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142 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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software
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is computer code, in the form of programs, that tells the hardware what to do. Examples include Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Quicken, and games such as Warcraft, Wheel of Fortune, or Doom.
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PCs
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These are so predominant in the marketplace that the very term PC has come to mean a Windows-based machine. Chances are that you either are using or will use this type of computer.
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Macintosh computer
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The second type of personal computer
No one but Apple manufactures and labels Macintosh computers. They do not use Windows but a distinct Macintosh operating system. This distinction will be discussed in great detail in the software unit of this module. |
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The third and final type of personal computer is very similar to the first
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These machines are also manufactured by name-brand companies or are custom built. They use essentially the same hardware components. However, instead of being Windows-based they are UNIX-based.
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desktop
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A desktop is a machine that sits on (or under) your physical desk
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laptop
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A laptop is a small, lightweight, portable machine that fits on your lap. It has a thin, flat, liquid crystal display (LCD) screen
Laptops are also sometimes called notebooks |
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motherboard
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is the physical device that holds all the components together. If it helps, think of it as a mother that holds the family together. Both internal components and peripherals come together on the motherboard.
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monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The keyboard and mouse are your primary input devices
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The first peripheral components of which you will be aware are the
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input devices
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Input devices are those peripherals that allow you to input information into a computer.
These devices include the keyboard, stylus and tablet, mouse, and microphone. |
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Monitor
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The monitor is the video display terminal. There are two common types of monitors: LCD (liquid crystal display) or flatscreen, and CRT (cathode ray tube). Monitors' two primary characteristics are screen size and resolution.
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desktop
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A computer system that typically resides on a desk and is not considered easily portable. The abbreviation PC generally only refers to desktop machines running Windows.
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laptop
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Small, lightweight, portable battery-powered computers that can fit onto your lap. They have a thin, flat, liquid crystal display screen and can often be connected to external systems and monitors.
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notebook
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Another name for a laptop.
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peripherals
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Any external device attached to a computer to enhance operation. Examples include external hard drive, scanner, printer, speakers, keyboard, mouse, trackball, stylus and tablet, and joystick.
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motherboard
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The physical device that holds all of the computer components together.
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monitor
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A video display terminal. The screen portion of your computer.
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keyboard
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A set of keys (numbers, letters, symbols, and function) that allow you to input data into a computer.
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mouse
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A small hand-held device used to control the position of the cursor on the video display. Movements of the mouse on a desktop correspond to movements of the cursor on the screen.
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input devices
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Peripheral components that allow you to input information into the computer
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cursor
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A special, sometimes flashing symbol on your computer screen which indicates where the next character you type will be positioned or allows you to point to different things with your mouse.
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CPU
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An acronym for central processing unit. The brain of the computer.
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microprocessor
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A microprocessor performs most of the functions of a CPU and it is located on a single chip.
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megahertz
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One million clock cycles per second
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gigahertz
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One billion clock cycles per second
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memory
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Data storage in general, but usually meaning the amount of RAM (e.g. my computer has 2 gigs of memory).
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RAM
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Random access memory is commonly referred to as the memory of a computer. RAM is where programs that are running, as well as the data they are operating on, are stored.
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cache
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Memory that is very fast (compared with regular RAM) and is often located directly on the CPU. It is relatively small (compared with the total amount of RAM on a computer) and is used to help avoid delays in the CPU's activity because of the relatively slow system bus speed compared with the CPU's speed.
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hard drive
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Stores vast amounts of data. It is usually located inside the computer and is used to house the operating system, programs, data files—pretty much everything on your computer. Today’s hard disks typically store from 20 to over 500 GB (gigabytes) of data.
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megabytes (MB)
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Equal to 1,048,576 bytes, usually rounded off to one million bytes in marketing materials. Also called a “meg.” This is another term commonly used when referring to data storage capabilities and is sometimes used in measuring RAM amounts.
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gigabytes (GB)
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1,024 megabytes. Also called a “gig.” This is commonly used when referring to the storage space of a device. Marketing materials often use 1,000 megabytes to equal 1 gigabyte
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byte (B)
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8 bits. File sizes are usually represented in bytes or kilobytes (1,000 bytes).
