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C :
The programming language created by Dennis Ritchie of Bell
Laboratories in 1972 when he and Ken Thompson worked on the
UNIX operating system design. It was based on Thompson's B
language. It has found widespread use on personal computers
and is one of the languages in which expert system shells are
implemented.
C++ :
An extension to the C language . As a superset of C, it
provides additional features for data abstraction and
object-oriented programming.
C2 :
Discretionary Controlled Access Protection . A class of
computer system security defined by the US Department of
Defense. With C2 systems, information is accessible only to
specifically authorized users. C2 functionality (although not
necessarily formal Department of Defense evaluation) is of
significant value in commercial applications.
CA :
Refer to Computer Associates.
CA90s :
Computer Associate’s integrated software architecture that
attempts to bring order and form to existing CA technology.
Its advantage include its lack of hardware bias and the fact
that it is not standard-dependent. One of its main components
is CA-UNICENTER, selected as System Administration software in
France.
Cache memory :
Very fast memory (generally SRAM) used often as intermediate
between the CPU and the central storage, thus accelerating the
system throughput. For example, on a 100MHz CPU, one cycle is
executed in 10 ns, that is much faster than the 70 ns RAM
cycle.
CAD/CAM :
Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing. Two highly
specialized technical applications of a computer to improve
the productivity of the engineer.
CASE :
Computer-Aided Software Engineering. CASE is an umbrella term
for a collection of tools and techniques which are said by
their distributors to promise revolutionary gains in analyst
and programmer productivity. The two prominent delivered
technologies are application generators and PC-based
workstations that provide graphics-oriented automation of the
front end of the development process.
CATP :
(Caffeine Access Transport Protocol) Common method of moving
caffeine across Wide Area Networks such as the
Internet
CATP was first used at the Binary Cafe in Cybertown and
quickly spread world-wide.
There are reported problems with short-circuits and rust and
decaffeinated beverages were not supported until version 1.5.3
CCD :
Charge Coupled Device. A semiconductor device capable of both
photo detection and memory, which converts light to electronic
impulses. One- and two-dimensional CCD arrays are used in
scanners to perform the first stage in converting an image
into digital data. They are particularly attractive because
they can step the signals from each detector across the array
in response to a clock signal, permitting each scan line to be
read through a single electrical connection.
CCITT :
Abbreviation of the French name for the International
Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee.
CCITT Group III :
The original standard for compression and decompression of
facsimile.
CCITT Group IV :
The optimized standard for
black-and-white office documents. Neither Group III nor Group
IV handles color. Both are required to reduce bandwidth and
storage demand.
CD :
Compact Disc. The trademarked name for the laser read digital
audio disk, 12 centimeters in diameter, developed jointly by
Philips and Sony.
CDMA :
(Code Division Multiple Access) A protocol for wireless
data and voice communication, CMDA is widely used in cell
phone networks, but also in many other data communications
systems. CDMA uses a technique called "Spread Spectrum"
whereby the data being transmitted is spread across multiple
radio frequencies, making more efficient use of available
radio spectrum. There are a number of additional protocols
built on top of CDMA, such as 1xRTT (also called
CMDA2000).
CD-ROM :
Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. A version of the standard
compact disc intended to store general-purpose digital data;
provides 556-Mbytes user capacity at 10-13 corrected bit error
rate compared to 653 Mbytes at 10-9 for the standard CD.
Cell :
A block of fixed length identified by a label at Layer 1 of
the Open Systems Interconnection /International Standards
Organization (OSI/ISO) reference model. The fundamental
building block of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) and
broadband ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
Certificate Authority :
An issuer of Security Certificates used in SSL
connections.
CGA :
Ancient screen resolution standard, characterized by a low
resolution (320 x 200).
CGI :
(Common Gateway Interface) A set of rules that describe how a
Web Server communicates with another piece of
software on the same machine, and how the other piece of
software (the ?CGI program?) talks to the web server. Any
piece of software can be a CGI program if it handles input and
output according to the CGI standard.
Cgi-bin
:
The most common name of a directory on a web server in which
CGI programs are stored.
Chip :
Integrated electronic circuit, engraved on one silicon slice.
CISC :
Complex Instruction Set Computer. A computer in which
individual instructions may perform many operations and take
many cycles to execute , in contrast with reduced instruction
set computer. Examples include IBM System/370, Digital
Equipment Corp. VAX, Motorola 68020 and Intel 80386.
Class :
Often confused with object, a class defines an entity in the
application to be programmed by specifying its data structure
and the procedures that can operate on the data. A specific
instance of a class, created at run time, is an object
Clear To Send :
Signal sent by a modem to a computer indicating that the modem
is ready to accept data and to forward them to the telephone
line.
Click :
Action consisting of placing the mouse over an object and
pressing the button without moving the mouse.
Client :
A client is as system or program that requests the activity of
one or more other systems or programs, called servers, to
accomplish specific tasks. In a client/server environment, the
workstation is usually the client.
Client/Server :
A concept that functionally divides the execution of a unit of
work between activities initiated by an end user or program
(client) and resource responses (services) to the activity
request. Client/server is an application of cooperative
processing in which the end-user interaction with the
computing environment is through a programmable workstation
that executes some portion of the application (beyond terminal
emulation).
Clock :
Function allowing the computer to maintain date and time, and
to calculate the elapsed time between two events.
