Basic computer terms

Basic computer terms
These are basic computer terms which we come across while using the computer or studying computer. they include:

Ms-access

This is an abbreviation for Microsoft Access. It is a database application. In it we can create tables, forms and queries even in a customised format. It is compatible with other database programs since it is able to support Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Its examples can be seen as follows Oracle, FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP and MySQL. SAP software refers to Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing. It represents a company name in German. MySQL stands for my standard Queried Language ,  It is this particular application where many companies that keep records use. Such companies include: banks, hospitals, schools, insurance companies even churches.

Add-ons

Add on are software extensions that add extra features and additional capabilities to your software. Some other software refers to them as extensions. Plug-ins can also be seen as a type of add-on. Some of the software that use them include; Mozilla Firefox, computer games, Excel. Many of them can be installed simply by double clicking on them.

Analog

This can be seen as the continuous representation of data in variables. In the computer world we can see it as a device or process in which data is represented by physical quantities that change constantly. The world in which we live can be seen as an analog world where everything we see hears or feel is a continuous transmission of information to our senses. This is always in sharp contradiction to digital. Analog devices were the first to be produced. Digital information are passed in zeros and one by a digital device. Analog devices produce more accurate results than the digital devices but digital devices can be easily used and preserved than the analog devices. Analog devices are more bulky and noisy than the digital. Some analog devices include; radio tapes, watches, Record players, 8-track tape players, Cassette tape players, Tube amplifiers, Old electric organs (like the Hammond B-3).

Ad hoc

This is a Latin word meaning formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only. Simply put “for this purpose”. It is a type of network in computer networking that was created for a particular purpose and made to last for only a particular period of time. This type of network might not necessarily need a router or a wireless base station.

This network can come into play when there might be a need to connect two computers for the exchange of files between two computers or more. This can be done using Ethernet crossover cables for transfers between two computers and setting up multi ad hoc network for more computers. However when this network last for a longer time we can still view it as a Local Area Network (LAN).

Adc

Stands for "Analog-to-Digital Converter." Since computers only process digital information, they require digital input. Therefore, if an analog input is sent to a computer, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is required. This device can take an analog signal, such as an electrical current, and digitize it into a binary format that the computer can understand.
A common use for an ADC is to convert analog video to a digital format. For example, video recorded on 8mm film or a VHS tape is stored in an analog format. In order to transfer the video to a computer, the video must be converted to a digital format. This can be done using an ADC video conversion box, which typically has composite video inputs and a Firewire output. Some digital camcorders that have analog inputs can also be used to convert video from analog to digital.
ADCs may also be used to convert analog audio streams. For example, if you want to record sounds from a microphone, the audio must be converted from the microphone's analog signal into a digital signal that the computer can understand. This is why all sound cards that have an analog audio input also require an ADC that converts the incoming audio signal to a digital format. The accuracy of the audio conversion depends on the sampling rate used in the conversion process. Higher sampling rates provide a better estimation of the analog signal, and therefore produce a higher-quality sound.
While ADCs convert analog inputs into a digital format that computers can recognize, sometimes a computer must output an analog signal. For this type of conversion, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is used.
Important: ADC can also stand for "Apple Display Connector," which was a proprietary video connector developed by Apple. It combined DVI, USB, and AC power into a single cable. Apple stopped producing computers with ADC ports in 2004 in favor of the standard DVI connection.

Agp

Stands for "Accelerated Graphics Port." This is a graphics card expansion port designed by Intel that resides on the motherboard of a computer. PCI graphics ports typically run at 33 MHz and have a maximum transfer rate of 132 MB/sec. AGP ports, on the other hand, run at 66 MHz and can transfer data up to 528 MB/sec. This allows games and applications to store and retrieve larger, more realistic 3D shapes and textures without slowing down the animation on the screen. Additionally, AGP cards can store graphics in system memory rather than video memory, which also helps improve performance. Because of these advantages, AGP cards will typically have better performance per MB of VRAM than PCI graphics cards.

Ansi

Stands for "American National Standards Institute." ANSI's primary goal is to enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses and to improve the American quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems. "Voluntary" standards are driven by marketplace needs rather than regulated by the government. "Conformity assessment systems" test the compliance of a product or service to a standard. ANSI does not itself develop standards or conduct tests, rather it facilitates this work by "accrediting" (i.e., recognizing) qualified groups with appropriate expertise. The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ANSI is a private, nonprofit membership organization with offices in Washington, DC and New York City.
If you'd like more information about ANSI, there's no better place to visit than ANSI's Web site. There you'll find more information about ANSI and what they do, as well as the latest news on national and international standards. Check it out!
 

to be continued...