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bit (b)
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A single piece of information. This is the smallest piece of information a computer can manipulate. It can store either a zero or a 1.
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USB flash drive
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A USB flash drive is a small, portable data storage device that can transfer information using the USB port on a computer.
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compact flash
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A storage device commonly used in digital cameras and other digital media. It is able to store electronic information and retain it even when the device is turned off, and it can be transferred easily between devices, such as between a digital camera and a photo color printer.
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CD
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An acronym that stands for compact disc. These are optical discs designed to hold information, including music, documents, reference materials, computer software, graphics, and just about anything else that can be converted to file format on a computer. A single CD holds approximately 640 megabytes of data.
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DVD
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This is similar to a CD, except the amount of data it can hold is measured in gigabytes instead of megabytes. This is why movies are written to DVDs.
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Blu-ray disc (BD)
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The next generation of optical media, Blu-ray discs can hold many times more information than DVDs. They are most often used to store high-definition video and audio.
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ROM
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Read-only memory contains permanent information put there by the manufacturer. Information in ROM cannot be altered or written over.
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video card
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A card that plugs into the internals of a computer and provides support for detailed graphics processing, like those used by modern computer games and simulations.
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VRAM
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Video RAM is RAM dedicated to the video display capabilities of a computer. If a computer has a dedicated video card, that video card often has its own VRAM. Often, less expensive PCs have shared VRAM, meaning the video system “shares” some of the same system RAM the applications use to run and manipulate data.
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sound card
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Generally on PCs, these cards plug into the internals of a PC and allow you to attach external speakers.
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modem
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A device that connects computers by converting a computer’s data into a signal and then converting it back again at the other end.
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Kbps (Kilobits per second)
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Equal to 1,024 bits transmitted per second. Analog modems and slower DSL connections are described in Kbps.
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Mbps (Megabits per second)
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Equal to 1,048,576 (sometimes rounded to a million) bits transmitted per second. Faster DSL and cable modems are described in Mbps.
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cable modem
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A device that allows a computer to connect to the Internet over a cable network. Typical speeds of the cable modem Internet connection is 5 Mbps from the Internet to your computer and 500 Kbps from your computer to the Internet.
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DSL modem
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A device that allows a computer to connect to the Internet over a DSL connection. Typical speeds of a DSL connection are 256 Kbps–8 Mbps from the Internet to your computer and 64 Kbps–860 Kbps from your computer to the Internet.
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satellite modem
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A device that allows a computer to connect to the Internet through a satellite connection. Typical speeds of a satellite connection are 600 Kbps for downloads and 100 Kbps for uploads
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network
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A system of interconnected computers
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server
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A computer that shares its resources and information with other computers, called clients, on a network.
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client
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A single user of a network application that is operated from a server. A client/server architecture allows many people to use the same data simultaneously. The program’s main component (the data) resides on a centralized server, with smaller components (user interface) on each client.
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network interface card
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Component that allows you to connect to a network using Ethernet instead of via a modem and a phone cord.
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Wi-Fi
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Wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other as if there was a physical network of wires between them. Typical Wi-Fi speeds are 11Mbs and 54Mbs.
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Ethernet
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A type of high-speed network commonly supported by computers. The plug looks like a slightly wider phone cable. Ethernet is commonly used to connect a computer to a cable or DSL modem. Two common speeds supported are 10/100 Mbs and 10/100/1000 Mbs.
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PCI
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An acronym for peripheral component interconnect, which is a way in which cards can be added to a computer system to provide specific capabilities, such as Ethernet or enhanced video support.
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AGP
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An acronym for accelerated graphics port, which is based on PCI but specialized for enhanced video graphics systems, such as those used by modern computer games.
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USB
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Universal serial bus. An industry standard for connecting different compatible peripheral devices across multiple platforms.
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serial
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An older way of communicating between devices. Older PCs also had serial connections. Serial refers to the restriction that only one bit could be sent at a time.
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parallel
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An older way of communicating between devices. Older PC printers were often parallel printers. Parallel refers to the ability of the device to send and/or receive multiple bits of data at once, or in parallel.
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printer
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A mechanical device for printing a computer’s output on paper.
