ARPA	Advanced Research Projects Agency, it's all their fault...
AUP	Acceptable Use Policy. What you are and are not allowed to do. This is being dissolved, so you can basically do anything. Remember, the Internet is a self-censoring system. In other words, censor yourself not others. If you don't like what you are reading, don't complain, stop reading it!
BBS	Bulletin Board. Usually a BBS is a lone computer run by a hobbyist with information on it for you to access.
CIX	Commercial Internet Exchange.
client	A programme that requests services from another computer, called the server.
compression	Compressing a file means making it smaller, which makes it faster and easier to send between computers.
Cyberpunk	That's you. Actually it's a name for any computer-oriented person on the Net.
DARPA	Defence Advanced Research Agency. The new name for ARPA.
Demo	An abbreviation of "demonstration". A demo is a limited-use version of a programme (users may not be allowed to save files to disc) that lets users sample a program's key features before purchasing the complete product.
DID	Distributed Internet Directory.
DNS	Domain Name System.
domain name	A multi-part name that identifies an Internet computer, where each component refers to a computer, network or organisation.
FAQ	A frequently asked questions list is a document that covers basic information from a particular Usenet newsgroup or mailing list.
Finger	A unix command used to show details about an account on a particular machine. Can be used to find out a users real name, when the last read their mail etc.
Freeware	Copyrighted programs available without charge.
FTP	File Transfer Protocol is used to down-load files. Entering "anonymous" as your log-on (with your e-mail address as your password) allows you to use resources that the site has made accessible to the public.
gateway	A computer that handles moving data from one network to another. Normally used to refer to communications between two different types of networks.
Gopher and Veronica	Tools that make searching a bit easier by providing an on-line interface, will search the entire network.
HTTP	Hypertext Transport Protocol makes hypertext browsing through the World Wide Web possible; the user clicks on the links that are established in a Web document and moves to that document, even though it may be located on a different computer.
hypermedia	The ability to display a range of different media, accessible through hyper-links-inks.
hypertext	Data which provides links between key elements, allowing you to move through information non-sequentially.
IAN	Internet Activities Board.
InterNIC	The Internet Network Information Centre.
Internet	The world-wide matrix of computers using the TCP/IP protocols.
IP address	An Internet address expressed in numbers.
ISOC	Internet Society.
ITR	Internet Talk Radio.
listserv	A program that manages mailing lists by responding automatically to e-mail requests and distributing new messages.
mailing list	A group discussion carried on through electronic mail.
nameserver	A computer that manages names and numeric addresses.
NAP	Network Access Points.
NCP	Network Control Protocol.
netiquette	The etiquette of using the network.
newsgroups	A Usenet discussion group about a particular topic.
packet	The basic unit of Internet data. A message is assembled in packets, each marked with an address and other pertinent information.
packet switching	The process of sending packets through the network, allowing re-routing if a particular network link fails.
PoP	Point of Presence. A service provider may be based in London but may have PoPs in other cities, and inhabitants of these cities then only pay for a local call.
POP	Post Office Protocol. This is the protocol used by mail systems such as Eudora to communicate. We are currently using POP3.
PPP	Point-to-Point Protocol is a method of exchanging data packets with the Internet over the telephone.
protocol	A protocol defines how computers communicate; it is an agreement between different working systems on how they will work together.
public domain	Software that isn't copyrighted and can be used and copied free of charge.
router	A computer that determines which path Internet traffic will take to reach its destination.
server	A computer that provides a resource over the network. Client programs access servers to obtain data.
signature	A short note, usually containing your name and address and a brief quotation, that appears at the end of mail or newsgroup messages you send.
Shareware	Copyrighted programs distributed to the public. Individuals who like and regularly use the software are expected to pay a fee to its author.
SLIP	As PPP, dials up your modem and connects you to the Internet.
Surfing the net	This simply means looking around the Internet. Probably derived from the co-inventor of TCP/IP, Vinto Cerf.
TCP/IP	The set of protocols that determine how data is transmitted on the Internet. Transmission Control Protocol controls the transport of data, ensuring that it is delivered. Internet Protocol determines the packet structure of data and the address used to deliver data to its destination.
TCP/IP stack	Software for managing Internet data packets on your computer.
Telnet	An Internet protocol that allows you to log onto a remote computer.
terminal emulation	Communication with a remote computer by which your PC acts as a terminal connected to it.
URL	Uniform Resource Locator is a standard way to refer to resources that specifies the type of service as well as the exact location of the directory or file in question.
Unix	Academic-based operating system. You need to know some Unix, mainly how Unix filenames work.
Usenet	A world-wide network of newsgroups on thousands of subjects.
WAIS	Wide Area Information Service.
World Wide Web, WWW or W3	A system that organises Internet data through hypertext links, allowing you to explore resources from multiple entry points using a browser.

When using e-mail, typing a word or sentence in capitals is called SHOUTING. This is considered to be very rude, only use this when ANGRY or you want to emphasise a VERY STRONG POINT. To add a little humour, or if you are being satirical, use a smiley. Look at them sideways to see them properly... :-) The standard smiley ;-) Smiley is winking :-( Unhappy 8-) A smiley in glasses These are just a few of the smilies, there are hundreds!