A

Address: The location of an Internet resource. An email address may take the form of user@somecompany.com. A web address looks something like http://www.aic.net.au.

Add-in: A mini program which runs in conjunction with a web browser or other application that enhances the functionality of that program. In order for the add-in to run, the main application must be running as well.

Anonymous FTP: An anonymous FTP site allows Internet users to log in and download files from the computer without having a private userid and password. To login, you typically enter anonymous as the userid and your email address as the password.

Applet: A program that can be downloaded over a network and launched on the user's computer (see Java).

Anchor: Either the starting point or destination of a hyperlink. The letters at the top of this page are all anchors - clicking one takes you to another part of this page.

ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A set of 128 alphanumeric and special control characters. ASCII files are also known as plain text files.

Archie: The system used in searching FTP sites for files. Also Veronica's boyfriend.

AU: (.au) - a common audio file format for UNIX systems.

AVI: Audio/Video Interleaved - a common video file format (.avi). Video quality can be very good at smaller resolutions, but files tend to be rather large.

B

Bandwidth: A measurement of the volume of information that can be transmitted over a network at a given time. Think of a network as a water pipe - the higher the bandwidth (the larger the diameter of the pipe), the more data (water) can pass over the network (through the pipe).

Binary: The system by which combinations of 0s and 1s are used to represent any type of data stored on a computer.

Bitmap File: A common image format (.bmp) defined by a rectangular pattern of pixels.

BPS: Bits Per Second - a measurement of the volume of data that a modem is capable of transmitting. Typical modem speeds today are 14.4K bps (14,400 bits per second) and 28.8K bps. ISDN offers transfer rates of 128K bps.

Bookmark: A pointer to a particular Web site. Within browsers, you can bookmark interesting pages so you can return to them easily.

Browser: A program run on a client computer for viewing World Wide Web pages. Examples include Netscape, Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mosaic.

C

Cache: A region of memory where frequently accessed data can be stored for rapid access.

CGI: Common Gateway Interface - the specification for how an HTTP server should communicate with server gateway applications.

Chat: A system that allows for online communication between Internet users. See IRC.

Client: A program (like a Web browser) that connects to and requests information from a server.

Cookies: Sweet snacks. Also the collective name for files stored on your hard drive by your Web browser that hold information about your browsing habits, like what sites you have visited, which newsgroups you have read, etc. Many view 'cookies' as an invasion of privacy. To learn about ways to protect your privacy, visit this site for software and information.

Client-Server Protocol: A communication protocol between networked computers in which the services of one computer (the server) are requested by the other (the client).

Compressed: Data files available for download from the Internet are typically compacted in order to save server space and reduce transfer times. Typical file extensions for compressed files include zip (DOS/Windows) and tar (UNIX).

D

Dial-up Connection: A connection to the Internet via phone and modem. Connection types include PPP and SLIP.

Direct Connection: A connection made directly to the Internet - much faster than a dial-up connection.

Discussion Group: A particular section within the USENET system typically, though not always, dedicated to a particular subject of interest. Also known as a newsgroup.

Domain: The Internet is divided into smaller sets known as domains, including .com (business), .gov (government), .edu (educational) and others.

Domain Name: Allows you to reference Internet sites without knowing the true numerical address.

Download: The process of copying data file(s) from a remote computer to a local computer. The opposite action is upload where a local file is copied to a server.

E

e-mail: Electronic mail.

Emoticon: A combination of characters that form a facial expression. For example, if you turn your head sideways, the characters :) make a smiley face, and the characters 8) make a four-eyed smiley. Frequently used in email messages to convey a particular tone. If you wanted to jokingly insult somebody, without starting a flame war, you could write, "I think you are a total loser :)".

Eudora: A popular freeware and commercial email management program.

Exchange: Microsoft's integrated fax and email program designed for Windows 95.

F

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions - a collection of common questions and answers on a particular subject.

Flame: An insulting message exchanged via email or within newsgroups. A series of flames are known as flame wars.

FreeWare: Software that is available for download and unlimited use without charge. Compare to shareware.

