| Word or
Term |
Description or
Explanation |
| V22 |
CCITT standard for modem communications at 1200
bps |
| V22bis |
CCITT standard for modem communications at 2400
bps |
| V32 |
CCITT standard for modem communications at 9600
and 4800 bps |
| V32bis |
CCITT standard for modem communications at
14.4K, 12K, 2400, 9600 7200 and 4800 bps |
| V34 |
28.8 kilobits/second |
| V36 |
33.6 kilobits/second |
| V42 |
CCITT standard for modem communications that
incorporates MNP levels 2-4 error correction and MNP level 5 data
compression |
| V42bis |
CCITT standard for modem communications
implementing data compression over V42 links |
| V90 |
56 kilobits/second |
| Vapourware |
a derogatory term for software that is being
advertised but isn't actually available - it is often said to be available
"real soon now"! |
| VDU |
Visual Display Unit - the monitor or television
used to display the output of the computer |
| Vector
graphics |
it is possible to represent a picture on a
computer by using a series of lines, shapes, characters etc. - when such
pictures are printed, the resolution of the pictures produced is only limited
by the resolution of the output device (this contrasts with
Bit-mapped graphics - for
example, the Draw application produces vector graphics whereas Paint produces
bit-mapped graphics) |
| Veronica |
Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to
Computerised Archives - a system available on certain gopher sites for
searching by keyword for files in gopher sites around the Internet |
| VESA |
Video Electronics Standards Association |
| VGA |
Video Graphics Adaptor or array - an early and
relatively low resolution screen display: 640 × 480 pixels in at least
256 colours - in Acorn-speak: Mode 28 |
| vi |
the original "VIsual mode" text editor for
Unix, evolved from the 'ed' line editor - still the default, and still
popular |
| VIDC20 |
VIDeo Controller - the video and audio
controller designed by ARM Ltd and used in the RiscPC |
| Virtual memory |
a method by which an application, which
requires more RAM memory than a computer actually has, can still operate - it
is done by using parts of a hard drive's memory as an extension of the real
memory, the information being swapped in and out by the operating system, as
and when it needs to be accessed by the application |
| Virus |
a computer program which can replicate itself
(unbeknown to the user) in various storage devices and in several places on one
storage device - as discs are taken from one computer to another, the virus can
be spread to more and more computers - often, the effect of these programs is
to cause malicious damage to data within the computer system |
| VLSI |
Very Large Scale Integration - refers to
integrated circuits with a high packing density of components |
| VLSI Ltd |
a silicon fabrication company that has, for
many years, been licensed to fabricate ARM chips and associated I/O
devices |
| VPoP |
Virtual PoP - new style PoP - although only to
a local phone number all Demon VPoPs connect you through to the Finchley HQ
using lines provided by a company called Energis - thus Demon only need to
upgrade the facilities in Finchley for everyone to get the benefit |
| VRAM |
Video RAM (sometimes called Dual Port RAM) -
this is a bank of high speed RAM used to store the information for the screen
display - it can usually (as in the RiscPC) be accessed by the computer's
processor and by the video controller at the same time - the computer accesses
it as necessary to change the screen display and the video controller accesses
it on a continuous basis to constantly generate the signals the monitor needs
to display the information set up by the computer |
| VT100 |
terminal-emulation system - supported by many
communications program, it is the most common one in use on the Net - VT102 is
a newer version - also available are VT52, 220 and 320 |