AWS: Global Technical Glossary

Glossary for the entire site, across all courses and subjects.

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Palm top computer or Personal organiser

Like a very small laptop, small enough to fit into a pocket. Some are referred to as personal organisers.

Plotter

An alternative to the printer for producing drawings. Can be used with very large paper (e.g. A0).

Portable/laptop computer

A computer which is as powerful as a desktop but has a smaller, slimmer Liquid Crystal Display screen. Most are around A4 size.

Presentation software

The use of computer software to create slides similar to those used on an overhead projector, except that the display can include text, sound, still and moving images. Slides are prepared in advance, can be edited and are stored in the correct sequence.

Programmable Toy

Often in the form of a floor turtle or robot. Any toy which can be programmed with a set of instructions.

Projector/video

A powerful projection unit, similar to a slide projector, which connects to a computer, video recorder or video camera. Useful for teaching a whole class or large group.

Satellite imaging

Many satellites transmit photographic images which can be used in a variety of ways, e.g. tracking the progress of a hurricane. Images can be received, stored and viewed on a computer.

Scanner

Works like a small photocopier, but the image can be displayed on a computer screen, saved to disc or printed out. Most scanners will take up to A4 size.

Search engine/facility

Most CD-ROMs and the Internet have search engines. These are facilities which allow the user to search for information without having to look through a whole index or catalogue and are generally based on keywords and logical operators.

Sensing technology (including remote sensing)

Equipment which can be connected to a computer, and which will record and display information from sensors, e.g. light, sound, movement or temperature. Some sensing equipment can be used to collect data away from the computer, but be linked to the computer later to display the recordings made.

Simulations

Computer programs which simulate real or imaginary scenarios. Often used to simulate events that would normally be impossible, difficult or dangerous.

Speech input/output

Many computer programs, especially word processors, can read text audibly and can convert spoken words into text.

Spell-/grammar-checker

Most word processors contain the automatic facility to check texts for unknown words. These are spell-checkers. Some word processors also contain the automatic facility to check the grammar of the text against pre-programmed criteria. Both facilities are generally able to offer alternative suggestions where they detect a possible mistake.

Spreadsheet

An application in which textual and numerical data can be entered, stored and displayed. It can perform sophisticated calculations and be used to draw graphs of the data. Spreadsheets are especially useful for exploring models in which the rules are governed by mathematical relationships, e.g. the budget for a design and technology project.

Talking (books, word processors, dictionaries)

Multi-media computers can be used, with suitable software, to read aloud the words that appear on the screen. With some word processors this facility can be set to read each word as it is written or to read only when prompted by the user.

Terminal (computer)

A computer attached to a network, often known as a network station. Data is usually stored centrally on the server.

Text art

Processing a small amount of text in a graphical way to produce special effects, as in logos etc.

Text conferencing

Enables people in a conference group or chat room to exchange text messages, usually via the Internet, which will display simultaneously for each member of the group.

Text manipulation software

Specialist computer programs, often used to teach languages, which allow words or letters to be hidden, revealed or replaced.

Touch screen

A touch sensitive computer display screen. The user selects, moves and draws by pointing to, and touching, the relevant part of the screen.