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F
connector - Type of
round, screw-on cable connector most often seen with coaxial cable
Facsimile
- Method for
transmitting the image or a page from one point to another. Commonly
referred to as a fax.
Fail
Safe System - A system
protected from breaking down under any circumstances however usually in
most cases systems are build to be "fault tolerant," because it
can be very expensive to make a Fail Safe
Fail-Soft
System - System
designed to shut down nonessential components if issue with computer but
keep important programs running as long as possible.
Failure
- Issue with the
computer that makes it not perform properly
Farad
- The basic measuring
unit of capacitance.
Fan
- Device that keeps
Fan
Fold paper - Type of
paper usually used in continuous feed printers. Once printed on this
paper can be torn into individual sheets .
Fast
Ethernet -
Communications protocol that enables computers on a local-area network to
share information with one another at rates of 100 million bits per
second instead of the standard 10 million BPS.
Fast
SCSI - Refers to
high-speed synchronous transfer capability. It can transfer data at rates
up to 10MB per second on an 8-bit SCSI cable. Wider SCSI cables can
transfer at a range of 20MB to 40MB per second. See SCSI
for additional information and specs.
Fat
- File allocation
table, method used by MS-DOS to keep track of the contents of a disk the
table is a chart of numbers that correspond to cluster addresses on the
hard drive.
Fat
32 - Enchanced File
allocation table, first used in Windows 95 OSR2 and more so in Windows 98
that saves disk space by using 4k Cluster. See FAT32
Page for extended information.
Fatal
error - Error that
causes an operating system to crash.
Fault
- A malfunction. Most
often refers to glitches in a network system, but also can refer to
individual computers.
Fault
tolerance - The
ability that allows a computer to suffer some types of faults with out
loosing data.
Fax
- Transmission of
graphics of text and graphics over the phone line, also refereed to as
telecopying.
Fax
broadcast - Sending a
single fax document to several people at once.
Fax-on-demand
- System that can be
setup so callers over the phone can requests fax's to be sent with a
touch tone phone. Also could be known as fax retrieval.
Fax/modem
- Communication
deceive that allows a PC to fax documents receive documents
Fax
Mode - The mode in
which the faxmodem is capable of sending and receiving files in a
facsimile format.
Fax
server - A computer
dedicated to sending and receiving faxes for a group of networked
computers.
FCC
- (Federal
Communications Commission) - The U.S. government agency that regulates
interstate and international communications, including
telecommunications. It was created by the Communications Act of 1934 to
regulate the use of airwaves proliferation of the Internet, online
services, and Internet telephony, the FCC has been forced to deal with
computer-related communications as well.
FDD
- Acronym for floppy
disk drive.
FDHS
- Acronym for Floppy
drive high density
FDISK
- (Pronounced eff-disk)
External DOS utility that is used to configure the fixed disk. Allows you
to delete, create, partition different partitions of the hard drive.
Feather
- Graphic effect that
causes an image to fade at its edges to meet with the background.
Feature
- Desirable or
otherwise notable aspect of an application or piece of hardware. An
example of a feature would be built in dictionary on a software
application or a fast modem in a computer.
Feed
- To continuously
input materials or data into a computer or other device. Such as Paper
can be fed into a printer.
Feedback
- Routing part of an
output signal back to the input of the device. For example, when sounds
from a speaker make their way back to the the microphone causing a loop
that builds up causing the speakers to squeal.
Feeder
cable - Word to
describe many large wire bundles of different types.
Female
connector - Cable
connector that includes a receptacle or receptacles for pins. Simply
holes instead of pins.
Ferric
oxide - Substance
commonly used to make magnetic data storage media used in 3.5" and
5.25".
Fetch
- The act of
retrieving a bit of information from memory and putting it in a
microprocessor's register, the basic function of a computer.
Fiber
distributed data interface (FDDI) - Standard developed by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) for fiber-optic networks.
