Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure.6 13
Versions of the Chrome browser are available for a variety of operating systems.
Free
instant messaging
applications such as Yahoo! IM and AOL
Instant Messenger enable you to have text conversations with your
friends and family from your computer desktop. Some of these pro-
grams also have some
video chat
capabilities. Services such as Skype are
designed specifically for video chat; they enable you to have person-to-
person video chats with other people, provided you both have webcams
and microphones on your computers.
instant messaging
Sending and receiving
short text messages in real-time over the Internet.
video chat
Having an online conversation that
includes both audio and video.
Businesses use
videoconferencing
programs to hold meetings involving
multiple people at multiple locations. These programs are the full-featured
business version of video chat; they not only allow you to see and hear
other participants, but also allow you to share computer screens, collabo-
rate on documents in real-time, draw on a virtual whiteboard, and more.
A company that does a lot of remote conferencing may have its own
server with its own conferencing software.
videoconferencing
A means of conducting
a video conversation remotely using an Internet
connection and the webcam or camera on your
laptop, phone, or tablet.
Groupware
helps people who are working on projects together to keep
in touch. Users can post shared files that can be collaboratively edited,
exchange messages, hold online meetings, and more in this environment.
Microsoft SharePoint is one example of groupware software.
groupware
Software that helps people col-
laborate on business projects and work together in
a team environment when they are not physically
together.
Web Authoring Software
Want to create your own website? There are many ways to do it. You can
code your own files in a plain text editor like Notepad and then check
your work in a browser, but most people (including most professionals)
use
web authoring software
that provides a
what-you-see-is-what-
you-get (WYSIWYG
, pronounced
wizzy-wig
) interface. Using this
software, you don't have to constantly switch back and forth between
your code and a browser window to see what you're doing. One popular
web authoring software
Software that helps
create website designs and content.
what you see is what you get
(WYSIWYG)
A feature in an application that
allows users to see their work exactly as it will be
when it is distributed to others, such as in print
or online.
