| ActiveX |
This a programming language similar to Java, but it is only able to be used with Microsoft compatible computers, e.g. a PC running Windows95, It is not suitable for computers using other operating systems such as a PC running Linux or a Macintosh or workstation using Unix. |
| Browser |
The browser is the software used to view the hypertext documents. Popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. |
| CGI scripts |
These are programs which are located on the Internet Server. Typical cgi scripts include page counters and visitor statistics collectors. |
| Data Warehousing |
This is a popular term these days and people tend to offer there own interpretations of it. It suggests that all organisational data might be found in one location, under one roof if you like, but I believe its more about the logical location than the physical location. To centralise the data within the organisation in one common physical database would more than like require substantial re-engineering of systems assuming it were possible. The idea has appeal but the real issue is providing easy access to the data by the users. It is much easier to provide a common front end to that data (perhaps with a web browser) with links to that data no matter where is might be within the organisation. In this case the data is accessible to users and it appears to be in a single location. |
| Domain Name |
A domain name is you own unique web address. Under most circumstances it will be the same or similar to your business or trading name. For example http://www.asrf.org.au |
| Firewall |
A collection of components, typically a computer with a router, that filters incoming and outgoing network traffic to create a secure environment. This is used to protect the internal network from outside intruders while still allowing users to access the Internet. |
| FTP (File Transfer Protocol) |
A protocol used to transfer files from one computer to another. |
| Home page |
Generic term for the hypertext document users see when they first access an organisation’s web site. |
| HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) |
The language used to write WWW documents or pages. |
| HTTP (Hypertext transfer Protocol) |
The protocol used on the World Wide Web to transfer documents between the Web servers and the web browser. |
| Hype |
A quality that is frequently associated with the Internet. |
| Hypertext |
Text within a document that contains links to other on-line documents; selecting the link automatically displays the second document. |
| Internet |
A group of Networks that are connected to one another and span the world. Through the Internet, users have access to e-mail, file transfer, remote login, USENET news, World Wide Web etc. |
| Internet Server |
A host computer on the Internet that runs a network protocol such as HTTP, to allow other computers to access it’s local information. |
| Intranet |
Technically this term means an internal network within an organisation but the popular definition extends to an internal Web site dedicated to providing information exclusively to users within the organisation. This information can range from internal documents such as policy and procedure documentation through to a Web browser front end to existing database systems. |
| ISP (Internet Service Provider) |
An ISP is your connection to the Internet and the World Wide Web. Using your computer and modem, you dial your ISP and they provide a connection to the Internet. When selecting an ISP, local call availability, sufficient dial in lines and ample Network access are key criteria. |
| Java |
Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, the main benefit of Java is that it is capable of running on any operating system. |
| JavaScript |
JavaScript is different to Java in that it is a scripted, interpreted language. |
| Lotus Notes |
By definition this is a "groupware" product. It incorporates such things as Electronic mail , group information management tools, and an application development environment with business processes. It also has a newly released Web server back end which allows users to publish information on to the web. |
| META TAG |
Meta Tags are imbedded into the head of a HTML document. They can be used to store a number of characteristics, such as document author, content, keywords, description and many more. |
| Plug-Ins and File Formats |
As well as the browser there are various pieces of additional software that can be required to run or display the ever expanding range of file types, these are called plug-ins. |
| Proxy Server |
A computer that provides access to information such as Web documents, URL’s, etc. through a firewall server. |
| Search Engine |
A search engine is |
| URL (Uniform Resource Locator) |
The WWW name for a document , file or other resource. It describes the protocol required to access the resource (e.g. HTTP) , the host where it can be found (e.g. www.microsoft.com) and a path to the resource on that host (not always required but could be say /Internet/ in the case of information on the Internet at Microsoft’s site) . An example of a URL is http://www.microsoft.com/internet/ |
| Web Server |
The computer that contains the software that makes documents available to WWW users. |
| Web Site |
The set of pages that comprise a person or organisation’s presence on the Web. |
| World Wide Web (WWW) |
A hypertext based system for finding and accessing Internet resources. To access the Web, you use a Web browser such as Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer that provide the ability to look at and interpret hypertext documents which contain links that allow users to jump to other documents, search engines, simple applications, etc. located all around the world. |
