|
Hacker
- Sophisticated computer user who spends lot of time at a computer.
Originally, it was referred to a person who wrote computer programs,
"hacking" up the digital code. Now hacker also is widely used
to refer to people who illegally break into other computer systems to do
damage, and steal information.
Half
Duplex - Signals will
flow in both directions, but only one way at a time. In microcomputer
communications, may refer to activation of the online local echo, which
causes the modem to send a copy of transmitted data to the screen of the
sending computer.
Half-duplex
transmission - The
transmission of data in only one direction at any given time. Most
speakerphones are half-duplex, and telephones are full-duplex, meaning
both people can talk at a time.
Half-height
drive - Drive that is
have the height of a standard diskette drive, hard drive, or cassette
drive. A half-height driver measures about 1-5 / 8 inch in height.
Halftone
- Desktop publishing, a halftone image is a way to create images using
dots, keeping the changes in the brightness and tone. For example, black
and white dots create different shades of gray-more black dots will
create a darker area.
Hamming
code - When data is
sent over the telephone lines, this method checks for and then corrects
errors in bits. To do so, it sends "check" bits at the end of
every four data bits.
Handheld
computer - Type of
personal computer that can be held in the palm of the user's hand. While
handheld computers usually do not have as much capability as a laptop
still can be useful for putting in information, calculator, schedule....
Handles
- When selecting a image the small black box's on all corners and edges
of the image that allow you to click and drag to make the image get
larger in the direction the black box is dragged.
Handshake
- Term that can be used in several areas of computer to refer to what two
devices do before they communicate with each other. Such as two modems
communicating with each other.
Hands-on
- Instead of learning passively about a program by reading books or being
taught by a teacher/professor. Hands-on allows you to actually touch and
operate the software or hardware pertaining to what you are learning.
Handwriting
recognition -
Technology that allows a computer to recognize and understand handwritten
text.
Hang
- Term used to when a computer stops operating when trying to run a
program, boot up, or close out of a program. Usually this can occur when
the computer has software or hardware conflictions.
Hanging
Indent - Instead of
the Indent being one tab to the right the first line would be one tab to
the left with the rest of the text being one tab to the right of it.
Happy
Mac - Small icon that
appears on the screen of an Apple Macintosh computer when the computer
recognizes a start-up disk. The icon looks like a old small Macintosh
with a smiley face on the screen.
Hard
card - Hard drive
storage device that you insert into an expansion slot or PCMCIA slot that
allows you to store information on that card. While hard cards do not
store as much as a normal hard drive it can usually access a lot faster.
Hard
code - Instructions
for a computer or device that are physically encoded and can't be
altered. Usually hard code is important instructions usually specific
operations of a device that require it to work in a limited way.
Hard
copy - Document
printed on paper or another physical media.
Hard
disk - Inflexible
platters inside a hard drive, the main data storage device in desktop
computers. Hard disks are the platters that what all information on the
hard drive is stored. Typically, a hard drive holds two to eight
platters.
Hard
disk Interleave -
Refer to Interleave
Hard
drive - Computers main
storage media device, also galled a hard disk drive or HDD. It consists
of rigid platters fixed inside a air seal casing. A hard drive can store
more information ad retrieve more data than a diskette. For instance a
hard drive can hold 2GB to 9GB of data, while a standard floppy can hold
1.44MB. Most hard drives are permanently stored in a drive bay at the
front of the computer and are connected with one IDE / SCSI cable and
power cable.
Hard
drive controller - The
interface between the hard drive and the rest of the computer that
synchronize read / write activities, allows the drive to communicate with
the rest of the computer, and permits the computer to access the drive.
On new hard drives, the hard drive controller built onto the hard drive.
Hard
error - Error that
occurs because of a hardware problem or because the computer tried to
work with a hardware device that was incompatible.
Hard
fonts - Out of date
term that refers to the typefaces programmed onto a plug-in module for a
printer, called a printer cartridge. Most newer printers today will used
soft fonts which are stored in the printers memory.