Fiber-optic
- Hollow cables that
carry pulses of light to transmit digital information. Fiber optics is
much faster than standard electronics because these transmission travel
at the speed of light. A single fiber-optic strand also can carry far
more independent streams of data than is possible with wire cables.
FidoNet
- Network of bulletin
board systems that can exchange E-mail and other files based upon a
protocol developed in the mid - 1980s by the system operators of the
original BBS software Fido.
Field
- An individual item
of information in a database. A field may contain the name, address,
phone number, and account number of an individual who purchased an
automobile.
FIF
- Refer to Fractal
Image Format.
FIFO
- Acronym for first
in, first out.
File
- Information stored
as a series of bits organized in a way that can be recognized by computer
software.
File
allocation table (FAT)
- The method that MS-DOS uses to
keep track of the contents of the hard drive. The table is a chart of
numbers that correspond to cluster addresses on the disk.. When you or
the program you're using requests a file, DOS searches from address to
address in the FAT to find out where a file's clusters are stored on
disk. It then goes to the disk to collect each cluster information. Also
see our FAT32 Page
File
attribute - Settings
associated with files that can be used with DOS and windows to keep tabs
of various files on the computer. Read, Archive, System, and Hidden are
the attributes that can be added to files in DOS / < Windows 98,
Windows NT has these attributes and can have other attributes for Network
settings.
Read - Allows the file just to be read but nothing can be written to the
file
Archive - Tells Windows backup to backup the file
System
- System file
Hidden
- File will not be shown doing a regular dir from DOS.
File
conversion - The
process of converting one type of files into another type such as
transferring files that would be used in Microsoft Word to WordPerfect.
File
extension - An
extension that can serve as an additional identifier for a file. Such as
a file that ends with txt to be associated with Notepad / Wordpad.
File
format - The type of
format that the file is written to allow the program working in as well
as other programs to read the file properly. Some files may be
proprietary so when opened by another program it will either give an
error message not able to read from the file or it will bring up a bunch
of garbage. Files such as *.DOC can usually be only read by Word, and
sometimes WordPerfect however in other applications will not be able to
be read properly.
File
fragmentation -
Situation in which various parts of a file are scattered around many
sectors of a diskette or disk drive. A computer can keep track of where
all the segments are located but tracking them down can slow read / write
operations. Operating system such as DOS and Windows come with utilities
such as "defrag" that will allow you to chronologically
organize the information on your hard drive.
File
handle - Temporary
name assigned to an open file by the operating system. During the time
the file is in use, the operating system can access it through the
handle. Users normally don't have access to these handles.
File
Layout - Arrangement
of files in a database.
File
maintenance - Routine
of changes, updates, copying, moving, and or deleting a file occasionally
on the computer.
File
Manager - Program
included in Windows that allows users of a computer to view the contents
of a storage medium, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, or floppy.
File
name - The complete
title of a file and or extension such as readme.txt.
File
not found - Error
message generated when looking for a file that does not exist.
File
protection - Methods
used in protecting valuable data on computers.
File
protect ring - Plastic
ring used to protect magnetic tape files.
File
recovery - Process of
rebuilding lost files from a disk or hard drive after a malfunction /
deletion of files from a storage medium.
File
server - Computer on a
local-area network (LAN) that provides network users with access to
shared data and program files. A file server is sometimes a standard
personal computer, but also can be a dedicated system with fast
microprocessor and large hard drive(s) designed for use as a file server.
File
sharing - Multiple
computers accessing the same information residing in the same location,
usually over a network.
File
size - The measure of
space a file takes up on a storage medium or in a computer memory. File
sizes are measured in bytes (B), kilobytes (KB), megabytes (M), gigabytes
(GB), terabytes (TB).
File
system - Method used
to organize and retrieve files from a storage medium such as a hard
drive. File systems usually consist of files separated into groups called
directories. Directories can contain subdirectories, and continue on.
File
transfer - Moving the
data that makes up a computer file from one storage medium or location to
another.
