Bright House Networks - Ex. 1033, Page 1
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`

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`Random House Webster's Computer & Internet Dictionary, Third Edition
`
`Copyright © 1999 by Philip E. Margolis
`
`All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
`No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic
`or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the pub(cid:173)
`lisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Random House Reference & Information
`Publishing, Random House, Inc., 201 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022-7703.
`Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York and simultane(cid:173)
`ously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited.
`
`The Random House Living Dictionary Database", is a trademark of Random
`House, Inc.
`Trademarks
`A number of entered words which we have reason to believe constitute trademarks
`have been designated as such. However, no attempt has been made to designate as
`trademarks or service marks all terms or words in which proprietary rights might
`exist. The inclusion, exclusion, or definition of a words or term is not intended to
`affect, or to express a judgment on, the validity or legal status of the word or term
`as a trademark, service mark, or other proprietary term.
`
`This book is available for special purchases in bulk by organizations and institu(cid:173)
`tions, not for resale, at special discounts. Please direct your inquiries to the
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`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Margolis, Philip E.
`Random House Webster's computer & internet dictionary 1 Philip E.
`Margolis. -- 3rd ed.
`p.
`em.
`Rev. ed. of: Random House personal computer dictionary. 2nd ed.
`cl996.
`Includes biographical references and index.
`ISBN 0-375-70351-9
`I. Microcomputers--Dictionaries. 2. Computers--Dictionaries.
`I. Margolis, Philip E. Random House personal computer dictionary.
`II. Title.
`QA76.15.M37 1998
`004.16'03--dc21
`
`98-45280
`CIP
`
`www.randomwords.com
`
`Typeset and printed in the United States of America.
`
`1999 Third Random House Edition
`
`098765432
`January 2000
`
`ISBN: 0-375-70351-9
`
`New York
`
`Toronto
`
`London
`
`Sydney
`
`Auckland
`
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`73
`
`'
`
`call
`
`tern both for designing a product and for controlling manufacturing proc(cid:173)
`esses. For example, once a design has been produced with the CAD com(cid:173)
`ponent, the design itself can control the machines that construct the part.
`
`=} See also 3-D SOFTWARE; CAD; CADD; CAM; MODELING.
`
`CADD Acronym for c(omputer)-a(ided) d(esign) and d(rafting). CADD sys(cid:173)
`tems are CAD systems with additional drafting features. For example,
`CADD systems enable an engineer or architect to insert size annotations
`and other notes into a design.
`
`=} See also CAD; CAD/CAM.
`
`CAE Abbreviation of c(omputer)-a(ided) e(ngineering), computer systems
`that analyze engineering designs. Most CAD systems have a CAE compo(cid:173)
`nent, but there are also independent CAE systems that can analyze
`designs produced by various CAD systems. CAE systems are able to sim(cid:173)
`ulate a design under a variety of conditions to see if it actually works.
`
`=} See also CAD; CASE.
`
`calculator 1. A small hand-held computer that performs mathematical cal(cid:173)
`culations. Some calculators even permit simple text editing and program(cid:173)
`ming. 2. A program on a computer that simulates a hand-held calculator.
`Calculator programs let you perform simple math calculations without
`leaving the computer. The Apple Macintosh comes with a calculator desk
`accessory. Likewise, Microsoft Windows includes a calculator accessory.
`
`=} See also DESK ACCESSORY (DA); MICROSOFT WINDOWS; PROGRAM.
`
`calendar A program that enables you to record events and appointments
`on an electronic calendar. Computer calendars act like datebooks, but
`they have several advantages over traditional datebooks:
`
`automatic entries for regular events: You can specify, for example,
`that the first Thursday of every month is bridge night, and the calen(cid:173)
`dar program will automatically fill in the appropriate days.
`signaling of upcoming events: Most calendars will let you know that
`an event is approaching by issuing sounds.
`clean deletion: With an electronic calendar, you can erase an appoint(cid:173)
`ment without leaving a trace.
`
`Calendar software is part of a more general category of software
`known as PIMs (personal information managers). A special type of calen(cid:173)
`dar, called a scheduler, enables groups of users connected to a network
`to coordinate their schedules.
