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Eyedropper Extranet extranet a network using Internet protocols that allows a company to share information with other companies (such as suppliers and customers) but with security features preventing access to others. See VPN; PROTOCOL. Contrast INTRANET. Extreme Programming Extreme Programming (or eXtreme Programming, abbreviated XP) a programming methodology introduced by Kent Beck and others in [...]

Exponent FRACTIONs). It is assumed that someone using such a font will have the know- how and the software to be able to set the special characters. Not every type- face has a matching expert set; you may have to take this into consideration when selecting a typeface for a particular job or when purchasing [...]

Exa exa- metric prefix meaning ×1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1018). Exa- is derived from the Greek word for “beyond” or “outside.” See METRIC PREFIXES. Excel Excel a popular SPREADSHEET program, originally released in 1985 by Microsoft for the Macintosh, and later adapted for Microsoft Windows. Exception exception a situation that prevents a computer program from running as specified, [...]

EX+ The Euro symbol is shown in Figure 96. In Windows, this can be typed by holding down Alt and typing 0128 on the numeric keypad. However, to display and print this symbol, users of versions prior to Windows 2000 may need to download updated fonts from www.microsoft.com. FIGURE 96. Euro currency symbol European paper [...]

/Etc /etc in UNIX, a directory that contains system configuration information; often pronounced “et-see.” Ethernet Ethernet a type of local-area network originally developed by Xerox Corporation. Communication takes place by means of radio-frequency signals carried by a coaxial cable. The name “Ethernet” apparently comes from “aether,” the 19th-century name for the medium through which light [...]

Error of the seat because it helps to periodically change the seat tilt dur- ing a long work session. • Monitor. The monitor is one of the big-ticket items when you pur- chase your computer system. Ergonomically speaking, you do not want to skimp here. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors are superior to CRT (Cathode [...]

Ergonomics nesses are not used (because the picture is too bright or too dark, or because of a contrast problem), the equalized picture will often look much better. Equalizing can dramatically improve the appearance of objects that are nearly the same brightness as their background. Erase erase the command that erases a file or set [...]

Envelope 2. the key on your keyboard that takes your cursor to the end of the cur- rent line. Some word processors use Ctrl-End as a keyboard shortcut to take you to the end of the document. End-of-File Mark end-of-file mark a symbol that indicates the end of a file. For example, in CP/M, all [...]

Encryption Embedded System embedded system a computer that forms part of a larger machine of some other kind. The microprocessor that controls an automobile engine is an example. Embedded systems must usually be extremely reliable. They must also respond to events in real time (i.e., as they happen) without undue delay. See MICROCONTROLLER; REAL-TIME PROGRAMMING. [...]

ELIZA electronic mail (e-mail) the transmission of messages by computer from one person to another. Messages are saved until the recipient chooses to read them. E-mail is much more convenient than ordinary mail or tele- phone calls because it arrives immediately but does not require the recip- ient to be present, nor does it interrupt [...]

EDO EDO (extended data out) a type of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) that holds its output on the BUS until the beginning of the next bus cycle. This enables the computer to retrieve data from memory in one bus cycle instead of two. (To further gain speed, memory is attached to a fast bus that [...]

Easter Egg Easter egg (slang) a hidden part of a computer program. Easter eggs are usually activated only by a bizarre series of actions—then the user is treated to an amusing presentation that usually includes the names of the development team. The actions necessary to see an egg are very complex and would never be [...]

Dxdiag DVD-R DVD-R a type of DVD designed to be recorded with studio equipment and played in ordinary DVD drives, whether or not they are compatible with home-recorded discs. DVD-R discs are not erasable or rewritable. Compare CD-R. DVD-RAM DVD-RAM an older type of recordable, erasable, rewritable DVD. DVD- RAM drives can read ordinary DVD [...]

Drill Down popular draw programs include Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Macromedia Freehand. Contrast PAINT PROGRAM. FIGURE 86. Draw program drill down (informal) to follow a series of menus or otherwise reach a piece of information through a series of steps. drive see DISK DRIVE. Drive Bay drive bay a space in a computer enclosure that [...]

Draw Program Downward Compatibility downward compatibility the ability to work with older equipment and/or software than that for which a computer program or accessory was designed. Contrast UPWARD COMPATIBILITY. Dpi dpi (dots per inch) the number of pixels or printer dots per linear inch. The first generation of laser printers could print with a resolution [...]