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hard copy
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A paper printout of what you have prepared on the computer.
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dot matrix
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This printer creates individual letters, made up of a series of tiny ink dots, by punching a ribbon with the ends of tiny wires. This type of printer is used mostly by industry for high-volume computer printing.
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ink jet
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This printer sprays tiny droplets of ink particles onto paper and generally comes with black and color printing capability. Ink jet printers are the most commonly used personal printers for home computer users.
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laser
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This printer uses a beam of light to reproduce the image of each page using a magnetic charge that attracts dry toner, which is transferred to paper and sealed with heat. Laser printers are used in both business and home applications to produce high quality documents.
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scanner
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An electronic device that uses light-sensing equipment to scan paper images, such as text, photos, and illustrations, and to translate the images into signals the computer can then store, modify, or distribute. Scanners are being used more and more to electronically capture and store information originally generated on paper media. The paper is then recycled or destroyed and does not have to be stored in files and warehouses.
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webcam
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A video camera/computer setup that takes live images and sends them to a web browser
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operating system
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A set of instructions that tells a computer how to operate when it is turned on. It sets up a filing system to store files and tells the computer how to display information on a video display, receive information from a keyboard, utilize memory, and control peripheral devices. Well known operating systems include UNIX, Linux, Macintosh, and Windows.
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platform
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The operating system, such as UNIX, Linux, Macintosh, or Windows, on which a computer is based. In the world of personal computers, Microsoft Windows is the most commonly used platform or operating system.
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UNIX
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A family of operating systems originating at Bell Labs, often used for network computing, like on the Internet.
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Windows
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The name Microsoft has given for its proprietary platform or operating system. The most commonly used operating system for personal computers.
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Linux
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A specific UNIX-like platform used primarily by computer gurus.
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Mac OS X
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UNIX-based operating system which is owned and distributed exclusively by Apple Computers.
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icon
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A symbol or illustration that appears on the computer screen to represent a program, a command, a link to a web page, etc.
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Start
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An icon on the bottom left-hand side of the taskbar of a Windows operating system from which you can perform all of your computer functions.
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window
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A graphic, usually rectangular in shape, that can be manipulated to carry out a user's command.
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desktop
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The main portion of your computer screen. It usually contains icons that represent links to programs and files stored on the hard drive.
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my computer
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An icon in Windows that shows you a system folder that lists local personal storage devices on your computer.
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taskbar
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This runs across the bottom of the computer screen and contains buttons for all the active program windows.
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Control+N
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opens new window
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Window key
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opens the Start menu
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Control+P
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prints a document
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Window+D
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maximizes and minimizes all windows
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Control+S
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saves a document
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maximize
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Enlarge a window to full size or to a size necessary to fill the entire screen.
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scroll
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Move through content—be it text, pictures, or sometimes video—up, down, left or right in order to see what is located off screen.
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resize
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Change the size of; make the size more appropriate
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minimize
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Reduce a window to an icon, or a label at the bottom of the screen, allowing another window to be viewed.
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restore
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Return to its original or usable and functioning condition.
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shortcut
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A route to complete something, shorter than the usual one.
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freeze
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Also called locking up. This is when your computer or a program on your computer stops responding to you. It appears to be frozen.
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crash
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A hardware or software problem that causes the computer or the application to stop working. Information is usually lost when a program or your system does this
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boot
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Start a computer and its associated operating system, usually by turning on the power. Also known as cold boot and powering up.
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reboot
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Restart a computer without having turned off the power. Also known as a restart and warm boot.
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A computer program, or application
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is software that performs a specific task or set of tasks on your computer. This software is what enables you to actually do things on your computer: write letters, draw pictures, make cards or invitations, compose and receive e-mails, surf the Internet, play games, store photographs, keep track of addresses, listen to music, and so forth.
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intellectual property
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It is protected by copyright laws from use by individuals who have not purchased it.
software is a creation born from someone's ideas |
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freeware
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Some companies offer free download and use of their software. For the most part, these companies have other products and allowing users the use of one product for free “hooks” customers into purchasing an upgraded version or gives their company name recognition for other products
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shareware
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software that is made readily available and can often be used for free. It may have a free trial period or limited features unless you purchase the “full” version.
