Academic Department Lab: one of the computer labs on campus belonging to a particular college department. Currently Computer Science, Psychology, Geography, Art, Communication Arts, Education and CASA sponsor computer labs.
Asynchronous discussion: an application dedicated to the sharing or exchange of messages on the network. The Blackboard Learning Management System
(LMS) provides this application on campus.
Blackboard: the Learning Management System (LMS) used at Framingham State College to deliver online and web-enhanced classes.
Cable TV: is also known as "CATV" (community antenna television). It brings television programs to those people who have a television connected to a community antenna via wire or satellite dish. FSC offers a wire connection to students living in a residence hall. There is one connection per dormitory room.
Compact disc (CD), CD-ROM: is a small, portable, round medium made of molded polymer (close in size to the floppy disk) for electronically recording, storing, and playing back audio, video, text, and other information in digital form. CD-ROM (Compact Disc, read-only-memory) is an adaptation of the CD that is designed to store computer data in the form of text and graphics, as well as hi-fi stereo sound.
CD-R: (stands for compact disc, recordable) is a type of write once, read many compact disc (CD) format that allows one-time recording on a disc.
CD-RW: (stands for compact disc, rewriteable) is a compact disc (CD) format that allows repeated recording on a disc.
Computer Lab: one of the public areas on campus providing computer resources for student use.
Desktop computer: a personal computer that is designed to fit conveniently on top of a typical office desk. A desktop computer typically comes in several units that are connected together during installation: (1) the processor, which can be in a microtower or minitower designed to fit under the desk or in a unit that goes on top of the desk, (2) the display monitor, (3) and input devices - usually a keyboard and a mouse.
Display: is a computer output surface and projecting mechanism that shows text and often graphic images to the computer user, using a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode, gas plasma, or other image projection technology. See also monitor.
Download: the transmission of a file from one computer system to another computer system. From the Internet user's point-of-view, to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it.
Driver: a program that interacts with a particular device or special (frequently optional) kind of software. The driver contains the special knowledge of the device or special software interface that programs using the driver do not. For example, you must install a specific printer driver in your computer before you can print to the printer.
DVD (digital versatile disc): is an optical disc technology that is expected to rapidly replace the CD-ROM disc (as well as the audio compact disc) over the next few years. The digital versatile disc
(DVD) holds 4.7 gigabyte of information on one of its two sides, or enough for a 133-minute movie.
E-mail account: E-mail is the transmission of computer-based messages over telecommunication technology. An E-mail account is a username and password used to log on to an E-mail server, in order to retrieve E-mail messages sent to an E-mail address. FSC provides every student with and E-mail account, which has a username and password.
Email address: Email is the transmission of computer-based messages over telecommunication technology. An email address identifies your name and location in the worldwide network.
File Sharing: is the public or private sharing of computer data or space in a network with various levels of access privilege. With the advent of the Internet, a file transfer system called the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) has become widely used. More recently, applications enabling users to search for and download audio/music, document, image, play list, software, and video files have come to be known as file-sharing programs.
Grokster, KaZaa and Morpheus are examples.
FSC Network: a combination of the wireless and hardwired networks on campus connecting the computer resources on campus, and connecting the campus to the Internet.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP): is a standard Internet protocol, the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet.
Gigabyte (GB): is a measure of computer processor and data storage, a gigabyte is 1024 megabytes (MB). May also be referred to as a "gig".
Hard disk/drive: is part of a unit, often called a "disk drive," "hard drive," or "hard disk drive," that stores and provides relatively quick access to large amounts of data. Today's computers typically come with a hard disk that contains several billion bytes (gigabytes- GB) of storage.
Hardwired Network: A network is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and contain sub networks. A hardwired network is connected physically via wires or cables.
Helpdesk: a place to go on campus to ask questions or report problems. Each helpdesk has an E-mail address. The Helpdesks on campus include the Laptop Helpdesk, the Student Helpdesk and the Faculty/Staff Helpdesk.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol): is a standard protocol for accessing e-mail from your local mail server. IMAP is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet mail server.
Instant Messaging (IM): (sometimes called IMing) is the ability to easily see whether chosen friends or co-workers are connected to the Internet and, if they are, to exchange messages with them.
Internet: sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at other computers). You can access the Internet using a browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape.
Laptop computer: is a battery- or AC-powered personal computer generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and conveniently used in temporary spaces such as libraries, and classrooms. A laptop typically weighs less than 5 pounds and is 3 inches or less in thickness.
Log on: to access a computer, network or remote system. Logging on often requires entering a username and password.
Megabyte (MB): is a measure of computer processor and data storage, and real and virtual memory. A megabyte is 2 to the 20th power bytes or 1,048,576 bytes, in decimal notation.
Monitor: is a computer display and related parts packaged in a physical unit that is separate from other parts of the computer. Laptop or notebook computers don't have monitors because all the displays and related parts are integrated into the same physical unit with the rest of the computer. In practice, the terms monitor and display are used interchangeably. See also display.
myFSC: is an Internet web application providing access to the Information System (IS) used by Framingham State College
(FSC) to manage data for Students, Faculty, Staff and Offices of the College.
Network Chat: see Instant Messaging.
Network Interface card (NIC): A network interface card is a computer circuit board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a network. Some cards accept a network wire, and others use radio signals to access a network.
Notebook computer: see laptop computer.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3): is a standard protocol for accessing e-mail from your local mail server. With POP3, your mail is saved for you in your mailbox on the server. When you read your mail, all of it is immediately downloaded to your computer and no longer maintained on the server.
RAM (random access memory): is the place in a computer where the operating system, application programs, and data in current use are kept so that they can be quickly reached by the computer's processor. RAM is much faster to read from and write to than the other kinds of storage in a computer, the hard disk, floppy disk, and CD-ROM. However, the data in RAM stays there only as long as your computer is running. When you turn the computer off, RAM loses its data.
Registration receipt: is the paper document given to you after you register for classes showing proof of your course registration. This may come from the Registrar's Office or the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): is a TCP/IP networking protocol used in sending and receiving email.
Tablet PC: is a wireless computer that allows a user to take notes using natural handwriting with a stylus or digital pen on a touch screen. A tablet PC is similar in size and thickness to a yellow paper notepad and is intended to function as the user's primary personal computer as well as a note-taking device. Tablet PCs generally have two formats, a convertible model with an integrated keyboard and display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded down over the keyboard -- or a slate style with a removable keyboard.
Wireless Network: A network is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and contain sub networks. A wireless network is one in which a mobile user can connect to a local area network (LAN) through a wireless (radio) connection. There are several standards, including IEEE 802.11, which describe the technology for wireless networks.
Wireless Network card: is a network interface card (NIC) that uses a radio signal to send and receive data between a computer and a network.
Wireless signal: the radio signal used to send and receive data between a computer and a network.
Zip drive: is a small, portable disk drive used primarily for backing up and archiving personal computer files. Zip drives and disks come in two sizes, 100 MB and 250 MB.
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