DNA to prevent copying, even when the copying itself is legal. “No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title” (17 USC 1201). The law also makes it ille- gal to distribute circumvention technology but this is hard to enforce. Critics argue that the DMCA is [...]

Directory FIGURE 79. DIP (dual in-line package) integrated circuits Dir dir the command, under Windows command line, that makes the computer display all the files in a particular directory. For example, dir by itself lists the files in the current directory of the current disk. Here are some other examples: dir a: Current directory of [...]

DIMM with the original message (so they could attach their own message to your digital signature) the mismatch would be detected. Digital Television digital television transmission of video signals to the viewer as digital data rather than as analog signals. Digital television can be delivered by cable or by antenna. In the United States, government [...]

Default Directory default directory see CURRENT DIRECTORY. default drive see CURRENT DRIVE. Default LOgic default logic (defeasible logic) a formal system of reasoning in which some facts or rules have priority over others. For example, statements about ostriches might have priority over statements about birds because an ostrich is a specific kind of bird. It [...]

Deselect Delphi Delphi an object-oriented version of the programming language PASCAL for developing interactive programs under Windows. Delphi was designed by Anders Hejlsberg, who also developed TURBO PASCAL and C#. It is a product of Borland International. See also KYLIX. Demibold demibold a typeface weight between ordinary type and boldface. Sometimes just called demi. See [...]

De-Bayerization, De-Bayering de-Bayerization, de-Bayering the act of decoding an image from a BAYER MATRIX to a full-color picture. De facto Standard de facto standard a standard that is not official but is established by wide- spread usage. Dead Link dead link an HTML address that is no longer valid. When a dead link is selected, [...]

De Dazed and Confused. Dazed and confused… an error message displayed by some versions of LINUX upon encountering an apparent hardware failure. dB dB abbreviation for DECIBEL. DB-9, DB-15, DB-25 designations for the kind of connectors commonly used on serial ports, video cards, and parallel ports respectively, with 9, 15, or 25 pins. For pictures [...]

Database Management OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING, user-defined types can have procedures (called METHODs) associated with them. Database database a collection of data stored on a computer storage medium, such as a disk, that can be used for more than one purpose. For example, a firm that maintains a database containing information on its employees will be able [...]

Data Rate data rate see BAUD. Data Recovery data recovery the art and technique of recovering part or all of the informa- tion lost because of accidental deletion or damage to the storage media. The simplest kind of data recovery is to pull files back out of the Windows RECYCLE BIN or Macintosh TRASH. Special [...]

Crunch Mode CRC see CYCLICAL REDUNDANCY CHECK. Creeping Featurism creeping featurism (slang) the practice of trying to improve software by adding features in an unsystematic way, ultimately making it less reli- able and harder to use. Compare BELLS AND WHISTLES. Crippleware crippleware (slang) software that is distributed free as an incomplete or time-limited version in [...]

Courier Courier a typewriter-like typeface often used on laser printers. Unlike other typefaces, Courier has fixed pitch; that is, all characters are the same width. It was designed for IBM typewriters in the 1960s, but on modern laser printers, it is often unpleasantly light (thin). FIGURE 69. Courier, a fixed-pitch font CP/M CP/M (Control Program [...]

Copy –1 –1 –1 –1 9 –1 –1 –1 –1 That means: Work through the whole image, one pixel at a time. Whenever you get to a pixel, multiply it by 9, multiply each of the sur- rounding pixels by –1, and add them together. Then replace the original pixel with that value. If all [...]

Control Key window. Double-clicking on the control box closes the window and the application running in it. Control key (Ctrl or Cntl key) a special key on many computer keyboards. When it is pressed in conjunction with another key, it gives the other key a new meaning that depends on the program in use. See [...]

Control Box contention see DEVICE CONTENTION. Context-Sensitive Help context-sensitive help information provided by a computer program when you ask for help, chosen to match what you are doing at the time. For example, a context-sensitive help key will give you information about how to edit if you press it while editing, or how to print [...]

Console this involves setting them up for a particular machine (including video card and printer) and for a particular user’s preferences. console 1. the main keyboard and screen of a multi-user computer. 2. a keyboard and (non-graphical) screen, or a window serving the pur- pose of such a screen. Console Application console application a Windows [...]