File-Transfer
Protocol (FTP) - A
standard way to transfer files between computers. The method has built-in
error checking. FTP often refers to a standard way of transferring many
types of files over the Internet.
File-Transfer
Protocol site - A computer, usually connected to the Internet, that
offers files to others through anonymous File Transfer Protocol.
File
type - Label
designated a file as a certain kind of file. See file extension for more
information.
File
viewer - Software that
can display the information stored in a certain kind of file. For
example, the Windows notepad can display certain text files just as a
graphics file can display certain graphics files such as GIF or JPEG.
Fill
- Related to graphics
the fill means to place a certain color or pattern that can fill a
section of an image. Related to spreadsheet the fill word means to copy
several formulas or values from one cell to many.
Filter
- Program that reads
data in a standard way but transforms it to fit another output pattern.
Such as a word processor saving the file as another type.
Find
- program or command
within a program that allows you to find an object within that program(s).
Finder
- Older Apple
Macintosh systems finder used to interface portion of the system
software. Finder has now been replaced by Multifinder.
Finger
- Program used mainly
on the internet to find out information about a particular user(s).
Firewall
- Software or hardware
that limits certain kinds of access to a computer from a network or other
outside source.
FireWire
(IEEE 1394) - The next
technology of BUS created by . FireWire has a bandwidth of 400-1000 Mbits
per second and can handle up to 63 units on the same BUS and is hot
swapable.
Firmware
- Program stored in a
computer's read-only memory (ROM) or elsewhere in a computer's circuitry.
Firmware programs remain even when the computer's power is turned off.
Usually the firmware deals with the BIOS. Unlike normal software Firmware
cannot be changed by the user.
First
in, first out (FIFO) -
Method of processing data in which items are processed in the order they
are received.
First-line
indent - Indent (Tab)on
the first line of the paragraph.
Fixed
disk - Term commonly
used with Hard drives because most hard drives are commonly designed to
not be removed from the computer.
Fixed-frequency
monitor - A computer
display monitor that will only run from a certain type of signal from
within a limited frequency range. Other types of monitors such as multi
scanning monitors which can operate from a variety of signals.
Fixed
storage - Storage
medium not meant to be removed from its location, such as a hard drive.
Flag
- Bit of information
usually thought of as "on" / "off", "1" /
"0". An example of a flag could be something such as
TileWallPaper=0 where this file is telling the program (Windows) not to
tile the background.
Flame
- An argumentative
newsgroup posting or E-mail message in response to another posting or
message. Flames range from satirical witticisms and sarcasm to vicious
name-calling.
Flash
BIOS - A BIOS (Basic
Input Output System) chip that is capable of being written on by
software. Older BIOS's required that the chip be replaced however with
the flash BIOS you can boot with a Flash Bios disk and update the BIOS
without having to even open the case.
Flash
erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM)
- (Pronounced EE-prom.) A type of EPROM (a re-writable chip) that is
easier to use and erase the standard version.
Flash
memory - Type of
computer memory developed by Intel Corp. Flash memory is integrated
circuit memory that does not need continuous power to retain the data
stored in memory. It is much more expensive than magnetic storage and is
therefore not practical as a replacement for current hard disks or
diskettes.
Flash
Session - Feature of
the commercial online service America Online that allows a computer to
automatically sign on to the services, send and retrieve E-mail and other
data, and then sign off. FlashSessions can save a user online charges
because they are the fastest way to sign on and check frequently accessed
departments such as E-mail.
Flatbed
plotter - Computerized
plotter in which an arm moves a pen over paper rather than having paper
move under the arm as with a drum plotter.
Flatbed
Scanner - Refer
Scanner
Flat
File - A file of data
that does not contain links to other files. The term is often used in
reference to non-relational databases. Relational databases are those in
which the user can define relationships between databases.
Flat-file
database - Database in
which there is no defined relationship between data files, as there is in
a relational database.