CMOS :
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. Integrated-circuit
technology noted for its low-power requirements and
low-transmission time. Often used in processor and memory
chips for portable computers.
COBOL language :
A COBOL language compliant, at the high level of required
modules, with the American National Standards Institute
X3.23-1985 standard.
Codec :
Codec/Decoder. Compression and decompression software and
hardware used in video-teleconferencing applications.
Co-location
:
Most often used to refer to having a server that
belongs to one person or group physically located on an
Internet-connected network that belongs to another
person or group. Usually this is done because the server owner
wants their machine to be on a high-speed Internet connection
and/or they do not want the security risks of having the
server on their own network.
COMMAND.COM :
File mandatory for PC system initialization. It determines the
guide message display and the keyed in commands
interpretation.
Compaq :
PC systems manufacturer, world leader in 1994.
Compiler :
Computer program in charge of converting a source program
(composed of sentences according to the computer language
syntax) in an executable program (composed of machine-readable
instructions).
Compression :
In the specific context of digital image representation,
refers to the process of compacting the data based on the
presence of large white or black areas in common business
documents, printed pages, and engineering drawings. The
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT)
digital facsimile standards contain standard one- and
two-dimensional compression/decompression algorithms. This
technology is used to speed up transmission and to lower
storage requirement.
Computer Associates :
(CA)A major independent software vendor established in 1976.
It had its initial public offering in December 1981. CA has
assumed the role of receive of troubled software companies. In
1987, having already acquired 16 companies in five years, CA
hit full stride. During the next two years, it purchased Uccel,
Applied Data Research and Cullinet. They then purchased Legent
in 1995. CA has been able to trim fat from the acquired
companies and then pump the acquired products through its
distribution channels.
COMx :
Serial communication interface identification (COM1 or COM2
for example). It is an internal software address used for
transmitting data between a PC/DOS computer and an external
device.
CONFIG.SYS :
In a DOS PC system, configuration file which contains system
configuration commands. These commands are executed at system
initialization time.
Conventional memory :
In a PC DOS system, part of storage between 0 and 640 KB, in
which most DOS native applications work. Synonymous of "Base
Memory".
Cookie :
The most common meaning of "Cookie" on the Internet refers to
a piece of information sent by a Web Server to a Web
Browser that the Browser software is expected to save and
to send back to the Server whenever the browser makes
additional requests from the Server.
Depending on the type of Cookie used, and the Browsers'
settings, the Browser may accept or not accept the Cookie, and
may save the Cookie for either a short time or a long time.
Cookies might contain information such as login or
registration information, online "shopping cart" information,
user preferences, etc.
When a Server receives a request from a Browser that includes
a Cookie, the Server is able to use the information stored in
the Cookie. For example, the Server might customize what is
sent back to the user, or keep a log of particular users'
requests.
Cookies are usually set to expire after a predetermined amount
of time and are usually saved in memory until the Browser
software is closed down, at which time they may be saved to
disk if their "expire time" has not been reached.
Cookies do not read your hard drive and send your life story
to the CIA, but they can be used to gather more information
about a user than would be possible without them.
Cooperative Processing :
The process by which a single application is partitioned
between two or more hardware platforms. Each segment of the
application can communicate with the others. Physical
connectivity can occur via a direct channel connection, a
local-area network node, a peer-to-peer communication link or
a master/slave link. The application software can exist in a
distributed processing environment, but this is not a
requirement.
Coprocessor :
Complementary microprocessor in charge of handling
specifically math operations, faster than the CPU.
CORBA :
Common Object Request Broker Architecture . Interfaces defined
by the Object Management Group in January 1992 that provide
mechanisms by which objects transparently receive messages and
make responses over a network.
CPU :
Central Processing Unit. Core of a computer, unit in which are
grouped the circuits in charge of managing the instructions
interpretation and execution.
CRT :
Cathode-Ray Tube. Basic technology used for TV sets and
desktop displays. An electron beam produced at the bottom of
the tube is directed toward the front of the tube where, when
activated, it lights on the screen surface. This process is
periodically repeated over all the screen, across each row.
CSMA/CD :
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection. A
local-area network access technique in which multiple stations
connected to the same channel can sense transmission activity
on that channel and defer the initiation of transmission while
the channel is active. Sometimes called contention access.
CSS :
(Cascading Style Sheet) A standard for specifying the
appearance of text and other elements. CSS was developed for
use with HTML in Web pages but is also used in
other situations, notably in applications built using XPFE.
CSS is typically used to provide a single "library" of styles
that are used over and over throughout a large number of
related documents, as in a web site. A CSS file might specify
that all numbered lists are to appear in italics. By
changing that single specification the look of a large number
of documents can be easily changed.
Cyberpunk :
Cyberpunk was originally a cultural sub-genre of science
fiction taking place in a not-so-distant, dystopian,
over-industrialized society. The term grew out of the work of
William Gibson and Bruce Sterling and has evolved into a
cultural label encompassing many different kinds of human,
machine, and punk attitudes. It includes clothing and
lifestyle choices as well.
Cyberspace :
Term originated by author William Gibson in his novel
Neuromancer the word Cyberspace is currently used to
describe the whole range of information resources available
through computer networks.
Cylinder :
On a hard disk, vertical column of tracks accessible without
moving the arm containing the reading heads. |