`
`=} See also PJM; SCHEDULER; UTILITY.
`
`call v 1. To invoke a routine in a programming language. Calling a mutine
`consists of specifying the routine name and, optionally, parameters. For
`
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`CAM
`
`74
`
`example, the following is a function call in the C programming language:
`printf("Hello")
`The name of the function is print{ and the parameter is "Hello." This
`function call causes the computer to display the word Hello on the dis(cid:173)
`play screen.
`A routine that invokes another routine is sometimes referred to as the
`calling routine. The routine that is invoked is referred to as the called
`routine. -n 2. An invocation of a routine.
`
`=> See also FUNCTION; ROUTINE.
`
`CAM Acronym for c(omputer)-a(ided) m(anufacturing), a type of computer
`application that helps automate a factory. For example, the following are
`types of CAM systems:
`
`• real-time control
`• robotics
`• materials requirements
`
`All these systems are concerned with automatically directing the manu(cid:173)
`facture and inventory of parts.
`
`=> See also CAD; CAD/CAM; ROBOTICS.
`
`camera-ready In desktop publishing, camera-ready refers to the final state
`of a publication before it is printed. Historically, the term has meant that
`the copy is ready to be photographed and turned into plates for offset
`printing. Increasingly, however, it is possible to print directly from the
`electronic version, either by sending it to a high-resolution laser printer
`or to a special device that can generate plates directly from electronic
`elements rather than from photographs. In these cases, therefore, camera(cid:173)
`ready means merely that the document is ready to be printed.
`
`=> See also DESKTOP PUBLISHING; IMAGESETTER; ISP; OFFSET PRINTING.
`
`caps Short for capital letters. For example, "all caps" means all letters capi(cid:173)
`talized.
`
`=> See also CASE SENSITIVE; UPPERCASE.
`
`Caps Lock key A toggle key on computer keyboards that, when activated,
`causes all subsequent alphabetic characters to be uppercase but has no
`effect on other keys.
`
`=> See also KEYBOARD; TOGGLE; UPPERCASE.
`
`capture To save a particular state of a program. The term capture often re(cid:173)
`fers to saving the information currently visible on a display screen. You
`can capture the screen to a printer or to a file. The act of saving a dis(cid:173)
`play screen is called a screen capture. Video capture refers to storing
`video images in a computer.
`
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`CD-I
`
`80
`
`disk cache, which results in much smoother playback.
`==> See also CD-ROM PLAYER; MSCDEX; VCACHE.
`
`CD-I C(ompact) D(isc)-I(nteractive), a software and hardware standard de(cid:173)
`veloped jointly by Philips International and Sony Corporation for storing
`video, audio, and binary data on compact optical disks. It supports
`552MB (megabytes) of binary data and specifies several different types of
`video and audio encoding formats. Unlike conventional CD-ROM drives,
`CD-I drives have a built-in microprocessor to handle many of the com(cid:173)
`puting functions. CD-I is sometimes referred to as the Green Book stand(cid:173)
`arc!.
`Although there are some CD-I devices ancl titles, the format has not be(cid:173)
`come widely accepted.
`
`==> See also CD-ROM; CD-ROM/XA; DVD; DVI; GREEN BooK; OPTICAL DISK;
`OS/9.
`
`COMA Short for C(ode)-D(ivision) M(ultiple) A(ccess), a digital cellular
`technology that uses spread-spectrum techniques. Unlike competing sys(cid:173)
`tems, such as GSM, that use time-division multiplexing (TDM), CDMA
`does not assign a specific frequency to each user. Instead, every channel
`uses the full available spectrum. Individual conversations are encoded
`with a pseudo-random digital sequence.
`CDMA was developed by Qualcomm, Inc.
`
`==> See also CELLULAR; GSM; MULTIPLEx; PCS; TDM; TDMA.
`
`CDPD Short for C(ellular) D(igital) P(acket) D(ata), a data transmission
`technology clevelopecl for use on cellular phone frequencies. CDPD uses
`unused cellular channels (in the 800- to 900-MHz range) to transmit data
`in packets. This technology offers data transfer rates of up to 19.2 Kbps,
`quicker call setup, and better error correction than using modems on an
`analog cellular channel.
