#Acorn
The Acorn IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel.
#Riscos
The RISC OS IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel.
10BASE2
An Ethernet standard that uses BNC connectors and coaxial cable.
10BASE5
An Ethernet standard that uses 9-pin D-type connectors and special cable.
10BASET
An Ethernet standard that uses telephone connectors and telephone cable.
1MHZ BUS
A proprietary (Acorn) parallel digital interface for accessing hard drives on BBC machines.
A/V
Audio/Visual
ADDRESS
On the Net, this is an electronic mail address.
ADFS
Advanced Disc Filing System, filing system on Acorn/RISC OS machines.
AKF
The first part of the code for Acorn Monitors, e.g. AKF50
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
ANT
A company producing RISC OS-related network products
AOF
Acorn Object Format, a way of storing computer code
ARCHIE
An index of FTP servers.
ARCHIVE
A file or group of files and/or directories that have been joined together into a single file and, often, are compressed.
ARM
Advanced RISC Machine, the processor used in all Acorn 32-Bit machines.
ARP
Address Resolution Protocol
ARPANET
Advanced Research Projects Administration Network, a predecessor to the
Internet
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange
ASIC
Application Specific Integrated Circuit
ASSEMBLER
A compiler for converting a program written in mnemonics into a machine code
executable program.
ATAPI
ATA Packet Interface, A development of the IDE standard
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
AUN
Acorn Universal Networking
AUP
Acceptable Use Policy, A statement by an ISP of the allowable uses of an
account with them.
AVA
Audio Visual Aid
BABT
British Approvals Board for Telecommunications
BACKPLANE
A small printed circuit board with connectors on it that allows you to plug
in expansion cards.
BANDWIDTH
The rate at which data can be sent through any given data connection.
BASIC
Beginners All-purpose Symbol Instruction Code, A commonly-used interpreted
high level language.
BAUD
This is a unit of speed for serial data transmission.
BBS
Bulletin Board Service/System
BETT
British Education Teaching Technology (?) an annual information technology
show for teachers
BIG EIGHT
The main Usenet hierarchies: comp, humanities, misc, news, rec, sci, soc and
talk.
BINARY
The number system (base 2) used as the basis of most computer systems.
BIOS
Basic input/output system
BIT
Binary digit, A bit is the smallest unit of binary data. It has two values,
0 and 1.
BNC
The bayonet-type (push-and-twist) connectors used in Ethernet installations.
BOOT
Short for Bootstrap, the name given to an automatic program loading process
BOT
An artificial intelligence usually found masquerading as a human user.
BOUNCE
An item of email is said to have bounced when it fails to find its recipient.
BPP
Bits per pixel, The number of bits used to store the colour of each pixel.
BROWSER
A program that allows you to access the worldwide web (WWW).
BUG
Error in a computer program.
BULLET
A large black dot --  -- used to highlight something within some text.
BUS
A set of parallel wires or PCB tracks along which data is transmitted in a
computer system.
BYTE
A byte refers to 8 bits of binary data
C
A high level compiled language.
C++
This is an object-oriented version of the C language.
CACHE
A processor cache is a tiny volatile memory component built into the
processor.
CAD
Computer Aided Design
CAD
Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Process.
CAM
Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Process.
CAL
Computer Aided Learning
CAPS
Short for 'capitals'.
CARRIER
The tone generated by a modem, on which data is carried.
CBT
Computer Based Training
CCITT
International body that ratifies recommendations for telecoms standards.
CD
Compact Disc
CDFS
Filing system used for accessing CD-ROMs.
CD-ROM
Compact Disc Read Only Memory
CDT
Craft, Design and Technology, A school subject
CENTRONICS
The company that invented the parallel port of the same name.
CERT
Computer Emergency Response Team
CISC
Complex Instruction Set Chip, The chip that makes PCs work (e.g. 486,
Pentium)
CIX
Commercial Internet Exchange
CLI
Command line Interface
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key
COMPILER
A Compiler creates a runnable program from source code.
CPU
Central Processing Unit, This is the electronic circuitry at the heart of a
computer.