FTP: File Transfer Protocol - a set of rules for exchanging files between computers via the Internet.

G

Gateway: Computer hardware and software that allow users to connect from one network to another.

GIF: Graphics Interchange Format - a common image format. Most images seen on web pages are GIF files.

Gopher: A system allowing users to search for files via menus or directory structures. Uses plain English names and is text based only.

H

Helper Application: A program allowing you to view multimedia files that your web browser cannot handle internally, such as images, audio and video files. The file must be downloaded before it will be displayed/played. Plug-ins allow you to actually view the file over the Internet without downloading first.

Home Page: The first page of a Web Site. Also, the Web site that automatically loads each time you launch your browser.

Host: The name of a specific machine within a larger domain.

Hot Java: A Web browser developed by Sun Microsystems that takes full advantage of applets written in the Java programming language.

HTML: HyperText Markup Language - a collection of tags typically used in the development of Web pages.

HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol - a set of instructions for communication between a server and a World Wide Web client.

Hyperlink: A connection between two anchors. Clicking on one anchor will take you to the linked anchor. Can be within the same document/page or two totally different documents.

Hypertext: A document that contains links to other documents, commonly seen in Web pages and help files.

I

Information Superhighway/Infobahn: The terms were coined to describe a possible upgrade to the existing Internet through the use of fiber optic and/or coaxial cable to allow for high speed data transmission. This highway does not exist - the Internet of today is not an information superhighway.

IRC: Internet Relay Chat - the system allowing Internet users to conduct online text based communication with one or more other users.

ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network - a system of all digital, high bandwidth telephone lines allowing for the simultaneous delivery of audio, video and data. Data travels at 128K bps.

ISP: Internet Service Provider - the company which provides you with a connection to the Internet via either a Dial-up Connection or a Direct Connection.

IP Address: Internet Protocol Address - every computer on the Internet has a unique identifying number, like 191.1.24.2.

Internet: The worldwide network of computers communicating via an agreed upon set of Internet protocol. Odds are that if you are reading this document, you are probably on the Internet right now (just in case you didn't know).

J

Java: A programming language, similar to C++, created by Sun Microsystems for developing applets that are capable of running on any computer regardless of the operating system.

JPEG: Joint Photograhic Experts Group - a common image format. Most of the images you see embedded into Web pages are GIFs, but sometimes, especially in art or photographic Web sites, you can click on the image to bring up a higher resolution (larger) JPEG version of the same image.

K

Killfile: Found within newsreaders, a list of undesirable authors or threads to filter out.

Knowbot: A system for finding Internet user's email addresses via their first and last names. Due to the rapid growth in the volume of email users, this system is not perfect.

L

LAN: Local Area Network - a network of computers confined within a small area, such as an office building.

Link: Another name for a hyperlink.

Listserv: An electronic mailing list typically used by a broad range of discussion groups. When you subscribe to a listserv, you will receive periodic email messages about the topic you have requested.

Lurking: The act of reading through maillists and newsgroups without posting any messages. Considered good netiquette to get the feel of the topic before adding your own two cents.

Lynx: A popular text (non-graphical) World Wide Web Browser.

M

Mailing List: A list of email addresses to which messages are sent. You can subscribe to a mailing lists typically by sending an email to the contact address with the following in the body of the message: the word subscribe, the name of the list, and your email address.

Microsoft: C'mon, everybody has heard of Microsoft! Home of Bill Gates. The world's largest operating system and application software development company. Products include Windows 95, the MS Office Suite, the MS Internet Explorer, and far too many others to list here.

MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface - a high quality audio file format.

MIME: Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, a protocol for allowing email messages to contain various types of media (text, audio, video, images, etc.).

Mirror Site: An Internet site setup as an alternate to a busy site; contains copies of all the files stored at the primary location.

Mosaic: One of the first graphical World Wide Web browsers developed at NCSA.

MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group - a video file format offering excellent quality in a relatively small file. Video files found on the Internet are frequently stored in the MPEG format. Full length movies (like Top Gun) are available on CD and are stored in the MPEG format.

Multimedia: A combination of media types on a single document, including: text, graphics, animation, audio and video.