`
`==> See also CELL; PACKET SWITCHING.
`
`CD-R See CD-R DRIVE.
`
`CD-R drive Short for C(ompact) D(isk)-R(ecordable) drive, a type of disk
`drive that can create CD-ROMs ancl audio CDs. This allows users to
`"master" a CD-ROM or audio CD for publishing. Until recently, CD-R
`drives were quite expensive, but prices have dropped dramatically.
`A feature of many CD-R drives, called multisession recording, enables
`you to keep adding data to a CD-ROM over time. This is extremely im(cid:173)
`portant if you want to use the CD-R drive to create backup CD-ROMs.
`To create CD-ROMs and audio CDs, you'll need not only a CD-R drive
`but also a CD-R software package. Often, it is the software package, not
`the drive itself, that determines how easy or difficult it is to create CD(cid:173)
`ROMs.
`CD-R drives can also read CD-ROMs and play audio CDs.
`
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`centrex
`
`84
`
`centrex Short for centr(al) (office) ex(change) (service), a new type of PBX
`service in which switching occurs at a local telephone station instead of
`at the company premises. Typically, the telephone company owns and
`manages all the communications equipment necessary to implement the
`PBX and then sells various services to the company.
`
`==? See also PBX.
`
`Centronics interface A standard interface for connecting printers and
`other parallel devices. Although Centronics Corporation designed the orig(cid:173)
`inal standard, the Centronics interface used by modern computers was
`designed by Epson Corporation. For PCs, almost all parallel ports con(cid:173)
`form to the Centronics standard. Two new parallel port standards that
`are backward compatible with Centronics, but offer faster transmission
`rates, are ECP (Extend Capabilities Port) and EPP (Enhanced Parallel
`Port).
`
`==? See also ECP; EPP; INTERFACE; PARALLEL INTERFACE; STANDARD.
`
`CERN Pronounced sern, and short for European Laboratory for Particle
`Physics [C(onseil) E(uropeen) pour le R(echerche) N(ucleaire) in French),
`a research laboratory headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and funded
`by many different countries. While most of its work deals with nuclear
`physics, the CERN is known for pioneering work in developing the World
`Wide Web portion of the Internet. The laboratory completed this work to
`improve the way scientists share information.
`
`==? See also WEB SERVER; WORLD WIDE WEB.
`
`Certificate Authority A trusted third-party organization or company that
`issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures and public(cid:173)
`private key pairs. The role of the CA in this process is to guarantee that
`the individual granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who he or she
`claims to be. Usually, this means that the CA has an arrangement with a
`financial institution, such as a credit card company, which provides it
`with information to confirm an individual's claimed identity. CAs are a
`critical component in data security and electronic commerce because they
`guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are really who
`they claim to be.
`
`==? See also DIGITAL CERTIFICATE; DIGITAL SIGNATURE; ELECTRONIC COMMERCE;
`PKI; PUBLIC-KEY ENCRYPTION.
`
`CGA Abbreviation of c(olor)jg(raphics) a(dapter), an old graphics system
`for PCs. Introduced in 1981 by IBM, CGA was the first color graphics sys(cid:173)
`tem for IBM PCs. Designed primarily for computer games, CGA does not
`produce sharp enough characters for extended editing sessions. CGA's
`highest-resolution mode is 2 colors at a resolution of 640 by 200.
`CGA has been superseded by VGA systems.
`
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`119
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`controller
`
`An OLE or ActiveX object.
`=> See also ACTIVEX CONTROL; GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE; OCX; OLE; VBX.
`control character A special, nonprinting character. The ASCII character
`set defines 32 control characters, as shown in the table. Originally, these
`codes were designed to control teletype machines. Now, however, they
`are often used to control display monitors, printers, and other modern
`devices.
`=> See also ASCII; BREAK KEY; CONTROL KEY; KEYBOARD.
