FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions. A list of frequently asked questions and their answers. Most USENET news groups maintain a FAQ so that participants won't have to answer the same questions over and over for each NEWBIE.

FAT - The File Allocation Table is a system area on a disk that keeps track of disk clusters allocated to all the files on a DOS partitioned disk. The FAT also keeps track of available disk space. In the case of a hard disk, the size of the FAT limits the amount of storage capacity that can be handled under DOS. Under DOS 3.3 and earlier versions, hard disks were limited to 32 megabytes of storage. Hard drives with more than 32 megabytes of available storage can be partitioned into smaller segments. These higher-capacity hard disks come with special drivers that modify the FAT thereby allowing DOS to use the additional storage space.

FAX board - A FAX board is an add-in printed circuit board for a personal computer that allows the system to send and receive text and graphics data over the telephone lines. A FAX board is actually a facsimile machine in a personal computer.

FILE - a collection of information treated as a unit by the computer; it may contain text, data, or executable programs.

FILENAME EXTENSIONS - In DOS, filenames are from 1 to 8 characters long and can be followed by an optional short tag called an extension. An extension starts with a period, has 1, 2, or 3 characters, and follows immediately after the filename. The following are examples of extensions used to identify the type of data or the format of data to be found in the file.

.EXE Executable program, used to run a program.

.COM Executable program, also usually used to run a program.

.BAT A batch file consisting of a series of commands.

.SYS A system file, often a device driver.

.TXT Usually a text (ASCII) file created with a text editor.

UNIX limits filenames to 256 characters, and does not require the use of extensions. However, they can often be helpful in keeping track of file types, and their use is recommended.

FIXED DISK - The term "fixed disk" is used interchangeably with the term hard disk, which see.

FIXED POINT - a method of representing numbers in a computer in which the decimal (actually binary) point is considered to occur at a fixed position within the number.

FLAG - a variable used to store a value indicating whether some condition holds or some event has occurred.

FLAME - a virulent and usually largely personal negative response to a USENET posting. Many people use the relative anonymity of the Net to vent their hostilities, and are known as "flamers". No rational person engages in this conduct.

FLOATING POINT - a method of representing numbers in which the decimal (binary) point is permitted to "float" to different locations within the number. Some of the bits devoted to storing the number are devoted to keeping track of the point.

FORMAT - To prepare a disk or diskette so it can store information. Formatting organizes the tracks and sectors that store information. When one formats a disk, any information already stored on it is erased. In some of the newer operating systems one has the capability to "UN-Format" a formatted diskette, depending on how it was formatted and if nothing has been re-written to the diskette.

FORTRAN - Formula translation. A high-level programming language, most widely used for scientific and engineering applications because it has excellent mathematical functions. Many programmers consider it to sacrifice "elegance" for speed of numerical manipulations.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol. The standard for file transmission between computers using a TCP connection. Programs that accomplish the transfer are called FTP programs.

FULL DUPLEX, half-duplex - The term full-duplex designates the transmission of data in two directions at the same time as from a terminal to a computer or from the computer to the terminal. Full-duplex (FDX) is simultaneous two-way communication. The term half-duplex (HDX) designates the transmission of data in either direction but only one direction at a time.

FUNCTION KEYS - Keys that act as shortcuts for performing certain functions, such as saving or printing data. These keys are labeled F1 through F10 (or F12) and they run across the top or down the side of the keyboard. Some keyboards allow you to program these keys for any application, but they are usually controlled by the software running.

FUZZY LOGIC - Fuzzy logic provides an approach to approximate reasoning in which the rules of inference are approximate rather than exact. Fuzzy logic is useful in manipulating information that is incomplete, imprecise, or unreliable. Also called fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic extends the simple Boolean operators, can express implication, and is used extensively in Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs.

FYI - for your information; an e-mail and newsgroup abbreviation.

GEEK - a person more comfortable with computers than with other persons.

GEEKONICS - a language spoken by geeks, consisting largely of acronyms and computer slang. The contents of this Glossary.