Flat-panel
display - Lightweight,
thin screens most often used in portable computers. Flat-panel displays
are not based upon the cathode-ray tubes technology rather usually use
Liquid-crystal display (LCD) technology.
Flat
screen - An attribute
of some computer monitors that means their display screens are flat which
are usually better technology and help to prevent glare on screens.
FLEX
- Modem Standard
Lucent and Rockwell on 11/15/96 announced their intention to make their
respective modem chip sets interoperable. By agreeing to interoperate,
Lucent & Rockwell are providing the industry with an interoperable
high speed modem protocol that will revolutionize Internet
communications. The interoperable high speed modem protocol is called K56flex
Flicker
- A shimmering
phenomenon of an on-screen image caused by rows of monitor pixels going
on and off. Severe flicker can cause eyestrain.
Flight
simulator - Type of
computer game that simulates the environment of a pilot in control of a
flying machine.
Floating
defects - Problem on a
disk that suddenly appears due to the drifting alignment of the drive
heads.
Floating-point
coprocessor -
Additional processor inside a computer that works with the CPU to perform
the calculations necessary for running programs. Floating-point
coprocessors are designed to perform calculations using floating-point
notations, which can speed up graphics and other math-intensive tasks.
Some systems based upon non-floating-point processors, such as Intel
Corp.'s 80386SX, allow users to add an extra floating-point coprocessor
to handle such operations, in this case the 80387. All Pentium and
Pentium II Processors have the FPU built within them.
Floating-point
notation - Method of
storing numeric calculations where the decimal point is not in a fixed
location. Floating point notation includes the digits of the number
(called the mantissa) and an exponent. For instance, a small number such
as 0.000023 can be written as 23E-6. A large number like 23,000,000 can
be written as 23E6. Floating-point processors are designed to perform
calculations using this type of shorthand notation.
Floating-point
operation per second (FLOPS)
- Measure of the number of loading point operations a microprocessor can
perform in one second.
Floating
Point Unit - Refer to
Floating Point Coprocessor.
Floppy
disk - Created
originally in the 1960's and 1970's to help prevent from buying hard
drives which at the time were extremely expansive and not thought of as
being used in a standard computer.
8"
Disk - The first disk
was introduced in 1971. The disk was 8" in diameter with a magnetic
coating, enclosed in a cardboard case with the capacity of one megabyte.
Conversely to hard disks, the heads actually touch
the disk, like in a cassette or video player which actually wears the
media.
5.25"
Disk - Created
in 1976 which first started with disks only with 160KB.
·
5.25" Single Side - 160KB
·
5.25" Double Side - 360KB
·
5.25" Double Side High Density
- 1.2MB
3.5"
Disk - Created
by IBM in 1987, which even today are still commonly used. Most 3
1/2" newer disks have a capacity of up to 1.44MB.
·
3.5" Double Density - 720KB
·
3.5" High Density - 1.44MB
·
3.5" Extended Density (IBM ONLY)
- 2.88MB
Floppy
disk controller -
Refer to Diskette drive controller.
Floppy
disk drive - Refer to
Diskette Drive.
Floptical
- Special type of
diskette, manufactured by Insight Peripherals Inc. This diskette stores
data magnetically like a standard diskette, but use a special optical
track to help align the read / write head of the 3.5-inch diskette drive.
Flopticals can hold 21MB of information.
Flow
chart - Graphical way
of representing a series of decisions and their resulting effects in the
order in which they might occur. Flowcharts make use of standardized
symbols to break down sometimes complicated processes into individual
steps.
Flow
Control - Mechanism
that compensates for differences in the flow of data into and out of a
modem or other device.
Flush
Left - Alignment of
the left side of the page, screen, or margin.
Flush
Right - Alignment of
the right side of the page, screen, or margin.
FM
synthesis - Refer to
sound card.
Folder
- With Apple Macintosh
computers, organized catalog of files and subfolders equivalent to PC
directories.
Folio
- Printed page number,
but not necessarily a physical location in a series of pages.
