Technical information

ICT in the science department 1650 © CLEAPSS 2005
ICC Profile The International Colour Consortium Profile. The ICC is a group that sets standard
guidelines for colour management in the imaging world. Most printers, monitors and
scanners as well as digital cameras usually come with a driver that includes the ICC
profile for the particular device. Colour profiles simply let one piece of hardware or
software know how another device or image created its colours and how they should be
interpreted or reproduced.
I/O Input / Output.
Icon A small picture on a computer screen to identify a program, a data file, a device, a push
button, etc.
IDE Integrated Device Electronics. A type of disk-drive interface.
IEEE 1394 The standard that is more typically known by its tradename which is Firewire.
IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol.
Input The information going into a computer or computer program or other controller device.
(The same term is sometimes used for the connection through which the information
flows.)
Installation /
installing
The process of copying software onto a computer and preparing it to run. Typically
involves running a set-up or installation program that will decompress and then copy the
required files from a source such as a CD onto the computer’s hard disk. It may also set
the required initial parameters such as details of the system on which the software is to
be run.
Interactive
whiteboard
A whiteboard that can be connected to a computer such that it becomes an enlarged
screen. The computer can be controlled via this projected screen and the computer can
capture writing done on the board with a special pen. It may also be possible to use an
interactive whiteboard as an ordinary whiteboard.
Interface The point at which a system connects to another device. Also used to mean GUI.
Interface box A box which ‘goes between’ two parts of a system, eg, between a model and a computer
controlling it.
Internet The global network of computers connected by a standard protocol that allows them to
interconnect. The internet supports the World Wide Web, e-mail and other types of
messaging, newsgroups etc.
Interpolate /
interpolation
To calculate an estimate for intermediate values in a sequence. To insert such a value
between the elements in a sequence. Refers to techniques used to work out the
information that might have been lost when a digital picture of relatively low resolution
was captured; used to try to improve the displayed image.
Intranet A private network of computers, employing the same protocol as the Internet and
providing similar services within an organisation.
IP address Internet Protocol address (v4). A unique address that identifies a computer on a local
network and the Internet. Consists of four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots, eg,
134.83.1.225.
IR / IrDA InfraRed.
IRQ Interrupt ReQuest. A means whereby a computer component or peripheral may notify the
CPU of its status. Hardware and peripherals are assigned an IRQ address. IRQ conflicts
used to be a common source of hardware problems.
ISA Industry Standard Architecture. A now somewhat dated (or ‘legacy’) bus design with an
associated expansion slot and card format.
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network. A computer communications connection based on
existing telephone services but faster than a 56 k dial-up connection.
ISIS A type of driver software that performs a similar function to TWAIN drivers.
ISP Internet Service Provider.
Jack A connector designed to receive a plug. Typically used in audio connections.
JPG / JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group. A compressed image file format with associated .jpg
or .jpeg file extension.
Jumper A small plug or connector designed to connect pins on a circuit board.