EBSTER’S
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`
`
`DICTIONARY
`of
`COMPUTER
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`TERIVIS
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`The Best Computer Dictionary in Print
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`New edition, complet'e1y revised
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`Extensivc; Internet coverage
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`More than 4,300 terms and acronywns
`
`Bryan Pfafren berg
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`TI-IE NANIE Y()U TRUST
`J
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`Google Inc.
`GOOG I012
`IPR of US Pat. No. ?',9';'4,339
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`Webster’s New \7Vor1dTM
`
`Dictionary of Computer Terms, 7th Edition
`
`Copyright © 1999 by
`Simon 8: Schuster, Inc.
`
`All rights reserved
`including the right of reproduction
`in Whole or in part in any form
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`l\/Iacmfllan General Reference
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`MACMILLAN is a registered trademark of I\/iacmjilan, Inc-
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`WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY is a registered trade-
`mark of Simon 8: Schuster, Inc.
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`Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-68180
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`ISBN: O—02—862884—5-
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`I\/Ianufactuured in the United States of America
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`1234567
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`0010203 04
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`frarnes per second 217
`fractal geometry The study of a certain type of irregular
`geometric shapes, in which the shape of internal components is
`sirnilar to the overall shape. Fractal shapes are common in nature.
`
`In I-ITl\/IL, a hyperlink that points to a
`fragrnent identifier
`named location within the current document or another docu-
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`ment. For example, a hyperlink that points to #CI-IAP1 will dis.-
`play the document beginning at the point where the anchor
`named CI-IAP1 is inserted. The XPointer language, part of the
`XML language specification, includes more sophisticated ways of
`linking to selected content Within the destination document.
`
`fragrnentation See filefiagmentation.
`
`1. In data communications, a unit (packet) of data that
`frarne
`is transniitted via the netvvork. 2. In desktop publishing (DTP)
`and word processing, a rectangular area absolutely positioned on
`the page.The frame can contain text, graphics, or both. 3. In the
`World Wide Web (WWW), a section of the window that has
`been partitioned off to display a separate document.This is done
`with fi:ame tags. 4. In animation and video, one of the still
`images that, when played at a rapid speed (see frame rate), pro-
`duces the illusion of continuous movement.
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`1. A portion of video memory that stores the
`frame buffer
`information used to generate an image on-—screen- Usually, the
`central processing unit (CPU) writes data to the frame buffer;
`then the video controller reads it, but dual—ported video random
`access memory (VRANI) allows simultaneous reads and writes. A
`frame bufler that can handle more information than the display
`rnight be used for hardware panning. 2. In Lotus 1-2-3, the
`shaded border across the top of the spreadsheet containing the
`column letters and down the left of the spreadsheet containing
`the row numbers.
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`Frarnel\/Iaker
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`See Adobe Framefvfaker.
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`frame rate
`In animation and video, the number of still images
`that are presented per second.The frarne rate is measured in
`frames per second (fps).
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`frames per second (fps) The number of still images (frames)
`that are presented per second in an animation or video- To pro-
`duce the illusion of continuous movement, an animation or
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`video should display at least 15 fps; roughly 30 fps is required to
`produce a convincing illusion of smooth motion.
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`have access to the public files located on all other workstations.
`See client/server and peer-to-peerfile transfer:
`
`Pentium II
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`399
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`pel Abbreviation for pixel.
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`PEM See Privacy Enhanced Mail.
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`Pen computer A computer equipped with pattern recogni-
`tion circuitry so that it can recognize human handwriting as a
`form of data input. Some personal digital assistants (PDAS) use
`pen technology, but the high error rate has given handwriting
`1'6COgI11t1OI'J. a poor reputation among users.
`
`Pentium Classic A 32-bit Inicroprocessor designed and man-
`ufactured by Intel and introduced in 1993 that has achieved an
`overvvllelrning market share in personal computing.The
`Pentium, available with clock speeds of up to 233 megahertz
`(MHZ), uses a speedy version of complex instruction—set C0111-
`puter (CISC) technology that borrows many concepts from
`reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor designs, such
`as superscalar architecture (it has two pipelines that employ
`branch prediction).A Pentium running at 200 MHZ, and
`equipped with a 512K L2 cache, achieves a SPECint95* bench-
`mark of 5.10.With more than 3 million transistors, the Pentium
`employs a 64-bit internal data bus.Though early Pentiums had
`faulty floating-point units (FPUS), Intel has corrected the prob-
`lem and will replace bad parts for free. Recent Pentiums include
`the lV‘1l\/1X extensions for rapid processing of multimedia. Unlike
`the Pentium Pro, which is specifically optirnized for running
`32-bit applications, the Pentium runs 16-bit applications as well
`as 32-bit applications. Pentium systems are generally equipped
`with Microsoft Windows 95/ 98, a hybrid 16-bit/32—bit-operat-
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`ing system.
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`Pentium II A version of the Pentium Pro rnicroprocessor that
`runs 16-bit applications as well as 32-bit applications and incor-
`porates the l\/Il\/IX extensions for fast execution of multimedia.
`The successor to the Pentium, the Pentium II is currently avail-
`able in versions running at clock speeds of up to 450 MHZ.
`Intended for use in single-user workstations as well as servers,
`the Pentium II does not markedly sacrifice the Pentium Pro’s
`performance:A Pentium II running at 200 MHZ, and equipped
`with a 512K L2 cache, achieves a SPECint95* benchmark of
`8.20 (as against a 200 l\/II-*Iz—Pentium Pro’s 8.58).
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