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COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Vocabulary

Chapter 2

Software and Multimedia

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Copyright

A form of legal protection that grants certain exclusive rights to the author of a program or the owner of the copyright.

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Pirated software

Copyrighted software that is copied and used without authorization from the software developer.

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Software pirates

Individuals who illegally copy, distribute, or modify software.

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Software license

A legal contract that defines the ways in which a user may use a computer program.

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Commercial software

Copyrighted computer applications sold to consumers for profit.

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Multiple-user license

Legal permission for more than one person to use a particular software package.

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Shrink-wrap license

A legal agreement printed on computer software packaging, which goes into effect when the package is opened.

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Single-user license

A legal usage agreement limiting the use of a software program to one user at any given time.

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Concurrent-use license

Legal permission for an organization to use a certain number of copies of a software program at the same time.

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Shareware

Copyrighted software marketed under a license that allows users to use the software for a trial period and then send in a registration fee if they wish to continue to use it.

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Site license

Legal permission for software to be used on any and all computers at a specific location (for example, within a corporate building or on a university campus).

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Public domain software

Software that can be freely used by anyone, either because it has not been copyrighted, or because the author has made it available for public use.

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System software

Computer programs that help the computer carry out essential operating tasks.

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Operating system (OS)

The software that controls the computer's use of its hardware resources, such as memory and disk storage space.

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External services

Services provided by the operating system that help users start programs, manage stored data, and maintain security.

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Internal services

Functions run by the operating system without user input, such as allocation of system resources and detection of equipment failure.

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System resource

Any part of a computer system, such as disk drive space, memory capacity, or processor time, that can be used by a computer program.

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Microsoft Windows

An operating system, developed by Microsoft Corporation, that provides a graphical interface. Versions include Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT, and Windows 2000.

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Multitasking

Running two or more programs at the same time.

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MAC 08

The operating system software designed for use on Apple Macintosh and Imac computers.

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DOS

DOS (disk operating system) was the operating system software shipped with the first IBM PCs, then used on millions of computers until the introduction of Microsoft Windows.

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Linux

A server operating system that is a derivative of Unix and available as freeware.

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Novell NetWare

Operating system software designed specifically to run on microcomputer networks.

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UNIX

A multi-user, multitasking server operating system developed by AT&T's Bell Laboratories in 1969.

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Formatting

The process of dividing a disk into sectors so that it can be used to store information.

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Utilities

A subcategory of system software designed to augment the operating system by providing ways for a computer user to control the allocation and use of hardware resources.

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Computer programming language

A standardized set of specific English-like phrases or predefined instructions used for writing computer programs.

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Device driver

The software that provides the computer with the means to control a peripheral device.

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Application software

Computer programs that help you perform a specific task such as word processing. Also called application programs, applications, or programs. 66

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Groupware

Software that provides ways for multiple users to collaborate on a project, usually through a pool of data that can be shared by members of the workgroup.

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Office suite

A number of application programs that are packaged together and sold as a unit.

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Productivity software

Computer programs that help the user work more effectively.

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Desktop publishing software

Software used to create high-quality output suitable for commercial printing. DTP software provides precise control over layout.

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Web authoring software

Computer programs for designing and developing customized Web pages that can be published electronically on the Internet.

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Word processing software

Computer programs that assist the user in producing documents such as reports, letters, papers, and manuscripts.

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3-D graphics software

The software used to create three-dimensional wireframe objects, then render them into images.

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Bitmap image

An image, such as a digital photo, that is stored as a grid work of colored dots.

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Graphics software

Computer programs for creating, editing, and manipulating images.

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Photo editing software

The software used to edit, enhance, retouch, and manipulate digital photographs.

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Rendering

In graphics software, the process of creating a 3-D solid image by covering a wireframe drawing and applying computer-generated highlights and shadows.

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Vector graphics

Images generated from descriptions that determine the position, length, and direction in which lines and shapes are drawn.

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Wireframe

A representation of a 3-D object using separate lines, which resemble wire, to create a model.

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Paint software

The software required to create and manipulate bitmap graphics.

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Presentation software

Software that provides tools to combine text, graphics, graphs, animation, and sound into a series of electronic "slides" that can be output on a projector or as overhead transparencies, paper copies, or 35 mm slides.

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Mathematical modeling software

Software for visualizing and solving a wide range of math, science, and engineering problems.

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Spreadsheet software

Software for creating electronic worksheets that hold data in cells and perform calculations based on that data.

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Statistical software

Software for analyzing large sets of data to discover patterns and relationships within them.

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Database

Popularly refers to any collection of information; technically, a collection of data in related files or record types treated as a single unit.

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Database software

The application software used to create and manage a database.

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Flat file

The electronic version of a box of index cards which stores information about one entity on each card.

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Communications software

Computer programs that interact with a computer's modem to dial up, and establish a connection with, a remote computer.

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Connectivity software

A category of application software that includes communications software, remote control software, a-mail software, and Web browsers.

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E-mail software

Software that manages one person's computer mailbox.

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Remote control software

Computer programs used to establish a connection, via modem, between two machines that are located at a distance from each other.

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Online banking

A means of using a computer and modem to conduct banking transactions, such as transferring funds among accounts and paying bills.

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Personal finance software

Software geared toward individual finances that helps track bank account balances, credit card payments, investments, and bills.

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Horizontal market software

Any computer program that can be used by many different kinds of businesses (for example, an accounting program).

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Vertical market software

Computer programs designed to meet the needs of a specific market segment or industry (for example, medical record-keeping software for use in hospitals).

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Multimedia

An integrated collection of computer- based digital media, including text, graphics, sound, animation, photo images, and video.

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Graphics card

A circuit board inserted into a computer to handle the display of text, graphics, animation, and videos. Also called a "video card."

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Digital animation

A series of frames, stored as digital images. When displayed in sequence, the series of frames creates the illusion of movement.

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Digital video

Video footage that has been converted into digital format so it can be stored, modified, and displayed on a computer screen.

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Desktop video

Videos stored in digital format on a PC's hard disk or CD.

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System requirements

1) Specifications for the operating system and hardware configuration necessary for a software product to work correctly.

2) The criteria that must be met for a new computer system or software product to be a success.

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Downwardly compatible

The ability of an operating system to run application software designed for earlier versions of the operating system, but not those designed for later versions.

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Installation process

In reference to software, the process by which programs and data are copied to the hard disk of a computer system.

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Setup program

A program module supplied with a software package for the purpose of installing the software on a PC.

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Prepared by James Q. Jacobs