Internet Word of the Day Archive

March 01, 2011

A form of technology that allows sysops, programmers, and other users to communicate with each other via the Internet. A talker is a cross between a MUD and an IRC (without the role playing of MUDs and without a real-time chat room). Users connect via a Telnet application (though it is possible to connect to some talkers via a Web browser).

Talkers make use of either full-screen or line-by-line ASCII graphics/text, and in order to use it, you must know the address of the talker as well as the special codes required for interacting with others. It's a techie thing, because you have to get involved with code. There is a talk program that comes with most versions of Unix. Any number of users (restricted only by the bandwidth of the server the talker is running on) can login to the Telnet site and see what others are typing in real time.

For an interesting look at the history of talkers, click here or on the "more info" button below.

Here is an example of a new type of hardware that has been developed to accommodate the popularity of multimedia applications and graphics-intensive Web sites on the Internet. It is a video adapter with a processor that specifically handles graphics, freeing up a computer's CPU (thereby raising a computer's performance level in terms of speed, mainly). Most computer manufacturers now bundle a graphics accelerator with their mid- to high-end systems.

Acknowledgement

March 02, 2011

An automatic mailing list server developed by Eric Thomas for BITNET in 1986. When e-mail is addressed to a LISTSERV mailing list, it is automatically broadcast to everyone on the list. The result is similar to a newsgroup or forum, except that the messages are transmitted as e-mail and are therefore available only to individuals on the list.

LISTSERV is currently a commercial product marketed by L-Soft International. Although LISTSERV refers to a specific mailing list server, the term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to any mailing list server. Another popular mailing list server is majordomo, which is freeware.

One who is brilliant at all things computer-related.

Straight

March 03, 2011

a.k.a. "Multi-User Dimension"

A multi-user simulation environment, usually text-based. It incorporates an object-oriented programming language that participants use to construct their own characters and worlds. Some worlds are purely for fun and flirting, but others are used for serious software development, educational purposes, and all that lies in between. A significant feature of most MUDs is that users can create things that stay after they leave and that can be further developed in their absence, thus allowing a world to be built gradually and collectively.

An "I" placed before a word or phrase usually stands for "Internet." Unlike e-anything, where the "e" actually describes something that's electronic (such as e-journal) I-anything is almost always used for some kind of marketing program or media hype.

Why Should I Care?

March 04, 2011

A modem's speed is measured by the number of bits it can transfer in a second. Modems rated in kilobits per second are now the standard. Bandwidth is also measured in Mbps (millions of bits or Megabits per second) and Gbps (billions of bits or Gigabits per second), depending on the medium and transmission method. Note: Kb is kilobit, KB is kilobyte.

Big Hairy Audacious Goal

Slang for a tween's bedroom, staples in "the technology cave" include a TV, computer, stereo, iPod, and cell phone.

Historical perspective: In 2010, it was hardly news that young people are fascinated with social media, video games, TV, and iPods, but a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found the average young person from 8 to 18� spends literally every waking moment outside of school on the Internet, watching TV, listening to music on MP3 players, texting, or using some other electronic device. That comes to kids spending an average of seven and half hours daily consuming media in some form, AND, when you include multitasking, kids actually consume close to 11 hours' worth of content in that time!

March 05, 2011

Originally, it referred to a circle or dot that separated items in a list (see below for a sample). Now, bullets can also be squares, triangles, pointing fingers, or any graphical character used to set off items in a list.

� For example, the circle that appears on the left side of this text is a bullet.

What's for dinner?

The act of preparing words in a document specifically for enhanced searching, "stemming" determines word boundaries in a query or document. For example, “run” will match with “running,” “runs,” and “ran.” The purpose of stemming is to increase the relevancy of search results as well as the speed of search results.

March 06, 2011

Any device connected to, or part of, a computer. Peripherals include monitors, printers, scanners, mice, external hard drives, floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, speakers, keyboards, stylus pens, and so on.

A genre that uses only HTML-coded form elements to create Web-based art.

Very Important Member

March 07, 2011

Wordsmith In Training

Slang for the government, it implies a violation of privacy, as in, "big brother is watching." Derived from George Orwell's novel 1984, it has extended to mean big corporate as well.

Watch the two videos below!

A term used in reference to disabling SSID (Security Set Identifier) broadcasting. Giving your wireless network a unique SSID is good practice.

March 08, 2011

A computer-based method of presenting combinations of text, images, graphics, animation, streaming audio or video, and so on. "Modern multimedia" features an emphasis on interactivity.

