Appendix Glossary I

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 - I

I 486 - This means the Intel '486 computer.

I/O - This means Input/Output. This is the way the computer actually works. They take in information, process it then, give it back out!

IC - (Integrated Circuit) An electronic circuit on a semiconductor chip. The circuit includes components and connectors. A semiconductor chip is usually moulded in a plastic or ceramic case and has external connector pins.

Icon - A graphic symbol used in a computer program to represent an object or process.

IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics. The method by which most hard drives, internal CD-ROM drives, and other internal storage devices are connected to a computer. Today's better hard drives are referred to as UDMA or Ultra ATA (two ways of saying the same thing), but they are still IDE-based. Some high-performance systems use SCSI drives instead of those connected via IDE.

Illegal Operation - In Windows, a message box that appears telling the user that the program running has attempted to perform a function it is unable to execute for any number of reasons. Usually it refers to a function related to an error in programming.

iMac - A colourful and stylish computer by Apple that offers users features such as easy Internet access with a choice of browsers, the ability to play MP3 files, QuickTime4 for digital video and streaming media, and in some models, a DVD player. Apple's comparable notebook computer is the iBook.

Image Map - An image on a Web page that contains a number of hyperlinks. For example, a Website devoted to the study of human anatomy might display a picture of the human body. Directing the mouse cursor over the head and clicking could bring the user to a page that showed the brain, along with text describing the brain's functions. Clicking on the heart might bring him to a page describing heart functions, and so on.

Image Processing - The manipulation and alteration of images using computer software such as Adobe PhotoShop.

Import - The use of a file in a particular application that was created using a format other than that of the destination application. For example, some programs allow graphics to be imported using several different formats such as jpeg and tiff.

Impression - The number of times an entire Web page is viewed. Impressions are counted to determine the number of visits to the site. Some Webmasters are interested in more information than simply the number of viewings. Because they are measuring the effectiveness of certain types of advertising, the path a user takes to arrive at a Web page is important, such as arriving as a result of clicking a banner ad, or finding his way from a particular search engine.

IMAP - "Internet Message Access Protocol" One of the standard means by which an e-mail client can access incoming messages from a mail server. Using this protocol, an e-mail program reviews the messages being held for it by the remote mail server. By reading the "header " portion of an incoming file, the e-mail client can determine general facts about the message like its source, date, and subject. The user can then decide to download the incoming mail, thereby transferring its entire contents from the remote server to the local machine. IMAP allows the mail server to perform as a true file server to the mail client and therefore allows for a relatively robust set of file management features. Comparatively, POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) offers a more modest set of operations while filling basically the same role in the e-mail operation. It should be noted that neither IMAP nor POP3 is directly involved in the action of transferring mail from server to server on the Internet, their function is limited to providing the user with the messages that have already made that ethereal journey through cyberspace. It should also be noted that anybody interested enough in this topic to read this far probably already knows more about it than I do.

Index.html - When you type in the URL of a web site, but do not specify an actual file name (e.g. http://home.talkcity.com, the server will look for a file named "index.html" and will display it on your browser. This is the home page for the web site. You can display the same page by typing http://home.talkcity.com/index.html.

Information Superhighway - A popular term used to describe the Internet and virtually all associated computer networks. The term is almost self-explanatory in that information is the main stock in trade of the Internet. The highway or network over which the information travels makes it available to many people.

Initialise - 1. to start a system or application 2. to assign a value to a variable for the first time.

Inkjet Printer - A printer that creates characters and images by spraying fine streams of ink onto paper at high speeds. Inkjet printers are relatively inexpensive and produce high quality text and graphics in both black and white and colour.

Input - Data entered into a computer from a keyboard, voice recognition software, a mouse, another computer, or data storage device such as a disk or tape.

Integrated Circuit - Also referred to as IC, another name for a chip. An electronic device first developed in the 1950s, made from semiconductor material such as silicon, containing tiny transistors, resistors, diodes, as well as a number of ever improving and shrinking components.

Intel - A leading semiconductor chip maker, that supplies the computing and communications industries with chips, boards, systems and software that are integral in computers, servers and networking and communications products.

Interactive - A computer that accepts input from a user via a mouse and/or keyboard and returns results immediately. Most modern computers are interactive. A non-interactive application would be one that, once started, would require no human intervention.

Interface - A hardware or software protocol, contained in the electronics of the disk controller and disk drive, that manages the exchange of data between the drive and computer. The most common interfaces for small computer systems are AT (IDE) and SCSI.

Interleave - To intersperse the sectors on a track.

Interleave Factor - The number of sectors that pass beneath the read/ write heads before the next sector arrives. For example, a 3:1 interleave factor means that the heads read a sector, then let two pass by before reading another, requiring three full revolutions of the disk to access the complete data track.

Interleaving - Techniques for increasing memory speed. For example, with separate memory banks for odd and even addresses, the next byte of memory can be accessed while the current byte refreshes.

Internal Drive - A drive mounted inside one of a computer's drive bays (or a hard disk on a card, which is installed in one of the computer's slots).

