• UDMA: A protocol developed by Quantum Corporation and Intel that supports burst modedata transfer rates of 33.3 MBps. This is twice as fast as the previous disk drive standard for PCs, and is necessary to take advantage of new, faster Ultra ATA disk drives.
The official name for the protocol is Ultra DMA/33. It’s also called UDMA, UDMA/33 and DMA mode 33.
• UNIX: This is an operating system developed by AT&T. It’s big push it that it allows oneserver to service many different end users at one time.
• Uploading: The process of transferring files from a local computer to a remote computer, network or Web server. The usual method of uploading files is done using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Utility.
• UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply. A backup power unit that provides continuous power when the normal power supply is interrupted. UPS systems can be stand-by, only supplying power when the regular supply is interrupted, or fulltime, relying on regular power and/or batteries to supply it while it supplies power to the protected device. A UPS is not necessary on most computer systems, but can be important on systems that need to be up 24 hours a day, such as servers.
• Upstream:
The data flowing from the Cable Modem to the CMTS.
• Upstream frequency: The frequency used to transmit data from the CM to the CMTS. Normally in the 5-42 MHz range for US systems and 5-65 MHz for European systems.
• URL:
Stands for Universal Resource Locator. It’s a fancy way of saying Internet Address.
• USB: Short for Universal Serial Bus, a new external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 MBps (12 million bytes per second). A single USB port can be used to connect up to 128 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards. USB also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging.
Starting in 1996, a few computer manufacturers started including USB support in their new machines. Since the release of Intel’s 440LX chipset in 1997, USB has become more widespread. It is expected to eventually completely replace serial and parallel ports.
• User:
Someone attached to a server or host.
• Utility Program:
A program developed to run within an Operating System to perform a specific service.
• V.90: A standard for 56-Kpbs modems approved by the International Telecommunication Union(ITU) in February, 1998. The V.90 standard resolves the battle between the two competing 56 Kbps technologies –X2 from 3COM and K56Flex from Rockwell Semiconductor. Both manufacturers have announced that their future modems will conform to V.90. In addition, most users who already purchased 56 Kbps modems will be able to apply a software upgrade to make their modems support V.90.
• VBScript: Based on the Visual Basic programming language. VBScript was developed by Microsoft as an answer for Netscape’s JavaScript programming language. Like JavaScript, VBScript is embedded in to a web page where the script is interpreted and executed by a Web client. VBScript is often used as a replacement for DOS batch files. Programs written in VBScript will carry a .VBS extension.
• VDD:
Stands for Virtual Device Driver.
• Veronica: Stands for Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives. A database of menu names from a large number of Gopher servers. A quick and easy way to search Gopher resources for information by keyword.
• VGA:
Stands for Video Graphics Adapter. This is a lower level color monitor.
• Virtual Device Driver: In Windows systems, a special type of device driver that has direct access to the operating system kernel. This allows them to interact with system and hardware resources at a very low level. In Windows 95, virtual device drivers are often called VxDs because the filenames end with the .vxd extension.
• Virtual Environment:
An environment that uses audio and video computer simulations.
• Virtual Machine: A self-contained operating environment that behaves as if it is a separate computer. For example, Java applets run in a Java virtual machine (VM) that has no access to the host operating system. This design has two advantages:
System Independence: A Java application will run the same in any Java VM, regardless of the hardware and software underlying the system.
Security: Because the VM has no contact with the operating system, there is little possibility of a Java program damaging other files or applications. The second advantage, however, has a downside. Because programs running in a VM are separate from the operating system, they cannot take advantage of special operating system features.
• Virtual Memory: When applications call for more random access memory (RAM than is installed on a computer, the operating system will automatically use empty sectors on the hard drive to simulate more memory. However, when this action is performed, a great reduction in the systems performance will be noticed.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN): A data network that uses the public telecommunications infrastructure, but maintains privacy through the use of a tunneling protocol and security procedures. A VPN gives a company the same capabilities as a system of owned or leased lines to which that company has exclusive access. However, costs are much lower because the VPN uses the shared public infrastructure rather than exclusive line access.
• Virus:
A program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your
wishes. Most viruses can also replicate themselves. All computer viruses are manmade. A simple virus that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy to produce. Even such a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems.
• VMS:
Stands for Virtual Memory System
• VoIP: (Voice Over Internet Protocol) A network that allows for real-time conversation by sending digital voice information in the form of packets over the Internet rather than the traditional circuit-committed protocols used by public telephone networks.
• Voltage Regulator:
A device which maintains constant voltage in an electrical line in case of brownout.
• VRAM: Video Random Access Memory. A kind of high-speed memory used for the computer’s display. VRAM must be fast to keep up with the speed at which the screen is scanned. The VRAM in a PC is on a display adapter card.VRAM has two ports so it can send the data for text and images to memory and to the display at the same time.
• VRML: Stands for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. It’s a form of application that gives a 3-D effect to pictures sometimes allowing you to “move” through them.
• VTAM: Virtual Telecommunications Access Method. The SNA software that runs on IBM mainframes and implements the functions of network control, network management interface, and SNA support for host based application programs.
