icon - (from miniature religious statues) A small picture intended to represent something (a file, directory, etc.) in a graphical user interface, such as Windows. When an icon is clicked, some action is performed such as running a program.

IDE {eye-dee-ee} [Integrated Drive Electronics] - Interface for connecting additional hard drives to a computer.

IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers that promotes standardization of electronic equipment.

image format - The manner in which digital images are stored. There are numerous ways to store an image and the most popular are jpeg, gif, tiff, bitmap, and the more complicated raw files. You can identify which format is used by looking at the end of the file name after the period. For example, picture.jpg is a jpeg file.

IMAP (See "Internet Message Access Protocol")

implicit consent - Also known as implied or "opt-out" consent. Used to describe privacy settings that may allow Web sites to gather information about you (for example by means of cookies and online forms) unless you explicitly choose to withhold your consent by selecting an option on a page that the Web site provides for that purpose. Your consent may not be requested when the information is actually gathered.

infinite loop - (see "endless loop")

initialize - To prepare a piece of equipment such as a printer, modem, etc., to do something.

inkjet printer - A class of printer in which small ink droplets are sprayed electrostatically from a nozzle onto the paper.

inline image - A built-in graphic image that is displayed by a browser as part of a document written in HTML, and is retrieved along with it, not requiring a separate viewer.

input - information fed into a computer.

input device - A peripheral device used to transfer data from the outside world into a computer system. Input devices include keyboards, mice, joysticks and microphones.

install - Prepare equipment or software for first time use.

instant messaging - A live chat and e-mail service that enables you to find your friends when they are online and send messages or talk via a private chat room. Each user has a private list of instant messaging addresses, and the instant messaging system can be set to alert you when someone on your list is online.

instant search (also known as search as you type) - Windows Vista feature, which is significantly faster and more in-depth (content-based) than that of the search features found in any of the previous versions of Windows.

integrated software - Software package containing several appli-cations in one unit (word processors, spreadsheets, databases).

interface - The connection between a computer and its user. A boundary across which two systems communicate.

internal command - DOS commands that are loaded into memory with the command interpreter and are always available (e.g. DIR, COPY, CD, etc.) (compare "external command")

Internaut - A person who navigates the Internet.

Internet - An interlinking of thousands of different sizes and types of networks from all over the globe. Even though "Internet" is a singular noun, it implies a plural: the Internet is not one network; it is a coordinated multitude of networks. The Internet is a packet-switching network that is, the software that makes the Internet function properly is made up of two components: the Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) - standard mail server protocol that allows you to store all your messages and any changes to them on the server rather than on your computer's hard disk. Using IMAP rather than POP saves disk space and allows you to access your entire mailbox, including sent mail, drafts, and custom folders, from any location. Using an IMAP server over a modem is generally faster than using a POP mail server, since you initially download message headers only. Not all ISPs support IMAP

internet relay chat [IRC] - Place where lonely people go to talk to other lonely people on the Internet.

Internet protocol address (See "IP address")

InterNIC [Internet Network Information Center] - A group of three organizations that provide services for NSFNet. General Atomics handles information services, AT&T handles directory and database services, and Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) handles registration services. Network addresses and domain names for the Internet are assigned by InterNIC through NSI.

intranet - A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but that is only for internal use.

interrupt - Temporary suspension of a process. There are two main sources of interrupts: a signal from outside the computer, such as someone touching the keyboard or mouse (a hardware interrupt); or a machine instruction such as a request for input or output (a software interrupt). When an interrupt occurs, the CPU temporarily gives control to an interrupt handler routine. The process is resumed after the interrupt has been handled.

invalid page fault - A page fault that produces an error. Page fault errors can occur for any of the following reasons:
* The virtual memory system becomes unstable due to a shortage of physical memory (RAM).
* The virtual memory system becomes unstable due to a shortage of free disk space.
* The virtual memory area is corrupted by a misbehaving application.
* An application attempts to access data that is being modified by another running application.
* The first two causes are the most common. These conditions can also cause a general protection fault (GPF). An invalid page fault is also called a page fault error (PFE).

IP {eye-pee} [Internet Protocol] - Networking protocol used to route information through the Internet via numeric IP addresses.

IP address [Internet Protocol address] - Sometimes called a dotted quad. A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots (e.g. 165.113.245.2). Clients have either a permanent IP address or one that is dynamically assigned to them each time they connect with the network.

IPX/SPX [Internet Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Ex-change] - IPX is a Novell communications protocol used by clients and servers to deliver messages within and between networks. SPX ensures reliable delivery of complete messages.

IRQ {eye-ar-kew} [Interrupt Request] - (see "Interrupt")

ISA {eye-suh} [Industry Standard Architecture] - Bus standard that extends the XT bus (8-bit) architecture to 16 bits.

ISP {eye-ess-pee} [Internet service provider] - An institution that provides access to the Internet in some form, usually for money.