Internet - A "world-wide" network of information which can be accessed by a modem and communication software through an Internet Service Provider. A global network of computers and computer systems which communicate using the Internet protocol. The Internet is the international network of computers that are linked to each other by a physical data connection and a common communication protocol (TCP/IP). The Internet is not itself a Wide Area Network, but rather a product of connecting the individual WANs that are contained within it.

Internet Explorer - One of the two main web browsers in use today. The second is Netscape Navigator. Internet Explorer is available free of charge from Microsoft Corporation. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me to hear they will throw in a free box of frozen steaks if you promise to delete your copy of Navigator.

Internet Sharing Software - Software used on one computer in a network set-up that allows other computers on the network to share the Internet dial up on the first computer. Also known as proxy software.

Internetwork - A large multi-segment network or "Internet." Two or more networks connected by routers and bridges. Networks in an internetwork share information and services.

Intranet - Although it may seem to some like a confusing twist (or a typo), the concept of an intranet is really just a variation on the theme of the now-familiar Internet. In a nutshell, an intranet solution is the application of Internet technology to an operation within an organisation. Whereas a company may use the Internet to advertise a product line to its customers, it could apply an intranet within the organisation to track its inventory of those products. Other typical intranet applications involve streamlining internal communication and workflow management. Because of the universal connectivity that underlies the Internet, all of these things can be done from anywhere that an Internet connection can be had (which is really just about anywhere). The basic concept of an intranet can be summed up by the principle "Our organisation thinks the Internet is really cool, and we use it all the time. We just don't want all those slobs out there on the Internet to get their grubby hands on all of our cool data." ...or something like that. An intranet uses Internet protocols and applications over an internal company network.

IP - Internet Protocol. The key protocol on which the Internet is based. It defines how data gets from source to destination. TCP/IP protocol for packet forwarding. Protocols are the computer "languages" used to transfer data across networks.

IP Address - "Internet Protocol Address" This refers to the specific numerical designation that identifies a particular computer on the Internet. IP addresses are expressed in groups of numbers with the following format: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX. By themselves, the numbers contained within an IP address are no more comprehensible than telephone numbers to an average user, so they need to be tracked and managed by a system administrator. Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address which is its Internet address. Example: 147.150.30.32

IPX - Stands for Internet Packet eXchange. This is a popular protocol in PC networks and is often used for playing games across a local network.

IRC - (Internet Relay Chat) The live chat area of the Internet in which real time conversations between two or more people take place in virtual "rooms" or channels.

IS - "Information Services" IS refers to any issue or objective related to the use of computer technology within an organisation. For example, a company whose computers are all out of disk space has an IS issue to deal with (unless the drives are all filled up with games and porn, in which case a personnel issue is a more likely cause).

ISA - Industry Standard Architecture. A semi-obsolete type of expansion slot still commonly used for connecting internal modems and some sound cards (the non-PCI variety, obviously). ISA devices tend to be more trouble-prone than their PCI cousins, and ISA slots cannot share IRQs as PCI can. ISA is not part of the PC99 specification most computer manufacturers are expected to adhere to in the years ahead. Our recommendation is to avoid ISA add-ons if possible. It is a common type of expansion slot used to interface to slower and older interface boards such as modems, and sound cards.

ISDN - "Integrated Services Digital Network" ISDN was conceived as a means for bringing the additional bandwidth and stability of a direct data connection into homes and businesses through a specialised copper-wire network. By connecting to remote computer networks (including the Internet) through an ISDN line, a user can take advantage of several times more bandwidth than would be available over a traditional modem line. The expenses of using ISDN include hook-up charges, a monthly fee, and a hardware receiver/router to allow local devices to communicate over the data line. Although the increase in transfer speed is not as fast as would be attainable with a direct LAN connection, ISDN users do have the advantage of surfing the web much faster than their modem-bound counterparts. Although ISDN once looked to be a major replacement for regular phone lines, it has already been replaced by cable modems and xDSL phone service.

ISO 9660 - "International Standards Organization - 9660" Your best bet is to just memorise this one, because the name has no real connection to what it refers to. ISO 9660 is the name for the file structure used in DOS and Windows computers. When one formats any disk (including a CD-ROM) for use on a computer running the DOS or Windows operating system, the formatting is done in accordance with the file system standard called "ISO 9660." Believe it or not, that's really all it means.

ISP - "Internet Service Provider" An ISP is an organization that provides another organization or individual with access to the Internet. For instance, when a person dials in to America Online to surf the web, the ISP in this case is AOL (assuming that the user eventually gets past the busy signal on the first nine attempts).

ISPA - Internet Service Provider's Association. BTinternet is a member of ISPA.

IT - "Information Technology" This broad designation refers to the field of computers and their use in furthering the pursuits of business objectives. The term is most frequently applied within large corporations looking to designate which people will be allowed to get away with surfing the web during company time.

Itanium - Intel's first 64-bit processor, shipped in limited quantities in the second half of 2000. This chip was previously code-named "Merced."

Iteration - A computer processor's single cycle through a group of programming instructions.

IWF - Internet Watch Foundation. BTinternet is a founding member of the IWF, a charitable organisation which seeks to rid the Internet of illegal material such as child pornography. The IWF encourages the Internet community to report the finding of any such material. Details are on the IWF Website.