In A While

A person who works primarily on their laptop outside of a traditional office setting. Usually freelancers, "laptop nomads" often work out of their home offices and are regularly seen typing away in cafes with hotspots. Similar to a road warrior in the sense that the laptop nomad is able to do his or her work from anywhere, there is a movement called "co-working" which gives independent workers and solo entrepreneurs the opportunity to share one big office space with perks they might not get a t home, such as conference rooms espresso machines, and opportunities for socializing. Co-workers can either drop in or rent a dedicated area in spaces ranging from funky industrial lofts to sleeker sites with a more corporate ambiance.

March 09, 2011

The group of letters after a period or "dot" in a file name. The extension indicates the format or type of the file. For example, in the file name "readme.txt," the extension "txt" denotes a text file that can be viewed using a text editor, such as Notepad or SimpleText. Operating systems, such as Mac OS or Windows, refer to a file's extension when choosing which application to launch when a user clicks on a file.

For a list of file extensions click here!

A technique for typing employed by those who do not know how to type properly. Instead of using ten fingers, he or she will only use one or two fingers and must look around the keyboard to find the next letter to type.

Your Comment To

March 10, 2011

The actual programming code that creates a Web page. Choosing this item from the "View" drop-down menu in a Web browser produces a page with a document's source code (in HTML, JavaScript, or whatever programming language was used). This is how Web authors can see how others have coded Web pages. To copy the contents of this file with Windows, press Control-A to select the contents, followed by Control-C to copy, and Control-V to paste it into another document. On the Mac, the source code is automatically saved into a text file on the desktop when you view a document's source.

Note: Many Web site authors put notes in the source to inform you which code is proprietary (and therefore should not be copied) and which code is available for copying (for that, though, you must request permission from and cite the author or programmer of the copied page).

No Action, Talk Only

A term used in the 1980s to describe a range of platforms used for conversing online, including email, listservs, chat, or instant messaging.

March 11, 2011

The literati of the digital world, it includes people in the industry who are considered knowledgeable, hip, or otherwise in-the-know with regard to the online revolution. A popular digerati gathering is the annual TED Conference, a three-day party for notable people in technology (T), entertainment (E), and design (D), orchestrated by Richard Saul Wurman.

The act of creating computer programs, Web sites, and other applications. "Code" refers to the typed program instructions that programmers write. The written code is interpreted into a language that a system can read and execute. A favorite term among Web developers, code is often mentioned with interesting verbs. For example, you may hear programmers say, "We're busy slinging code," which means they are writing a computer program or programming a database or Web site.

Pretty Hot And Tempting

March 12, 2011

Hugs And Kisses

Another name for your online persona, for example, the founder of NetLingo's "digital doppelganger" is sistergoldenhair. Actually, it refers to ALL of the online places where you post personal or professional information, so to be accurate in Erin's case that includes:

• Her personal website --> sistergoldenhair.com
• Her professional website --> erinjansen.com
• Her personal MySpace page --> myspace.com/sistergoldenspace
• Her professional MySpace page --> myspace.com/netlingo
• Her network on LinkedIn --> linkedin.com/in/sistergoldenhair
• Her webcasts on YouTube --> youtube.com/netlingogirl
• Her Facebook page --> which you can't see because it is a walled garden

Spelled as two words, it refers to RSS, a technology that allows you to see when Web sites have added new content. For example on a news Web site, you can subscribe to the news feed and get the latest headlines and video in one place, as soon as its published. On a social networking site for example, feeds highlight what's happening in your social circles, and on Twitter for example, feeds display what your followers are posting.

Spelled as one word, this refers to a news source that transfers newsgroups to ISPs, over the Internet or other computer networks.

March 13, 2011

A person who loves to convert "ink on paper" into a digital form. "Ink on paper" includes any kind of hard copy document, including pictures, that can now be converted to pixels.

In the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy, it is the highest level under the root. In a domain name, it is that portion that appears furthest to the right; for example, the "com" in www.netlingo.com.

Two letter domains, such as .uk, .de and .jp (for example), are called "country code top-level domains" (ccTLDs) and correspond to a country, territory, or other geographic location. The rules and policies for registering domain names in the ccTLDs vary significantly and some are reserved for use by citizens of the corresponding country. You should check with the registrar offering ccTLD registration services regarding the specific terms and conditions for registration. Be sure to also read through these definitions: .com, .edu, .gov, .net, .org, country codes

The official list of all top-level domains is maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

Start Of Exams

March 14, 2011

Rolling On The Floor Laughing

A reliable link between a user and an Internet site, even though the two are not communicating over a dedicated phone line.

