Email:

A new style of sending letters by using a computer network. This is different from the postal mail system. We do not need postal stamps, or envelopes.
An out-going letter is written in an Email program and sent as data (= in the computer's language) through a modem, then stored in the host computer of the person to whom you are writing. Your in-coming letter is created the same way, and you will get it from your host computer.
Email is much faster than postal mail, express mail, or FEDEX. How fast? The whole process is completed within seconds. Huh?

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Browser:

A software program that is used to view various WWW sites.
You are using a browser to visit Kids' Space by clicking buttons/text in the browser window. Huh?

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Hardware:

Computer devices that you can touch. Computers, monitors, keyboards, mouse, CD-ROM drives, external hard drives, printers, scanners etc.

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GIF file:Graphics Interchange Format

A compressed picture file that is especially used in computer networks. When a picture is compressed, the width and the height remain the same, but it uses less disk space. It's just like copying the same image to thinner paper.
GIF reduces the size of a picture from 1/2 to 1/5.
JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is another compressed picture format. JPG makes 1/2 to 1/30 size of a picture.

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HTML file:

HTML = Hyper Text Markup Language. You are looking at an HTML file through a browser. You see text, pictures, and links to other parts or files. The HTML file contains commands for text styles, picture placement, and link destinations. All of these commands are done by adding special marks called tags. Once you understand how to create an HTML file, you can create your own WWW screen.

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Modem:

A device for your computer to communicate with other computers or fax machines by telephone lines. You are looking at a screen which was created and placed in a computer in New York. The modem is carrying the data to your computer through the telephone line. Check out the back of your computer and look for the small device that has phone cables and a thicker cable hooked to the computer. (Don't pull them out!)
A recent computer has a modem installed in the machine. If you see a phone line directory connects to the computer, your computer has an internal modem. The speed of a modem is indicated by "bps", and recent modems are 28.8K to 56Kbps. If you have an ISDN line, you will need an ISDN modem.

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PICT file:

A picture file which can be viewed by any painting/drawing software. When you save your file, you can save it as a PICT (or PIC) file by selecting the PICT FORMAT option in most picture software programs.

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to scan:

To copy an image by using a scanner. The difference between a copy machine and a scanner is the result. You will get a paper copy from a copy machine, and a file in your computer from a scanner.

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to save:

To keep your work for later use. Computers memorize your work by writing it onto the hard disk. Before saving, your work is just like your thoughts; you may forget them. A computer will forget your work. After saving, the work is just like a detailed written note; you can re-use and modify it at a later time.

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Software (programs):

Devices that operate a computer or that have a computer execute tasks. You cannot touch software with your hands. It comes as floppy disks or CD-ROM disks, and is usually installed onto the hard disk. As you know, computers work in many ways. Different tasks let a computer behave like different machines. A computer can be a word processor (=advanced typewriter), a paper and brushes, a calculator, a movie screen, or a musical instrument. All these jobs are done by using software programs. Without the programs, a computer cannot work. Examples of programs: KidPics, Kids' Works, Reader Rabbit etc.
What programs do you use often?

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TEXT file:

A file which can be read by any word proccessing software. When you save your file, you can make it a TEXT file by selecting the TEXT FORMAT option in most word processing software programs.

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