Font
- Design for a set of
characters, which includes typeface, point size, and weight.
Font
cartridge - Plug-in
cartridge containing font information in read-only memory (ROM). Some
brands of printers accept font cartridges, which enable the printer to
use more fonts then before.
Font
conversion - Process
of changing the fonts in a document to fonts that exist on the current
computer. Documents might be created on another machine with fonts not
available to the current machine with fonts not available to the current
machine
Font
editor - Program that
allows someone to edit and create there own fonts
Font
family - Variation of
a single typeface. For example, Times new roman, and Times new roman
bold, Windows 98 has the capability of hiding families and just
displaying one font when viewing the fonts.
Font
scaling - Ability of
some prints wherein the printer only needs the outline of a font to
create it in any required size.
Foo
File - Refer to
temporary file.
Footer
- Area at the bottom
of a document page that holds an element(s) common to several pages.
Users can edit the footer of one page to change all pages. Common use of
footers is page number.
Footprint
- Used by manufactures
to describe the size of equipment such as computers, hard disks, and
printers. If a computer has a small footprint, it takes up smaller amount
of desk space.
Forced
page break - Command
available in many word processors that tells the application to start a
new page. Usually this can be done by pressing Alt + Enter, or by going
up to insert and break.
Force
quit - Function keys
that allow you to quit out of the program or error. Usually Alt + ctrl +
del.
Foreground
- The foremost task or
object on a computer system, in an application, or on a network. Tasks in
the foreground are those the user is working on at the moment, which
usually have access to more microprocessor time.
Form
Feed - Button or
command on the printer that allows the advancement of a printer page.
Form
letter - A document
created mainly from standardized text but individualized with certain
names, numbers, or other data.
Format
- DOS command that
prepares a blank diskette or hard disk by first formatting the disk to
hold data.
Formula
- Expression telling
the computer which mathematical operation to perform upon a specific
value. Formulas are most often used in spreadsheet programs.
Forth
- Programming language
developed in the 1960's. The name comes from the fact it was believed to
be a forth-generation language.
FORTRAN
- A computer
programming language. The acronym stands for formula translator. FORTRAN
was one of the first programming languages, and forms of it still are
used today in some technical, scientific applications.
Forum
- Area on a electronic
bulletin board or online service where people with a common interest,
such as computers.
Forward
compatible - A piece
of hardware or software designed to ensure compatibility with future
versions of the same technology.
Forward
error correction -
Method to transmit data where special bits are transmitted before the
data packets to ensure the link is free of errors.
Forward
slash - The name of
the "/" character on the computer keyboard.
Four-color
process - Method of
printing in which a color image is built by successively adding varying
amounts of the four colors used in the printing process: black, cyan,
magenta, and yellow.
fps
- Refer to frames per
second.
FPU
- Refer to Floating
Point Unit.
Fractal
compression -
Compressing image files by converting them into mathematical equations.
This method can provide amazing compression rates but it also can be very
slow.
Fractal
Image Format - Graphics
file format from Iterated Systems
that uses fractal geometry to compress images. These fractals can be
expressed in mathematical terms, allowing an entire image to be recorded
as repeated patterns. This can reduce the file size to 1/100th of a
pixellated version.
Fractals
- One of three widely
used ways (the other two are raster and vector) to convert graphics into
data a computer can read any manipulate.
FRAM
- Type of
Random-access storage that employs a special magnetic film. The beauty of
FRAM is that it can store data for long periods of time without being
connected to a power supply.
Frame
- An edge or boundary
surrounding a computer graphic on the Internet, frames are defined areas
that can act as multiple separate browser windows within the same page.
In data communications term used for a block of data with a header and
trailer information attached. The added information usually includes a
frame number, a block size data, error-check codes, and start/end
indicators.
Frame
buffer - Part of a
computer's memory that holds the information necessary to display a
single screen image.
