Termos usados na internet
Computer
Vocabulary
anti-virus software - A program that
finds and removes viruses from a computer.
backup - A copy of files from a computer's hard disk, usually made
on some external medium such as CD-ROM or flash drive. A backup is
made in case the hard disk file(s) are erased or damaged.
bit, bytes - A bit is the
smallest piece of information that computers use. For simplicity, a PC uses
bits in groups of 8 called bytes (8 bits = 1 byte).
Bluetooth - a way of
communicating wirelessly over short distances between electronic devices (for
example computer and mobile telephone)
boot, boot up, boot disk - You
boot (or boot up) your computer when you switch it on and wait while it
prepares itself. Instructions for startup are given to the computer from the
boot disk, which is usually the hard disk.
browser, to browse - A browser is
a program like
Firefox or Internet Explorer. You use it to view or browse the Internet.
bug - A (small) defect or fault in a program.
cache - A kind of memory used to
make a computer work faster.
CD-ROM - A disk
for storing computer information.
CPU - Central Processing Unit. This is a PC's
heart or "brains".
data - usually
means the information (text, pictures, audio etc) that you create or share on a
computer, as opposed to the programs that
manipulate the data.
ebook - an
electronic book that can be downloaded and read on a computer or other device.
file - a specific computer record; it could
contain data such as
text (eg essay.doc), or a program such as
paint.exe.
font - A particular sort of lettering (on the
screen or on paper). Arial is a font. Times New Roman is another.
format - All hard disks have to be
electronically prepared for use by a process called formatting. Hard disks are
pre-formatted by the computer manufacturer.
hard disk - The main disk inside
a computer used for storing programs and
information. It is hard because it is metal.
hotspot - an area that has an
available wireless signal for Internet access (usually public).
icon - A small image or picture on a computer
screen that is a symbol for folders, disks, programs etc.
iPad - a tablet computer
created by Apple.
Kb, Mb, Gb - kilobytes,
megabytes, gigabytes. Used to measure computer memory and
storage.
Kindle - a device for downloading and reading ebooks, developed by
Amazon.com.
memory - Memory is for the
temporary storing of information while a computer is being used.
modem - Equipment connected to a computer for sending/receiving
digital information by telephone line.
notebook - a notebook
computer; a laptop computer; a folding, portable computer.
operating system (OS) - The basic software
that manages a computer (for example, Windows 7, OS X, Unix, iOS).
palmtop - a
computer that is small enough to sit on the palm of the hand.
pixel - The image
that you see on the screen is made of thousands of tiny dots, points or pixels.
RAM, ROM - Two types of memory. RAM (Random
Access Memory) is the main memory used while the PC is working. RAM is
temporary. ROM (Read Only Memory) is for information needed by the PC and
cannot be changed.
scanner - Equipment for
converting paper documents to electronic documents that can be used by a
computer.
smartphone - a mobile phone that
includes a palmtop computer
or PDA and also
gives access to Internet and email.
tablet - a
tablet computer; a mobile computer consisting of a screen only, and controlled
by touching the screen.
USB - abbreviation of "universal serial
bus"; a standardized connection for attaching devices to computers etc.
USB flash drive - a
small, external device for storing data
Wi-Fi - a system for communicating without wires
over a computer network.
World Wide Web, WWW, the
Web - WWW are
initials that stand for World Wide Web. The Web is one of the services
available on the Internet. It lets you
access millions of pages through a system of links. Because it is
"world-wide", it was originally called the World Wide Web or WWW.
The word
"Internet" is often written in capital letters