Hard
return - In a document
a hard return is when you press ENTER or RETURN key to proceed to the
beginning of the next line.
Hard
space - Space that is
inserted by the keyboard however is inserted as a invisible extended
character in a documented.
Hardware
- Any part of the computer that you can physically touch such as the
monitor, keyboard, printer, scanner, and much more.
Hardware-dependent
- Program or programming language that will work only with a specific
kind of hardware. Such as a program that will only work with a mouse and
not be able to be used without one.
Hardware
Interrupt - Request
from a computer component for software or microprocessor attention. Any
device in the computer cannot share the same Interrupt unless the devices
are not being used at the same time.
Hardware
key - Special devices
that will allow some computers or expensive software to only work if the
key is inserted or hooked up to the computer.
Hardware
monitor - Device that
is used to monitor a device(s) connected to the computer.
Hardwired
- Function built into a system's hardware, rather than the software, to
perform a task. The capability to perform a task can be built in through
an extra microchip instead of programming the task into software. Such as
a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video card, instead of relying on
the software to do the job the MPEG card can help to display video's.
Hashing
- Database indexing method that assigns information specific numeric
values or indexing keys to better locate the data. Hash indexes are more
compact and faster for exact searches, but they cannot do approximate
searches.
Hayes
compatible - Term used
to identify modems that can understand Hayes AT Command Set, a standard
that most modems now are designed to use.
Head
- The read / write head inside a disk drive that uses magnetic0electric
currents to store and access digital information on platters in the hard
drive.
Head
actuator - Refer to
actuator.
Heard
arm - Refer to access
arm.
Head
cleaning - Devices
designed to clean the read / write head on a diskette drive by removing
dust or debris with a cleaning material.
Head
crash - When the hard
drive is working, the read / write heads glide just above the platters
inside. A head crash usually occurs when the hard drive is physically
jarred, or if dust or other matter comes into contact with the disk or
read / write head, or when the computer is accidentally shut down while
the read / write heads are recording information to or accessing from the
disk. In a head crash the read / write heads will actually touch the
surface of a spinning platter which can cause it to be scratched which
can cause some or all data to be lost.
Head
electronics - The
circuits that power the actions of read / write heats, the head actuator,
and access arm.
Header
- Portion of an electronic message, ordinarily at the beginning of the
message, that routes it to its destination and often identifies the
sender. Also header can be referred to as text at the top of each page in
a document.
Head
positioning - Occurs
when read / write heads are moved into position inside a hard drive,
above portions of the disk platters to record or retrieve information.
Head
slot - The slot, hole
or opening at the top of a 5.25 and or 3.5 inch disk that allows access
to the magnetic disc inside. To get access to the head slot on a
3.5" diskette, the drive must move the metal cover off.
Head
switching - When a
hard drive switches from recording and retrieving with one read / write
head to performing the same action with another.
Heap
- Term used by programmers for the amount of memory a program needs
available for it to work. Heap memory has been set aside for a program to
request as needed to operate.
Heat
sink - Because newer
components / processors run faster generating more heat. Heat sinks are
devices / fans that are installed to absorb and eliminate the heat. Often
computer manufactures install these small metal devices on powerful
processors, such as the Pentiums and Pentium pros from over heating.
Help
- Menu item in most programs that provides electronic assistance. Usually
help can be accessed by pressing F1 in most Windows based software
programs.
Henry
- The basic measuring
unit of inductance.
Hercules
- Standard for graphics cards that indicates how to display images on a
monitor. Hercules was introduced in the early 1980s, developed by
Hercules Computer Technology for IBM computers. The standard called for a
resolution of 720 Pixels by 348 pixels on a monochrome monitor.
Hertz
(Hz) - Hertz equals
one cycle per second, measuring the waves or frequencies of electric
vibrations. Hertz is used to measure screen refresh rates and the speed
of a micro processor.
Heterogeneous
network - Network made
up of different types of computers, possibly including both IBM
compatibles and Macintosh computers.
