IT Acronyms

Acronyms

• AR stands for Augmented Reality
• IT stands for Information Technology
• ARPANET stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
• SaaS stands for Software as a Service
• QR stands for Quick Response
• IC3 stands for Internet and Computing Core Certification
• OS stands for Operating System
• UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time
• DTP stands for Desktop Publishing
• EULA stands for End User License Agreement
• IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment
• ALU stands for Arithmetic/Logic Unit
• CPU stands for Central Processing Unit
• CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube
• VR stands for Virtual Reality
• RAM stands for Random-Access Memory
• ROM stands for Read-Only Memory
• USB stands for Universal Serial Bus
• OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition
• OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition
• RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification
• MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
• PAN stands for Personal Area Network
• LAN stands for Local Area Network
• MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network
• WAN stands for Wide Area Network
• TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
• WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy
• WPA/WPA2 stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access
• DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line
• FIOS stands for Fiber Optic Service
• NIC stands for Network Interface Card
• RF stands for Radio Frequency
• LTE stands for Long Term Evolution
• SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module
• GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication
• CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access
• SMS stands for Short Message Service
• MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service
• DRM stands for Digital Rights Management
• WI-FI stands for Wireless Fidelity
• DTP stands for Desktop Publishing

File Types and Software Programs

• .docx is associated with Microsoft Word
• .exe is an Executable Program/Application
• .pdf is associated with Adobe Acrobat Reader
• .pptx is associated with Microsoft PowerPoint
• .jpg is for Image Editing Software
• .psd is associated with Adobe Photoshop
• .mp3 is associated with Windows Media Player
• .xlsx is associated with Microsoft Excel
• .mp4 is associated with VLC Media Player
• .zip is associated with WinRAR / WinZip

Computer Hardware and Components

• The CPU, a single chip, contains the electronic circuitry needed to perform processing tasks.
• The C: drive is the typical storage device location for the operating system.
• Shut Down turns off the computer and ends the session.
• Processed data in a meaningful form becomes information.
• Connecting a smartphone to a PC via USB allows for device internal storage navigation.
• The four control buttons to adjust a window’s display are Minimize, Maximize, Restore Down, and Close.
• The F2 key renames files or folders

Cloud Computing and Software Licenses

• Cloud computing stores and retrieves data from internet-based locations, starting in the early 2000s.
• The End User License Agreement (EULA) is a contract a user must agree to before using software.

Networking and Internet Technologies

• Networking provides file, resource, and internet connection sharing.
• A Local Area Network (LAN) is a private network covering a small area like a home or office.
• Ethernet is a wired networking standard, not a broadband technology.
• A modem connects a private LAN to a public Wide Area Network (WAN).
• WPA2 is known as the most secure wireless security protocol.
• GSM and CDMA are the two primary technologies for voice/data transmission in cellular networks.
• The main difference between 3G and 4G is that 4G speeds are significantly faster than 3G.

File Management and Storage

• .docx is commonly used for Microsoft Word documents.
• The Recycle Bin temporarily stores deleted files for recovery.
• Compressing (zipping) files reduces their size for easier storage and sharing.

Software and Operating Systems

• The Windows Operating System is system software that manages hardware and software resources.
• The operating system (OS) manages computer hardware and software resources to allow programs to run.
• Application software supports specific tasks like word processing/photo editing.
• Shareware provides temporary free use then requires payment for full features.
• Microsoft Excel is productivity software performing data analysis and calculations.

Computer Components and Memory

• The CPU (Central Processing Unit) processes instructions and is the "brain" of the computer.
• Random Access Memory (RAM) loses its contents when power is turned off.
• A keyboard is an input device for entering data into a computer.
• The motherboard is the main circuit board allowing hardware components to communicate.
• A Solid-State Drive (SSD) lacks moving parts and is known for its speed and durability.