glossary
A word or two to the wise is sufficient.
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active controls Elements of a graphics user interface (text boxes, etc.) that can be activated by the user to produce specific computer events.
ActiveX A set of rules supported by Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser and designed for controlling Windows applications downloaded and run on a browser.
ActiveX controls Controls that you click to execute programs embedded in Web pages.
ActiveX Technology A technology promoted by Microsoft for embedding programming in Web pages.
agent A program which moves from server to server on the Internet and accesses resources like news, stock quotes, or the like, in the name of the person who started it.
American Standard Code for Information Exchange (ASCII) A digital format understood by all computers.
applet Small Java software applications, called "applets," that run in browsers and allow data to be manipulated locally on the user's computer, thus reducing the bandwidth needed to run networked programs.
applications software Computer programs designed to operate on computer platforms and generate specific applications, like word processing, graphics, training, or the like.
asynchronous communication A method of communication, as used in email, which sends and receives messages over a time period.
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Back button The button on your browser that lets you re-display the previous page you viewed.
bandwidth A measure of the rate at which data is transferred (often compared to rate of flow of water through a pipe).
baud The unit of measurement for modem speed, at one element per second.
bid, ask, and spread Goods bought at a store usually have a marked price, or a price asked by the storekeeper. For a stock the asking price is the price asked by an agent who specializes in that particular security. In either case you could offer your own price. That is, you could offer a bid price, as in an auction -- this is the price you'd be willing to pay. The difference between what is asked and what is bid is called the spread. Heavily traded stocks tend to have narrow spreads (e.g., 1/8 of a point), but lightly traded stocks can have spreads as high as several dollars.
bookmark A tag that you assign to a particular spot on a page as a reference point to which you can link.
browser Like an operating system, a computer program used to navigate the Web and view its content (text, graphics, pictures, or the like).
bugs Mistakes made in a computer program, causing it to malfunction.
bulletin board An area on the Internet on which you can read or write messages.
byte An 8-bit binary word used as a single unit to store and retrieve data.
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C An efficient and flexible computer programming language, popular throughout the world.
cache Used to speed up access, a storage area of the computer, either in the RAM or on disc, for information which is not currently being used but may be needed again soon.
CD-ROM Any compact read-only disc with data on it. Technically, an audio compact disc as a CD-ROM, but the term is generally used to mean any non-audio compact disc. The term tends to denote compact discs containing data that can be used in a computer system.
check box A control element that can be clicked to select its associated property.
client The user side of a client-server information delivery computer relationship.
client-side An expression indicating an operation performed with the user's browser on the user's computer.
Common Gateway Interface (CGI) A standard developed to allow http servers to receive and process information from Web browsers.
compressed video A video that results from an operation known as video compression, which stores only the data points that change from frame to frame.
compression The translation of a file into a form which takes less space and less time to.transmit.
Computer-Mediated-Communication (CMC) Communication mediated or facilitated by computers. It can involve asynchronous communication mechanisms such as email and Usenet or synchronous communication such as chat tools and talk.
control button One of many different kinds of control elements.
Computer-based trading Trading equities in the market using just your computer and an online brokerage company to provide access to the trading exchange.
controls Either active or ActiveX controls.
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database A library of related information, which can be accessed electronically.
decompression Translating a file back into its original, precompressed form.
default The standard, or fall-back, settings for a piece of software or hardware.
dial up connection The method of connecting to a computer network using a modem and a phone line.
dialogue box A control box for the user to input information.
digital A form capable of being processed by a computer. Technically, data in the form of ones and zeros.
distributed processing Data processing handled by a number of computers concurrently.
domain Usually the organization and country part of a URL Internet address.
Domain Name Server A computer in an organization responsible for managing the names and IP numbers of local computers. It will usually have a connection to the other domain name servers on the Internet using the domain name system.
Domain Name System Like using a telephone book, a system of looking up computer names in order to obtain their IP number. Each computer in the system is known as a Domain Name Server and maintains a list of local computers and their IP numbers.
download Copying a file from one computer to another using a network known as a download.
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ebook Any form of electronic book in which the contents are stored and played back digitally.
encoding Representing information in a digital format capable of being used by a particular computer system.
encryption A method of translating information into a form understandable only by those with a 'key' that lets them translate the information back into its intelligible form.
