Glossary

ASCII.

See text.

Application software.

See program.

CD ROM.

A disk that can store much more data than a floppy disk; also the hardware used to read that disk. Most hardware can only read the data, not change it or add to it.

Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The part of a computer that executes programs. The quality of the CPU combined with the speed of the computer is one main indication of how fast software will run. Typical CPU's on IBM's include 8088 (very old), 30286 ('286), '386, '486, and Pentium ('586). Only the last three can run Windows successfully. Most modern software requires a ``80386 or better,'' which is to say, an 80386, '486, or '586. See MHz for information on measuring the speed of a computer.

CPU.

See central processing unit.

DTP.

See desk top publishing.

Desk top publishing (DTP).

Desk top publishing refers to a system that creates typeset-quality or near-typeset-quality output from a home computer.

Dial-in.

Often used in the phrase ``dial-in access.'' Normally, a computer is used by someone sitting in front of it, typing on its keyboard and viewing its screen. If the computer has a modem, a user can also use the computer via the modem. This computer then offers dial-in access.

Dot-matrix printer.

See printer.

E-mail.

Electronic mail. This is a system whereby messages can be sent from one computer to another over a network. Most networks are in fact connected these days, so almost anyone with e-mail can send mail to almost anyone else with e-mail. Usually, e-mail is free. It never depends on the physical distance the message travels. (So e-mail from New York to Australia or Moscow is no more expensive than e-mail from New York to New Jersey.) Most e-mail systems can only transfer English text, but provisions exist on most computer for encoding any other kind of file as English text.

Editing.

In the realm of computers, the process of emending, deleting, adding to, or changing, previous work.

Export(ation).

The process of saving data from one computer program so that another computer program can use it. See also import.

Floppy disk.

A removable disk, on which information can be stored and from which it can be retrieved. There are two common varieties of floppy disks, referred to by their size: 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch. The latter is enclosed in a hard plastic shell, but is still a ``floppy'' disk.

Font.

A collection of specific letter forms. For example, most text in this document is printed in a Roman font. But this text is in an italic font and this text is in a sans-serif font. [Note: these fonts changes may not appear in some electronic versions of this document.]

Formatting.

Applied to text, the process of determining how text will appear on a printed page. Also sometimes applied to graphics.

GIF.

See graphics.

Glyph.

Any symbol, letter, diacritic mark, etc., which is printed.

GUI.

See graphical user interface.

Graphical user interface (GUI).

An interface, such as Windows (IBM) or that found on Mac's, in which a user points to information s/he wants by manipulating an on-screen pointer.

Software.

A generic term for programs.

Graphics.

Any image, possibly but not necessarily including images of letters. Graphics differs from text is that the former can only be manipulated as a picture, not as words. For example, the spelling of text can be checked by computer, but not the spelling in a graphics file. Likewise, one can change the font used to print a text file, but not a graphics files. There are many standards for graphics files, including PostScript, GIF and JPEG. See also text.

Hard drive.

A disk located (almost always) inside a computer, used to store information for a computer. Data can be read or written to a hard drive. Also called a hard disk.

Home computer.

A vague term, generally referring to IBM's and Mac's, but also including Amiga computers and some others. Very roughly, and at the time of this writing, a computer costing less than $5,000.

IBM computer.

In popular usage, a computer compatible with IBM's line of personal computers.

Import(ation).

The process of moving data from another computer program into the current computer program. See also export.

Ink-jet printer.

See printer.

Input.

Information given to a computer or computer program.

Interface.

Also, user-interface. The way in which a program asks a user for input and gives the user feedback. See also graphical user interface. The quality of the user-interface often determines how easy a program is to use.

Internet.

The name of the largest computer network, which currently connects hundreds of thousands of computers in every major country.

JPEG.

See graphics

Laser printer.

See printer.

Mac.

Short for Macintosh; used to refer to Apple's line of Macintosh computers.

MHz.

Megahertz. A unit measuring how fast a computer operates. Combined with the power of the CPU this determines how fast a computer will run.

Modem.

A device for letting two computers communicate over a phone line.

Network.

The hardware and wires (often including modems and phone lines) used to connect a set of computers. Also used to refer to the computers on a network.

On line.

Accessible by computer. For a computer sitting on a desk, only data on disks are on-line. If the computer also has a modem, and can connect to a computer network, than anything on that network is on-line. Any computer that accepts incoming modem connections can make information available to other computers (via modem) on-line.

Operating system.

The software that allows a computer to run application software.

Output.

Information produced by a computer or computer program.

Platform.

An operating system, sometimes on a specific computer. The most common platforms are DOS, Windows, (both of which run on IBM computers, Mac, and Unix. The last is the least common of the four. Software generally runs on only a limited set of platforms.

Postscript.

See graphics.

Printer.

In the realm of computers, a device for printing text or graphics on a page. Printers fall into at least three main varieties: laser printers, ink-jet printers and dot-matrix printers. Dot-matrix printers are the least expensive, but also offer the lowest quality. Laser-printers are the most expensive printers, but also offer the highest quality; the better ones offer typeset-quality output. Ink-jet printers produce output almost as nice as the lower-end laser printers, and are often less expensive.

Program.

A set of instructions for a computer that lets the computer perform a specific task. Programs that perform tasks directly relating to what a person would want to do (such as word processors, spreadsheets, etc.) are called application software, to distinguish them from system software.

System software.

See program.

Text.

Letters, numbers, and punctuation. Text is different than graphics in that the former only specifies which letters etc. will appear, not how they will appear, while the latter only specifies how something looks, not which characters comprise it. English text is almost always stored in a code called ASCII. There is no standard for storing pointed Hebrew in text format. See also graphics.

Typeset(ting).

Traditionally, typesetting referred to the process of placing type on a page. This is how books have been printing for the past several hundred years. Now, newer technologies for creating identical output (some Desk Top Publishing programs, high-quality printers, etc.) are encompassed by the same name. Printing that is the same quality as typeset output is called typeset quality.

Unix.

An operating system that until recently only ran on mainframe computers, but is seeing more and more use on IBM's. Its primary advantage is that it allows the computer to perform more than one task at once, and more than one person to use the computer at once. For example, one person can be working at the keyboard, while another (if the computer has a modem) can call the computer at work on the same information. Unix is thus particularly well-suited to a computer that will offer dial-in access.

Windows.

An operating system for IBM's that offers a graphical user interface.

Word processor.

A program for editing, formatting and printing text. Some word processors also offer additional capabilities, such as importation of graphics, and the creation of charts and graphs.

Bradshaw, P. and L. Hoffman. 1991. the Changing Face of Jewish and Christian Worship in North America. Notre Dame Press.

Hoffman, L. 1979. The Canonization of the Synagogue Service. Notre Dame Press.

Reif, S. 1979. Shabbethai Sofer and his Prayer-book. Cambridge University Press.