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DSST Computers #8
Question | Answer |
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802.16 | Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. Newer network standard developed by IEEE that specifies how wireless devices communicate over the air in a wide area. See also WiMAX. |
ATM | Short for Asynchronous Transfer Mode; service that carries voice, data, video, and multimedia at very high speeds. |
Bandwith | The amount of data, instructions, and information that can travel over a communications channel. |
Bluetooth | Network standard, specifically a protocol, that defines how two Bluetooth devices use short-range radio waves to transmit data. |
Broadband | Type of media that transmits multiple signals simultaneously. |
Broadcast Radio | Wireless transmission medium that distributes radio signals through the air over long distances such as between cities, regions, and countries and short distances such as within an office or home. |
Bus Network | Type of network topology in which a single central cable connects all computers and other devices. |
Cable Modem | Digital modem that sends and receives digital data over the cable television (CATV) network. Also called a broadband modem. |
Cellular Radio | Form of broadcast radio that is used widely for mobile communications, specifically wireless modems and cellular telephones. |
Client/server Network | Network in which one or more computers act as a server, and the other computers on the network request services from the server. |
Clients | Other computers and mobile devices on a network that rely on a server for its resources. |
Coaxial Cable | A single copper wire surrounded by at least three layers: (1) an insulating material, (2) a woven or braided metal, and (3) a plastic outer coating. See also coax. |
Collaborate | Work online with other users connected to a server. |
Collaborative Software | Software that includes tools that enable users to share documents via online meetings and communicate with other connected users. |
Communications | Process in which two or more computers or devices transfer data, instructions, and information. |
Communications Channel | Transmission media on which data, instructions, or information travel. |
Communications Device | Any type of hardware capable of transmitting data, instructions, and information between a sending device and a receiving device. |
Communications Satellite | Space station that receives microwave signals from an earth-based station, amplifies (strengthens) the signals, and broadcasts the signals back over a wide area to any number of earth-based stations. |
Communications Software | Programs that (1) help users establish a connection to another computer or network; (2) manage the transmission of data, instructions, and information; and (3) provide an interface for users to communicate with one another. |
Cybercafe | Coffee house, restaurant, or other location that provides personal computers with Internet access to its customers. |
Dedicated Line | Type of always-on connection that is established between two communications devices (unlike a dial-up line where the connection is reestablished each time it is used). |
Dial-Up Line | Temporary connection that uses one or more analog telephone lines for communications. |
Dial-Up Modem | Communications device that can convert digital signals to analog signals and analog signals to digital signals, so that data can travel along an analog telephone line. |
Digital Modem | Communications device that sends and receives data and information to and from a digital line. |
Document Management System | System for storage and management of a company's documents, such as word processing documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. |
DSL | Type of digital technology that provides high-speed Internet connections using regular copper telephone lines. |
DSL modem | Modem that sends digital data and information from a computer to a DSL line and receives digital data and information from a DSL line. |
Ethernet | Network standard that specifies no central computer or device on the network should control when data can be transmitted. |
fiber-optic cable | Dozens or hundreds of thin strands of glass or plastic that use light to transmit signals. |
FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) | Dedicated line that uses fiber-optic cable to provide extremely high-speed Internet access to a user's physical permanent location. |
global positioning system (GPS) | Navigation system that consists of one or more earth-based receivers that accept and analyze signals sent by satellites in order to determine the receiver's geographic location. |
Groupware | Software that helps groups of people work together on projects and share information over a network. |
home network | Network consisting of multiple devices and computers connected together in a home. |
hot spot | Wireless network that provides Internet connections to mobile computers and other devices. |
Intranet | An internal network that uses Internet technologies. |
IrDA | Network standard used to transmit data wirelessly via infrared (IR) light waves. |
ISDN modem | Modem that sends digital data and information from a computer to an ISDN line and receives digital data and information from an ISDN line. |
local area network (LAN) | Network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as a home, school computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings. |
Mashup | Web application that combines services from two or more sources, creating a new application. |
metropolitan area network (MAN) | High-speed network that connects local area networks in a metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region. |
Microwaves | Radio waves that provide a high-speed signal transmission. |
Network | Collection of computers and devices connected together via communications devices and transmission media, allowing computers to share resources. |
network card | Communications device that enables a computer or device that does not have built-in networking capability to access a network. |
network topology | Layout of computers and devices in a communications network. |
Noise | Electrical disturbance that can degrade communications. |
P2P | Type of peer-to-peer network on which users access each other's hard disks and exchange files directly over the Internet. See also file sharing network. |
peer-to-peer network | Simple, inexpensive network that typically connects fewer than 10 computers. |
picture messaging | Wireless messaging service that allows users to send pictures and sound files, as well as short text messages to a phone, a computer, or other mobile device. |
receiving device | Device that accepts the transmission of data, instructions, or information. |
ring network | Type of network topology in which a cable forms a closed loop (ring) with all computers and devices arranged along the ring. |
Router | Communications device that connects multiple computers or other routers together and transmits data to its correct destination on a network. |
sending device | Device that initiates instructions to transmit data, instructions, or information. |
Server | Computer that controls access to the hardware, software, and other resources on a network and provides a centralized storage area for programs, data, and information. See also host computer. |
star network | Type of network topology in which all computers and devices on the network connect to a central device, thus forming a star. |
T-carrier line | Any of several types of long-distance digital telephone lines that carry multiple signals over a single communications line. |
T1 line | The most popular T-carrier line. |
TCP/IP | Short for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol; network standard, specifically a protocol, that defines how messages (data) are routed from one end of a network to the other, ensuring the data arrives correctly. |
text messaging | Service that allows users to send and receive short text messages on a phone or other mobile device. Also called SMS (short message service). |
token ring | Network standard in which computers and devices on the network share or pass a special signal, called a token, in a unidirectional manner and in a preset order. |
transmission media | Materials or substances capable of carrying one or more signals in a communications channel. |
twisted-pair cable | Transmission media that consists of one or more twisted-pair wires bundled together. |
UWB (ultra-wideband) | Network standard that specifies how two UWB devices use short-range radio waves to communicate at high speeds with each other. |
value-added network (VAN) | Third-party business that provides networking services such as secure data and information transfer, storage, e-mail, and management reports. |
video messaging | Wireless messaging service that allows users to send short video clips, usually about 15 seconds, in addition to all picture messaging services |
visual voice mail | Voice mail feature that allows users to view message details such as the length of calls and, in some cases, read message contents instead of listening to them. |
voice mail | Service that functions much like an answering machine, allowing a user to leave a voice message for one or more people. |
Web conference | Online meeting that takes place on the Web. |
Web services | Set of software technologies that allows businesses to create products and B2B (business-to-business) interactions over the Internet. |
wide area network (WAN) | Network that covers a large geographic area (such as a city, country, or the world) using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves. |
WiMAX | Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. Newer network standard developed by IEEE that specifies how wireless devices communicate over the air in a wide area. See also 802.16. |
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) | Network standard, specifically a protocol, that specifies how some wireless mobile devices such as smart phones can display the content of Internet services such as the Web, e-mail, and chat rooms. |
Wireless | Internet access point Location where people can connect wirelessly to the Internet using mobile computers, smart phones, handheld game consoles, or other devices. |
wireless LAN (WLAN) | Local area network that uses no physical wires. |
wireless modem | Modem that allows access to the Web wirelessly from a notebook computer, PDA, smart phone, or other mobile device. |