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Glossary
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object-oriented. A term specifying that a piece of software is composed of objects, which are self-contained modules that contain both data and procedures that act on the data.
OCR. Abbreviation for Optical Character Recognition. The ability of a computer (via special software) to look at a page of text and recognize letters and words and translate them into a computer file so that you don't have to retype anything.
OLE (Object Linking and Embedding). A COM-based technology developed by Microsoft that offers a wide range of services, including application automation, reusable controls, version management, standardized drag-and-drop, document, object linking and embedding, and visual editing.
OMG. Short for Object Management Group, a consortium with a membership of more than 700 companies. The organization's goal is to provide a common framework for developing applications using object-oriented programming techniques. OMG is responsible for the CORBA specification.
Open Transport. Open Transport is Apple's networking software for Mac OS computers. The components of Open Transport include the TCP/IP and AppleTalk control panels, which serve, respectively, as replacements for the MacTCP and Network control panels used in classic networking. Open Transport is faster and more stable than classic networking, but it doesn't work with some older software. Open Transport allows you to set multiple TCP/IP and AppleTalk settings for your computer without requiring you to reboot when switching between them.
Operating system (OS). The software that provides an interface
between a user or application and the computer hardware. Also, the most
important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer
must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems
perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending
output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on
the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Operating systems can be classified
as follows:
OSI. Short for Open System Interconnection, an ISO standard for worldwide communications that defines a networking framework for implementing protocols in seven layers. Control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the application layer in one station, proceeding to the bottom layer, over the channel to the next station and back up the hierarchy. At one time, most vendors agreed to support OSI in one form or another, but OSI was too loosely defined and proprietary standards were too entrenched. Except for the OSI-compliant X.400 and X.500 e-mail and directory standards, which are widely used, what was once thought to become the universal communications standard now serves as the teaching model for all other protocols. Most of the functionality in the OSI model exists in all communications systems, although two or three OSI layers may be incorporated into one. OSI is also referred to as the OSI Reference Model or just the OSI Model.
optical disk. A computer storage medium (a disk drive) that operates by digitized beams of light or lasers.
optical mouse. An optical mouse is a pointing device that uses a light beam to track the position of the cursor or pointer on the screen. The light beam type of optical mouse is used with a special grid type of mouse pad that reflects the beam.
optimize. To customize software or hardware so that it will serve the user to its utmost capacity. The goal is to have the machinery run faster and more efficiently. This could include shuffling parts of the software into different parts of the computer's memory, rewriting chunks of software applications, or even just tweaking the controls on your desktop control panel.
OS/2. An operating system developed jointly by IBM and Microsoft for PC computers.
OSF. Short for Open Software Foundation, now part of The Open Group.
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