Hewlett-Packard
Graphics Language (HPGL)
- Hewlett Packard Vector series graphics language used by HP plotter
printing devices. The file format is currently supported by most
IBM-compatible plotter devices for printing and storing graphics files.
Hexadecimal
numbering system -
Numbering system using combinations of 16 digits to represent all
numerical values. In addition to the 10 used in the familiar decimal
system (0 to 9), hexadecimal uses the letters A through F. For example
the decimal number 10 would be A in hexadecimal. The decimal number 17
would be written as 11 in hexadecimal. In computers hexadecimal numbers
are often used to describe memory addresses. Hexadecimal numbers are
sometimes followed by the letter H to avoid confusion with decimal
numbers.
Hidden
files - Files that
don't appear when you view a list of files usually system files for DOS
DIR, COPY, and DELETE commands. To view the hidden files you can use the
ATTRIB command.
Hierarchical
file system -
Tree-like system of folders and directories. At the roots of the tree is
the main directory, usually called the root directory.
Hierarchy
- Way of organizing information or objects in which related objects in
which related objects branch from one another in a tree-like shape. At
the bottom are the main, or most important files or data, branching out
to hold other directories files, or data.
High-definition
television (HDTV) -
New kind of television system that generates crisper and clearer images
than conventional television pictures and will bring hundreds more
channels into homes.
High-density
diskette - 3.5"
diskette capable of holding up to 1.44 megabytes of data or a 5.25"
diskette capable of holding up to 1.2 megabytes of data. Usually
high-density disks are marked with the initials HD. Packages of lower
density diskettes are usually labeled 2S/DD for "two-sided,
double-density."
High-level
data link control (HDLC)
- Communications protocol that organizes messages in frames and places
certain communications control factors in the same position every time.
High-level
format - Type of
formatting that initializes portion of a hard disk and creates important
DOS system areas on the disk. a high-level format does not physically
reformat the sectors on the disk like a low-level format does.
High-level
language - More
advanced computer programming language that isn't limited to being used
on one type of computer or for one specific job. Such languages include
BASIC, C, FORTAN, and Pascal.
Highlight
- Indication that a text block or an object has been selected with the
mouse or keyboard. Usually when highlighting text it will reverse the
currently selected colors, make them blue, or have doted or bold lines
around the selected object.
High-memory
area (HMA) - High
memory refers to the first 64KB of extended memory (which is above the
first 1MB of memory). You can swap programs out of conventional memory
into the high memory area and trick the computer into thinking you have
more conventional memory, increasing the amount of memory available for
your programs.
High-performance
file system (HPFS) -
File system used by OS/2 that supports long file names and large hard
drive.s The HPFS is an alternate storage method other then FAT that
allows Long file names and larger hard drives.
High-persistence
phosphor - Kind of
neon phosphor that glows longer after it is illuminated by monitor
electrons. You can find it in some CRT monitors, but most systems don't
use it because it's not desirable to have the onscreen image linger after
it is closed or a new one is brought up.
High
resolution - Term that
refers to monitors or printers that can produce high quality output
because they can generate more dots per inch. One monitor or printer may
have a higher quality because the resolution is higher.
High
Sierra - Format agreed
to by manufactures at the High Sierra Hotel & Casino in Lake Tahoe,
CA. This standard incorporated other operating systems including DOS,
UNIX, Macintosh, and others. Later this standard was called ISO 9660.
High-tech
- Term that refers to something new and on the cutting edge.
Histogram
- Chart with horizontal and / or vertical bars to indicate values.
Hologram
- Three-dimensional image that lets you view different sides and see
different dimensions of the image. Holograms are created by recording how
light hits an object, and images may be stored as s holograms for faster
access to information, because more data can be fit in less space than
conventional storage mediums.
Home
- In a text-based environment such as DOS, home refers to the uppermost
left corner of a screen. In a word processor(s), home can refer to the
beginning of the document, page, or current screen.