Shareware can include stand-alone programs like games, or it may add functionality to existing software. |
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word processor
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is a program that enables you to create, edit, revise, store, and print text documents. One of the original and most successful word processors was WordPerfect, which shared great success in the 1980s and 1990s on many types of operating systems.
Today, the most common word processor in use is Microsoft Word |
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spreadsheets
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is more or less a ledger, a place to track accounts. In addition to consisting of boxes or cells in a table, which can be labeled and filled with values, it can perform mathematical functions. Think of a spreadsheet as an accounting book or a teacher's grade book. By far the most common of these software programs is Microsoft Excel.
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database
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is a program wherein information is collected and stored.
For example, an address book is a database Microsoft Access, Dbase, and FileMaker Pro are examples of database management programs |
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field
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is a place (usually a box in appearance) where you put a specific piece of information. I
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record
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The total of all the fields that apply to one person in an address book
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menu bar
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is a horizontal strip across the top of an application's window. Each word or category on the strip has a related drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for the application
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drop-down menu
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is a window that opens vertically on the screen to show commands. The commands vary, but include options for accomplishing tasks, such as opening new documents or windows, saving documents, printing, attaching, and the all-important help tool.
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You can open the File menu
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by simply pressing Alt+F instead of grabbing the mouse and clicking on File. You can open all the menu bar categories by pressing Alt+ the underlined letter in the name (E for Edit, V for View, H for Help, etc.).
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A fly-out menu
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is a listing of underlying content, a submenu of a drop-down menu. When your cursor or pointer passes over a menu item, an image (often an arrow) appears next to the item, which leads to a box showing different options the user can select.
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key F10
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also activates the menu bar, and the arrow keys can be used to navigate through the menu bar and drop-down menus to find the desired function.
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tool palette
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differs from the menu bar and drop-down menu in that it is a collection of buttons (or icons) grouped on screen. The purpose of the tool palette is to provide a quick way to select available functions by pointing and clicking. You may remember using them with graphic programs like Paint. Some tool palettes can be customized to display only the tools you use most often, leaving the rest to be selected through drop-down menus.
One generic term you will undoubtedly come across in your computer use is font. When you type, see, or read any text on a computer you are interacting with a font. This is simply the style or typeface that is used to represent a complete set of characters (the alphabet, all numbers, and punctuation). Although every program has a standard or default font which it uses to represent all the characters you see, these can often be changed. In medical transcription and medical coding you will probably be given explicit instructions on the font that should be used for all of your work. When writing letters, labeling pictures, creating images, or sending e-mail, you can choose a font that best represents the idea or feeling you want to convey. On your computer, fonts will all have names. Many of these are universal across not only different programs, but across different platforms as well. Probably the most common font is Times or Times Roman. This is just a small sampling of available fonts. There are hundreds (or more likely thousands) of fonts that exist in the computer world. Your computer will come with quite a few choices installed, and you can buy many, many more. The font options are most often found under the Format heading in the menu bar. In addition to understanding and using fonts, there are other factors that influence the way text appears on your computer. Another factor is the size of the font. In the old days on a typewriter, you could often change your “ball” (which was really a font—a complete set of characters in a particular typeface). The typewriter I worked on, which I believe was called an IBM Selectric, had two different balls. They were “10 pitch” and “12 pitch.” Back then, 12 pitch was actually smaller than 10 pitch. Today, fonts are measured in numbers that increase with the size of the font. A size 8 font would be teeny tiny and very hard to read while a size 24 font would jump off the page like someone was yelling at you! In addition to choosing the font and size to represent your text, you can also emphasize portions of the text by using italics, bold, and underline. You can do this with short-cut keys or pull-down menus from virtually any program that utilizes