Ethernet A popular method of networking computers in a LAN.
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field A location in a data record in which data like name or address are stored for easy access by a computer.
file transfer protocol (FTP) The protocol or language and rules that lets you transfer files from one computer on the net to another.
firewall A computer with a security system (like a trap door) that blocks access by computers outside the system ('behind' the firewall).
floppy disc A magnetic disc, usually 3.5" or 5.25" in diameter, that can store data and can be transported to another computer that uses the same operating system.
form A space control, like a page or window, on which you can place other controls, like text boxes, radio buttons, etc..
frame A way to divide an HTML page into independent parts that can be used separately.
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gateway A router that acts as a link between other computers to forward information it receives from one set of computers to another according to a set of rules called a protocol.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) A form of picture compression.
GNU license A licensing agreement for software ensuring that the software can be copied and distributed freely.
graphical user interface (GUI) Icon-based display programs promoting simple, mouse-driven, point-and-click use
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host computer The computer you use to access the Internet.
hot spot A place on the screen, either a word, phrase, picture, or graphic design, that contains a hyperlink. The hot spot can be linked to text elsewhere in the ebook, or it can trigger playback of an audio or video clip, among other things.
hybrid A combination of two or more methods or systems.
hyperlink A link between two related documents or segments in a database. The user can click on the link in one document and access the second document or segment.
hypermedia An addition to the idea of hypertext to include sound, video and pictures.
hypertext Text that uses cross-references or links to dynamically connect to other, often elaborating, text.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) A language consisting of a collection of commands used to format text.
HTML Tags A fundamental technique of HTML using tags, often in pairs, to identify the beginning and end of a segment of code.
HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) A set of rules for moving information around the Web.
secure HTTP (HTTPS) A version of HTTP that encrypts the information being transmitted over the Web
HTTP Server A program using the HTTP protocol that executes on a server and allows browsers to access server information and execute CGI programs.
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icon A small picture depicting the action to be performed by clicking on it.
imagemap A graphic image forming part of an HTML page.
insider trading This refers to trading in the securities of some company by a company insider -- usually a short-list of company officers and other senior executives -- before financial information about the company becomes public. There are strict rules that dictate when insiders may execute the trades.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) A type of phone line designed to handle digital information that can transfer data between computers more than twice as fast as an ordinary phone line.
interactive Media that dynamically responds to the user. Interactive media are connected via a system of links that respond to the user's application of a cursor controller.
interface A boundary across which two systems communicate, like a display that lets you interact with the computer.
Interlaced GIF An image file in the GIF format included as part of a HTML page.
Internet A global system of interconnected networks with local, regional, and national networks, using the same telecommunications protocol (TCP/IP).
Internet Phone A system that uses the Internet to carry a real-time phone conversation.
Internet Protocol Number (IP Number) A unique IP number, like a telephone number, for each computer on the Internet.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) A relay like a CB radio system that operates over the Internet and requires that users type their conversations.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) An organization that provides access to the Internet using a modem.
intranet A network that uses the same protocols as the Internet but is confined to a particular organization.
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Java A cross-platform programming language developed by Sun Microsystems for sending programs in partially complied form called 'applets' that are then fully compiled by the user's browser.
JavaScript An abbreviated form of Java that can be used to write programs for use on Web pages.
Jscript Microsoft's version of JavaScript that runs only on the Microsoft Explorer browser.
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) A form of compression used for pictures. JPEG pictures can be displayed as part of a Web page.
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knowledge map A graphic representation of a knowledge area and the relationships that are present in it.
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limit order An order to buy an equity at a price equal to or less than the indicated limit value, or to sell an equity at the limit price or greater.
linear A process in which inputs generate proportionate output, or a process in which there is no memory.
linear equation An equation in which no variable is raised to a power greater than or less than one.
link A hypermedia path connecting different documents or one part of documents with another part.
list server A program that receives email messages and retransmits them to members of a list.
Local Area Network (LAN) A network of computers used in a small geographic area (usually <1km). It usually applies the Ethernet protocol to send messages from one computer to another and is considerably faster than most WANs.
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