Have you always wonder what TWAIN meant? What is the difference between a bit and a byte? Look no further, the answers are here!
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AMPS |
If you are looking to buy or already own a cellular phone, then
this acronym should mean something to you. The letters AMPS, otherwise known
as analogue, stand for Advanced Mobile Phone System. This is older cell
phone technology, dating back to the early 1980s. The AMPS uses radio
wavelengths to transmit telephone calls.
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ASCII |
Whether you want to know how to write a cent symbol or you are
interested in producing fancy graphic art in your signature line, American
Standard Code for Information Interchange holds the answer. ASCII is a code.
In the code, every character in the English language, mathematical symbols
and various other graphics are assigned a number from 0 to 255. If you are
looking for an ASCII character map, check out the MSDN Library.
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BIT |
The binary digit is the smallest component of computer storage.
When lumped together, bits make characters, bytes, or words. Eight bits
make one byte and equals one alphanumeric character.
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BYTE |
Eight bits make one byte. One byte represents an alphanumeric
character.
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| CD-R |
You’re right if you guessed that the CD in CD-R stands for
compact disk. It’s the “R” that has you wondering, right? Well, wonder no
more. The “R” refers to “recordable.” CD-R disks can be written once, but
they can never be erased. They are cheaper and more often compatible than
their upgraded counterpart, CD-RW. |
| CD-ROM
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The compact disk read only memory can contain graphics, text
and sound. It holds 650MB of data. CD-ROMs cannot be played in
conventional CD players, but CD-ROM players can play audio CDs.
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| CD-RW |
If you want to write on a disk, erase the disk and write some
more, then you want a compact disk -- rewritable (CD-RW). These disks can be
written hundreds of times. They are more expensive and less compatible than
their simpler counterpart, the CD-R.
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CPU |
The central processing unit of a computer is the brain of the
outfit. In other words, CPU is the mainframe. Many people refer to the
entire case of the computer as the CPU, when in actuality it is a single
chip.
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DSL |
Is your dial-up Internet connection frustrating you? Then it
might be time for a digital subscriber line from your local phone company.
DSL works on regular phone lines, transferring data and voice at the same
time, using different frequencies. The data comes in a continuous stream,
eliminating the need for connection and increasing the speed at which you
will receive information. DSL costs roughly twice what you would pay for a
premium dial-up Internet Service Provider (ISP).
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DVD |
Need a new VCR? Try looking for a digital versatile disk
player, instead. This is the future of VCR, CD-ROM and even audio CDs.
Able to hold a full 133 min. movie on just one of its two sides, the DVD can
hold up to 28 times more information than a CD-ROM. Images produced by the
DVD are four times sharper than the current video images and can be
delivered twice as fast.
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| DVD-ROM
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Your CD-ROM’s days are numbered. The digital versatile
disk – read only memory will soon be in every new computer, able to play
both CD-ROM disks and DVD disks. |
| DVD-RW |
If you use or want to use digital versatile disc (DVD)
technology and you want to write your own DVD discs, then make sure you have
a DVD-RW, a digital versatile disc – rewriteable. |
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EDTV |
Enhanced Definition Televisions are digital TVs with a
performance level that’s a step above a Standard Definition Television
(SDTV) and a step below a High Definition Television (HDTV).
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FTP |
A file transfer protocol is the set of rules used to successfully
transmit files of all types, including binary and ASCII text files.
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Gb |
A gigabit is equal to one billion bits.
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GB |
A gigabyte is equal to one billion bytes.
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GHz |
A gigahertz equals one billion electrical vibrations per
second.
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GIF |
Whether you're sending pictures of the kids to relatives around
the world or building your own web page, Graphics Interchange Format is
something you should be familiar with. The GIF is a file format used to
store images. Because GIFs display only 256 colors, they are best used for
line art, icons and logos. (Photographs look best when they are displayed in
thousands of colors – JPEG – and can be blotchy when displayed as
GIFs.)
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GPS |
The U.S. Department of Defense created the global positioning
system. Comprised of 24 satellites, the system is used to identify locations
around the earth and can find a signal’s location within a few meters. GBS
navigation systems are often standard options with luxury vehicles. These
systems can guide users to specific street addresses and even the nearest
gas stations.
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Hz |
Hertz refers to the number of electrical vibrations or cycles per
second. One Hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
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HDTV |
High definition television is high-resolution digital television
that broadcasts a picture similar to that of a 35mm movie with compact
disc-quality sound.
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HTML |
Hyper text markup language is the communication of the World
Wide Web. Pages, like the one you’re viewing now, are built with HTML codes
embedded in the text.
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| ISP |
An Internet service provider is an organization that supplies
Internet access, most often through a dial-up, modem connection. |
| JPEG (JPG) |
Joint Photographic Experts Group is arguably the best file
format for storing and displaying photographs on the Web. That's because
there's no limit to the number of colors you can display. Generally
speaking, JPEGs are also smaller than GIF files. A JPEG usually has the
suffix .jpg. |
| MB |
A megabyte equals one million bytes. |
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Mb |
A megabit equals one million bits.
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MHz |
A megahertz is one million electrical vibrations per second.
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NIC
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A network interface card is a circuit board that plugs into a
client and a server so as to control the data exchanged between the two.
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| OS |
The operating system is the program that runs your computer. The
OS determines what applications can be successfully run on your system. |
| PC |
A personal computer serves one user. The phrase refers to desktop
and laptop computers used in the home or the office. |
| PCS |
Personal communications services are similar to cellular
telephones. Sometimes referred to as digital cellular, PCS enables users to
enjoy greater mobility, offering fewer blind spots and transmission errors
than cellular technology, which emphasizes coverage on highways and major
roadways. |
| PDA
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If you’re using or looking to buy a personal digital assistant,
then you want a handheld computer that works with the help of a stylus, or
pen, to keep track of personal and/or business obligations. Most include an
address database, to-do list and a place to record notes. Data can be
transferred from PDA to PC via USB or wireless transmission.
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| PDF
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The Portable Document File was developed by Adobe Systems. This
file format enables documents to leave the desk of their creator and arrive
on the recipients computer with exactly the same layout. To view the PDF,
you need to download a free application from Adobe Systems, Adobe Acrobat
Reader.
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| SDTV |
Standard definition television is digital television that
broadcasts a picture similar to that of a DVD. SDTV operates at a lower
resolution than HDTV. |
| TIFF |
If you're working with desktop publishing software or scanning
images, chances are you've noticed the file extension .tif. Tagged Image
File Format is one of the most common image file formats and is used to
transfer bitmap images between applications. TIFF images can be black and
white, grayscale or color. |
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TWAIN |
If you have a scanner or digital camera, you’re probably
familiar with the acronym for Technology Without An Interesting Name. TWAIN
refers to the programming that allows a desktop publishing or editing
program to launch a scanner or other image-transferring device.
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USB |
Universal Serial Bus refers to the hardware interface that allows
low-powered devices to be powered via cables rather than separate AC
adapters. Devices such as keyboards, mouse, joysticks, scanners and printers
plug into a four-pin socket on the PC.
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| URL |
The uniform resource locator refers to the address that
identifies the path to a file on the Internet. Users type URLs into Web
browsers in order to access Web pages. |
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VCR |
A video cassette recorder is a video tape player and recorder
that connects to a television to play or record tapes. VCRs cannot play
DVDs and current VCRs cannot record wide-screen, high-definition
signals.
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