CRC
Cyclic redundancy check, This is a way of checking for errors in stored and
transmitted data.
CROSS-POSTING
Sending the same article to more than one Usenet newsgroup at a time.
CSLIP
Compressed SLIP.
CSV
Comma Separated Values
CYBERSPACE
The virtual world that exists within computer networks.
DD
Double Density
DEBUG
Remove the bugs (errors) within a program.
DHRYSTONES
This is a means of indicating the speed of a processor.
DIALUP
A temporary connection to a computer or server via a telephone line rather
than through a fixed connection.
DMA
Direct Memory Access
DNS
Domain name system
DOWNLOAD
Transfer files or messages from a distant computer to your own computer.
DPI
Dots Per Inch
DPMS
Display Power Management Signalling
DRAM
Dynamic Random Access Memory
DSP
Digital Signal Processing
DTP
DeskTop Publishing
EIDE
Extended IDE, A development of IDE allowing four drives to be connected at
once.
EASI
Extended Acorn System Interface
EBCDIC
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code, The character set used on IBM mainframes.
ECONET
A type of Local Area Network (LAN) developed in the early '80s by Acorn
Computers Ltd.
EEPROM
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
EISA
Extended ISA bus.
EMAIL
Sending messages by using any interconnection of computers, either locally
or over a wide area network.
ENCRYPTION
The manipulation of a packet's data in order to prevent any but the intended
recipient reading that data.
EPROM
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
EPS
Encapsulated PostScript
ETHERNET
A type of high speed (10Mb/s) LAN. It was developed by Xerox Corporation in
the late '70s.
EUNET
The European part of Usenet.
EXPANSION CARD
An extra circuit board fitted to your computer.
EZINE
The Internet equivalent of a magazine.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
FAST
Federation Against Software Theft
FAT
The file allocation table of DOS discs.
FAX
A method of sending graphical data down a serial communication system.
FDD
Floppy disc drive
FIDONET
A network of BBSs used to transfer files and messages both nationally and
internationally.
FIFO
First in, first out
FILER
A system used to handle the storage of information.
FILING SYSTEM
A system used to handle the storage of information.
FINGER
A simple form of interrogation of a remote machine or user.
FIREWALL
A security system to restrict access to certain computers, areas or
information.
FIRMWARE
This refers to software, applications and/or data which is stored in a ROM.
FLAME
An offensive or abusive message.
FLAMEBAIT
A provocative posting to Usenet that deliberately tries to elicit flames.
FLAME WAR
A discussion consisting of a series of offensive or abusive messages.
FLASH ROM
A Flash ROM can be re-programmed through software.
FLOPPY DISC
This is a data storage medium consisting of a removable flexible (floppy)
magnetic disc in a hard plastic case.
FLOPPY DRIVE
This is a data storage medium consisting of a removable flexible (floppy)
magnetic disc in a hard plastic case.
FMV
Full Motion Video
FOLLOWUP
An article posted to a newsgroup in response to an earlier posting.
FONTS
Characters on the screen and on the printed page can take on all sorts of
different shapes and styles.
FORMAT
Formatting is preparing a floppy disc or hard disc ready to receive data.
FPA
Floating Point Accelerator
FPE
Floating Point Emulator
FQDN
Fully qualified domain name, The complete address of a site on the Internet.
FREEWARE
Software that doesn't cost anything.
FS
Filing system
FTP
File Transfer Protocol or File Transfer Program
GATEWAY
A computer which links together two or more separate networks.
GB
Gigabyte, Approximately one thousand million bytes of computer data.
GIGABYTE
Approximately one thousand million bytes of computer data.
GIF
Graphics Interchange Format
GNU
Gnu's Not Unix, A project of the Free Software Foundation to write a free
version of the Unix operating system.
GOPHER
Essentially a text-only precursor of the World Wide Web.
GUI
Graphical User Interface
GZIP
Gnu Zip, A popular compressed file format.
HANDSHAKE
Two modems trying to connect, first do this to agree on how to transfer data.
HD
High Density (refers to floppy discs) or High Definition (refers to Monitors).
