|
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)
IDE describes a hard disk with the disk controller integrated within it. See also EIDE.
back to I-letter
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)
An international professional society that issues its own standards and is a member of ANSI and ISO.
back to I-letter
Image map
An image containing one or more invisible regions, called hotspots, which are assigned hyperlinks. Typically, an
image map gives users visual cues about the information made available by clicking each part of the image. For
example, a geographical map could be made into an image map by assigning hotspots to each region of interest on
the map.
A single graphic image containing more than one hot spot. Image maps are used extensively on the WWW. Each
hot spot in a Web image takes you to a different Web page or to another area of the same Web page.
back to I-letter
Infrared
Infrared works by using Electromagnetic waves whose frequency range is above that of microwaves, but below that
of the visible spectrum.
back to I-letter
Initialize
To set to a starting position or value.
back to I-letter
Instant Messaging
A type of communications service that enables you to create a private chat room with another individual. Typically,
the instant messaging system alerts you whenever somebody on your private list is online. You can then initiate
a chat session with that particular individual.
back to I-letter
Interface
1. Something that connect two separate entities. For example, a user interface is a part of a program that connects
the computer with a human operator (user).
2. A shared boundary defined by common physical-interconnection and signal characteristics, and by the meanings
of interchanged signals.
back to I-letter
Internet
Internet is a global network of networks used to exchange information using the TCP/IP protocol. It allows for
electronic mail and the accessing ad retrieval of information from remote sources.
1. The worldwide computer network used for reference, e-mail, and other services.
2. Any large network made up of several smaller networks.
3. A group of networks that are interconnected so they appear to be one continuous large network and can be addressed
seamlessly at the OSI Model Network Layer through routers.
The global computer network, composed of thousands of Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs)
that uses TCP/IP to provide world-wide communications to homes, schools, businesses, and governments. The World
Wide Web runs on the Internet and is a large, uncontrolled and unadministered cyber-state. Basically, it's just
everyone's computers hooked together. It's not a corporation, organization, or entity in itself. When you connect
to the Internet, you actually become part of it. Always capitalized, the word Internet can also be referred to
colloquially as the "Net".
back to I-letter
InterNIC
Meaning "Internet information Center", InterNIC is the combined name for the providers of registration,
information, and database services to the Internet. InterNIC is who you contact if you want to register a domain
name on the Internet.
back to I-letter
Interrupt (interrupt-signal)
A signal sent by a hardware device or by software that causes the CPU to stop what it is doing and execute special
instructions determined by the signal.
back to I-letter
Intranet
Intranet is an internal Network to an organization that uses Internet protocols. So, Intranet is a computer network
that is internal to an organization and supports Internet applications, especially the World Wide Web. Most intranets
are configured so that their users can access the entire Internet without allowing users of the Internet access
to the computers on the intranet. A network that connects a related set of standard Internet protocols and files
in HTML format with employees using Internet browsers in an organization's network and within corporate firewalls.
See also firewall.
A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find
on the public Internet, but that is only for internal use. As the Internet has become more popular many of the
tools used on the Internet are being used in private networks, for example, many companies have Web servers that
are available only to employees. Note that an "Intranet" may not actually be an Internet, it may simply
be a network.
back to I-letter
I/O Port (Input / Output Port)
I/O is the communication between a computer and its user, its storage devices, other computers (via a network)
or the outside world. The I/O port is the logical channel or channel endpoint in an I/O communication system.
back to I-letter
IP (Internet Protocol)
Internet software that divides data into packets for transmission over the Internet. Computers must run IP to communicate
across the Internet. See also TCP. IP is an industry standard, connectionless, best-effort packet switching protocol
used as the network layer in the TCP/IP Protocol Suite.
back to I-letter
IP address (Internet Protocol address)
The standard way of identifying a computer that is connected to the Internet, much the way a telephone number identifies
a telephone on a telephone network.
The protocol used in gateways to connect networks at the OSI Network Level (Layer 3) and above. IP routes a message
across networks. The IP address is four numbers separated by periods, and each number is less than 256, for example,
192.200.44.69. Your Web server administrator or Internet Service Provider will assign your computer an IP address.
The 32-bit address defined by the Internet Protocol. Every resource on the Internet has a unique numerical
IP address, represented in dotted decimal notation. IP addresses are the closest thing the Internet has to phone
numbers. When you "call" that number using any number of connection methods such as FTP, HTTP, Gopher,
etc.) you get connected to the computer that "owns" that IP address.
back to I-letter
IPX-Internet Packet Exchange
A communication protocol in Novell® NetWare® that creates, maintains, and terminates connections between
network devices such as workstations and servers.
back to I-letter
IRC-Internet Relay Chat
IRC is a massive network of text-based chat channels (rooms) and users all across the world. The world-wide "party
line" of the '90s. IRC allows multiple users to converse in real time on different "channels". Channels
(which have a "#" sign preceding their name) vary in traffic and content. Channel operators (or Ops)
moderate the conversation, and have the ability to "kick" people from channels, or even ban them if their
actions warrant it. IRC clients are available for nearly all platforms.
A live chat area of the Internet in which real-time conversations among two or more people take place via special
software. Each specific IRC channel begins with a # and is dedicated to a different area of interest. IRC is considered
another part of the technology of the Internet the same way FTP, Telnet and the Web are considered.
back to I-letter
IRQ (Interrupt Request)
IRQ is the name of the hardware interrupt signals that PC peripherals (such as serial or parallel ports) use to
get the processor's attention. Since interrupts usually cannot be shared, devices are assigned unique IRQ addresses
that enable them to communicate with the processor. Peripherals that use interrupts include LAN adapters, sound
boards, scanner interfaces, and SCSI adapters.
back to I-letter
ISAPI (Internet Server Application Programming Interface)
ISAPI is a web server application-development interface, developed by Process Software and Microsoft Corporation,
that can be used in place of CGI.
back to I-letter
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Technology which combines voice and digital network services in a single medium, it is a circuit made up of two
64-kbps bearer (B) channels and one 16-kbps data (D) channel used for signaling. The B channels can be combined
to provide up to 128 kbps of throughput via a dialup network. ISDN makes it possible for communications carriers
to offer their customers digital data services as well as voice connections through a single line. CCITT defines
the standards relating to ISDN.
back to I-letter
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
An organization of 89 member countries (founded in 1946) responsible for setting world standards in many electronics
areas. Members of the ISO are the national standards organizations of the member countries.
back to I-letter
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An ISP is a company or organization that allows you to access the Internet via their computers.
An ISP is a company that maintains a network that is linked to the Internet via a dedicated communication line,
usually a high-speed link known as a T1. An ISP offers use of its dedicated communication lines to companies or
individuals who can't afford the high monthly cost for a direct connection. Using a modem, you can dial up to a
service provider whose computers will connect you to the Internet, typically for a fee.
back to I-letter
ITU-TSS (International Telegraphic Union-Telecommunications Standards Sector)
The replacement organization for the CCITT.
back to I-letter
|
