Denver DataMan Computer Glossary

These words have been defined because they have been used in Denver DataMan publications or because they are commonly misunderstood.

RSS

Relay Simple Syndication is a tool for aggregating (gathering) information from around the Internet. Read this FAQ for more information.

RSS Reader

A tool for gathering RSS content from providers on the Internet. Also known as an aggregator.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization, often called SEO is the steps necessary to optimize your site so that it will be found on the Internet. Because search results are determined by patterns, SEO is about guessing, predicting, and building websites that match the patterns.

Social Bookmarking

Services that provide a way to share the links that you think are worth bookmarking for your readers. Social bookmarking sites also help you keep track of the sites that you like because they provide access to bookmarks away from your home or office computer.

This video from the Commoncraft Show that explains the use of social bookmarking using a popular tool called Del.icio.us.

Social Networking

Websites that connect people online based on existing friendships/relationships, similar interests, creative communities or for businesses networking. Examples include Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube, and countless others. Social networks encourage open interaction about any topic including reviews of companies, sharing pictures and videos, answering questions (on any topic) and keeping lines of communication. Social networks expose the connections that others have to the people they are connected to. This You Tube video explains much of social networking very well.

SPAM

Unsolicited and unwanted e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail. SPAM is often to sell explicit products or for refinancing scams. The Federal Trade Commission provides lots of valuable information.

Spyware

Software that covertly gathers information about a user and their Internet usage while he/she navigates the Internet. There is also spyware that harms the users computer by jamming up Internet performance, running applications, sending SPAM, sending large amounts of data over the Internet, and many other negative tasks. Spyware is like a virus but not all anti-virus software can find and remove/protect you from spyware.

Streaming

Technology used to efficiently send videos or other large files over the Internet.

Tag

Tags have different meanings in different applications or websites. Tags mark data by attaching different terms or labels to content. In a Contact Relationship Management Database you might tag contacts as large donors or other key attributes. Websites may be tagged with words that describe their content and articles in the newspaper could have tags about international, local, sports, elections and many other articles. Blogs and photo sharing sites do the same thing to help label content.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

When you buy a technology item at the store there is a price. This price does not take into account any accessories, installation costs, service costs, the power to run the device, the supplies it will consume (for example paper and ink for a printer) or any number of other costs that are not seen in the original purchase. TCO refers to identifying and quantifying these other costs.