`Control key A key on PC keyboards labeled Ctrl. You use the Control key
`in the same way that you use the Shift key-keeping it pressed down
`while pressing another character. The result is a control key combination,
`which can have different meanings depending on which program is run(cid:173)
`ning. On Macintoshes, the Control key is called an Apple key or Com(cid:173)
`mand key.
`=> See also APPLE KEY; COMMAND KEY; CONTROL KEY COMBINATION.
`Control key combination A command issued by pressing a keyboard
`character in conjunction with the Control key. Manuals usually represent
`control key commands with the prefix CTRL- or CNTL-. For example,
`CTRL-N means the Control key and N pressed at the same time. Some(cid:173)
`times a control character is represented by a caret (for example, AN is the
`same as CTRL-N).
`What happens after you enter a Control key combination depends on
`what application is active. Certain Control key combinations are semi(cid:173)
`standardized. For example, in Windows applications, CTRL-X usually
`copies the selected text.
`
`=> See also COMMAND; CONTROL KEY.
`controller A device that controls the transfer of data from a computer to a
`peripheral device and vice versa. For example, disk drives, display
`screens, keyboards, and printers all require controllers.
`In personal computers, the controllers are often single chips. When you
`purchase a computer, it comes with all the necessary controllers for
`standard components, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk
`drives. If you attach additional devices, however, you may need to insert
`new controllers that come on expansion boards.
`Controllers must be designed to communicate with the computer's ex(cid:173)
`pansion bus. There are three standard bus architectures for PCs-the AT
`bus, PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), and SCSI. When you pur(cid:173)
`chase a controller, therefore, you must ensure that it conforms to the bus
`architecture that your computer uses.
`=> See also ADAPTER; AT BUS; ATA; BUS; CHIP; CPU; DRIVER; EISA; EXPANSION
`BOARD; MICROCONTROLLER; PCI; PERIPHERAL DEVICE; PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD;
`SCSI.
`
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`209
`
`fiber optics
`
`also read DOS-formatted floppy disks, which enables Macintosh comput(cid:173)
`ers and PCs to share data. FDHD drives are often called SuperDrives.
`=; See also DENSITY; DOS; FLOPPY DISK; MACINTOSH COMPUTER; SUPERDRIVE.
`
`fdisk A DOS and Windows utility that prepares a hard disk for formatting
`by creating one or more partitions on the disk.
`
`=} See also FORMAT; PARTITION.
`
`FDM Abbreviation of F(requency) D(ivision) M(ultiplexing), a multiplexing
`technique that uses different frequencies to combine multiple streams of
`data for transmission over a communications medium. FDM assigns a
`discrete carrier frequency to each data stream and then combines many
`modulated carrier frequencies for transmission. For example, television
`transmitters use FDM to broadcast several channels at once.
`
`=; See also CARRIER; MULTIPLEX; TOM; WDM.
`
`feathering In desktop publishing, feathering is the process of adding space
`between all lines on a page or in a column to force vertical justification.
`
`=} See also JUSTIFICATION; VERTICAL JUSTIFICATION.
`
`feature A notable property of a device or software application. Many ana(cid:173)
`lysts bemoan the advent of featuritis-the seemingly endless addition of
`more and more features onto what was once a simple application. One of
`the principal challenges of modern applications is to offer a multitude of
`features without making the application complex.
`
`=} See also BELLS AND WHISTLES; BLOATWARE; OVERHEAD; VANILLA.
`
`Federal Communications Commission See FCC.
`
`female connector See under coNNEcToR.
`
`FF See FORM FEED.
`
`Fiber Distributed Data Interface See FDDI.
`
`fiber optics A technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to
`transmit data. A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads,
`each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light
`waves.
`Fiber optics has several advantages over traditional metal
`communications lines:
`• Fiber optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal ca(cid:173)
`bles. This means that they can carry more data.
`• Fiber optic cables are less susceptible than metal cables to interfer(cid:173)
`ence.
`
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`287
`
`1/0
`
`purpose. For example, 16 of
`interrupt number is reserved for a
`the vectors are reserved for the 16 IRQ lines.
`An interrupt vector table is also called a dispatch table.
`
`=:. See also INTERRUPT; IRQ.
