Technology / Computers Glossary

Config.SYS: The configuration file for DOS systems. Each time a DOS computer boots up, it reads from the CONFIG.SYS file (if present) and will execute any prewritten commands. A couple of the most commo . . . View Full Definition

Constraint: A data rule that limits a searches possibilities through preset algorithms. The constraint could include an algorithm that would rule out certain data relationships allowing the search to pr . . . View Full Definition

Contrast Ratio: This is a dynamic range measurement method. It measures the contrast ratio as it applies to images and text. Detailed images have a higher contrast ratio.

Controller: A controller is a device responsible for transferring data from a computer system to peripheral device or in reverse. Each device within a computer system has a dedicated controller. The con . . . View Full Definition

Controller Card: A card or adapter containing the controlling electronics for one or more devices like hard disks, typically placed in an expansion slot.

Conventional Memory: In a DOS environment, this would refer to a memory portion that is made available to DOS programs. In a typical DOS system, there is 1MB (megabyte) of address space available. Conventional M . . . View Full Definition

Core Speed: The internal speed of a processor. Faster than the system's bus speed and regulated by the clock multiplier in the processor.

CPE: This refers to ports or other equipment supplied by the manufacture so that the end user can connect to a network. A typically supplied CPE is either a switch or a router.

Crash: A malfunction that can be hardware or software related that brings work to a halt. Most are software related and rebooting the machine will resolve the problem, but data loss is common.

Critical Mass: The scale or volume at which processes become self-perpetuating. In Web publishing, it is said that after achieving a certain amount of material and resources, it will create a self-sustaini . . . View Full Definition

Cursor: A cursor is a blinking indicator designed to mark the place of text where a person may be working within a document.

Customer Information Control System (CICS): Customer Information Control System. A general purpose IBM mainframe-based transaction management system. CICS is one of IBM's most widely used database - data communications subsystems.

Cyberpunk: The term Cyberpunk could be used to describe an individual that hacks their way in to computer system with the intent of stealing or destroying the information in the system. It term was act . . . View Full Definition

Cyberspace: Author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer describes a more highly developed form of the Internet and who originally coined the term Cyberspace. The word Cyberspace is currently used to . . . View Full Definition

Daemon: This refers to a program that is designed to run continuously in the background and is activated by a particular event. Examples of Daemons are: mail server daemons, web server daemons or pr . . . View Full Definition

Daisy Chain: A hardware configuration in which devices are connected one to another in a series. The SCSI interface , for example, supports a daisy chain of up to 7 devices.

Data: This refers to the information that is stored on a computer system.

Data Bus: Data Buses are used on a systems motherboard and contain a group of parallel conductors also known as circuit traces. Data Buses are used by the CPU to transmit and receive data from all con . . . View Full Definition

Data Communications: The moving or sharing of encoded information between two or more data sources using an electronic medium.

Data Conversion: Refers to translating data from one format to another. It is most commonly used to reformat data that is being transferred from one system to another so that the receiving system can interpr . . . View Full Definition

Data Mining: Sorting through data to identify patterns and establish relationships. Data mining parameters include Association - looking for patterns where one event is connected to another event., Seque . . . View Full Definition

Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS): This is a cable modem standard that was developed by CableLabs. It handles the incoming and outgoing data signals between cable TV networks, personal computers or television sets.

Data Rate: A speed measurement that calculates how fast information is moved from one place to another. This is usually measured in bits.

Data Striping: A method of separating data from one disk drive and distributing it across several hard disks. The benefits of Data Striping are When a processor is capable of reading or writing faster than . . . View Full Definition

Database: Anything that accepts data is a database. A pile of newspapers is a database. A computer database has the ability to manipulate that data. It is possible to attach applications to that datab . . . View Full Definition

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