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
DAB
Digital Audio Broadcasting, or Digital Radio to you and me!
Database
Program that stores information in tables. This allows you to search, sort and use it in many different ways.
Data Protection Act
Law that protects personal information stored electronically and on paper. It gives you the right to see data held about you and prevent it being passed on without your permission.
Digital Cameras
Camera that takes photographs and stores them on disks or smart cards rather than on film. The photos can then downloaded onto a computer where the images can be printed, put on a web page or e-mailed.
DOS
Disk Operating System. What PCs used before Windows. It is a non-graphical system where a menu or typed commands are used to give commands.
Dotcom
Commercial website. Comes from the .com address which is used mainly by businesses in the United States.
Driver
Software which runs hardware attached to your computer like a modem, printer or scanner. New hardware normally comes with a CD containing the necessary drivers to install on your computer.
Dial-Up
Internet connection using a phone line. You have to dial a number (using your computer) and usually give a password before you can gain access to the internet, e-mail, etc.
Directory
Folder where a computer stores other files and information. Keeping files on the same topic together in the same directory is a good way to keep track of your files.
DNS
The system that changes a website address (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk) into a numbered IP address (e.g. 38.160.150.31).
Domain name
Websites have a domain name so they can be found easily (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk). The domain name is the part before the forward slash.
Download
Getting a file onto your computer from another computer on the internet.
Drag and drop
Clicking on an icon or selection, holding the mouse button down and moving the mouse to 'drag' the selection to a new location. When the mouse button is released the item is 'dropped'.
DVD
Looks like a thick CD but has a greater storage capacity - up to 4Gb compared to 650Mb on a CD-Rom.
|