Home
computer - Computer
that is built and marketed by the manufacturer for use in the home by the
average consumer. Most home computers have medium-powered capabilities
(compared to powerful office systems), are usually packaged with
multimedia components, and include personal productivity, entertainment,
and educational software.
HOME
key - Key on the
keyboard usually above the end key on the keyboard to get you to the
beginning of the line or the beginning of the page / document.
Home
Page - Name for the
main page in a Web site where users can find hyperlinks to other pages in
the site. Usually from the Home page the viewer of the web site can get
linked to all sub pages.
Horizontal
scan rate - Speed at
which one line is drawn across the width of the screen, usually expressed
in Kilohertz [KHz].
Horizontal
scrolling - Ability to
move a document or spreadsheet beyond the limits of a screen to the left
or right of the screen.
Host
computer - Network
computer to which other computers in the network are connected. A host
computer can be set up to do the bulk of the computing on the network and
store files and databases.
Host
language - Refer to
native language.
Hotkey
- Key or combination of keys such as Alt and a alpha letter such as Alt +
F which would get to the drop down menu for file. Usually a hot key is
represented by a letter that is underlined.
Hotlink
- Connection between programs that lets the user change information in
one program while the computer changes the same information in the
program linked to it.
Hot
Spot - On-screen
location that may be linked to a command or action. For instance an icon
or highlighted word might be linked to a video or to another program.
Hot
Swappable - The
capability of being able to disconnect and connect devices while the
computer is on and have those devices be detected without having to
re-boot the computer. USB and FireWire are examples of Interfaces that
allow this to be done.
Housekeeping
- Besides the common meaning housekeeping also refers to optimizing your
hard drive, getting rid of old or unused files, or making sure the system
clock is running on time.
HPFS
- Refer to high-performance file system.
HPGL
- Refer to Hewlett Packard Graphics Language
HSB
- Acronym for huge, saturation, and brightness. The term is used in
computer graphics to describe color.
HTML
- Refer to Hypertext Markup Language
HTTP
- Refer to Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
Hub
- Device that connects two or more network devices so they can
communicate. In other words, a point on the network where multiple
devices are connected to each other.
Hue
- Shade of color, combined with the brightness, contrast, and sharpness
of a graphics,photo image, or a virtual reality image.
Huffman
code - One of the
earliest methods of data compression, the Huffman code is based on how
often elements appear.
Hybrid
computer - Computer
that can work with both digital and analog signals. Usually hybrid
computers convert analog signals to digital signals so the information
can be processed. These expensive, specialized computers are used in
engineering and robots to control processes.
Hypercard
- Hypertext
programming environment for the Macintosh introduced by Apple in 1987.
The Hypercard model consists of cards, and collections of cards, called
stacks. You can connect the cards in various ways, and move through them
the way you would with a set of Rolodex cards. In addition to data, each
card can contain graphics and buttons that trigger other events, such as
sound and or video.
Hyperlink
- Icon, graphic, or word in a file that, when clicked on with the mouse,
automatically opens another file for viewing. World Wide Web pages often
include hyperlinks that display other Web pages when selected by the
user. Usually these hyper linked pages are related in some way to the
first page.
Hypermedia
- The joining of video, sound, graphics, animation, and or other elements
to form a non sequential association of topics. Rather than moving in a
linear or sequential format, hypermedia allows the human through process
to make associations between topics.
Hypertext
- Hyper linked text in a file that, when clicked on by the mouse or
otherwise selected, causes the automatic display of a related file. World
Wide Web pages are filled with hyper text and other hyperlinks.
Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML)
- Language used to create electronic documents, especially pages on the
World Wide Web, that contain connections called hyperlinks.
Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
- Set of standards that let users of the World Wide Web to exchange
information found in Web pages. Web browser software is used to read
documents formatted and delivered according to HTTP. The beginning of
every web address that is "http://",
tells the browser that the address document is HTTP-compatible.
Hyphen
- Punctuation used to split words or connect adjectives. The symbol can
also be referred to as a negative or a minus "-".
Hz -
Refer to Hertz.
|