text. Usually, pushing Control+I, Control+B, or Control+U turns on and off (toggles) the italics, bold, or underline feature, respectively. While there are other fancy things you can do with text in a variety of different programs, these are the standard textual features that are easy to learn and commonly in use. Also related to manipulating text on a computer is the ability to move, remove, or reorder large chunks of text. If you choose a portion of your text by highlighting it with the mouse pointer, you can then copy it (Control+C) and move it to another part of the document—or even to another program—by pasting it in (Control+V). If you wish to copy a section of text to the computer's memory and then have that section deleted so you can paste it somewhere else, you can simply cut it (Control+X). Knowing how to do this makes your work on a computer much more efficient. You can “cut and paste” a letter you wrote in a word processor into an e-mail, “copy and paste” the contents of one e-mail to another, or even copy the address of a web site and paste it into a file or an e-mail. This means you do not have to take a chance on missing a character, spelling something wrong, or spending the time to retype it. It is, in fact, quite a simple process and one you will use often. Macro is another common program term. A macro is a script that operates a series of commands to perform a single function. It is set up to automate repetitive tasks, like adding your name to the end of your emails. These are used extensively in medical records processing, as many inputs to computer systems are repetitive or systematic. While you may never need to build a macro, you will likely use macros and it is important to understand the function of a macro. Besides, they are designed specifically to save you keystrokes, and that is a good thing! A shortcut is a method of doing something more directly and quickly, with fewer steps than would be necessary if you followed the complete step-by-step procedure. (Keep in mind that a shortcut may not accomplish everything as thoroughly as doing each step, so make sure the shortcut accomplishes all the tasks you need to complete!) A keyboard shortcut is a key combination that can be pressed to do a task instead of using the mouse to select a drop-down menu option. These are great productivity enhancement tools because they allow you to perform a command without taking your hands off the keyboard. Some of the main keyboard shortcuts can be found in the drop-down menus next to the listed command. This is not an exhaustive list of shortcuts. There are literally thousands of built-in shortcuts for programs such as Windows, Word, Firefox, etc. You can generally find a list of these keyboard shortcuts under the Tools/Options heading in the menu bar. If not, simply type “keyboard shortcuts” in the Help search box and follow the instructions. Some commonly used keyboard shortcuts include Control+S to save, Control+P to print, and Control+N for new. Although many programs are vastly different in functionality and appearance, there are remarkable similarities in form and use. Fill in the Blank. Using the word(s) in the box, fill in the blanks. tool palette font macro keyboard shortcut menu bar drop-down menu The horizontal strip across the top of an application's window. Each word on the strip has a context sensitive drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for the application in use. A menu window that opens vertically on-screen to display context-related options. Also called pop-up menu or pull-down menu. A script that operates a series of commands to perform a function. It is set up to automate repetitive tasks. These are used extensively in medical records processing, as many inputs to computer systems are repetitive or systematic. Sets of typefaces (or characters) that come in different styles and sizes. A collection of buttons (icons) grouped on screen that provides a quick way to select available functions by pointing and clicking. These were originally used with graphics applications such as paint, drawing, and image editing programs. With the advent of graphical interfaces, they migrated to business applications. A key combination that can be pressed to do a task instead of using the mouse to select a pull-down menu option. Matching. Match the correct term to the definition. macro tool palette drop-down menu keyboard shortcut font menu bar a specific size and style of type a means of executing a group of instructions within a program a collection of tools available for use in a program displays across the top of the screen a tool designed to eliminate the use of the mouse to perform tasks a vertical listing of options Fill in the Blank. Practice using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. Copy and paste this sentence into the space provided. Open your browser menu without using your mouse and find the FIND option: Type Alt+F, arrow right and left until a drop-down menu opens with FIND as an option. Take note of the keyboard shortcut for the FIND feature. Use the keyboard shortcut for FIND and search this page for the word interfaces. You can see how this would be a helpful tool to use in research. In word processing software or e-mail (your choice), navigate your way through the menu bar to the Font option and locate the Comic Sans font: Type Alt+O (or you can type Alt+F and arrow to Format), Type F for font (or you can arrow down to Font), click Enter, then scroll through the options to find the Comic Sans font (if you don't have Comic Sans, try Papyrus or New Zurica or even Calisto MT). Career Step is not affiliated with the Mozilla Corporation. Firefox is just one of many good browsers available and is used throughout this module for illustrative purposes. This will be the first time you submit this page. Good luck! Technology and the Medical Professional » Software« Prev | Next »Go to page © Copyright 2009 Career Step, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Go to Top of page. |
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font.
