Issue 38.13
Part 2
Last week’s article has brought requests for additional acronyms from the computer world. I always work to respond to my readers. Here are a few more.
I.S.P – Internet Service Provider. This is the company from which you get your internet.
D.N.S. – Domain Name System. This system allows you to create a unique text name (such as www.ksl.com) which is assigned to your WAN IP address (see last week). The system distributes or makes that name known worldwide so people can type it into their browser (Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.) and arrive at the intended website.
D.S.L. – Digital Subscriber Line. A way of delivering broadband internet to your location through the existing phone lines, usually administered by the local phone company.
H.D.M.I. – High Definition Multimedia Interface. Video transmission cable. Flat metallic plug with blade connections, no pins. Superior throughput compared with DVI or SVGA.
D.V.I. – Digital Video Interface. Similar to HDMI, rectangular in shape, but uses an array of pins and blades.
S.V.G.A. – Super Video Graphics Array. 15 pin plug/jack for video transmission. Superior to VGA but inferior to DVI and HDMI.
Wi-Fi – Wireless Fidelity. A way of transmitting and receiving digital data wirelessly over small areas (usually 50 to 250 feet from the transmitter depending on type).
R.A.M. – Random Access Memory. The type of memory the computer uses for computations and processes. It is dynamic. That means that information can change many times quickly when told to, but all information is lost when the power is turned off.
P.C.I.-X – Peripheral Component Interconnect – Extended. High speed connection
These are very simplified explanations and just scratch the surface of the many acronyms out there, but hopefully they will help you understand some “computerese”. If you want to know the meaning of other acronyms, drop me a note and we will include them in a future article – and as always, remember to back up anything that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 32 years, 23 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or his website www.bitsnbytescomputers.com.