The slimy substance left on a mouse or joystick after a harrowing round of a high-stress videogame. "Sure, you can play, if you don't mind the hand salsa."

March 15, 2011

To browse or look at information on the Web by pointing and clicking and navigating in a nonlinear way (meaning you can go to any site at any time you like).

A commonly heard phrase is, "I surfed the Net for a few hours last night and bookmarked some great sites." A "surfer" is a user who surfs the Net.

A mobile telephone that uses wireless technology, it is considered indispensable for road warriors, modern mothers, teenagers, and those who work in the industry. Also known as a handy (short for handheld), many cell phones are now capable of receiving text-based messages (such as e-mail or SMS) in addition to incoming calls. A friend may say to you, "Call me on my cell." Note: A pager is not the same as a cell phone ;-)

Figuring out all of the specific jargon as it relates to the cell phone carriers can be baffling! For example, Verizon and Sprint refer to their high-speed capability as "EVDO" and Cingular calles their "HSDPA." T-Mobile doesn't have a network in this speed class so instead you will hear about "EDGE."

Cell phone technology continues to get cheaper, faster, better. The first commercial cell phone service was activated on October 13th, 1983. In 1987, the monthly average of a U.S. cell phone bill was $96.85; in 1998, it was $39.43. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the cell phone, CTIA-The Wireless Association in conjunction with Harris Interactive released a study on cell phone use by teenagers called "Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged." The survey polled U.S. teenagers aged 13-19 about cell phones, texting, perceptions, and attitudes. The full study is below, here are a few highlights:

• 57% agree or somewhat agree that the cell phone has improved their quality of life.
• 18% agree or somewhat agree that the cell phone has positively influenced their education.
• 35% have used their cell phone to reach out to someone in need (good Samaritan)
• 41% are concerned about privacy and security issues when using my mobile.
• 57% of Smartphone users and 29% of regular cell phone users said they carry their cell phone because it is how they stay connected to their "world".
• 59% of Smartphone users and 37% of regular cell phone users said they carry their cell phone because it is an indicator of their personal style.
• Overall a teenagers cell phone ranked 2nd only to clothing, in determining their social status.
• 42% of teenagers said they could text message blindfolded!
• The younger the teen, the more likely they are to choose text messaging over talking on the phone to someone.
• The #1 reason why teens liked text messaging was because it allowed them to multitask.
• Teens are not selecting text messaging to save money.
• Females are much more likely to text messaging than males, and find the ability to text message to be more significant in their lives than males.
• 66% want cell phones to provide the freedom to get an education from any location on earth.
• 63% want cell phones to bring the world closer by better understanding global issues.
• 28% of teens are browsing the web on their cell phones.
• 59% of teens are willing to provide their profile information to businesses that advertise on cell phones!
• The ideal cell phone for teenagers would include; mp3 player, GPS, Desktop/Laptop computer, portable video player, and access to your desktop/laptop computer files from anywhere!

Historical perspective: In the U.S. there were 255.4 million total cell phone users (Dec. 2007) or 84% of all Americans. Worldwide there were 1.2 billion cell phone users (Dec. 2007) and that number is projected to reach 3.6 billion by 2010.

For the largest list of Internet acronyms and text message jargon, click on "more info" below!

Prayer Wheels Are Spinning

March 16, 2011

An Internet tool that allows users to look up e-mail addresses. In order to use Ph, you need a client program such as Eudora, and the related e-mail providers need to have a Ph server program. Ph is somewhat similar to another Internet facility, finger, which lets you search for a user's name if you know the e-mail address. Ph is sometimes referred to as Qi or Ph/Qi.

As Far As I Can See

An e-mail account that automatically deletes everything that goes into it. For example, if you have several e-mail accounts at the same domain name which regularly receive spam, your Webmaster may set up an e-mail account and associate a rule or filter with it, so that anything that gets sent to it, is deleted (and therefore doesn't download into your bona fide accounts). At NetLingo, we've set up "webmaster@netlingo.com" to be a spam trap so that anything that gets sent to that address gets deleted (because we don't use that as an e-mail address but it is a popular one with spam bots).

March 17, 2011

A specification that describes how computers talk to each other on a network. A protocol is an established method of exchanging data over the Internet.

Another name for a nerd or geek, this term describes a person who is interested in owning the latest gadgets or gizmos.

As A Matter Of Interest

March 18, 2011

A device (even a printer) that is connected to a network. Every node has a unique network address, sometimes called a Data Link Control (DLC) address or Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Personal Message -or- Private Message

People who are in perfect alignment on an issue, an idea, or a belief system. Allegedly coined by Rush Limbaugh to refer to his legion of faithful followers.