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This is simply the style or typeface that is used to represent a complete set of characters (the alphabet, all numbers, and punctuation).
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Control+I, Control+B, or Control+U
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turns on and off (toggles) the italics, bold, or underline feature, respectively.
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Control+C)
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copy
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Control+V
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pasting
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Control+X
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cut it
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Interacting Within a Computer Program
Each and every computer program functions independently (with the exception of the platform or operating system, which drives all the other programs on your computer). Therefore, it would be impossible to teach someone generally “how to use a program.” However, there are features and terminology common to many different programs. Your familiarity with these general terms and features will enable you to use your computer more efficiently. The menu of a program is a good starting point to familiarize you with the commands of a particular program. The menu bar is a horizontal strip across the top of an application's window. Each word or category on the strip has a related drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for the application in use. A drop-down menu is a window that opens vertically on the screen to show commands. The commands vary, but include options for accomplishing tasks, such as opening new documents or windows, saving documents, printing, attaching, and the all-important help tool. There are, of course, shortcuts to opening the different menu headings. You can open the File menu by simply pressing Alt+F instead of grabbing the mouse and clicking on File. You can open all the menu bar categories by pressing Alt+ the underlined letter in the name (E for Edit, V for View, H for Help, etc.). From there you can press the underlined letter of the menu item you need in the resulting fly-out menu. A fly-out menu is a listing of underlying content, a submenu of a drop-down menu. When your cursor or pointer passes over a menu item, an image (often an arrow) appears next to the item, which leads to a box showing different options the user can select. The function key F10 also activates the menu bar, and the arrow keys can be used to navigate through the menu bar and drop-down menus to find the desired function. A tool palette differs from the menu bar and drop-down menu in that it is a collection of buttons (or icons) grouped on screen. The purpose of the tool palette is to provide a quick way to select available functions by pointing and clicking. You may remember using them with graphic programs like Paint. Some tool palettes can be customized to display only the tools you use most often, leaving the rest to be selected through drop-down menus. One generic term you will undoubtedly come across in your computer use is font. When you type, see, or read any text on a computer you are interacting with a font. This is simply the style or typeface that is used to represent a complete set of characters (the alphabet, all numbers, and punctuation). Although every program has a standard or default font which it uses to represent all the characters you see, these can often be changed. In medical transcription and medical coding you will probably be given explicit instructions on the font that should be used for all of your work. When writing letters, labeling pictures, creating images, or sending e-mail, you can choose a font that best represents the idea or feeling you want to convey. On your computer, fonts will all have names. Many of these are universal across not only different programs, but across different platforms as well. Probably the most common font is Times or Times Roman. This is just a small sampling of available fonts. There are hundreds (or more likely thousands) of fonts that exist in the computer world. Your computer will come with quite a few choices installed, and you can buy many, many more. The font options are most often found under the Format heading in the menu bar. In addition to understanding and using fonts, there are other factors that influence the way text appears on your computer. Another factor is the size of the font. In the old days on a typewriter, you could often change your “ball” (which was really a font—a complete set of characters in a particular typeface). The typewriter I worked on, which I believe was called an IBM Selectric, had two different balls. They were “10 pitch” and “12 pitch.” Back then, 12 pitch was actually smaller than 10 pitch. Today, fonts are measured in numbers that increase with the size of the font. A size 8 font would be teeny tiny and very hard to read while a size 24 font would jump off the page like someone was yelling at you! In addition to choosing the font and size to represent your text, you can also emphasize portions of the text by using italics, bold, and underline. You can do this with short-cut keys or pull-down menus from virtually any program that utilizes text. Usually, pushing Control+I, Control+B, or Control+U turns on and off (toggles) the italics, bold, or underline feature, respectively. While there are other fancy things you can do with text in a variety of different programs, these are the standard textual features that are easy to learn and commonly in use. Also related to manipulating text on a computer is the ability to move, remove, or reorder large chunks of text. If you choose a portion of your text by highlighting it with the mouse pointer, you can then copy it (Control+C) and move it to another part of the document—or even to another program—by pasting it in (Control+V). If you wish to copy a section of text to the computer's memory and then have that section deleted so you can paste it somewhere else, you can simply cut it (Control+X). Knowing how to do this makes your work on a computer much more efficient. You can “cut and paste” a letter you wrote in a word processor into an e-mail, “copy and paste” the contents of one e-mail to another, or even copy the address of a web site and paste it into a file or an e-mail. This means you do not have to take a chance on missing a character, spelling something wrong, or spending the time to retype it. It is, in fact, quite a simple process and one you will use often. Macro |
is another common program term. A macro is a script that operates a series of commands to perform a single function. It is set up to automate repetitive tasks, like adding your name to the end of your emails.
