Understanding Computer Terms
gap
The gap (more correctly called a pause) is a space dividing tracks on a CD. In some situations, a gap is required by standards such as the Red Book. For example, if you have data and audio tracks within the same session, they must be separated by a gap. Also, there must be a gap of two to three seconds preceding the first track on a CD.
GIF
(pronounced “giff”). A file format for graphics displayed on the Internet. These are easily identified by the file extension.gif. You can save a GIF file from a Web site to your computer. Point to the image with the cursor and right click. A shortcut menu is displayed. Select Save Picture As... The Save As dialog box is displayed. Select a folder, name the file, and click the Save button. See file extension. See also JEG.
graphical interface
Communication between a person and a computer by means of images. With a pointing device such as a mouse, you can click an icon to tell the computer what you want. See icon. See also interface.
graphics
Pictures or illustrations, including drawings, pie charts, bar graphs, street maps, architectural and engineering designs, fashion designs, musical scores, cartoons, animated images, and photographs. A graphics card enables the monitor to display these items on the screen. See SVGA.
H
hard disk
Internal media for permanent storage of system files, programs, utilities, and data files. The hard disk consists of flat, round platters. Each side of each platter has a head that floats on a thin cushion of air over the surface of the rapidly spinning disk and reads electronically stored data or writes data onto the disk. If the computer is dropped, a head may fall onto and dig into a platter and cause the hard drive to become unreadable.
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