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5–30 Learning More About Your Computer
Understanding Computer Terms
shortcut
An icon on the Windows desktop that you double-click to launch a
program. Without the shortcut, you click the Start button on the
Windows taskbar, point to Programs to display a menu of programs
installed on your computer, and click the one you want to launch. You
can create shortcuts to your favorite programs. See icon and
double-click.
shortcut menu
A menu that pops up when you right-click an icon on the Windows
desktop or taskbar, the vacant part of the desktop, a selection in a
document, or a file in Windows Explorer. The options on the pop-up
menu are the most commonly used commands that relate to the item
you right-clicked. See right-click.
sleep mode
A low-power state that saves electricity when the computer is on but
not in use.
software
A program you can install on computer from a disk, CD, DVD, Zip
disk, or the Internet. Software can be upgraded or uninstalled. It may
contain system files for an operating system (OS), an application for
creating data files, a utility for making the computer run efficiently, or
a game for entertainment. See OS, data file, and utility.
streaming
To deliver real-time multimedia content that you can play while it is
being downloaded from the Internet, not afterwards. Several tools use
advanced streaming technology: Microsoft Media Player,
RealNetworks RealPlayer, and Vivo VideoNow.
surf
To jump from place to place on the Internet, searching for topics of
interest, by clicking hyperlinks. Instead of searching for specific
information, surfing is an undirected type of Web browsing. You just
click whatever catches your interest. See hyperlink.