HDD
Hard disc drive
HEADER
The top of an email or Usenet message containing the details of the sender,
date, time, and routing
HOST
From a user's point of view, a host is a computer or service which allows you access to the Internet.
HOURGLASS
This is the egg-timer thing that appears on the screen all too often.
HP
Hewlett Packard, a company known for making printers, computers, and calcs.
HSV
Hue Saturation Value, This is a colour-picking system for use in DTP.
HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language
HTTP
Hyper Text Transport Protocol
HYPERTEXT
A system enabling a reader to move between related pieces of information by
clicking on linking keywords or pictures.
I/O
Input/Output.
ICON
A small picture displayed on screen to communicate something
ICONBAR
The strip along the bottom of the computer screen that contains icons for
devices applications
IDC
Insulation Displacement Connector
IDE
Integrated Drive Electronics, An electronic standard method of connecting
one or two hard drives to a computer system.
IMAP
Internet Mail Access Protocol
INTERNET
An interconnected network of networks.
IOMD
Input Output Memory Device
IP
Internet Protocol, The network protocol responsible for passing data packets
from one host to another.
IRC
Internet Relay Chat, A service operated on certain hosts which allows
multi-party online conversations.
ISA
Industry Standard Architecture
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network, a high speed network.
ISO
International Standards Organisation
ISP
Internet Service Provider.
IT
Information Technology
JAVA
An object-orientated programming language developed by Sun Microsystems.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group
KA9Q
Another name for !TCPIP. It was originally written on a PC for use with
packet radio.
KB
Approximately one thousand bytes of computer data.
KILOBYTE
Approximately one thousand bytes of computer data.
KERNEL
The main part of the RISC OS operating system.
LAN
Local area network
LINKER
When using a compiler, this is the program that joins the object code and
the library routines
LISP
A high level computer language often associated with artificial intelligence
programming.
LOGIN
Connecting to a computer involves typing a user name and a password before
access is given.
LURKER
Someone who reads Usenet articles but makes no contribution and is therefore
transparent to other users.
MAGNETO-OPTICAL
A technology used to provide read-write data storage with a removable medium.
MAILBOMB
Large amounts of data being emailed to one person, repeatedly, until it
kills their mail system
MAILING LIST
A group of people who send and receive communal email messages on a specific
topic.
MB
Approximately one million bytes of computer data.
MEGABYTE
Approximately one million bytes of computer data.
MDF
Monitor Definition File
METAPAGE
A web page that contains links to other web pages.
MHZ
This is most often used to refer to the speed of a computer's processor or
memory.
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
MIPS
Million Instructions Per Second
MIRROR SITE
An FTP server which contains the same, or similar, information as another
somewhere else in the world.
MNP
Microcom Network Protocol
MODEM
MOdulator DEMdulator
MODERATOR
The person who runs a conference or newsgroup.
MPC
Multimedia Personal Computer
MPEG
Motion Picture Experts Group
MTBF
Mean Time Between Failure, An indication of how long, on average, it will be
before a machine goes wrong.
MULTITASKING
An operating system like RISC OS is capable of running a number of different
tasks all at the same time.
MUSE
Multi-user Simulated Environment, Place where you can interact with other
users.
NET
Internet.
NETIQUETTE
The "rules" of the Internet
NETSCAPE
A World Wide Web browser program
NETWORK
A means of connecting a number of computers together so that they can share
data and the use of peripherals.
NEWBIE
A new user of the Internet or of a particular service. This is not a
pejorative term.
NEWS
Usenet News Groups
NEWSREADER
A program that allows you access to articles on a Usenet server.
NEWS SERVER
Machines to which you connect to send and receive news.
NIBBLE
Four binary bits, i.e. two nibbles make a byte.
NIC
Network Information Center
NLQ
Near Letter Quality, A middle range printing standard
NNTP
Network News Transfer Protocol
NODE
A computer or server attached to the network.
NSF
National Science Foundation
NTP
Network Time Protocol
OBJECT-ORIENTED
Object-oriented languages include Modula-3, C++ and Objective C.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition
OFFLINE
When your computer is not connected to a host system or the Net, you are
offline.
