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COMPUTING ACRONYMS & TERMS' SMORGASBORD
Copyright © 1994-2003, Daniel Frankl, Ph.D. |
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COMPUTING ACRONYMS & TERMS' SMORGASBORD
Copyright © 1994-2003, Daniel Frankl, Ph.D. |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
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| I | J+K | L | M | N | O | P | Q |
| R | S | T | U | V | W | X+Y+Z |
| P AD | Personal Access Device | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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age Mill | HTML [HyperText Markup Language] editor for Web Page authoring by Adobe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PAL | Phase Alternating Lines (European TV & VCR standard that uses 625 lines and 50 frames per second). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PAP | Password Authentication Protocol (unencrypted password; also see CHAP & SPAP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Parallel Super Computer | Intel's new generation of ultra computers that utilize up to 9,200 parallel connections of Intel's Pentium Pro chips and are capable of 1 trillion floating point operations per second (the parallel super computer technology will make virtual testing of nuclear explosions and virtual ecosystems possible) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Parent Window | Last active window prior to the current active window. Usually "Desktop," "Main," or "Applications" are parent windows. The "Program Manager" window is the "Mother" of all parent windows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Parti- tioning Tool | Software designed to create and modify hard drive partitions. In addition, it can reshape cluster size to optimize the utilization of storage space. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PAS | Publicly Available Specification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pass- word | Personalized code used in order to access a file or a network through a computer (e.g., Openit4Me or ilvMY2kidZ, etc...Random combinations are safer.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Patenting (software) |
see | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBM | Portable Bit Map (image format). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBX | Private Branch Exchange (a telephone system for a specific location [business] that connects to the outside network; also see "soft phone"). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PC | Personal Computer (usually used in describing IBM & IBM compatible machines) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| .pcd | Kodak Photo CD graphics file extension. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCG | Professional Graphics Controller (640 * 480 analogue by IBM) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCH | For the time being, PCH still stands for Pacific Coast Highway (HHOK). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCI | Peripheral Component Interconnect (Hardware standard that allows devices such as video adapters and hard drive controllers move data to and from memory swiftly; the PCI bus connects the graphics card and the system in order to bypass IRQ [Interrupt ReQuest],DMA [Direct Memory Address], and I/O [Input/Output] channel conflicts [Brown, E. R. (1994, July). PC MAGAZINE, p. 183]. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCL | Printer Command Language (Old HP [Hewlett Packard] and HP compatible Laser Printers use PCL4; later printers, such as, HP III use PCL5). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCS | Personal Communications Services (Net) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| .pct | Macintosh PICTure graphics file extension. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCX | PC Paintbrush (Bitmapped images or computer graphics images format; also .pcx file extension) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDA | Personal Digital Assistant (electronic address book, organizer, calculator etc...) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDA | Primary Display Adapter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDC | Primary Domain Controller (keeps the master copy of the directory database on user accounts information for domain) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portable Document Format (Adobe PhotoShop) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDL | Page Description Language (PostScript, for example). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PdO | Palladium Oxide (used to construct thin film that connects electrodes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PEL | Picture ELement (also see Pixel) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PEM | Privacy Enhanced Mail (protected e-mail) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Perl" | Practical Extraction and Reporting Language (programming language for CGI scripts, developed by Larry Wall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PESC | Post Secondary Electronics Standards Council (founded in 1997, the PESC is a partnership of federal agencies, software and service providers and schools and higher education associations; see www.StandardsCouncil.org) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PetaOps Super Computer | US DoD [Department of Defense] joint project with researchers to construct a computer that is capable of 1,000 trillion operations per second. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PGP | Pretty Good Privacy (Company specializing in Internet privacy protection) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Photo- lithography |
A process that uses light to create patterns on silicon. Layers of material are added and
removed, resulting in progressively more complex circuits. To keep up with Moore's Law
(doubling of transistors on a chip every 18 months) chip features must shrink at an
equivalently exponential rate. "The narrower and circuit patterns and features, the faster
electricity can move across a chip, boosting its performance. Infinitesimally small circuit
patterns make it possible to fit more transistors on a chip, thereby increasing functionality
and performance." (Source: intel.com/home/trends/future/euv_lithography.htm)
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PHP
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PHP Hypertext Preprocessor
is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language.
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.pic
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Picture Lotus 1-2-3 graphics file extension.
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PICC
| Presubscribed Interchange Carrier
Charge (together with SLIC [Subscriber LIne Charge]
make up the additional monthly charges for one ($4.54) or two ($13.00) home telephone
lines).
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PICS
| Platform for Internet Content
Selection (Created to provide Internet users with tools to censor or weed out
cyberspace content materials that one may consider as inappropriate for children surfing
the Net).
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.pif
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Program Information File extension (Editor--includes information
regarding non-Windows applications).
