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Glossary
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I/O. Acronym for Input/Output, which is the interface of every computer that lets data move from one part to another.
IAHC. Short for Internet International Ad Hoc Committee, the international organization responsible for managing the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS). The Committee was dissolved on May 1, 1997.
icon. A symbol that looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics, often used in place of actual words. Many programs display icons as shortcuts to choosing commands through menus.
IEEE.Abbreviation of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, pronounced I-triple-E. Founded in 1884, the IEEE is an organization composed of engineers, scientists, and students. The IEEE is best know for developing standards for the computer and electronics industry. In particular, the IEEE 802 standards for local-area networks are widely followed.
IETF. Short for Internet Engineering Task Force, the main standards organization for the Internet. The IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual.
imagemap. A graphic image embedded within a Web page that supplies different links, based on where the cursor is clicked within its borders.
IMAP. Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP). An Internet protocol for retrieving mail from a mail server.
initialize. To prepare a piece of equipment (computer, printer, modem, and so on) to get ready to do something important. Initializing clears the equipment of any old data still stored in it.
input. Information fed into the computer for processing. Computers can receive input from a variety of sources, including the keyboard, mouse, modem, and touch screen.
install. To prepare equipment or software for use for the first time.
integrated software. A single program that performs multiple functions. Most integrated software includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database, and communications program rolled into one.
interactive. A program or computer that responds immediately whenever the user presses a key or does something else that the computer should respond to.
interface. The connection between the computer and the person trying to use it. A keyboard is an interface and so is a monitor.
interlacing. When the cathode-ray tube (CRT) of a monitor scans every other row to display information on the screen.
Internet. The global "network of networks" (the worldwide interconnected Wide Area Network [WAN]) that communicates through the suite of protocols encompassed by the TCP/IP specification.
internet. A local area network, within a company's firewall. Used for network traffic inside the company.
internet address. The electronic location of someone on the Internet, his or her mailing address. Internet addresses start with the person's name, logon name, of nickname, followed by an @ (at) sign, then the name of a computer, a dot, then a domain. For example Archive.Office@oberlin.edu.
Internet Architecture Board. A technical advisory group of the Internet Society, whose responsibilities include: Oversee the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF); Oversee the Internet standards process Publish; and manage Request for Comments (RFCs)
Internet Explorer. MicrosoftÕs Internet Explorer, one of the primary internet browsers, allows users to see high-resolution graphics, use sounds and video, view Web pages with complicated page layout, and easily search for new Web sites.
interrupt. An instruction that rudely butts in, stops the computer from whatever it's doing, and makes it do something completely different. Whenever you press the Ctrl-Alt-Del key combination, you're causing an interrupt that restarts the computer.
IP address. Internet protocol (IP) address. Used to identify a node on a TCP/IP network and to specify routing information on an internetwork. Each node on the internetwork must be assigned a unique 32-bit IP address, which is made up of the network ID plus a unique host ID assigned by the network administrator.
Internet Society. A non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the Internet. Through its committees, such as the Internet Advisory Board and the Internet Engineering Task Force, the Internet Society is responsible for developing and approving new Internet standards and protocols.
ISO. An acronym for International Standards Organization. The organization that produces many of the worldÕs industry standards.
ISP. Short for Internet Service Provider, a company that provides access to the Internet. For a monthly fee, the service provider gives you a software package, username, password and access phone number. Equipped with a modem, you can then log on to the Internet and browse the World Wide Web and USENET, and send and receive e-mail. In addition to serving individuals, ISPs also serve large companies, providing a direct connection from the company's networks to the Internet. ISPs themselves are connected to one another through Network Access Points (NAPs). ISPs are also called IAPs (Internet Access Providers).
ITU. Short for International Telecommunication Union, an intergovernmental organization through which public and private organizations develop telecommunications. The ITU was founded in 1865 and became a United Nations agency in 1947. It is responsible for adopting international treaties, regulations and standards governing telecommunications. The standardization functions were formerly performed by a group within the ITU called CCITT, but after a 1992 reorganization the CCITT no longer exists as a separate body.
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