OLE
Object Linking and Embedding
OLR
Off-Line Reader, A program to read and reply to email offline.
OMR
Optical Mark Reader, A method of reading special forms eg multiple choice
exams.
ONLINE
When your computer is connected to an online service, bulletin-board system
or public-access site.
OPERATING SYSTEM
This is the set of "house-keeping" programs within a computer which handle
all the input/output, filing systems, etc.
PARALLEL
A device or communication channel is said to be parallel if the data is sent
several bits at a time down several parallel wires.
PARITY
A method of checking for errors in transmitted or stored data. 
PASCAL
A compiled language, especially invented by Nicklas Wirth for educational
purposes.
PBII
PocketBook 2, a palmtop computer
PBM
Portable Bit-Maps
PD
Public Domain
PEM
Privacy enhanced mail
PENTIUM
This is a 32-bit cpu with a 64-bit data bus produced by Intel Corporation.
PERIPHERAL
An item of hardware such as a monitor or printer that can be connected to
your computer.
PERITEL
The new name for SCART. A type of A/V connector
PGP
Pretty Good Privacy, Secure encryption using a public key system.
PINBOARD
This is an application that makes use of the blank areas of the desktop.
PING
Packet Internet Groper
PIXEL
Picture Element (?)
POP
Post Office Protocol, Standard e-mail system.
POP3
Post Office Protocol, Standard e-mail system.
POSTSCRIPT
A page description language used in some laser printers and imagesetters.
PPP
Point to Point Protocol, A standard for transmitting Internet Protocol (IP)
data packets over phone lines.
PRM
Programmers Reference Manual
PROGRAM
A set of instructions which tells a computer how to carry out a particular
task.
PROLOG
A high level computer language often associated with artificial intelligence
programming.
PROMPT
When the host system asks you to do something and waits for you to respond.
PROTOCOL
An agreed set of procedures which allows for the orderly transfer of data
between two hosts via a communications network.
PROXY SERVER
A web server that fetches pages at your request and stores them in its own
memory.
PSU
Power Supply Unit, Circuit converting mains power to the low voltages
required for most electronics
QWERTY
Look at the six characters at the top left of your keyboard and you'll see
why it's called a qwerty keyboard.
RAM
Random Access Memory
RARP
Reverse ARP, The protocol used to map a MAC address (like Ethernet) to an
Internet address. 
REPLY
To send a private email to someone, either in response to an email or to a
news article.
RESOLUTION
The complexity of detail that can be seen on a computer screen or a printer
RESOLVE
Translate a numeric IP address into a textual domain name
RF
Radio Frequency
RFC
Request for comment, A series of documents that describe various technical
aspects of the Internet.
RGB
Red Green Blue
RIP
Raster Image Processor, A device used in the printing industry to produce a
very high resolution output.
RISC
Reduced Instruction Set Chip, the ARM processor is RISC
RMA
Relocatable Module Area, The area of RAM set aside for the program modules
used by different applications.
ROM
Read-Only Memory
ROUTE
The path that mail or other information takes to get from source to
destination.
ROUTER
A computer or other dedicated hardware that is set up to transmit packets
from one network to others.
RPC
Common Internet abbreviation for Risc PC
RS232
Electrical standards for the transmission of serial data.
RS423
Electrical standards for the transmission of serial data.
SCART
A means of connecting computers, video recorders, etc to televisions and
monitors using standard connections.
SCSI
Small Computer Systems Interface
SEARCH ENGINE
A facility that allows you to search for keywords in databases, archives or
web pages.
SECA
Special Extra Curricular Activity
SERIAL
A device or communication channel is said to be serial if the data is sent
sequentially, one bit at a time.
SERVER
A computer or system that provides resources to a number of other computers
or clients on a computer network.
SHAREWARE
Software which you can try out for free before buying it.
SIGNATURE
This is a small area of text at the bottom of a message which is configured
by the user.
