What
is an icon?
Definition: An icon is a tiny picture on the screen that represents a program, file or folder.
Explanation: Icons make it easy to find what you are looking for. To tell the computer to open a file, folder or program, double-click on the icon. To select an item, click only once on the icon.
More Computer Terms
What
is a …gigabyte? (GB)
Definition: A gigabyte is a unit of measure equal to 1,073,741,824 bytes, which is about one billion bytes.
Explanation: "Giga" means "billion." Measuring the number of gigabytes tells you how big your hard drive is, by counting billions of bytes.
What
is a …network?
Definition: A network is a number of computers connected together to share information and hardware.
Explanation: A Local Area Network (LAN) is small, perhaps a few computers sharing a printer. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is large, with many computers linked between towns or countries. The Internet is a network of networks that circles the globe.
What
is a... monitor?
Definition: A monitor is the TV-like part of the computer that you look at to see information.
Explanation: Monitors are sometimes called displays or screens. "Screen" refers to the glass front only, while "monitor" refers to the screen, the case and everything inside the case. Information on a monitor is displayed in pixels.
Sentence: "Look at the monitor to see my slide show on volcanoes."
What
is a... pixel?
Definition: A pixel is a tiny dot of light on the monitor.
Explanation: "Pixel" stands for Picture Element. It is the smallest part of every image you see on the monitor. The color of a pixel is partly determined by how many bits (on/off units) are used to store the pixel.
What
is a... backup?
Definition: An extra copy of a document,
file or program.
Explanation: You should make backups of all important work. A backup of a file on the hard drive can be saved on a floppy or zip disk. A backup of a floppy disk file can be on the hard drive or another floppy or zip disk.
Sentence: "Don't forget to make a backup of your book report!"
What
is a …..browser?
Definition: A browser is a software program that lets you explore the World Wide Web to find text, graphics, sound, movies, games, chats and more.
Explanation: A browser helps you link to pages on websites around the world. To find a website, type in a URL (web address) or click a link or a button in the toolbar.
Sentence: "What is your favorite browser, Netscape or Explorer?"
What
is a …..cursor?
Definition: A blinking line or shape on the screen that tells you where the next character will go.
Explanation: The I-beam (the arrow you control with your mouse) is used to put the cursor in place. The definition of cursor is changing; I-beams and other pointers are often called cursors.
Sentence: "Put the cursor before the letter N."
What
is a... disk drive?
Definition:
A part of the computer that operates the disks that stores information.
Explanation: Disk drives are called "storage devices" because they store information on portable or permanent disks (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks and Zip disks). A disk drive spins the disk around at high speeds as it reads and writes data on the disk.
Sentence: "Put your floppy in the floppy disk drive."
What
is a byte...?
Definition: A byte is a group of 8 bits, strung together.
Explanation: A bit is either a 1 or a 0. Each byte (8 bits) means something to the computer. The byte "01000001" means the capital letter A. The byte "01000010" means the capital letter B.
Sentence: "The phrase 'Hello World' is 11 bytes long."
Notes: A byte is a unit of information. Most data in computers is organized and measured in bytes .