March 19, 2011

An open technology specification for short-range radio links between mobile PCs, "smart" devices, and other portable machines. It is a networking technology that enables data to easily transfer from one device to another, and unlike infrared (which requires a clear line of sight to operate properly), Bluetooth operates over a 2.4 gigahertz radio frequency that allows communications through obstacles over distances of 30 feet. This means, for example, that if this technology is combined with MP3, your audio could follow you from your living room to your car to your office. The same data (your preferred songs) could get transferred to different devices (your home stereo, your car radio, and your office audio system). You could also use your phone to create a wireless Internet connection for your laptop.

Bluetooth is a global wireless standard, and it eliminates the need for cords, thus allowing friends and business associates to exchange contact information much more easily. Building on the convenience of using a LAN for file and printer sharing, the creators envision a Bluetooth-enabled home, where the appliances talk to each other using you as the antenna. (Wouldn't you want your datebook to check your refrigerator to be sure there's enough orange juice for Sunday brunch? see: PAN).

On a more practical side, having your PDA, cell phone, desktop computer, and laptop computer automatically synchronize address books and calendars just by being in the same room sounds like a good thing. Named after the tenth century Danish king Harald Bl�tand (which translates to Bluetooth), who unified Denmark and Norway, it is gaining momentum under the joint development backing of Nokia, IBM, Intel, LM Ericsson, and Toshiba.

Smile

Forget the academic definitions, among the young it means "just kidding!" As in: "Bill Gates is my dad." Pause. "PSYCHE!"

March 20, 2011

The standard Internet protocol for the exchange of information on the World Wide Web. Basically, it defines URLs by telling the server what to send to the client. The client can view Web pages, FTP sites, Gopher sites, Usenet newsgroups, or other areas of the Net. HTTP enables Web authors to code hyperlinks into documents. Once the files are FTP'd to the server, those links can be clicked on to initiate a data transfer process. Information is retrieved without any further input from the user (this is known as "transparent access," in which the user doesn't even need to know where the document is coming from or how it was accessed).

So What Do You Think?

Commonly referred to as spam, UCE, however is a more appropriate name for unwanted "junk" e-mail messages than the term spam. Spam refers to unwanted postings in newsgroups, but it's meaning has extended to include unsolicited commercial e-mail as well.

March 21, 2011

A buzzword for "the Internet," which is also commonly referred to as the infobahn or "I-bahn."

The process of trying to recover "crypto keys" (or plain text) associated with a crypto system.

Bye Bye Babe -or- Boring Beyond Belief

March 22, 2011

You Asked For It You Got It

The amount of time a particular key is in use. Sometimes, it refers to the amount of data encrypted with it.

Modern jargon that refers to a social network which exists online, it refers to a "taxonomy" of knowledge organized by ordinary "folks." In other words, regular people like you and I are building networks of knowledge based on common interests by combining "what they know" with "who they know." The topics are all over the map. One way to think of it is like a job board or classified advertising blast but instead the vehicle is a Web site.

March 23, 2011

Whatever You Say

The area on a monitor or any other computer device (including handhelds, PDAs, laptops, cell phones, pagers, etc.) that you look at, it is the area which displays text and graphical information (similar to a television screen). Acronyms and smileys are used to convey information and emotion as "screens" get smaller and smaller. You may hear someone say "he spends all of his time in front of that darn screen."

A fake disclaimer at the end of a spam e-mail assuring the reader that the message complies with a bill introduced by former Alaska Senator (now Governor) Frank Murkowski regulating spam. The bill never passed.

March 24, 2011

The act of dozing off while still connected to your electronic devices, usually in a room full of electronic noises, including music, and light from computer or television screens.

Bad Ass Chick

Originally thought of as a buzzword, "gamification" has entered the digital mainstream as both an interactive marketing method and an application. Gamification is the use of gaming technology for non-game applications, particularly consumer-oriented Web sites and mobile sites, in order to encourage people to connect with and use the applications. Gamification works by making technology more engaging and by encouraging desired behaviors (such as performing chores that they ordinarily consider boring, like filling out surveys, shopping, or reading Web sites.

Examples of gamifications include rewarding points to people who share experiences on location-based platforms, such as Farmville on Facebook and foursquare's social network.

March 25, 2011

A mid-sized computer that is ranked between workstations and mainframes in terms of size and power. A minicomputer is capable of supporting about 4 to 200 users simultaneously.

