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[the vocabulary list]
	a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z Aa Alphabet: A fixed set of characters composed of the letters used in a written language. Analog: Referring to electronic transmission accomplished by adding signals of varying frequency or amplitude to carrier waves of a given frequency of alternating electromagnetic current. Analog copier: See photocopier. Analytical Engine: A computing machine designed by British mathematician Charles Babbage in 1833. Back to alphabet Bb Bit: The smallest piece of information that a computer handles. Block printing: one form of type printing. Back to alphabet Cc Cuneiform: A writing style that uses wedged-shaped elements. Back to alphabet Dd Digital: Describes electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in terms of two states: positive and non-positive. Positive is expressed or represented by the number 1 and non-positive by the number 0. Thus, data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0's and 1's. Each of these state digits is referred to as a bit. DVD: Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc is the next generation optical storage technology. Unlike a CD, which can only hold 660MB of information, a DVD can hold 4.7GB. Some of the later DVD discs will be able to hold as much as 17GB of information. Back to alphabet Ee E-commerce: Commercial activity that takes place by way of connected computers Back to alphabet Ff Fountain of Youth: A fabled fountain back in the days of Columbus, which had the power to make people stay young forever. Fountain pen: a pen containing a ink reservoir that continuously feeds the writing point. Back to alphabet Gg Back to alphabet Hh HDTV: A method of transmitting higher powered signals that produce a much sharper and clearer image on TVs made to receive HDTV signals. Back to alphabet Ii Ideographic: See cuneiform. Internet: A world wide network that allows anyone to send and receive information all over the world. Back to alphabet Jj Back to alphabet Kk Back to alphabet Ll Linotype: A machine that sets type on a metal slug operated by a keyboard. Loom: A loom designed to weave fabrics of intricate design whose control mechanism makes use of cards with holes punched in them (punch cards). Back to alphabet Mm Mark I calculator: The first electromechanical calculating machine. Media: a medium of cultivation, conveyance, or expression Memory: A part of the computer that can hold information for varying amounts of time. Micron: A unit of length equal to one millionth (10-6) of a meter. Microprocessor: An integrated circuit that contains the entire central processing unit of a computer on a single piece of silicon. MPEG-2: An extension of the MPEG-1 video compression standard that is used solely for DVD discs. Back to alphabet Nn Nanosecond: One billionth of a second. Back to alphabet Oo Operating Systems: The software that controls the allocation and usage of hardware resources such as memory, central processing unit, disk space, and peripheral devices. Optical cable: A technology for the transmission of light beams along optical fiber. Back to alphabet Pp Papyrus: A medium on which to write made from the pith or the stems of this sedge. Parchment: A writing medium made up of goatskin or sheepskin on which words or pictures can be made. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): A lightweight palmtop computer designed to provide specific functions like personal organization (calendar, note taking, database, calculator, and so on) as well as communications. Photocopier: A digital or analog machine for photographically reproducing written, printed, or graphic material. Pictographic: A picture representing a word or idea. Punched Cards: A medium for feeding data into a computer, essentially a card punched with holes or notches to represent letters and numbers or with a pattern of holes to represent related data. Back to alphabet Qq Quill pen: a pen that way made from goose, turkey or crow feathers. Back to alphabet Rr Rag paper: paper that was often made out of silk, cotton or other cloth materials. Rotary press: A printing press consisting of curved plates attached to a revolving cylinder that prints onto a continuous roll of paper. Back to alphabet Ss Spark-gap transmitter: A source of alternating current, especially a now obsolete radio transmitter, that derives its output from the oscillating discharge of a capacitor to an inductor and across a spark gap. Back to alphabet Tt TCP/IP: A protocol developed for communications between computers. Telecommuting: Working at home using a computer that is connected to ones business. Telegraph: A communications system that transmits and receives simple unmodulated electric impulses, especially one in which the transmission and reception stations are directly connected by wires. Transistor: A solid-state circuit component, usually with three leads, that can serve many functions, including those of amplifier, switch, and oscillator. Typesetting: To set written material into type. Back to alphabet Uu Vacuum tubes: An electron tube from which all or most of the gas has been removed, permitting electrons to move with low interaction with any remaining gas molecules. Back to alphabet Vv Back to alphabet Ww World Wide Web (WWW): The total set of interlinked hypertext documents residing on HTTP servers all around the world. Back to alphabet Xx Back to alphabet Yy Back to alphabet Zz Back to alphabet

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