• VxD: Virtual Device Driver <operating system> A device driver under Windows 3.x/Windows 95 running as part of the kernel and thus having access to the memory of the kernel and all running processes as well as raw access to the hardware. VxD’s usually have the filename extension .386 under Windows 3.x and .vxd under Windows 95. VxD’s written for Windows 3.x can be used under Windows 95 but not vice versa.
• VxWorks: An Operating System developed by Wind River Systems. It is a real-time software development environment and a multitasking operating system similar to; QNX, Lynx, pSOS etc.. VxWorks uses the VRTX kernel.
• WWW:
Short for World Wide Web.
• WAIS:
Stands for Wide Area Information Servers. Searches large indexes of information on the Internet.
• Wait State: A brief delay added before a microprocessor executes an instruction, to allow time for slower memory chips or external devices to respond. A wait states may be one or more of the computer’s clock cycles or may be timed differently. One wait state on each access of memory can make the processor up to 20% slower. With no wait state (called zero wait state) the processor will run faster.
• WAN: Wide Area Network – A network in which computers are connected to each other over a long distance, using telephone lines and satellite communications. See local area network (LAN).
• WAV:
Stands for WAVeform sound format. Microsoft’s format for encoding sound files.
• Weblog:
(Same as blog) This is a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Similar to a personal diary, but shared over the web. The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.” Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominently.
• Web Client: When using a web browser to display web pages hosted by a web server, your computer would be acting as a web client.
• Web Server:
A computer that runs specific software to serve web pages to the Internet.
• White Papers: These are documents created to help guide you in the use of a particular piece of hardware or software. Usually some kind of extra or advanced help that is provided that goes beyond the normal manual or set of instructions for that product or item. White Papers can provide special or advanced instructions on special features or setup methods.
• WiFi: Wireless Fidelity – Otherwise known as Wireless Networking, commonly using the 802.11b protocol. Hardware that displays the WiFi logo claims 802.11b compliance should interconnect seamlessly.
• Wiki Software:
An online application that allows users to add and edit web content.
• Windows Media Player: Developed by Microsoft Corporation, this is a audio video player that can also handle MP3 files. The player also has the ability to store your favorite music, video, pictures and recorded TV. From this media player you can sync your media to your portable device. The Windows Media Player is made available for free.
• WinFS: (Windows File System) WinFS is the code name for the next generation storage platform in Windows “Longhorn.” Taking advantage of database technologies, Microsoft is advancing the file system into an integrated store for file data, relational data, and XML data. Windows users will have intuitive new ways to find, relate, and act on their information, regardless of what application creates the data. Also, “WinFS” will have built-in support for multi-master data synchronization across other Longhorn machines and other data sources. The platform supports rich managed Longhorn APIs as well as Win32 APIs.
• WOL: (Wake-on-LAN) This technology is used to remotely wake up a sleeping or powered off PC over a network. When the system is turned off, the managed network adapter uses an alternate power source to monitor the network and watch for a wake-up packet from the server. Once it receives a packet, it alerts the system to power up and accept any maintenance task it is given. Wake-on-LAN is a part of Intel’s Wired for Management System and is a result of the Intel-IBM Advanced Manageability Alliance.
Wake-on-LAN is also called remote wake-up.
• Workgroup:
Persons sharing files and data between themselves.
• Workstation:
The computer attached to the Internet.
• WPG:
Stands for Word Perfect Graphics.
• X2: A technology developed by U.S. Robotics (now 3COM) for delivering data rates up to 56 Kbps over plain old telephone service (POTS). It was long believed that the maximum data transmission rate over copper telephone wires was 33.6 Kbps, but X2 achieves higher rates by taking advantage of the fact that most phone switching stations are connected by high-speed digital lines. X2 bypasses the normal digital-to-analog conversion and sends the digital data over the telephone wires directly to your modem where it is decoded.
• XML: (eXtensible Markup Language)
Like HTML, XML is a markup language, but unlike HTML, it is not limited to Web documents. XML lets Web developers and designers create customized tags that offer greater flexibility in organizing and presenting information than is possible with the older HTML document coding system.
• XMS: Stands for Extended Memory Specification, a procedure developed jointly by AST Research, Intel Corporation, Lotus Development, and Microsoft Corporation, for using extended memory and DOS’s high memory area, a 64K block just above 1MB.
• XSL (eXtensible Stylesheet Language):
A formatting language standard that defines how the data fields in a XML document will be viewed by a browser.
• ZIF Socket Zero Insertion Force socket. A special socket for plugging in integrated circuits easily. The socket can be opened with a small lever or screw; the chip is dropped in, then the socket is closed.
• ZIP:
Stands for Zone Information Protocol. This is an application that allows for the compression of application files.
• Zune: “The Zune Experience”. This is Microsoft’s digital music entertainment platform. The whole experience is centered around “connectivity”. Connection with your music library, friends, family and to other connected devices. This 30GB digital media player features wireless technology, a built in FM tuner and 3 inch screen. The device offers many ways in which you are able to customize your Zune Experience. You can create playlists, play home made music, share pictures and music between friends and with other Zune devices. Zune will also offer many accessories to enhance the experience such as:
• Zune Car Pack:
Has a built in FM transmitter with AutoSeek and a car charger.
• Zune Home A/V pack:
Has a AV output cable, Dock, sync cable, AC adapter and wireless remote for Zune Dock.
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