Information Systems: Technology Dictionary

Publication Date: 2008
Published by: Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
Document Type: Other

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A dictionary of technical terms related to information systems in microfinance organization.

This dictionary developed by CGAP explains terms used in information technology parlance. The dictionary lists the terms alphabetically with their meaning.

Some of the terms covered in the dictionary include:

• Architecture - Refers to the overall design of a system in computer software and hardware;
• Broadband - Any network technology that multiplexes multiple, independent network carriers onto a single cable;
• CD ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) - A technology in which data is stored on a compact disc;
• DOS (Disk Operating System) - A generic term for any operating system loaded from disk devices;
• E-mail (Electronic mail) - Whenever you send messages to people using a computer and they read it later, you've sent a piece of email;
• FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) - These text files are supposed to answer all the questions a newcomer to an online site might have;
• Gateway - A gateway is a program or piece of hardware that passes data between networks;
• Internet - Often referred to as "The World Wide Web," the internet connects millions of computers together, allowing a user to chat with fellow users, download software, read news and entertainment and more;
• LAN (Local Area Network) - A short-distance network used to link a group of computers together within a building;
• Mapping - Assigning unused drive letters to network drives or unused printer ports to network printers.