SIMM
Single In-line Memory Module
SITE
A computer system holding information that can be accessed by other
computers.
SLIP
Serial Line Internet Protocol
SMALLTALK
A high level computer programming language that allows you to use
object-oriented techniques.
SMD
Surface Mount Device
SMS
Short Message Service, A method of sending short text messages via a digital
telephone
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SNAILMAIL
A pejorative term referring to the conventional (physical) mail system.
SPDIF
Sony/Philips Digital InterFace
SPOILER
A Usenet posting that reveals the ending or important facts of a plot.
SPRITE
A graphic made up of coloured pixels.
SQL
Structured Query Language, Language for extracting information from a
database.
ST506
The type of hard disc interface fitted to pre-A5000 computers. Now obsolete.
STATIC RAM
RAM which does not require a refresh cycle.
SVGA
Super VGA, An enhanced colour graphics standard from the PC world
SWI
SoftWare Interrupt
SYQUEST
A company making a range of removable hard drives, ideal for back-up and
transport of valuable data.
TAOS
A new operating system that permits programs to split their work across
multiple processors.
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
TCP/IP
A combination of TCP and IP!
TELNET
Logs on to a remote machine, giving two-way communication so you can type
commands and get the screen output back.
THREAD
A series of linked messages forming a discussion within a newsgroup that is
all on the same subject.
THUMB
An extension of the 32-bit ARM architecture.
TIFF
Tagged Image File Format
TLB
Translation Look-Aside Buffer
TOKENISED
When a Basic program is stored, it is usually stored with each keyword
represented by a single byte or token
TONER
This is the pigment, in the form of a fine powder, used in a laser printer
(or photocopier).
TPI
Tracks per inch
TRM
Technical Reference Manual, Hardware manual for Acorn computers.
TSV
Tab Separated Variables
UART
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
UNIX
The operating system used by most of the computers that provide services on
the Internet.
UPS
Uninterruptable Power Supply
URL
Uniform Resource Locator
USENET
The term used to refer to the Internet news network. 
UUENCODE
A coding system by which binary data can be transmitted over a text-only
email system.
V22
CCITT standard for modem communications at 1200 bps.
V22bis
CCITT standard for modem communications at 2400 bps.
V32
CCITT standard for modem communications at 9600 and 4800 bps.
V32bis
CCITT standard for modem communications at 14.4K, 12K, 2400, 9600 7200 and
4800 bps.
V42
CCITT standard for modem communications that incorporates MNP levels 2-4
error correction and MNP level 5 data compression.
V42bis
CCITT standard for modem communications implementing data compression over
V42 links.
VAPOURWARE
A derogatory term for software that is being advertised but isn't actually
available
VDU
Visual Display Unit, The monitor or television used to display the output of
the computer.
VESA
Video Electronics Standards Association.
VGA
Video Graphics Adapter
VIDC
Video Controller. Chip that handles screen display, mouse and sound on Acorn
machines.
VIDC20
Video Controller -- The video and audio controller designed by ARM Ltd and
used in the Risc PC.
VIRTUAL MEMORY
A method by which an application, which requires more RAM memory than a
computer actually has, can still operate.
VLSI
Very large scale integration
VRAM
Video RAM
VT100
Terminal-emulation system.
WAIS
Wide Area Information System
WAN
Wide Area Network, A network of computers that is spread over a large
geographic area
WHETSTONES
This is a floating point version of the Dhrystones test.
WIMP
Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointer, simply the desktop
WINCHESTER
Old-fashioned term for a hard disc.
WORD
A group of bytes considered by the cpu to be a unit of data.
WORM
The Internet equivalent of a virus. It replicates itself and is self
propagating.
WP
Word processing, The manipulation of text on a computer
WWW
Worldwide Web
W3
Worldwide Web
WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get
XGA
Extended Graphics Adapter
X-MODEM
File transfer protocol
Y-MODEM
File transfer protocol
Z-MODEM
File transfer protocol.
ZIF
Zero Insertion Force
ZIP
A type of compressed archive for storing files (SparkFS can de-archive it)
ZOO
Another type of compressed archive