|
Term |
Definition |
| Packet Switching |
The method used to move data around on the Internet. In packet
switching, all the data coming out of a machine is broken up into chunks, each
chunk has the address of where it came from and where it is going. This enables
chunks of data from many different sources to co-mingle on the same lines, and
be sorted and directed to different routes by special machines along the way.
This way many people can use the same lines at the same time. |
| parallel transmission |
Simultaneous transmission of all parts of a signal at one time; in
data transmission, requiring a separate signal path for each of the bits of a
character; internal to computers, this is called a "parallel bus." |
| parity bit |
Most modems have the capability to send an extra bit for every byte
sent, which is used to help sense errors. This is called the parity bit |
| Password |
A code used to gain access to a locked system. Good passwords
contain letters and non-letters and are not simple combinations such as
virtue7. A good password might be: f1go4her |
| Peer to peer net work |
All the nodes in this network are equal |
| PERT |
Program Evaluation Review technology |
| pixel |
Addressable intersecting points within a grid where dots are placed
by an imaging device. |
| plug in and play |
When a computer is upgraded the part works without the need for
software upgrade. All Macs do this. Microsoft has a version of this where the
the new hardware is detected and then the operating systems asks you to install
the software. |
| Plug-in |
A (usually small) piece of software that adds features to a larger
piece of software. Common examples are plug-ins for the Netscape® browser
and web server. Adobe Photoshop® also uses plug-ins. |
| Point-of-Sale (POS) |
Refers to the retail type check-out where bar code symbols are
normally scanned. |
| POP |
(Point of Presence, also Post Office Protocol) -- Two commonly used
meanings: Point of Presence and Post Office Protocol. A Point of Presence
usually means a city or location where a network can be connected to, often
with dial up phone lines. So if an Internet company says they will soon have a
POP in Belgrade, it means that they will soon have a local phone number in
Belgrade and/or a place where leased lines can connect to their network. A
second meaning, Post Office Protocol refers to the way e-mail software such as
Eudora gets mail from a mail server. When you obtain a SLIP, PPP, or shell
account you almost always get a POP account with it, and it is this POP account
that you tell your e-mail software to use to get your mail. |
| Port |
3 meanings. First and most generally, a place where information
goes into or out of a computer, or both. E.g. the serial port on a personal
computer is where a modem would be connected. |
| Port ii |
Secondly on the Internet port often refers to a number that is part
of a URL, appearing after a colon (:) right after the domain name. Every
service on an Internet server listens on a particular port number on that
server. Most services have standard port numbers, e.g. Web servers normally
listen on port 80. |
| port iii |
Finally, port also refers to translating a piece of software to
bring it from one type of computer system to another, e.g. to translate a
Windows program so that it will run on a Macintosh. See Also: Domain Name ,
Server , URL |
| portability |
The ease with which the application system can be transported from
one piece of computer hardware to another, or from one piece of operating
software to another |
| Portal |
Usually used as a marketing term to described a Web site that is or
is intended to be the first place people see when using the Web. Typically a
"Portal site" has a catalogue of web sites, a search engine, or both. A Portal
site may also offer email and other service to entice people to use that site
as their main "point of entry" (hence "portal") to the Web. |
| post implementation review |
A review between 6-12 months after a system in a project has met
its objectives and the system continues to meet user requirements |
| Posting |
A single message entered into a network communications system. E.g.
note on newsgroup |
| PPP |
(Point to Point Protocol) -- Most well known as a protocol that
allows a computer to use a regular telephone line and a modem to make TCP/IP
connections and thus be really and truly on the Internet. |
| presence check |
One of the simplest forms of validation |
| protocol |
A set of programmed rules for communicating data between two or
more devices. There are protocols used for virtually every telecommunication
device. For example, internet connections rely on TCP/IP protocols and the
attendant Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP); e-mail is sent by use of Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). |
| pseudo real time processing |
Processing in which the results are available within a reasonable
time after the activity at hand. |
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