Appendix Glossary F

In the left margin you will find links to the glossary categorised alphabetically. Some of the pages are quite long and may take a few moments to load if you use a modem. This glossary is always being updated.

Glossary - F

FAQ - "Frequently Asked Questions" This term refers to a collection of questions that have been asked or are likely to be asked about a particular topic. For instance, it is common to find an FAQ section on a given website that addresses essential information about the topic of that site in a question-and-answer format. By presenting information in this manner, the technical experts can spend less time answering the same questions repeatedly and more time with important tasks, such as playing computer games. Many newsgroups, mailing lists and some WWW sites have an FAQ list which is posted regularly. FAQs prevent newsgroup members from having to individually answer common questions.

Fast Cycle RAM - (FCRAM) FCRAM is a memory technology currently being developed by Toshiba and Fujitsu. FCRAM is not intended for PC main memory but will be used in speciality applications such as high-end servers, printers, and telecommunications switching systems.

Fast Ethernet - An Ethernet networking system which transmits data at 100 MBps; theoretically 10 times fast than Ethernet.

Fast Page Mode - An early form of DRAM, fast-page mode's advantage over previous page mode memory technologies was faster access to data in the same row.

Fatal Error - An occurrence that takes place for any number of reasons while operating a computer that often causes the system to crash, resulting in the loss of any unsaved work.

Fax - (abbreviation for facsimile) The transmission of a copy of a paper document over telephone lines using a fax machine or a computer equipped with a fax modem. The term may be used as either a noun or a verb.

Fax Modem - A computer device that allows for the transmission and receiving of documents as faxes. As a rule, the quality of a fax received via a computer will be consistent with the quality of the printer ultimately printing the document. A fax modem may be installed inside the computer or present as an external modem. Some fax modems also function as regular modems.

FCI - Acronym for flux changes per inch.

FC PGA - Intel's "Flip Chip" pin grid array design, used for the Coppermine line of CPUs. These CPUs are designed with a lower voltage, making an adapter such as the CPU Converter card or a new motherboard necessary. Intel Celerons 533A and newer (AKA "Coppermine 128") also use this design.

Fiber Optics - The use of glass or plastic fibre's for the electronic transmission of data. The technology has several advantages over traditional wire cables in that transmission speed is greatly increased; fiber optics allow for greater bandwidth with no electromagnetic noise; fiber optic cables can carry more data; they transmit the data digitally; and they are lighter and thinner than wire cables.

Fiber Optic Cable - Fiber-optic cables transmit digital signals as light pulses. Fiber optic cable connections are made through an AUI port using an external transceiver.

File - This is where all the action takes place in a computer. It is an electronic piece of paper on which you write. You can write words, figures, or graphics (pictures).

File Recovery - When deleting a file from a disk, the space it occupied is not actually overwritten until it is needed for new data. Therefore, in some cases it is possible to retrieve the deleted information. Some files created using Windows applications may be resurrected by going to the Recycle Bin, clicking on the file you wish to bring back so it is selected or shaded, then clicking on "Restore File." Files created by programs other than Microsoft, may be restored with software available from several software companies, such as Norton Utilities.

File Server - A computer that provides network stations with controlled access to shareable resources. The network operating system is loaded on the file server, and most shareable devices (disk subsystems, printers) are attached to it. The file server controls system security and monitors station-to-station communications. A dedicated file server can be used only as a file server while it is on the network. A non-dedicated file server can be used simultaneously as a file server and a workstation.

Filter - 1. software that takes data and transforms it in some way, such as converting files in a particular format to another. 2. in image processing programs, a filter is a tool that modifies an image such as a bitmap.

Find - An operating system command that searches particular directories for files with specific attributes.

Finger - UNIX software that weeds out information (particularly email info) about an Internet user and returns the data to the requesting party. This might include the user's full name and whether he is online at the moment. Due to abuse by commercial mass emailers, UNIX systems now ignore many finger queries.

Firewall - A network security system used to restrict external traffic.

FireWire Sometimes called IEEE 1394, FireWire is a very fast digital input/output system, providing transfer rates of up to 400 megabits per second. FireWire is built into some new computer models from Apple and SGI and is available, via an add-on card, for most others. FireWire is a recommended I/O system on machines conforming to the PC99 spec and it is expected that, by 2000, FireWire will be a standard feature. Faster 800 MBps and 1600 Mbps variants of FireWire are also in the works.

Firmware - Permanent instructions and data programmed directly into the circuitry of read-only memory for controlling the operation of the computer or disk drive. Distinct from software, which is stored in read/write memory and can be altered.

Flame - Mean-spirited and often highly voluminous e-mail transmissions. In the world of electronic communication, flaming is considered the ultimate in retribution. Imagine the wrath of vengeful nerds blasting forth from your computer screen, replete with misspellings and unnecessary capitalisation's. It's really very ominous stuff; absolutely terrifying.

Flash - Flash is an application made by Macromedia that allows web developers to create animation's for websites. These animation's can be very complex (even highly interactive) and still occupy a remarkably small file size. The only catch is that in order to view Flash animation's and interfaces one's web browser must be equipped with a little added power-pack called a plug-in. This is mitigated by the fact that the Flash plug-in is free, painless, and is already installed on pretty much any computer made in recent history.

Flash Memory - A solid state, non-volatile, rewritable memory that functions like a combination of RAM and hard disk. Flash memory is durable, operates at low voltages, and retains data when power is off. Flash memory cards are used in digital cameras, cell phones, printers, handheld computers, pagers, and audio recorders.

Floppy Disk - A removable disk in a computer fitting into a 3.5" or 5.25" drive.

Floppy Drive - A smaller, slower, and removable version of a hard disk. The come in 3.5" and 5 1/4" flavours.

