Glossary
service provider. ASP aggregators host multiple applications with
a common interface. Also called Software as a Service. See also
Outsourcing, Software as a Service.
Applications software All programs written to accomplish
particular tasks for computer users. Examples include programs
for payroll computation, inventory record keeping, word process-
ing, and producing a summarized report for top management.
Arithmetic/logical unit The portion of a computer system in
which arithmetic operations (e.g., addition and multiplication)
and logical operations (e.g., comparing two numbers for equality)
are carried out.
ARPANET The forerunner of the Internet; a network created
by the U.S. Department of Defense to link leading U.S. research
universities and research centers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) The study of how to make
computers do things that are presently done better by people.
AI research includes six separate but related areas: natural
languages, robotics, perceptive systems (vision and hearing),
genetic programming (also called evolutionary design), expert
systems, and neural networks.
Artificial intelligence (AI) shell SeeExpert system shell.
ASP SeeApplication service provider.
Assembler A program (software) that translates an assembly
language program—a program containing mnemonic operation
codes and symbolic addresses—into an equivalent machine
language program.
Assembly language Second generation computer language in
which the programmer uses easily remembered mnemonic
operation codes instead of machine language operation codes and
symbolic addresses instead of memory cell addresses. Such a lan-
guage is considerably easier to use than machine language, but it
still requires the programmer to employ the same small steps that
the computer has been built to understand.
Attribute Characteristics of data entities about which we wish
to maintain data, such as name and address for customers.
Audit trail An EDP auditing technique that allows a business
transaction to be traced from the time of input through all the
processes and reports in which the transaction data are used. An
audit trail is used to identify where errors are introduced or
security breaches may have occurred.
B2B Business-to-business e-commerce utilizing electronic
applications for transactions and communications between two or
more businesses. B2B e-commerce includes direct-to-customer
sales with business customers.
B2C Business-to-consumer e-commerce utilizing electronic
applications for transactions and communications between
a business seller (or a business intermediary or distributor) and
individual end-consumers.
Backbone In a telecommunications network, the underlying
foundation to which the other elements attach. For example,1 GbE, 10 GbE, 40 GbE Variations of Gigabit Ethernet, operat-
ing at 1 billion bits per second (1 gbps), 10 billion bits per second
(10 gbps), and 40 billion bits per second (40 gbps), respectively.
1 GbE and 10 GbE are often used in backbone networks, and
40 GbE is currently under development. See alsoBackbone
network, Gigabit Ethernet.
Acceptable use policy A company-specific policy for employee
usage of computers and networks owned by the organization.
Account manager A manager given the responsibility and
accountability for managing a relationship with a specific
business unit, either on a full-time basis or as part of his/her IS
position responsibilities. Typically, an IS account manager will
have an office physically close to business managers in the
business unit for which he/she serves as the key point-of-contact
and IS relationship manager.
Aggregator Another name for an RSS reader. SeeRSS reader.
AI SeeArtificial intelligence, Expert systems shell.
Alpha site An organization that is involved as one of the first
sites to use a software package before it is generally released to
the market. An alpha site can influence all aspects of the package.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) The United
States standard-setting body for many IT standards.
Analog network The electronic linking of devices, where
messages are sent over the links by having some analogous physical
quantity (e.g., voltage) continuously vary as a function of time.
Historically, the telephone network has been an analog network.
ANSI SeeAmerican National Standards Institute.
Antivirus software Software designed to identify, block, and
eliminate harmful computer files and program code. To be effective,
antivirus software installed on a personal computer needs to be
regularly updated with data about new known viruses.
Applet An application program, written in the Java object-
oriented programming language, which is usually stored on a
Web server and downloaded to a microcomputer with a mouse
click and then executed by a Java-compatible Web browser.
A major advantage of a Java applet is that it can be run on
virtually any IT platform. See alsoWeb browser, IT platform.
Application independence The separation, or decoupling, of
data from application systems. Application independence means
that applications are built separately from the databases from
which applications draw their data; application independence
results in lower long-term costs for systems development.
Application portfolio approach SeeIT application portfolio.
Application service provider (ASP) An information technology
vendor that hosts applications for which it holds the licenses,
typically using Web-based front ends and Internet access. The
vendor provides one or more complete applications to client
organizations on a pay-per-use or flat-fee basis. The vendor may be
the vendor of the software (e.g., Salesforce.com) or a third-party
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