`
`intranet A network based on TCP /IP protocols (an internet) belonging to
`an organization, usually a corporation, accessible only by the organiza(cid:173)
`tion's members, employees, or others with authorization. An intranet's
`Web sites look and act just like any other Web sites, but the firewall sur(cid:173)
`rounding an intranet prevents unauthorized access.
`Like the Internet itself, intranets are used to share information. Secure
`intranets are now the fastest-growing segment of the Internet because
`they are much less expensive to build and manage than private networks
`based on proprietary protocols.
`
`=:. See also ENTERPRISE; EXTRANET; FIREWALL; INTERNET; LOTUS NOTES; NET(cid:173)
`WORK.
`
`invalid page fault A page fault that produces an error. Page fault errors
`can occur for any of the following reasons:
`(1) The virtual memory system becomes unstable due to a shortage of
`physical memory (RAM).
`(2) The virtual memory system becomes unstable due to a shortage of
`free disk space.
`(3)The virtual memory area is corrupted by a misbehaving application.
`(4) An application attempts to access data that is being modified by an(cid:173)
`other running application.
`The first two causes are the most common. These conditions can also
`cause a general protection fault (GPF).
`An invalid page fault is also called a page fault error (PFE).
`
`=:. See also CRASH; GPF; PAGE FAULT.
`
`inverse video Same as REVERSE viDEo.
`
`inverted tree See under TREE STRUCTURE.
`
`invisible file Same as HIDDEN FILE.
`
`invocation The execution of a program or function.
`
`=:. See also INVOKE.
`
`invoke To activate. One usually speaks of invoking a function or routine in
`a program. In this sense, the term invoke is synonymous with call.
`
`=:. See also CALL; FUNCTION; ROUTINE.
`
`1/0 Short for i(nput)/o(utput), and pronounced eye-oh. I/0 refers to any
`operation, program, or device whose purpose is to enter data into a com-
`
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`365
`
`multiplex
`
`levels. However, because almost all video signals conform to one of a
`handful of video standards, the greater potential of multiscanning moni(cid:173)
`tors is generally not utilized.
`
`==; See also MONITOR; MULTISCANNING MONITOR; VIDEO ADAPTER.
`
`multifunction peripheral See MFP.
`
`multifunction printer Same as MULTIFUNCTION PERIPHERAL (MFP).
`
`multilevel printer Same as CONTONE PRINTER.
`
`multimedia The use of computers to present text, graphics, video, anima(cid:173)
`tion, and sound in an integrated way. Long touted as the future revolu(cid:173)
`tion in computing, multimedia applications were, until the mid-1990s, un(cid:173)
`common due to the expensive hardware required. With increases in
`performance and decreases in price, however, multimedia is now com(cid:173)
`monplace. Nearly all PCs are capable of displaying video, though the res(cid:173)
`olution available depends on the power of the computer's video adapter
`and CPU.
`Because of the storage demands of multimedia applications, the most
`effective media are CD-ROMs.
`==; See also 3D0; ACTIVEMOVIE; ANIMATION; AUTHORING TOOL; CD-ROM; HY(cid:173)
`PERMEDIA; HYPERTEXT; MBONE; MEDIA; MMX; MPC; SHOCKWAVE; STREAMING;
`WAV.
`
`multimedia kit A package of hardware and software that adds multimedia
`capabilities to a computer. Typically a multimedia kit includes a CD-ROM
`or DVD player, a sound card, speakers, and a bundle of CD-ROMs.
`
`==; See also CD-ROM; MULTIMEDIA.
`
`Multimedia Personal Computer See MPC.
`
`Multiple Document Interface See MDL
`multiplex To combine multiple signals (analog or digital) for transmission
`over a single line or medium. A common type of multiplexing combines
`several low-speed signals for transmission over a single high-speed con(cid:173)
`nection. The following are examples of different multiplexing methods:
`Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM): each signal is assigned a dif(cid:173)
`ferent frequency
`Time Division Multiplexing (TOM): each signal is assigned a fixed
`time slot in a fixed rotation
`Statistical Time Division Multiplexing (STDM): time slots are assigned
`to signals dynamically to make better use of bandwidth
`Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM): each signal is assigned a
`
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`419
`
`PO
`
`mand, which displays one screenful of data at a time.