GIF - Graphics Interchange Format . Early in 1987, CompuServe's graphics engineers introduced this protocol as a standard for exchanging raster-based images among various computers. GIF can handle up to 256 simultaneous colors, and uses a sophisticated data compression method to reduce the file size to less than half, saving in download time. It is one of two standard formats for display of images on the World Wide Web.

GIGABYTE - One Gigabyte equals 1 kilobyte times 1 megabyte. That's 1,073,741,824 bytes, or (2 to the 30th power). 'Giga' is a binary analog to the U.S. decimal unit 'billion'.

GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out. A geekonics acronym, meaning that no matter how good the program or the computer, if one inputs bad data one outputs bad results.

GOPHER - a menu-based system for exploring Internet resources; so named both because it originated at the University of Minnesota, home of the Golden Gophers, and because one uses it to "go fer" stuff.

GUI - Graphical User Interface. Pronounced "gooey." A GUI is a user-friendly alternative to character-based interfaces such as DOS or UNIX. GUIs allow the user to point at a list of command options or click on an icon, instead of typing a character-based command. Two of the more popular GUIs for PCs are Microsoft(R) Windows and OS/2. UNIX has both X-Window and Open GL interfaces.

HARD COPY - information on paper as opposed to a CRT or diskette.

HARD DISK - A data storage device for personal computers that consists of a rigid platter that is fixed inside a sealed case. A hard disk can store more information and retrieve data faster than a diskette.

HARD DISK INTERFACE standards - ST506/412 - A serial hard disk interface standard developed by Seagate Technology and used for most early hard disks. Maximum data transfer rate is 5 megabits/sec. IDE - (Integrated Drive Electronics) An IDE hard disk has the controller functions on the drive itself and instead of connecting to a controller, it attaches directly to the motherboard. Data transfer rate is about 7.5 megabits/sec. EIDE is Enhanced IDE. ESDI - (Enhanced Small Disk Interface) a standard developed by a consortium of 22 disk drive manufacturers. The ESDI provides for a maximum data transfer rate to and from a hard disk of 10 megabits/sec. SCSI - (Small Computer System Interface) a standard developed by Shugart Associates and approved by ANSI. The parallel SCSI uses a 50-pin connector and permits multiple devices to be daisy chained. Data transfer rate: Up to 32 megabits/sec.

HARD DISK PARTITION - Partitioning divides a single physical hard disk into multiple logical partitions. The partitions on a drive, even if there's only one, are managed by a special sector called the partition table, which is located at the very beginning of every hard disk. It defines the starting and ending locations for each partition. Each partition on a hard disk is blind to the existence of any others. By universal agreement, the operation of software inside a partition is completely contained within the bounds of that partition.

HAYES COMPATIBLE - The originator of the de facto standard for modems in the world of microcomputers was Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. In 1981, the company produced the first modem to operate with a command set. The set of commands that is used to control the operation of a modem is called the standard Hayes AT Command Set. Most of the commands are prefaced with an AT which stands for ATtention. Today, the term Hayes-compatible is used as an adjective to describe modems from other manufacturers that operate with the same command set as the popular Hayes modems.

HEXADECIMAL - The hexadecimal number system has 16 as its base, in contrast to the decimal system (base 10). Hexadecimal refers to whole numbers in positional notation with 16 as the base. The first ten digits are represented by 0 through 9, and the last six digits are represented by A, B, C, D, E, and F. Computer memory addresses are conveniently expressed in hexadecimal notation since the word length is a multiple of four. Four bits can be expressed with one hexadecimal digit. For example, 1011001010000111 binary is B287 in hexadecimal notation. A hexadecimal number is the 1-byte equivalent of an EBCDIC character.

HST - High Speed Technology, is a proprietary signaling scheme, design, and error control protocol for high-speed modems. It was designed by USRobotics, Inc. HST incorporates trellis-coded modulation for greater immunity from variable phone line conditions and asymmetrical modulation for more efficient use of the phone channel at speeds of 4800 and above. It also incorporates MNP-compatible error control procedures adapted to asymmetrical modulation.

