Glossary of Computer Terms—S

Glossary of Computer Terms—S

S

SATA: Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. A computer bus designed to transfer data to and from a hard drive using serial signaling technology. Because SATA cables are thinner than its ribbon type counterpart, they can be connected to more devices while maintaining its signal integrity.

SCANNER: An electronic device that uses light-sensing equipment to scan paper images such as text, photos, and illustrations and translate the images into signals that the computer can then store, modify, or distribute.

SCRATCH PAD MEMORY: A group of internal registers used for the temporary storage of data being collected and sorted for immediate processing. It is analogous to a pad of paper for quickly jotting down notes.

SDRAM: Short for “Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory”. This is a newer type of DRAM that has the ability to run at much higher clock speeds than conventional memory.

SEARCH ENGINE: It is a programme that makes it possible to look for and retrieve material on the Internet, particularly the Web. The most popular search engine is Google.

SERVER: A computer that shares its resources and information with other computers, called clients, on a network.

SERIAL: This is a consecutive occurrence of two items in the same channel.

SECTOR: A section of a recording track on a magnetic disk.

SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY: Data storage devices formed with semiconductor components (generally monolithic ICs). See RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EAPROM, EEPROM, and FLASH.

SERIAL OPERATION: A method of data transmission where the data is handled in sequence, one bit at a time.

      See PARALLEL OPERATION.

SERVICE ROUTINE: A set of instructions for performing a programmed operation, typically, in response to an interrupt command.

SERVER: This is a mainframe computer that serves the other computers attached to it.

SHAREWARE: Software created by people who are willing to sell it at low cost or no cost for the gratification of sharing. It may be freestanding software, or it may add functionality to existing software.

SHAREWARE: This is an application that a programmer makes available to users for a set amount of time and then asks for a donation. In return for the donation, a registration number is often returned that can be used to “turn on” the features of the program.

SHELL ACCOUNT: A software application that lets you use someone else’s Internet connection. It’s not the same as having your own, direct Internet connection, but pretty close. Instead, you connect to a host computer and use the Internet through the host computer’s connection. Most users connect via shell accounts because of the current high cost to have direct Internet access.

SHELL: This is a program that sets parameters and acts as a series of boundaries in which an application can run.

SHIFT: A computer operation consisting of moving a group of adjacent data bits either to the left or to the right by a prescribed number of positions. The move is done in a SHIFT REGISTER for a carry-over operation.

SIGNATURE FILE: An ASCII text file, maintained within e-mail programs, that contains a few lines of text for your signature. The programs automatically attach the file to your messages so you don’t have to repeatedly type a closing.

SIMPLEX: A data transmission mode that provides transmission in one direction only.

      See FULL DUPLEX and HALF DUPLEX.

SIMULATION: The imitation of a logical operation of one computer by another to measure and evaluate the operation of the computer being designed. Simulation is primarily intended to provide an analysis of program logic, independent of hardware environment, and is extremely useful for debugging a new software program prior to committing it to ROM.

SKYPE: This is a peer-to-peer voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). This Internet telephony network was created by the same people that created Kazaa (Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis). It was developed as a free desktop software application that gives users the ability to make free Internet phone calls to other Skype users or you can use the application to place and receive phone calls to and from traditional phone lines for a reduced fee.

SLIP/PPP: (Serial Line Internet Protocol/Point-to-Point Protocol) The basic rules that enable computers to connect, usually by dial-up modem, directly to other computers that provide Internet services.

SMTP: (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) The basic programming language behind the Internet’s e-mail functions. SMTP is poised for a major upgrade, because it doesn’t provide such simple information as unsend or e-mail status.

SOCIAL NETWORKING: Social Networking is a online community of internet users. It provides a virtual community in which the members with common interests may communicate with each other. Facebook, Orkut are two most popular Social Networking Sites.

SOFTWARE: This is a program, the actual code the computer reads. All other stuff is hardware.

SOURCE CODE (SOURCE PROGRAM): A set of computer instructions in hard-copy or stored form. When written in a language other than machine language, the source code requires translation by an assembler (or macroassembler), interpreter, or compiler into object code.

SPIDER: A process search engines use to investigate new pages on a web site and collect the information that needs to be put in their indices.

SPREADSHEET: Software that allows one to calculate numbers in a format that is similar to pages in a conventional ledger.

SPAM: This is to transmit unwanted messages, usually over email, to a great many people.

SPOOFING: To fool. In networking, the term is used to describe a variety of ways in which hardware and software can be fooled. Email spoofing, for example, involves trickery that makes a message appear as if it came from a legitimate business email address.

SPOOLING: The process of storing a device (eg: printer) output signal in a queue, while the device can take on other actions. When the device is ready to take on other actions, it will draw from the queue.

      The term spooling is derived from the acronym “Spool”: Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On-Line.

STATE: The logic input or output condition of a binary digital circuit: the state is either a “0” or “1”.

STACK: A dynamic, sequential data list usually contained in the computer system’s main memory. It has special provisions to access data from either end. Storage and retrieval of data from the stack is performed automatically by the CPU.

STATIC MEMORY: A type of semiconductor read/write memory (RAM) that does not require periodic refresh cycles. As long as electrical power is ON, the data in a static memory is maintained.

STORAGE: Devices used to store massive amounts of information so that it can be readily retrieved. Devices include RAIDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs.

STREAMING: Taking packets of information (sound or visual) from the Internet and storing it in temporary files to allow it to play in continuous flow.

STYLUS AND TABLET: A input device similar to a mouse. The stylus is pen shaped. It is used to “draw” on a tablet (like drawing on paper) and the tablet transfers the information to the computer. The tablet responds to pressure—the firmer the pressure used to draw, the thicker the line appears.

STORAGE CAPACITY: The amount of data that can be retained in a memory unit. It is expressed either by a number of bits or bytes (8-bit words).

STREAMER/STREAMING TAPES: A small tape recorder, usually in cassette form, is used to store data from a hard disk for the purpose of backing up this data.

SUBROUTINE: A short program segment that performs a specific function and is available for general use by other programs and routines.

SUPERCOMPUTER: The largest mainframe computer featuring exceptionally high speed operation while manipulating huge amounts of information.

SUPPORT CHIPS: Computer-related circuits other than the CPU. Examples are: main memory (RAM and ROM), I/O ports, and system bus.

SURFING: Exploring the Internet.

SURGE PROTECTOR: A controller to protect the computer and make up for variances in voltage.

SVGA: Stands for Super Video Graphics Adapter. It’s a high level monitor.

SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION: A method of transferring binary data, in serial form, between computers or between a computer and its peripherals. Transmission of data is at a rate set by the computer’s clock with synchronization bits located at the beginning of each message or block of data.

SYNTAX: A set of grammatical rules defining valid use of specific commands or instructions in a computer language. 
SYSTEMS SOFTWARE: A general term for software that supervises, sequences, and coordinates programs. Systems software may include programs, such as: operating systems, assemblers, interpreters, compilers, software debugging programs, text editors, utilities and peripheral drivers.