`
`=> See also SCROLL.
`PBX Short for p(rivate) b(ranch) ex(change), a private telephone network
`used within an enterprise. Users of the PBX share a certain number of
`outside lines for making telephone calls external to the PBX.
`Most medium-sized and larger companies use a PBX because it's much
`less expensive than connecting an external telephone line to every tele(cid:173)
`phone in the organization. In addition, it's easier to call someone within
`a PBX because the number you need to dial typically consists of just
`three or four digits.
`A new variation on the PBX theme is the centrex, which is a PBX with
`all switching occurring at a local telephone office instead of at the com(cid:173)
`pany's premises.
`
`=> See also CENTREX; POTS; TELEMATICS.
`PC 1. Short for personal computer or IBM PC. The first personal computer
`produced by IBM was called the PC, and increasingly the term PC came
`to mean IBM or IBM-compatible personal computers, to the exclusion of
`other types of personal computers, such as Macintoshes.
`In recent years, the term PC has become more and more difficult to pin
`down. In general, though, it applies to any personal computer based on
`an Intel microprocessor, or on an Intel-compatible microprocessor. For
`nearly every other component, including the operating system, there are
`several options, all of which fall under the rubric of PC. 2. PC can stand
`for printed circuit, so a PC board is a printed circuit board.
`=> See also CLONE; COMPAQ; COMPATIBLE; DELL COMPUTER; EXPANSION BUS;
`IBM; IBM PC; LOCAL BUS; MACINTOSH COMPUTER; OPERATING SYSTEM; PERSONAL
`COMPUTER; PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD; VIDEO STANDARDS.
`
`PC/AT See under AT.
`
`PCB Short for printed circuit board.
`PC card A computer device packaged in a small card about the size of a
`credit card and conforming to the PCMCIA standard.
`=> See also CARDBus; PCMCIA; ZV PoRT.
`PC-DOS The name IBM uses to market its version of the DOS operating
`system.
`
`=> See also DOS.
`
`PC fax Same as FAX MODEM.
`PO Acronym for P(eripheral) C(omponent) I(nterconnect), a local bus
`standard developed by Intel Corporation. Most modern PCs include a PC!
`
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`print spooling
`
`448
`
`print spooling See under sPOOLING.
`
`procedure 1. Same as ROUTINE, subroutine, and function. A procedure is a
`section of a program that performs a specific task. 2. An ordered set of
`tasks for performing some action.
`
`=; See also FUNCTION; ROUTINE.
`
`process n 1. An executing program. The term is used loosely as a syno(cid:173)
`nym of task. -v 2. To perform some useful operations on data.
`
`=} See also DAEMON; TASK.
`
`process colors Refers to the CMYK color model used in offset printing.
`
`=; See also CMYK; COLOR SEPARATION; OFFSET PRINTING.
`
`processor Short for microprocessor or CPU.
`
`=; See also CPU; MICROPROCESSOR.
`
`processor unit Short for central processing unit.
`
`Prodigy An online service developed jointly by IBM and Sears.
`
`=; See also ONLINE SERVICE.
`
`Assembly Language
`
`Machine Language
`
`Hardware
`
`Figure 67: hierarchy of programming language
`
`program n 1. An organized list of instructions that, when executed, causes
`the computer to behave in a predetermined manner. Without programs,
`computers are useless.
`A program is like a recipe. It contains a list of ingredients (called
`variables) and a list of directions (called statements) that tell the com-
`
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`Prt Scr key
`
`454
`
`example, a company might use a proxy server to prevent its employ(cid:173)
`ees from accessing a specific set of Web sites.
`
`=; See also FIREWALL; SERVER; SOCKS; WEB SERVER.
`
`Prt Scr key See PRINT ScREEN KEY.
`
`PS/2 port A type of port developed by IBM for connecting a mouse or key(cid:173)
`board to a PC. The PS/2 port supports a miniature DIN plug containing
`just 6 pins. Most PCs have a PS/2 port so that the serial port can be used
`by another device, such as a modem. The PS/2 port is often called the
`mouse port.