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PIM
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Personal Information Manager (software such as calendars,
telephone books, etc...)
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PINs
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Personal ID Numbers
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PIO
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Programmed I/O [Input/Output] Hook up for
HD or CD ROM)
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PIO
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Peripheral I/O [Input/Output].
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PIX
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Product Information Exchange
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Pixel
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PICture ELement (Also PEL--the smallest particle of an object on
the monitor's screen. On color monitors each pixel is composed of the three colors
(RGB [Red Green Blue). VGA screens support 480 * 640
pixels and up and Super VGA support 600 * 800 pixels and up.
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PKI
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Public Key Infrastructure (regarding encryption and digital signatures)
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Platform | Active Cluster
Software that mobilizes many desktops through the Internet to help process hundreds of trials
that involve thousands of very complex simulations.
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Plug-ins
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Plug-ins are web utilities that are loaded along with your browser and
extend your browser's capability to deliver audio visual content. Examples are Apple's
"Quicktime" or Macromedia's "Shockwave." Also see add-ons.
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PNG
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Portable Network Graphics specification (pronounced "ping" PNG
is a relatively new graphic format developed as a royalty-free, new generation 24 bit graphics
format; will most probably replace the current 256-color GIF format. For a comprehensive review
see Rich Santalesa's article in NetGuide, "New Web Graphics: Contender Takes On GIF." July 1997,
Vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 101-102; also see: www.netguide.com)
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PNNI
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Private Network-to-Network Interface
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PnP
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Plug-and-Play (software that allows a no-hustle adding of peripheral
devices to your PC; a feature available since the introduction of Windows 95 and
newer versions)
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PnP BIOS
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Plug-and-Play Basic Input/Output System
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POCIA
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Provider of Commercial Internet Access
(also see ISP [Internet Service Provider])
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Polling
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A host computer or a file server maintains control over the PCs and devices that are
part of that network by polling or inquiring whether a station (PC) has
information to deliver and then allows the information to be sent.
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POP
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(1) Point of Presence
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POP
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(2) Post Office Protocol (protocol used to strore and
retrieve e-mail messages)
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Portrait
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Print page format that prints across the wide end of the page (letter style;
also see Landscape).
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POST
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Power-On-Self-Test (after turning on the PC the
system BIOS runs a POST)
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POST
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When a Submit button is clicked on an interactive web page, the browser inspects the
"POST" method and its destination in order to send the entered information to the intended
receiver.
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POTP
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Power One-Time Pad (one-time-pad encryption method to secure
FTP [File Transfer Protocol]).
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POTS
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Plain-Old Telephone Service
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P-POP
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Plain Paper Optimized Printing (in [1997] Canon
BJC-7000 Bubble Jet printer color technology that precoats the printing surface with
a quick drying dye that repels liquids).
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PPP
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Point-to-Point Protocol (This protocol sends TCP/IP [Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol] traffic across a serial transmission line
attached directly to the Internet. PPP is similar to Serial Line Internet Protocol or
SLIP but in a better system.
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PPPoE
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Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (an IETF
[Internet Engineering Task Force specification for PPP over Ethernet)
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PPTP
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Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (allows the creation
of a private Internet or Intranet connection between two locations).
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PQET
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Print Quality Enhancement Technology (IBM technology).
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PRC
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Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (California based hotline for reporting
privacy breaches; also included are practical tips for handling privacy problems.
Also see : www.privacyrights.org.
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Pre- | emptive Multi- tasking
Windows ‘95 feature allowing the user to copy a disk while printing or working on
the word processor.
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Print | Spooler
Software designed to feed data from several PCs into one Network printer
in the received order.
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Program- | ming
Creating computer software--the set of instructions that tells the computer
how to perform a task.
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PROM
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Programmable Read-Only Memory
(also see EEPROM and EPROM).
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PSP
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Program Segment Prefix (software programming term)
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Post, Telephone, Telegraph (Communications Networks
outside the U.S.).
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Public | Domain
Software or factual information on the internet that one may copy, modify, and distribute
freely. Freeware or shareware type software, on the other hand, may be copied and distributed
but cannot be modified without the copyright holder's permission.
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Push | Technology
In contrast with "pull" technology, by which PC users actively download Net information,
push technology is a service that delivers Net information directly to your PC. The flow
of information keeps coming to your PC at pre-determined intervals and you may end up
getting a lot of unwanted materials.
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PWI
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Public Windows Interface
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PWR
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Power
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PWS
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Peer (Personal) Web Server (Software that allows a single PC user to post
her/his web page on the Internet while the PC is on and on-line via modem).
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PWRGD
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Power Good (external power connection for PC)
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Comments, corrections, additions, and questions are welcome:
Page updated: Jan. 08, 2003 |