Online jargon is the specialized language, chat acronyms, text message shorthand, and technical lingo that is used while communicating in the online world.

Be sure to check out the list of funny new online jargon in the twitterverse!

The word "jargon" refers to terminology that is associated with a specific profession, group, or activity and most often covers the language used by people who have a common interest. Like slang, it can develop as a kind of shorthand, to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group, though it can also be developed deliberately using chosen terms.

Here's an example: "My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :-@ kids FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc." It is translated like this: "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place."

NetLingo is a dictionary of online jargon ;-) For the largest list of Internet acronyms and text message jargon, click on "more info" below!

In Order To

March 26, 2011

A method of organizing several files into a single group for transmitting or printing. This serves to increase the efficiency of the data transmission.

The introductory Web page of a Web site. Also referred to as a homepage, it is actually the first page of a Web site, generally containing a welcome message and/or navigational information about the Web site. Not to be confused with a buffer page or splash page.

bye

March 27, 2011

The original analog cellular network, it is the world's largest cellular standard.

Porn purveyors who operate free sample sites designed to funnel traffic to pay commercial adult sites and get paid a few cents for each click-through.

As Soon As You Get This

March 28, 2011

A term coined by William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer, it is the digital world constructed by computer networks, and in particular, the Internet. Whenever you hear the term "cyberspace," it generally refers to the online world, which is a place that actually exists, albeit as a communications medium rather than another galaxy.

Perceived as an immaterial realm of data or some kind of virtual world, it is actually a physical infrastructure made up of the wires above our head, the cable beneath our feet, and the satellite dishes in the sky. Some people don't like this term because it's become commercialized, but at the same time, it represents the attitude of people who consider themselves wired or connected.

A program that is launched or used by Web browsers (such as Mosaic) for presenting graphics, audio, video, VRML, and other multimedia files found on the Internet. It's sometimes referred to as a helper application. When you initially set up your browser, you configure the external viewers you want by associating them with file types extensions. This way, the browser knows what to do when these files are "clicked on."

Good Job

March 29, 2011

In computer-speak, a frame is a rectangular area absolutely positioned on the display screen. In the online world, a frame refers to a single section of a Web page that's been coded to display "frames."

For The Love Of God

Slang for street criminals hired by crooked doctors and lawyers to cause traffic accidents and file phony injury claims. Crash dummies are paid a set fee; the doctors and lawyers split the insurance settlements. You may see this term in the chat rooms and newsgroups.

March 30, 2011

A series of letters, numbers, and/or symbols by which you identify yourself and by which the Internet identifies you (actually, your computer). It is also a location where information is stored. Through the use of addresses, people can send e-mail, look at Web sites, and send or receive files and documents.

An e-mail address takes the form of username@hostname.com, where the username"> is a name you have chosen and the host name is that of your ISP or e-mail provider. The symbol in the middle is the "at" symbol (@). Your e-mail address is verbalized as "username at hostname dot com."

A Web address is the same as a URL. Think of it as a telephone number, where every one is different. A WWW address usually starts with "http://www" followed by a "dot" and then a domain name. The Internet is global, and most companies outside the United States use their country's abbreviation instead of the popular "dot com." (For a list of country code abbreviations, see: country codes.)

An Internet address refers to both of the above, as well as to an IP address, which is a number given to a computer terminal where a user logs on to the Internet. If you've ever seen a set of numbers in place of a domain name (for example, http://66.201.69.207), you've seen that Web site's IP address. For network address, see: node.

Slang for the act of indiscriminately clicking 'Save' without first choosing an appropriate folder to in which to store the document. Common among newbies (e.g., moms) who don't understand the concept of folders, directories, etc., as in "All of his papers and correspondence were mommy-saved in the MS Word folder."

For Sale

March 31, 2011

The portion of a program that accomplishes the processing tasks the program is designed to perform. In a LAN with client/server architecture, the back end app may be stored on the file server while the front end programs handle the user interface on each workstation. "Back end" also refers to behind-the-screens technology, which administers tasks or processes (such as database inventory management) while allowing users to easily add or delete information via a simple front end interface.

A famous e-mail chain letter, it starts off like this: "If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this:

There would be 57 Asians,
21 Europeans,
14 from the Western Hemisphere (North and South)
and 8 Africans. ..."

When Stanford University professor Phillip Harter first forwarded it to some friends and colleagues, the message in turn got forwarded all over the world with his name in the sig file, generating all kinds of questions and responses. Since he didn't write it, he didn't verify the data, but the magazine Fast Company did.