HTML - HyperText Markup Language. The formatting language in which display pages for the World Wide Web are created. The formatting instructs the browser about how to display the information. In many ways, an HTML document resembles a word processed document from the days before WYSIWYG. For example, words to be italicized are preceded by <I> and followed by </I>.

HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol. The protocol (agreed-upon standard) describing how HTML documents are to be transmitted from one computer to another over the Internet.

ICON - A visual symbol used to represent programs or documents in a GUI. For example, in a DOS interface you see LETTER.DOC in a directory listing. In a GUI, you'd see a little picture (such as a piece of paper and pen) representing the same document.

IMHO - in my humble opinion; an e-mail and newsgroup abbreviation.

INDEX VARIABLE - a variable that changes value on each pass through a loop, to track the number of times a command has been executed.

INFINITE LOOP - see LOOP, INFINITE.

INKJET PRINTER - This type of printer uses a printhead which has a series of little nozzles. In each nozzle, the ink heats up, and bubbles. When the bubbles burst, ink sprays out onto the print surface.

INPUT - what goes into a computer; also used as a verb meaning to enter input. See GIGO.

INPUT DEVICES - A piece of computer hardware (the keyboard and the mouse being the most popular examples) that is used to enter and manipulate information on a computer. Other input devices include, but are not limited to, Light Pens, Touch Screens, Graphics Tablets, and trackballs.

INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - An arrangement of miniature transistors (silicon chips) used for electronic data transmission. Also known as ICs.

INTEGRATED SOFTWARE - Integrated software programs pack several applications into one package. These packages usually contain scaled down versions of spreadsheets, word processors, and database programs. Some packages even include communication modules for connecting to a transferring data between 2 PCs via a modem and phone line. Once such example of an Integrated Software package is Microsoft(R) Works. Works for Windows does not contain a communications module.

INTERLACED, NON INTERLACED - Interlacing is a technique used by some video displays in which the electron beam repaints the screen by alternately displaying all the odd lines and then all the even lines. Thus, interlacing updates any single line on the screen only 30 times per second, yet it provides a refresh rate equivalent to 60 cycles per second. The electron beam of a non-interlaced monitor refreshes all the lines on the display sequentially from top to bottom. Each pixel on every line of the screen is repainted. Non-interlaced methods require twice as much signal information in the same time frame as interlaced methods.

INTERNET - the network of networks.

INTERPRETED LANGUAGE - a high-level programming language that is translated into machine code line by line as it is executed. BASIC and LISP are interpreted languages. The chief advantage of an interpreted language is rapid alteration of the program, the penalty for which is slow execution.

INTERPRETER - a program that translates a program in an interpreted language into executable machine code.

IP - Internet Protocol. A layer on TCP, for routing data packets across the networks that form the Internet.

IP ADDRESS - the identifier for a site on the Internet. It may be expressed either as a multiply dotted number (e.g., 130.111.58.95) or in equivalent words: adamantane.umeche.maine.edu.

IRQ - Interrupt request lines are physical connections between external hardware devices and the interrupt controllers. When a device, such as a floppy controller or a printer needs the attention of the CPU, handshaking signals are sent back and forth until a task is completed. On PCs there are sixteen IRQ lines numbered IRQ0 through IRQ15. In a particular system, the goal is to configure expansion boards so that each board has its own IRQ line. If you have two serial ports on your system, you know that IRQ3 and IRQ4 are taken.

ISA bus - Industry Standard Architecture bus. It is an unofficial designation for the bus design of the PCs and compatibles. This original bus design allows for various adapter cards (Printed Circuit Boards) to be plugged into expansion slots on the system board (motherboard). Originally introduced with an 8-bit data path on the IBM PCs and PC-XTs, the ISA bus was expanded in 1984 with the PC-AT computer and its 16-bit path, and is now commonly 32 bits.

ITERATION - converging upon a result by repeated execution of a series of steps; also used to mean one of those steps.

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