OBJECT PROGRAM or OBJECT CODE - the machine language instruction produced by a compiler before they are linked to each other and any libraries or dlls.

OCR - Optical Character Recognition - An information processing technology that converts human readable data into another medium for computer input is called Optical Character Recognition. An OCR peripheral device accepts a printed document as input, to identify the characters by their shape from the light that is reflected and creates an output disk file. For best results, the printed page must contain only characters of a type that are easily read by the OCR device and located on the page within certain margins. When choosing an OCR product, the prime consideration should be the program's level of accuracy as it applies to the type of document to be scanned. Accuracy levels less than 97% are often considered poor.

OLE - Object Linking and Embedding. Pronounced oh-lay, OLE is a software technology, an inter-process communication within the Windows operating environment. It allows the operator to embed one object within another, even though the different types of objects may have been created using different programs. OLE differs from traditional export/import methods. If the embedded object is updated by the originating program, the changes are also reflected in the embedding program. For example, a graph from a spreadsheet can be embedded in a word processing document. If the numbers in the spreadsheet are changed, the updates are reflected in the graph in the word processing document.

ONLINE SERVICE - A dial-up service that provides news, information and discussion "forums" for users with modem-equipped computers. Some of the more popular Online Services are America Online, Compuserve, Prodigy and GEnie.

OPERATING SYSTEM - The master control program that translates the user's commands and allows application programs to interact with the computer's hardware. The most common operating systems are Windows/DOS, OS/2 and UNIX.

OR - a logical operator that produces a true result if either or both of its operands are true, and a false result otherwise.

OUTPUT - what comes out of a computer or program. See GIGO.

PARALLEL PORT - A parallel port is an electrical channel to which a peripheral device, such as a dot matrix printer, can be connected. In parallel transmission, the bits of data representing characters are transmitted over several lines simultaneously. Typically, parallel transmission of data is faster than serial (RS-232) transmission.

PARITY - a method of detecting errors when data are sent over a communications line. The bits in a byte are summed, and a zero (0) is stored as the last bit if the sum is even, a one (1) if it is odd. The receiving computer reads the last bit and then checks the sum. The byte is rejected and a replacement signaled for if the sum does not match its indicator.

PASCAL - a programming language devised in 1971 by Niklaus Wirth. It is named for the French mathematician who is said to have produced the first computing machine, during the 17th century.

PATH - The route that tells DOS or UNIX where to search for a program or batch file if it is not found in the current directory. The PATH statement is usually found in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file for DOS; in UNIX, it is an environment variable that can be set by each user in his or her login shell.

PCMCIA - The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association and the Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association developed a standard for integrated circuit cards called PCMCIA and it establishes a standard for input/output cards and creates a new I/O bus for portable computers. The cards are about the size of a credit card, 85.6 by 54 mm, and are plugged into portable and pen-based microcomputers. Cards from different manufacturers, if they conform to the standard, can be interchanged between computers. The cards are lightweight, small and rugged, and are used for a variety of functions. There are modem, network interface and other cards.

PEEK - to read information directly from a specified location in memory.

PLOTTER - A plotter is a pen-based output peripheral device attached to a computer for making drawings. There are basically two kinds of plotters, flatbed and drum. The most common way of transmitting graphics to a plotter is using HPGL, Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language.

POINTER - an item of information containing the location of, thus "pointing" to, another item of information.

POKE - to place information directly into a specific location in memory.

POP - to remove the top (most recent) instruction from a stack (a list of instructions).

PORT - either (a) a number that identifies a particular Internet application with which communication is desired, as in "telnet to port 1000"; or (b) an actual physical input/output channel on the computer.

POSTSCRIPT - PostScript is a page description language developed mainly by John Warnock for transferring data to a printed page. Instead of the antiquated method of transmitting simple information to a 'dumb' printer, telling it where to place dots one-by-one on a page, PostScript provides a way for the computer to describe for the printer the appearance of the entire page, including graphics.

PPP - Point to Point Protocol. A protocol for using TCP/IP over a standard telephone line. It is a newer and purportedly more efficient protocol than SLIP, which see.

PROMPT - a request by the computer for input. The DOS prompt usually takes the form of either C>, C:\DOS>, or A>, blinking on the monitor screen. A typical UNIX prompt is the name of the user or computer, a command number, and a % sign.

PROTOCOL - A protocol is a set of rules governing the communication and the transfer of data between two or more devices. The rules define the handling of certain communication problems, such as framing, error control, sequence control, transparency, line control, and start-up control. There are three basic types of protocol: character oriented, byte-count oriented, and bit oriented.

PUSH - to insert an instruction onto the top of a stack.

QWERTY keyboard - The standard typewriter or computer keyboard, with the characters "Q, W, E, R, T, and Y" on the top row of letters. The QWERTY keyboard was developed in the 1800's to slow-down swift typists and to prevent jamming of the old mechanical typewriters.

RAM - Random Access Memory. Also referred to as dynamic or volatile memory, in that data is stored in RAM only temporarily. A computer's RAM storage space is emptied when the power is turned OFF.

ROM - Read-Only Memory - Also referred to as permanent or non-volatile memory, in that the data stored in ROM is permanent or not effected by a power loss. The computer's BIOS is stored in ROM.