Flux Density - The number of magnetic field patterns that can be stored on a given area of disk surface, used as a measure of data density. The number is usually stated as flux changes per inch (FCI), with typical values in the tens of thousands.

Flying Height - The distance between the read/write head and the disk surface, made up of a cushion of air that keeps the head from contacting the media. Smaller flying heights permit denser data storage but require more precise mechanical designs.

Folder - An object within a software application that may contain files and/or other folders. The use of folders can be helpful in the organisation of data stored in a computer.

Followup - A reply to a USENET newsgroup article (post).

Font - This is a typesetting term used in desktop publishing for computers. It is a specific style of text, like ROMAN.

Foreground - The program currently running on your computer. Most computers have the ability to operate more than one application at a time, called multitasking. The program that is receiving instructions from your mouse or keyboard is the one running in the foreground.

Form - An online document designed to accept feedback from a user. A form contains fields where the user can enter name, email address, telephone number and other information. After completing a form a simple mouse click sends the information to the requesting party. Online forms minimise the number of paper documents needed for a wide variety of purposes such as product warranty registration, entering contests, and requesting information.

Form Factor - The industry standard that defines the physical, external dimensions of a particular device. The size, configuration, and other specifications used to describe hardware. Examples of memory form factors are: SIMM, DIMM, RIMM, 30-pin, 72-pin, and 168 pin.

Format - A magnetic track pattern that specifies the locations of the tracks and sectors. This information must exist on a disk before it can store any user data. Formatting erases any previously stored data. To prepare a disk to be used by DOS. Unformatted disks are unable to accept information. The FORMAT command can accomplish this. Just BE VERY CAREFUL not to format C: or D: or any of your fixed drives! Saves tears that way!

Formatted Capacity - The amount of room left to store data on a disk after writing the sector headers, boundary definitions, and timing information during a format operation. The size of a most drives are expressed in formatted capacity, accurately reflecting the usable space available.

FORTRAN - (Formula Translator) Developed by IBM in the late 1950s, one of the first high-level program languages, used primarily for scientific calculations, which remains in use today.

Forum - The dedicated area where people come together to discuss issues, hobbies, or news. Also called newsgroups.

Forward - A command button on a Web browser that allows a user quick access to a Web page. The forward button works only if the user has first clicked the "back" button. In this case, the forward command allows the user to revisit a previously viewed page.

Frame - Describes the physical format for viewing a Web page offering the user the ability to scroll up, down, or horizontally as needed. Frames may be divided into two or more sections with each frame allowing the user options for scrolling, as well as other methods for manipulating the frame, such as minimising or maximising the view.

Frame Buffer - In its simplest meaning, and as far as the Graphics hardware engineers are concerned, a frame buffer is simply that; the video memory that holds the pixels from which the video display (frame) is refreshed. Nowadays the term "frame buffer" has become synonymous (outside Engineering at least) for a graphics device of any type.
The portion of memory reserved for holding the complete bit-mapped image that is sent to the monitor. Typically the frame buffer is stored in the memory chips on the video adapter. In some instances, however, the video chipset is integrated into the motherboard design, and the frame buffer is stored in general main memory.

Freeware - Software for which the author makes no charge. Because the author of the software is making no money, freeware is usually unsupported. It is often very specialised in nature, and therefore has little or no market value. Freeware can come in the form of small applications, utilities, or games. For the record, deciding to use commercial software without paying for it does not automatically turn it into freeware.

Front End - A user interface which facilitates communication with another computer, or the working aspect of an application.

FrontPage - FrontPage is the name of the application that is available from Microsoft Corporation to provide users with a graphical interface for the creation of web pages. This type of program is commonly referred to as an "HTML editor" because its job is to generate HTML files based on the commands executed in the page layout interface available to the user. Other HTML editing packages include Adobe PageMill and Macromedia Dreamweaver. The alternative to using a program like this to create web pages is to either use a text editor and enter the HTML codes directly, or get someone else to make your web pages for you (which seems to be preferred by most).

Frontside Bus - (FSB) The data path that runs between the CPU and main memory (RAM).

FSAA - Full-screen Anti-aliasing. A feature of some new graphics chips and/or software programs designed to smooth "jaggies," FSAA is a feature on the 3DFX, Voodoo5, ATI Radeon 256, nVIDIA GeForce 256 and other advanced graphics chips.

FSB -Front Side Bus. The term properly used to describe (external clock) bus speed, as in 66MHz FSB, or 100 MHz FSB. The fastest bus speed currently available on Pentium III-based PCs using the "Coppermine" chip is 133 Megahertz.

FTP - "File Transfer Protocol" FTP is the communication protocol dedicated to uploading and downloading files over the Internet. Using a software program called an "FTP client" a user can connect to a designated FTP server over the Internet and send or receive files in real time. The Microsoft Internet Explorer browser has built-in ftp capability.

Full Duplex - Network connection type that provides for network nodes sending and receiving data at the same time, thus doubling the theoretical "speed limit" of connections. For example, normal fast Ethernet, at 100 MBps, runs at half duplex. With switched connections, which allow full duplex, the transmission speed is 200 MBps.

Function Keys - These are those keys on the keyboard on the top row with the letter/numbers F1 through F10 or 12. They perform different special functions depending on the program. The F1 key, for example, in most programs is the on-line HELP key! Sometimes these are used in combination with other keys such as SHIFT, CTRL or ALT (which then actually means there are 36 possibilities)!

Fuzzy Logic - A conclusion reached by a computer recognising that all values are not absolutes such as yes or no, black or white etc. Fuzzy logic makes calculations considering values in varying degrees between absolutes. For example, a computer might recognise black and white as absolutes, yet make an evaluation based on a shade of grey, which is somewhere between.