Basic Computer Terms and Their Meanings.

Here are few tips on computer and their meanings.

screen resolution

measures how clear and detailed the image is.

script

Computer: small subprogram Languages : the lettering system for writing a language. Latin script is used by English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. Cyrillic script is used by Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and other Slavic languages.

scrolling

graphical interface: moving document around within window;   text interface: moving the lines displayed on the screen up or down one line at a time

search

look for specific word(s) or character(s) in a document

sector

a numbered wedge-shaped area of a storage disk

seek time

time it takes to move the read/write head of a drive to the proper track on the storage disk. Measured in milliseconds (ms)

semiconductor

integrated circuit on a chip. This is what modern computers use for memory

serial printer cable

sends data only 1 bit at a time. Printer can be up to 1000 feet from the computer.

server

a computer which handles network tasks and data

settling time

time for read/write head to lower to the storage disk and cease vibrating, allowing reliable reading and writing. Measured in milliseconds (ms)

shading

background color or pattern of a table

shareware

software which you may try for a limited time before purchasing

shut down

close all background programs and turn off computer

single sheet paper

regular letter paper

single-sided disk

only one surface of the storage disk is used.

slack space

unused space in a cluster beyond the data stored in it.

slide

a single picture or screen in a sequence for a presentation

smart terminal

also called intelligent or programmable. Can process or store data on its own.

smart card

credit card type card which has an embedded computer chip that updates your account values with each use.

soft copy

displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means

software

the programs (instructions) that tell the computer what to do

spacing

space between letters or lines of text

speaker dependent system

a voice input system which must be trained to recognize each word by each individual user.

speaker independent system

a voice input system which recognizes words from most speakers with no training.

spell checker

program which looks for spelling errors

spike

see power spike

spreadsheet

program for handling numeric data, like budgets, financial statements, grade sheets, and sales records

SQL

Structured Query Language - the language for commands that create database queries

star configuration

network configuration where all devices are connected directly to the host computer

storage

the media and methods used to keep information available for later use

style sheets

saved sets of formats to reuse

suite

a set of separate applications which are packaged together usually at a lower price than they would cost separately. Also may have some additional software to help the programs work together.

supercomputer

used for weather forecasting, engineering design and testing, serious decryption. They cost several million dollars so they are few and far between.

surge

see power surge

surge protector

device that blocks power spikes

SVGA

Super VGA, a video type allowing several large resolutions and 16 million colors.

swap file

file used for virtual memory in Windows

swap

moving data from main memory to virtual memory and back

system clock

electronic pulse used to synchronize processing. Measured in megahertz (MHz)

system software

programs that handle the running of your computer's hardware

system requirements

hardware needed to run the program

systems analyst

designs the overall program requirements and sets the strategy for the program.