Term	Think of	Definition
backup	Preventing Disaster	To copy the file to another medium in case the original is destroyed.
bit	An on/off switch	The smallest unit of data storage. Either a "1" or a "0".
bookmarks	List of web sites	A collection of addresses of web sites
byte	One character	A set of 8 bits used to store one character (letter, digit, or symbol).
clipboard	A clipboard	A place where information is temporarily stored to be put somewhere else.
COM ports	One bit at a time	Communication ports - serial.
copy	Make a clone	To copy an item to be put at a new location
CPU	The brains	Central Processing Unit - The brains of your computer (now on a chip)
cursor	Where you type	A flashing box or bar which indicates where next character is to be typed
cut	To remove to clipboard	To copy something and remove it from its original location
cyberspace	The information highway	the whole range of resources available through computer networks
data base	An address book	A collection of information such as addresses, phone numbers, etc.
desktop	Where you work	This is the screen which comes up when windows 95/98 is loaded
device driver	The invisible cab driver	A program which actually runs devices connected to the computer
directory	Collection of files	See "folder".
DOS	The unseen host	The operating system by which all IBM compatibles are run
download	Get stuff off internet	Copying a file from another computer to your computer
E-mail	Way to bug your kids	Electronic mail sent over a computer network
Explorer - Win	A secretary	A program to help organize and work with files (Windows Explorer)
extension	The files last name	A 3-letter configurations at end of file name which identifies type of file
FAQ	Where you find answers	Frequently Asked Questions - files containing these questions people often ask
favorites	Microsoft bookmarks	See "bookmarks"
FAX	Send paper over wire	facsimile - a method of sending documents over the phone
file	A sheet of paper	A collection of information stored under one name in a computer
floppy disk	Doesn't flop	A device for storing information outside the computer (like a recording)
folder	A file folder	A place for storing a number of files under one name.
font	Printing characters	A style and size of a character on the screen or to be printed
format	Layout	Describes the way information is stored or presented in a report
gigabyte	Lots and lots	A billion bytes or characters
graphic	Pictures	A picture or symbol which can be used on web sites.
graphic format	Very mysterious	A way of storing pictures. Common types are .gif, .jpg, bmp,  etc.
hacker	Computer geek	A person who is completely infatuated by computers
hard disk	A desk drawer	A device for storing information in computer indefinitely
hardware	A big doorstop	Actual physical equipment that you can touch and pick up
home page	Where you start	The screen that first comes up for each web site on the internet
html	Text with hot spots	HyperText Markup Language - Allows one to click on text for finding document
http	Web addressing	HyperText Transport Protocol - Used for moving information around the internet
I/O	In and Out	Input or output function
icon	Place to click	A little picture which represents a program in a shortcut.
input	Suck it in	Method of sending information to computer - keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc
internet	Spider web	A network of networks of computers - first built by U.S. military
IRC	Talk with your fingers	Internet Realtime Chat - People talk to each other directly by typing messages
IRQ	Whoa!	An interrupt request - helps computer decide which device needs attention
kilobyte	Not too many	A thousand bytes or characters
link	Let's go there	A spot on a web site which you can click to move to a new page or web site, or to download some item.
Listserver	Talk, talk, talk	Sends E-mail to all members of the group automatically.
MacIntosh	Invented Windows	A computer built by Apple company(Often called a MAC). Not compatible with IBM type PC's.
mainframe	Huge	a large (expensive) computer used by huge companies
megabyte	Lots	A million bytes or characters
modem	The computer's phone	A device for connecting a computer to a phone line
monitor	Eye strain	The video unit which displays output from computer (like a TV screen)
mother board	Runs the house	A printed circuit board containing the main functions of the computer
mouse	Doesn't eat cheese	A handheld device rolled around on a pad which moves a pointer on the screen
move	It's not there	To cut and paste.
network	A small internet	2 or more computers hooked together by wire or phone or other means
Newsgroup	More talk, talk, talk	A group of people who correspond with each other publicly on "Usenet"
on-line service	Easy to use	A dial-up service accessed by the computer over the phone, AOL, Prodigy, etc
operating system	Flight controller	A program which actually runs the computer
OS/2	Killed by Bill Gates	An operating system developed by IBM similar to windows
output	Blow it out	Method of retrieving information from computer - video, printer, etc
parallel ports	Marching side by side	Outlets used primarily for printers, scanners,  etc.
password	Your secret code	A code for gaining access to a locked system - needed for any wire service
paste	Stick it here	To take an item which has been cut or copied and put it at a new location.
Pentium	Fast	A true 64-bit processor (very fast). Also Cyrix and AMD.
pixels	Points of light	The tiny dots which make up the picture on a monitor screen or TV screen
RAM	Storage with Alzheimers	Random Access Memory - storage which is erased when computer shuts off
reload	Got stuck	To cause your browser to reload the current URL.
ROM	Never changes	Read Only Memory - cannot be erased
root directory	Underground	All directories are sub-directories of the root directory
screen saver	Action stuff on screen	When an image sits on the screen for hours it can burn in the screen.
search engine	Find it	A program available on the internet to search for items of interest.
serial ports	Single file	Slower outlets used for the mouse, external modems, etc. (COM Ports)
software	No more doorstop	Computer programs which perform specific tasks
surge protector	Important at RRR	A device which plugs into the wall which evens out voltage surges or spikes
SVGA	Better pictures	A standard video system which allows up to 1024 x 768 pixels on the screen
systray	Serves up system info	The little tray at the opposite end of the taskbar from Start button
taskbar	Lists what is up	The bar on the bottom (or top) of your screen which lists the programs that are running
text	Keyboard characters	Information which can be presented using just letters, digits, or special characters.
upload	Send it out	Copying a file from your computer to another computer
URL	Door number	Uniform Resource Locator - specifies the address of a site on the internet
userid	Me	A combination of letters and digits used to identify you.
utilities	Laborers	Programs which perform special tasks such as printing and file management
virus	A bug going around	Little invasive programs which attach themselves to other programs (bad stuff)
wallpaper	Covers the desktop	Choice of patterns to have in the background on desktop
web site	What everyone now has	A particular location on the world wide web.
Windows	I don't do windows	A system of presenting information on the screen in the form of windows
word processor	A typewriter	A program used for text processing similar to a fancy typewriter
www	Come in to my parlor	World-wide web - a method of traveling around on the internet