RESOLUTION - Resolution defines the capability of an optical system, such as a video screen, or of a scanning device such as an OCR, or of a printer, to make clear and distinguishable the separate parts or components of an object. In video graphics, the resolution is the number of pixels into which the display area can be divided, counted as the number of horizontal and vertical pixels. For example, a resolution of 640 by 200 pixels indicates a display area with 640 pixels across the screen and 200 pixels vertically. The greater the resolution, the more display memory is needed to produce the screen image. Printer and scanner resolution usually is expressed in dpi, dots per inch.

ROOT - on a UNIX machine, the owner of the root directory (see below). Also called the superuser.

ROOT DIRECTORY - The root directory is the base level of the directory structure. Branching from the root are various subdirectories, each of which can contain one or more files and subdirectories of its own. Individual files can also reside at the root directory level. In DOS, the root directory of every disk drive is identified with the backslash character (\) and is the main directory on that drive. For example, C:\ represents the root directory of drive C:.

ROUTER - a system that transfers data between two networks that use the same protocols, even if they are different in physical characteristics, such as an EtherNet and a telephone line.

RTFM - Read the (expletive) Manual. Abbreviation common in e-mail, and particularly on newsgroups.

SCANNER - A scanner is a peripheral device for capturing graphic images from a page and converting the data into a binary code. Once captured, the image can be edited with a painting program, pasted into a desktop publishing document, or sent over the telephone lines with a facsimile device. Scanners work similarly to copiers, except that the pattern of charged particles is converted to bits rather than being used to attract pigment.

SERIAL PORT - A serial port is an asynchronous communication channel or address to which a peripheral device such as a modem, a character printer, or a mouse, can be connected. Serial ports are also referred to as COM ports, (COM1, COM2, etc.) In serial communications, bits of data are transmitted sequentially over a single line as opposed to parallel communications, in which multiple wires in the cable allow data to be sent multiple bits at a time. Serial interfaces are also called RS-232 ports, from the IEEE standard for their wiring.

SERVER - software that allows a computer to offer a service to another computer, such as the ftp server that allows ftp downloading by client software. Also applied to the computer on which the server software runs.

SHADOW RAM - In random access memory (RAM), stored information can be accessed directly and quickly without having to follow a sequence of storage locations, regardless of which memory location was last accessed. The system BIOS, normally stored in ROM, is responsible for handling the details of the input and output operations, including the task of relating a program's logical records to a peripheral device's physical records. Shadow RAM is a technology that loads the system BIOS and/or video BIOS into RAM during the boot procedure, thereby allowing the BIOS to operate much faster.

SHAREWARE - Shareware is a distribution method for software programs developed by independent programmers or authors. It is a marketing technique rather than a type of software. It allows the author to market the program with minimal start-up expenses while encouraging feedback from the users. Programs acquired through the Shareware method may be freely copied and passed on to others, but each user is expected to register with the author and pay a usage fee. The fee may include some or all of the following: printed documentation, the latest version of the program on disk, telephone support, free updates, and commissions, but most importantly a legal license to continue using the software.

SHELL - on a UNIX computer, software that accepts and processes commands, and interfaces the user to UNIX. UNIX has multiple shells available: C shell; Bourne shell; Korn shell; bash shell (Bourne-again shell), each with different command formats and capabilities. Menuing shells used to be popular on DOS machines before the advent of Windows.

SIG(NATURE) - a small file inserted at the end of e-mail messages or USENET news postings to identify the sender; at a minimum, it should contain the sender's real name and an e-mail address. A snail-mail address and voice address (telephone number) also are good. Very elaborate sigs, containing graphics and mottos are considered uncool, since they use "bandwidth" without conveying information.

SLIP - Serial Line; Internet Protocol. A protocol for making TCP/IP Internet connections over a standard telephone line.

SMILEY - face formed from keyboard characters, used to indicate emotions in e-mail and netnews. The original is: :-) signifying humor or happiness.

SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The set of standards specifying the format of electronic mail messages that an SMTP client on one computer can use to send those messages to an SMTP server on another computer.

SNAIL-MAIL - the U.S. Postal Service.

SNEAKER-NET - transferring files between computers by carrying a floppy.

SOFTWARE - A general term for all types of programs used to manage a computer's operations. Software is essentially a set of instructions the computer uses to perform a task. The commonly seen phrase "software program" is redundant, and should not be used.

SPREADSHEET - A program that simulates an accountant's worksheet, made up of Rows and Columns. It is mainly used to calculate budgets and perform financial analyses. By using a spreadsheet, one can set up and monitor budgets, checking accounts, brokerage accounts, and so on.

STACK - temporary storage unit for the CPU; operates on the last in, first out principle, like a stack of cafeteria trays.

STOP BIT - the bit of a byte that is used to indicate the end of a transmitted datum.

STRING - a datum consisting of letters rather than numbers.

SUBDIRECTORY - A directory located within another directory (called the Parent directory). The ROOT directory (C:\>, A:\>, or B:\>) is the only directory which is not also a subdirectory.

SVGA - Super Video Graphics Array provides for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Its predecessor, VGA, gave a resolution of 640 x 480 pixel, still the most common PC screen resolution.

SYNTAX - the rules governing the structure and sequence of statements in a programming or a natural language.

[Index] [A-C] [D-E] [F-I] [J-N] [O-S] [T-Z]