Simplified Tech Dictionary: Understanding Tech through Key Terms

By BDBAI

The first dictionary of 'technological and computer jargon' that does not take itself too seriously, thus succeeding in bringing even less experienced or inexperienced public closer to the terminology that is now essential for communicating in an increasingly digital and hyper-connected world. Each term is explained in simple words and cross-references to other terms included within the volume, so that anyone can quickly master the language and expressions typical of the IT and technological world in general.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BDBAI
• Release date: Mar 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9791222088365

Book preview

Simplified Tech Dictionary

Understanding Tech through Key Terms

BDB + AI

Contents

Title Page

Characters

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Characters

# - When you see this symbol, be careful not to confuse it with the sharps used in music. Known today mainly as 'hashtag' because of its shape, this symbol is actually used to identify something on the Internet using a 'label', in English, 'hashtag' (in fact, the English word for 'label' is tag, but it applies in a general sense). If, before or after a content (post) published on social networks or on a site, you insert a term preceded by the hashtag, you will ensure that the content is identified and classified according to that term (e.g. #holiday, #money, #joy, etc.), thus being more easily discoverable by users.

@ - You will usually see this symbol in two cases. In the first case it is inside an e-mail address, where the first group of letters is followed by this '@' and immediately afterwards by the domain name identifying the substantial part of the address (e.g. [e-mail]). In this case the symbol is called 'at', as it has the meaning of 'at' (the e-mail address). The other, more recent use is to identify (such as 'tag') someone within a social network, i.e. to draw their attention to it when they publish a content (post) so that they are alerted to that publication. In this second case, the @ symbol precedes the user's name (e.g. @johndoe).

* - The asterisk character, in computing, is used in command-line interfaces to indicate a 'wildcard' character, that’s to say the equivalent of any character or even "any string" (e.g. in the expression fo*.txt or luck.*, where *.* indicates 'any name followed by any extension', i.e. all files present). The other common use of this character is as a substitute for x in multiplication formulas, i.e. 2*2 meaning two multiplied by two.

A

accessibility (settings) - No every user of a computer, tablet or smartphone is perfectly 'able-bodied'; in fact, it may happen that some users are penalized by one or more disabilities, e.g. visual, among others. For this category of people, a series of settings have been created that allow them to modify the way they use the different devices, for example, by speaking the text on the screen, increasing the contrast or font size, and so on. All these settings are collected in the settings section of the operating system identified by the term accessibility.

account - To use many online services, it is necessary to register, i.e. to communicate one's email address and/or a user name (even if different from one's real name), choosing a password to associate with the first two in order to access the service later. In this way, we will have created an account, to which we can additionally associate other data, creating a real 'user profile'. See also: registration.

adapter - An adapter is a device or accessory that enables the connection or compatibility between two different components, systems, or interfaces that otherwise could not be connected directly. In the context of computing and electronics, adapters often convert one type of connector, plug, or signal to another, allowing various devices or components to work together. Examples of adapters include power adapters that convert AC power to a specific voltage required by a device, audio adapters that change the plug type of headphones or microphones, and USB adapters that enable the connection of different USB devices or standards. Adapters are essential tools for overcoming limitations in hardware compatibility and extending the functionality of existing devices.

admin (administrator) - See administrator

address bar - A text field in a webbrowser that displays the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the current web page and allows users to input new URLs to navigate to different websites.

alphanumeric - Consisting of letters and numbers.

administrator (admin) - The term admin is an abbreviation for administrator and indicates the user who has complete control of a 'system' (in fact, it is also called system administrator or sysadmin). The 'system' may be an operating system, a server, a website or even a router. In any case, the administrator will be able to access it with their own user name (usually just admin) and password and intervene in all available settings, as well as create and manage any other users. See also: superuser.

Algorithm - A step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a problem or performing a task, often used in computer programming and mathematics.

analog - As opposed to digital, it indicates all technology based on measurements and processing that do not have a mathematical, numerical basis. An analog scale, for example, is a mechanical scale that is less accurate than its digital equivalent. The same can be said for an analog or digital thermometer, or for a music system based on vinyl records and the record player versus a compact disc player.

Android - This isthe open source operating system that we find installed in all tablets and smartphones that are not made by Apple, in fact it was developed by Google and is its direct competitor in the world of mobile devices. We also find it inside many multimedia devices and smart TVs.

antivirus - You may have heard of computer viruses, and consequently of antiviruses, those software programs thatoriginally had the very function of detecting the presence of viruses and blocking them, protecting the operating system. Over time, antiviruses have evolved to keep up with the increasingly dangerous and diverse computer threats, now identified by the broader term malware.

APFS (Apple File System) - As the full name implies, APFS is the file system used by Apple for its desktop (macOS) and mobile (iOS) operating systems.

API (Application Programming Interface) - A set of rules and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other, facilitating the integration of different software components.

app - See application

app store - See store

application - In order to enable the user of a computer, tablet or smartphone to perform a task, e.g. manage e-mails, play games or play a video or music, programmers develop what is known as application software, using languages that the machine is able to interpret and execute commands. This type of software is called an application (or application program) and, in tablets and smartphones, abbreviated to app. Applications are, for example, programs for word processing or retouching images, those for playing multimedia content, but also the browser youuse to surf the Web.

Application Suite - An application suite, also known as a software suite or productivity suite, is a collection of related software programs or tools that are designed to work together and share a common user interface, file formats, and functionality. Application suites are typically bundled together and sold as a single package, offering users a comprehensive set of tools for accomplishing various tasks within a specific domain or industry. Examples of application suites include Microsoft Office (which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), Adobe Creative Suite (which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), and LibreOffice (which includes Writer, Calc, Impress, and Draw). By integrating multiple applications, an application suite aims to improve productivity, streamline workflows, and provide a consistent user experience.

archive – See file (See also: compression)

Artificial Intelligence