Frame
capture board -
Expansion board that is installed in a computer and to which a video
source, such as a laser disc player, a camcorder or VCR, or a television
cable or antenna is connected. The Frame capture board takes image from
the device and converts it into digital.
Frame
grabber - When a video
signal is run through a computer, this specialized device captures the on
screen frame and converts it into a image that can be stored, viewed, and
altered.
Frame
rate - The rate at
which frames, or individual pictures are updated in a video. Usually
measured in frames per second (fps). Motion in videos with high frame
rates appears more fluid than videos with low frame rates. About 30fps is
required to trick the human eye into seeing full motion.
Frames
per second (fps) - A
measurement of the speed a video switches from one frame to the next
sequential frame to create the appearance of a moving image.
Freenet
- Internet service
provider dedicated to providing free access to a group of people, usually
those in a specific geographical area.
Freeware
- Software available
at no cost to everyone through the Internet as long as it stays
un-modified.
Frequency
- The number of
oscillations in a current in one second, usually expressed in hertz.
Frequently
asked questions (FAQ's)
- List of questions and the answers to those questions that are asked the
frequently.
Friction
feed - Mechanism that
allows standard, cut paper to pass through a printer. The paper is held
in place by a roller or other device. Friction feed printers differ from
tractor feed printers, which require special paper with punched holes.
Front
end - Graphical user
interface that makes another program easier to use . The front end
replace the original program's commands with simpler commands, menus, or
icons. Windows 3.1 for example can be thought of as a front end for
MS-DOS.
Front
end processor -
Computer that handles input and output communications for large mainframe
computer, reducing the computers load.
Front
panel - The front of a
computer (sometimes removable) or other electronic device where the
on/off witch, reset buttons, and other knobs often are located, also can
be refereed to as front bezel.
Frozen
- The state in which a
computer appears to have stopped working when nothing on the screen
moves. Usually if you get into this mode pressing the ctrl + alt + del
will help to allow you to get out of this mode.
Fry
- To damage an
electronic component to by allowing too much electrical current to pass
through it, usually through esd.
FTP
- Refer to file
transfer protocol.
Full
backup - Backing up,
or saving all files from one storage medium to another medium, such as
from a hard drive to a tape drive. By doing a full backup this would
backup all files on the computers media usually doing a full backup on
hard drive would require a large media such as zip drive because of the
large amounts of data on a hard drive.
Full
Duplex - Signal will
flow in both directions at the same time over one line. In microcomputer
communications may refer to the suppression of the online local echo.
Full-duplex
transmission - The
transmission of data in two directions simultaneously. Telephone are
full-duplex devices, unlike most speakerphones, which are half-duplex.
Half-duplex devices only allow one person to talk at a time. Most modems
sold today are full-duplex. Also called duplex transmission.
Full-motion
video - Video playback
in which individual frames are changed at a rate of at least 30 frames
per second (fps). On a computer, video can play various frame speeds
depending upon system resources.
Full-page
display - Large
computer screen that allows an entire 8.5-inch by 11-inch page to be
shown at once without the need for scrolling.
Full-screen
- Occupying or being displayed across an entire computer screen.
Full-screen video, for instance, is displayed on the entire screen rather
then being contained in a small window.
Full-text
search - A search that
examines the entered.
Function
- A preset equation
used to perform mathematical financial, or statistical calculations in a
spreadsheet or database.
Function
call - Request by a
program to run a particular subroutine or another program. Many programs
are built of a main routine and functions that are called at various
times as needed.
Function
keys - Keys that act
as shortcuts for performing certain functions such as saving files or
printing data. Function keys usually are lined along the top of the
keyboard labeld F1 through F12, although some keyboards have fewer and
others may have more.
Fuse
- Semiconductor device
designed to fail if excessive current flows through the semiconductor.
Fuzzy logic - Logic where answers do not need to be absolutely true
or absolutely false, but can have a range of probability. Fuzzy logic is
used in artificial intelligence searching programs that return probable
matches from a database query along with sure matches.
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