SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE

Like every technology, electronic commerce has its own lexicon. Learning the language is the first step in internet enterpreneurship.

BROWSER
The software that allows a personal computer user to negotiate the internet labyrinth by clicking a mouse. The two best known browsers are NetScape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

CYBERSPACE
An umbrella term for all communications among computers.

E-MAIL
Communications made electronically between two computers via the internet (or some other networks) and transferred via ISP servers.

INTERNET (OFTEN SHORTENED TO "NET")
A collection of loosely connected computer networks located around the World. The internet began in 1960s when the U. S. Government wanted a decentralized communication system that could not be disabled by enemy attack. Eventually the internet became a favorite communication tool of academics and recently it has blossomed into a commercial network of networks.

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP)
A firm that functions as the electronic link between an individual PC and the internet. Most communities have one or more local ISPs.

MODEM
A device that allows one computer to communicate with another via telephone lines.

ONLINE
Any communication accomplished via a computer and phone line.

SEARCH ENGINE
A service that helps internet users to find out specific Web sites. Yahoo AltaVista, Infoseek and Excite are among the more popular search engines.

SERVER
A powerful ISP computer with many modems that allows customers to connect with other servers at other ISPs, institutions, businesses or agencies. Unless you have your own server your Web page will reside in the server of your ISP.

UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR (URL)
A web site's electronic address, example: http://www.welcome.to/WorldMagNet.

WORLD WIDE WEB (OFTEN SHORTENED TO "WEB" OR SIMPLY "WWW"
The part of the internet that deals with graphics, sound, video, photographs and other media more sophisticated than plain text. A company's internet presence is usually called its Web Sites or Web page. The terms "Web" and "Internet" are often used interchangeably.