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keyboard shortcut
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is a key combination that can be pressed to do a task instead of using the mouse to select a drop-down menu option. These are great productivity enhancement tools because they allow you to perform a command without taking your hands off the keyboard
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file format
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The way the information within a file is organized
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extension
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“.doc,” “.mp3, “or “.pdf
flower.txt” would be a text document, “flower.gif” a graphic file, and “flower.mp3” an audio file. |
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txt file
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would be opened with a program that has tools for word processing
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.gif file
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would be opened with a program that has tools and functions suited to working with graphics and pictures
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TXT, .txt
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format is designed to ease the exchange of documents between different word processing programs. It is basic by design so that many text-editing programs easily support it. It is kind of like duct tape—you can use it on a variety of surfaces and it still sticks
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RTF Rich Text Format
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most commonly used basic text format
make it possible to transfer basic formatting, such as spacing issues, font styles, and font sizes, from one program to another. |
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graphic
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When a picture or a still image is generated on a computer
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GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) and JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
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Graphics can be found in many different formats, but the most common
Both can produce relatively small files that can be downloaded and displayed quickly. |
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BMP (bitmap or .bmp
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Another format that is common on web sites
All of these formats can be displayed by web browsers. |
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Portable Document Format or PDF
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was created by Adobe Systems, Inc., and the most common way to view the PDF is with the freely-available Adobe Acrobat Reader program
is highly printable and it does not require transferring or recreating a document into another application. |
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IP Address
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Numbered address that consists of four strings of numbers (between 0 and 255), separated by dots.
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refresh
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Reloads information on page to see the most recent version.
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FTP
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Protocol that allows users to copy files between their local system and any system they can reach on the network.
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surfing the Net
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Roving from place to place on the Internet
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domain name
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Internet address in alphabetic form. This includes the name of the organization and the highest subdomain.
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URL
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An Internet address which tells a browser where to find an Internet resource.
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download
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To receive files from another computer
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hyperlink
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A connection (usually in HTML) to another web page or to another place in the current page
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Phishing
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E-mail fraud where the perpetrator sends out legitimate-looking e-mails that appear to come from well known and trustworthy web sites in an attempt to gather personal and financial information from the recipient.
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Trojan horse
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A program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful.
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Spyware
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Information from this type of virus is often used to create marketing profiles based on surfing habits.
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Zombie
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A virus that causes a PC to be used as a spam generator without the user's knowledge
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Adware
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A virus that continually displays advertising banners while the program is running.
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software application
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is a program that performs specific tasks, such as word processing, database management, e-mail sending or retrieval, etc. Each is designed to simplify the data input process and to increase the productivity of the medical records professional. After all, the faster the paperwork is processed, the faster the check is in the mail!
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Speed and Efficiency
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Code location is automated and can be achieved in a matter of seconds versus manually searching through codebooks.
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Timeliness and Quality Control
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Coding software packages have updates that are available throughout the year with the newest information. These programs provide notes and edits that reveal the rules and guidelines associated with each code so they can be easily reviewed prior to final code selection. Again, this maximizes coding efficiency and accuracy.
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Integration
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These programs are run through computer systems and can be used to integrate medical records and insurance billing programs.
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word processor
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is an application that provides the user with the tools needed to write and edit and format text. Prior to the turn of the century, the most commonly used word processing software for doing medical transcription was WordPerfect for DOS. Even when the vast majority of individuals had moved to using Microsoft Windows, many medical transcriptionists still used DOS. The great advantage of this system was that you did not have to use the mouse. The general rule of medical transcription is:
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