Technical information

© CLEAPSS 2005 1657 ICT in the Science Department
URL Uniform Resource Locator. An address for a resource on the Internet.
USB/USB1,
USB2
Universal Serial Bus; a type of port. A USB2 connection allows faster transmission of data
between the peripheral and the computer.
Variable A named data store of a specified data type that can be processed algebraically by a
program. Its value can change during processing.
VBA Visual Basic for Applications. A macro language based on Microsoft’s Visual Basic
programming language. Typically used to construct macros within Microsoft Office
applications.
VCR Video Cassette Recorder.
VDT Visual Display Terminal. An old term used for CRT monitor displays. The term may be
used to describe any computer display.
VDU Visual Display Unit. Any screen on which information from a computer is displayed.
Typically used to describe CRT monitors but the term may be used to describe any
computer display.
Vector graphics Images generated from the definition of position, length and direction in which lines are
drawn. Images are a collection of lines as compared to bitmap graphics that are defined
as a collection of pixels.
VESA Video Electronics Standards Association. An organisation promoting improved standards
for video and multimedia devices.
VGA Video Graphics Array. A standard for the display of images of resolution at least 640 x
480 pixels. Standards for higher-resolution images include SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA.
VHS Vertical Helical Scan (or Video Home System). Common format for video (with audio)
recordings on digital tape.
Video Used as a noun, adjective or verb. Refers to recording and displaying visual images,
usually in analogue format. May also refer to the picture signal sent between devices
such as a camera and a TV.
Video-capture
card
A card that enables an analogue video device to be connected to a digital device, eg, to
connect a video camera to a computer. The card may either be inserted into the computer
(a PCI card) or it may be an external device that includes the leads to connect the two.
Virtual memory Typically, hard disk storage space that has been allocated to behaving as if it was actually
memory space. Excess data that cannot fit in memory is copied to and from the hard disk
as required.
Virus A malicious program that can spread from computer to computer and inserts copies of
itself into other files causing it to be run when the infected program is executed.
VIVO Video In – Video Out.
VOB Video Object. A file extension for DVD files.
VOIP Voice Over Internet Protocol. A means of making telephone calls over the Internet.
WAV The native digital audio format in Windows and the file extension for such files.
Web Short for World-Wide Web.
Web cam A (usually simple, relatively low-resolution) digital camera.
Web browser See Browser.
WIA Windows Image Acquisition. An interface (API and DDI) that enables digital cameras and
other imaging devices to connect and work with imaging software.
WIMP An abbreviation for Windows, Icons, Mouse and Pull-down (or Pop-up) menus. Some
experts claim that it means Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointer. It is a means of
communicating with a microcomputer that has become available on almost every make
but it was first used commercially on the Apple Macintosh.
Window A typically rectangular section of the screen display provided by the Operating System or
an application and that can contain its own document or message.
Windows™ Microsoft’s proprietary graphical user interface.