glossary of internet terms - e

A COMPLETE LIST OF DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED THROUGHOUT OUR WEBSITE

Use the letters below to jump to a particular section or scroll down through the definitions.

misc A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

EAX (Short for 'environmental audio') - a standard developed by Creative Labs for more authentic and immersive sound reproduction in games.

Ecommerce - A term used to describe financial transactions over the internet.

ECP (enhanced capabilities port) - A type of high-speed printer port which offers improved performance.

EIDE - This is an interface for connecting hard disks and CD-ROM drives inside your PC.

EISA - An enhanced version of the ISA expansion slot, offering faster data transfer speeds for suitable expansion cards.

Electronic Programme Guide - Displays TV schedules on-screen,and lets you point and click at the ones you would like to record.

ELSPA - The European Leisure Software Publishers Association ? a software copyright protection agency and one of the main anti-piracy bodies.

Email - Short for electronic mail, a system of sending notes and memos between computers via internet.

EMS - Enhanced Messaging Service. A development of SMS (Short Messaging Service) that allows simple pictures and ring tones to be sent between mobile phones.

Emulate - An program that is used to make a computer act like another computer. For example, there are programs that can enable a PC to emulate a video arcade game.

Encoder - In the context of digital music, a piece of software that converts audio CDs to MP3 or some other digital format.

Encryption - The science of scrambling data ? be it text, audio, or video ? so that it can only be read by the authorised sender and recipient. Encryption can also be used to embed identifying markings in data, so that it can't be undetectably falsified.

Enhanced parallel port (EPP) - A modern version of the parallel (or printer) port, which is the 25-pin connector at the rear of your PC where the printer normally plugs in. If your PC was bought in the couple of years or so, it should have an EPP port. This can be important as scanners that plug into the parallel port do require the enhanced version.

EPOC32 - The operating system designed by Psion for its later handheld computers, like the Series 5mx.

Equalisers - Similar to the tone controls on your hi-fi, although software implementations are usually a lot more comprehensive.

Ergonomics - A term used to describe efficiency and health for people whilst in their working environment.

Ethernet - A type of computer network developed by Xerox in the 1970s, allowing a number of PCs to be linked together and communicate with one another.

Events - An action in Windows, such as opening a document, emptying the Recycle Bin, or shutting down your PC.

EVR (Electronic Version of Return) - The Inland Revenue's computer program that duplicates the paper-based tax return for PAYE taxpayers. It's available free of charge from your tax office and allows you to complete your return on screen.

Executable files - These are launchable programs, which have the file extension. EXE. Clicking on an executable file will start it running ? it may be an application, an animated greeting card or a game, for example. Avoid launching. EXE email attachments, as these may carry computer viruses.

Expansion card - Card that can be fitted in an expansion slot within your PC to enhance its capabilities in some way ? for instance to improve its video or graphics performance.

Expansion slot - A socket on a computer's motherboard designed to accommodate expansion cards.

Expert system - A computer program designed to perform the same function as (and so replace) a human expert on a particular subject.

Explorer - A program supplied with Windows that's used to browse files on your PC. Explorer can be used an alternative to the Windows Desktop.

Extension - The three-letter code at the end of a filename that indicates the type or format of the file. For example,. BMP is a bitmap,. EXE is an executable program file. These enable Windows to recognise what type of file it's dealing with.

Extract - The process of expanding compressed files so they can be opened.
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