GEEK FREE
By Joe Callison
30 May 2025
A, B, C’s of Computer Terms (Part 2)
Computer technology comes with its own jargon that may not be familiar to some non-technical seniors. Here is part 2 of an alphabetical list of some common terms. More of the alphabet will be covered in future articles.
JavaScript
A programming language primarily used to create interactive and dynamic features of web pages.
Kbps
Kilobits per second (1000 bits per second). KBps is kilobytes per second, where a byte is eight bits. In data transmission using the Internet Protocol, additional bits are used for control, so that the average byte of data requires 10 bits to be transmitted.
Linux
A freely distributed operating system that can be customized and is used in millions of computers and other devices on many different hardware platforms without requiring licensing fees.
Motherboard
An older name for the main logic board of a computer, so named because it typically had expansion slots for insertion of “daughterboards” for such things as video, sound, and network, which are now typically integrated into the main logic board.
NTFS
New Technology File System, the Windows file system format that has been used for the past several generations of Microsoft operating systems and is currently used in Windows 11.
Open Source
Software that anyone can see and modify the source code for their use and distribution.
Pixel
Short for “picture element”, a pixel is one addressable dot or group of dots in an image that can consist of thousands of pixels in the horizontal and vertical dimensions, with each having an assigned color value.
QWERTY
The typical layout for an English language keyboard is named for the first six letters on the top row of the alphabetical keys.
RAM
Random Access Memory, the main working memory of a device that is not retained by the RAM when the device is shut down or loses power.
