Glossary of Keyboarding and Technology Terms

 

ACCURACY - a measure of error in keyboarding

ARROW KEYS - keys used to move the cursor up, down, left, or right around screen

BACKSPACE KEY - key used to back up and erase the character or space to the left of the cursor

BAR CODE READER - electronic input device that uses light to reflect a printed bar code to produce images or information

BOLD - characters shown with thicker, darker strokes

BROWSER - software used to access the World Wide Web (Internet) to view text, as well as a variety of other media type

CD - compact disc; typically contains only audio

CD-ROM - compact disc that contains a variety of types of computer data

CPU - (Central Processing Unit) component of a computer system where programs actually operate

CALCULATOR - an electronic device, which performs mathematical calculations

CAPS LOCK KEY - key pressed to turn everything you type into capital letters

CLICK - to press and release a button on your mouse

CLICK AND DRAG - holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse/cursor

COMBINATION KEYS - two keys used together, such as the shift key and the number 1 to make an exclamation point

CONTROL KEY - a key used to give another set of commands. Control (ctrl) commands are commonly used shortcuts. For example, pressing Ctrl+S in many programs saves a document in the same fashion as selecting Save from the File menu.

COPY - to make an exact duplicate of information in a document so it can be placed in a new location

CURSOR - visually distinct mark that shows the point on a display screen where the next letter, number, symbol, or space will be entered

CUT - deletion of text or graphics that can subsequently be placed in a new location

DATABASE - a program that helps manage 1~rge collections of information

DELETE KEY - the key pressed to remove selected text or objects

DIGITAL CAMERA - camera takes pictures without film, and stores your snapshots as digital files

DISK DRIVE - the unit into which a floppy disk is inserted to be read or written by the computer

DOUBLE SPACE - horizontal line spacing which leaves one blank line space between displayed or printed lines of text

EARPHONES - peripheral units attached to the computer and worn over the ears allowing for transmission of audio signal

EDIT - the process of rearranging, changing, and correcting text or graphics

ENTER KEY - the key pressed to begin a new line in a word processor, or to signal the computer that data has been typed in and completed (also called Return Key)

E-MAIL - sending and receiving messages through a computer network (electronic mail)

ESCAPE KEY - a key that lets the user cancel the last operation and go back to the previous screen

FILE - a collection of information stored on a computer, network, or on a floppy disk, with its own ifie name

FLOPPY DISK - a removable disk that stores information magnetically

FONT - a set of characters with a particular design and size

FUNCTION KEYS - keys labeled from FL to Fl2 that can be pressed to do a certain task

GRAPHICS - digital images or pictures

HARD DISK - an internal device that a computer uses to store information

HOME ROW KEYS - on the keyboard, the keys A, 5, D, F, J, K, L, : and ; used in the QWERTY method of keyboarding

HTTP - (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) standard transmission format for the World Wide Web (Internet)

ICON - a small image on the screen that represents a file, program, peripheral, or tool

INDENT - to set in from the margin, as the first line of a paragraph

INSERT - the key used to switch between the insert and type over modes

INTERNET - the largest computer network in the world, reaching millions of people, on thousands of interconnected networks

ITALICS - style of characters which slant upward to ~the right

JUSTIFICATION - alignment of text on a page (left, right, center, or full)

KEY - the process of striking keys to record and display words and data

KEYBOARD - an arrangement of keys on a “board” that is attached to a computer used to input data

LASERDISC - optical disc on which images and audio are recorded for playback on a television screen or monitor

LOG IN - to gain access to a computer system, usually by entering user name (login) and password

LOG OUT - terminating a connection to a network

MENU - a list of options from which to choose

MONITOR - a device that displays text and graphics generated by a computer

MOUSE - a device that controls the pointer on the screen

MOUSE PAD - pad on which a mouse operates

MULTIMEDIA - blend of text, graphics, sound, animations, and video on the computer

NUMERIC KEYPAD - section of a keyboard, set up like an adding machine or calculator

PRINT - to produce a paper copy of information displayed on a monitor. A user can also print files, faxes, and screens.

PRINTER - a device that produces a paper copy of the information on your screen

PROOFREAD - to read text (copy) on the monitor or on a printout and to correct errors

RESIZE - change the size of a picture or graphic

RETRIEVE - bring stored files from a network or disk to work on in a computer

SAVE - to store a document for future use

SCANNER - device that transfers printed image into digital information on a computer

SEARCH ENGINE - an Internet index of information stored on sites around the world

SHIFT KEY - a key used to make capital letters and certain symbols when pressed in combination with another key

SHORTCUT KEYS - a single key or combination of keys used to save keystrokes or mouse operations

SINGLE-SPACE - to leave no space between lines of text in a document

SOUND DEVICE - a component in a computer that plays and records sounds

SPACE BAR - a long bar at the bottom of a keyboard used to create a blank space in text, moving to the right one space at .a time

SPELL CHECK - a program available in many computer applications that checks spelling

SPREADSHEET - a program used for managing, analyzing, and presenting information. Spreadsheets allow information to be sorted or displayed in a chart or graph as well as perform calculations on data.

TAB KEY - when pressed, moves the cursor to settings that are used to line up columns of text in a document or to move to data entry areas in programs or dialog boxes

TEXT BOX - graphic function in which text may be displayed separately from the main body of text

WINDOW - a rectangle on the screen that displays information. A window can contain small images (icons), a document, or an application.

WORD PROCESSOR - software that can be used to produce documents, including letters, reports, manuals, and newsletters

WPM - words per minute