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I-TERMS?: Terms for computer junkies
Pump up your computer-related vocabulary! Load your brains with these frequenty used i-terms.
Distributed printing: An information delivery model in which the file to be printed is completely prepared for output at one location and is then sent electronically to one or more separate locations for final printing. This allows for nearly immediate distribution of printed documents over a far-reaching geographical area.
EPS: “Encapsulated PostScript” EPS is a highly popular format for storing digital graphics for use in preparing documents for print. An EPS file contains the complete definition of a given image in the PostScript language that is used by the output device.
In addition to a screen-based preview image built right in. It’s even better than a shampoo with a built-in conditioner.
HFS: “Heirarchical File System” HFS is the file structure used when formatting a volume for use in the Macintosh operating system. When one formats any disk (including a CD-ROM) for use on a computer running the Macintosh operating system, the formatting is done in accordance with the file system standard called “HFS.”
Jaz: Jaz is a removable disk technology, introduced by Iomega, capable of storing approximately one gigabyte of information on a single disk. The disks themselves are a little over four inches square and about half an inch tall. If the idea of putting the entire contents of your hard drive into your pocket sounds like a good time, then Jaz is the medium for you.
Flame: Mean-spirited and often highly voluminous e-mail transmissions. In the world of electronic communication, flaming is considered the ultimate in retribution. Imagine the wrath of vengeful nerds blasting forth from your computer screen, replete with misspellings and unnecessary capitalizations.
ISDN: “Integrated Services Digital Network” ISDN was conceived as a means for bringing the additional bandwidth and stability of a direct data connection into homes and businesses through a specialized copper-wire network. By connecting to remote computer networks (including the internet) through an ISDN line, a user can take advantage of several times more bandwidth than would be available over a traditional modem line. Although the increase in transfer speed is not as fast as would be attainable with a direct LAN connection, ISDN users do have the advantage of surfing the web much faster than their modem-bound counterparts.
Multiplex: No, this does not refer to a movie theatre with many screens. It is simply a fancy word for the process of taking a single communication channel and dividing it among several different signals.
Multitask: This refers to a computer’s ability to perform different operations simultaneously, such as saving a file while applying a Photoshop filter.
NC: “Network Computer” The NC is a relatively new concept that was designed to make computers more affordable and easier to administer. An NC is a stripped-down computer with a very limited capacity as far as memory and disk space (virtually no capacity, compared to standard desktop units). The theory is that all the hard work can be done by the server to which the NC (or “thin client”) is connected. If this sounds like a neat way to simplify your existing computer, feel free to send me your hard drive and any extra memory
PICT: PICT is an image file format that is used primarily for screen-oriented graphics (most commonly in a Macintosh environment). Despite the fact that the file architecture is capable of supporting the full content of very detailed graphic files, it is not used as a standard for laying out print documents. n
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