`
`=; See also PORT; SERIAL MOUSE; SERIAL PORT.
`
`pseudocode An outline of a program, written in a form that can easily be
`converted into real programming statements. For example, the pseudo(cid:173)
`code for a bubble sort routine might be written:
`
`while not at end of list
`compare adjacent elements
`if second is greater than first
`switch them
`get next two elements
`if elements were switched
`repeat for entire list
`
`Pseudocode cannot be compiled or executed, and there are no real for(cid:173)
`matting or syntax rules. It is simply one step-an important one-in pro(cid:173)
`ducing the final code. The benefit of pseudocode is that it enables the
`programmer to concentrate on the algorithms without worrying about all
`the syntactic details of a particular programming language. In fact, you
`can write pseudocode without even knowing what programming language
`you will use for the final implementation.
`
`=; See also ALGORITHM; BUBBLE SORT; CODE; PROGRAM.
`
`PSTN Short for Public Switched Telephone Network, which refers to the in(cid:173)
`ternational telephone system based on copper wires carrying analog voice
`data. This is in contrast to newer telephone networks based on digital
`technologies, such as ISDN and FDDI.
`Telephone service carried by the PSTN is often called plain old tele(cid:173)
`phone service (POTS).
`
`=; See also CIRCUIT SWITCHING; POTS.
`
`public carrier Any of the government-regulated organizations that provide
`telecommunications services to the public. These include AT&T, MCI, and
`Western Union. Most public carriers provide electronic-mail services that
`enable you to send messages and documents over a telephone line to
`other computer users.
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1033, Page 13
`
`

`
`549
`
`teleconference
`
`transmission channeL Within T-Carrier systems, such as T-1 and T-3,
`TDM combines Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) streams created for each
`conversation or data stream.
`
`=:> See also CDMA; FDM; LEASED LINE; MODULATE; MULTIPLEX; PCM; T-1 CAR(cid:173)
`RIER; T-3 CARRIER; TDMA; WDM.
`
`TDMA Short for T(ime) D(ivision) M(ultiple) A(ccess), a technology for de(cid:173)
`livering digital wireless service using time-division multiplexing (TDM).
`TDMA works by dividing a radio frequency into time slots and then allo(cid:173)
`cating slots to multiple calls. In this way, a single frequency can support
`multiple, simultaneous data channels. TDMA is used by the GSM digital
`cellular system.
`
`=:. See also CDMA; CELLULAR; GSM; PCS; TDM.
`
`teamware A category of software that enables colleagues, especially geo(cid:173)
`graphically dispersed colleagues, to collaborate on projects. Typically,
`teamware uses the Internet and the World Wide Web to facilitate com(cid:173)
`munication among the team. The distinction between teamware and
`groupware is extremely fuzzy. Indeed, it seems that teamware is just a
`new name for what was previously called groupware. The distinction is
`made even more confusing by the fact that one of the leading vendors of
`this type of software is called TeamWARE Group.
`
`=:> See also GROUPWARE; WORKGROUP COMPUTING.
`
`tear-off menu A pop-up menu that you can move around the screen like
`a window. Regular pop-up menus are attached to the menu selection that
`caused them to pop up.
`
`=:. See also MENU.
`
`technical SUpport See CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
`
`telecommunications Refers to all types of data transmission, from voice
`to video.
`
`=:> See also COMMUNICATIONS; ITU; TELEMATICS; TELEPHONY.
`
`telecommuting A term coined by Jack Nilles in the early 1970s to de(cid:173)
`scribe a geographically dispersed office where workers can work at home
`on a computer and transmit data and documents to a central office via
`telephone lines. A major argument in favor of telecommuting over vehic(cid:173)
`ular commuting is that it does not produce air pollution. In addition,
`many people are more productive working at home than in an office. For
`others, however, the contrary holds true.
`
`=:> See also E-MAIL; NETWORK; WORKGROUP COMPUTING.
`
`teleconference To hold a conference via a telephone or network connec-
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1033, Page 14