Tuning 'in and following'

1. Keyboard: : The part of the computer with letter and number buttons that you use for typing.

2. Mouse:  What you use to movethe arrow around the computer screen. You can use the buttons to choose things on the screen. Can you tell why it is called a mouse?

3. Cursor:  The arrow or little flashing line on your computer screen that points  to things. The mouse is used to move the cursor.

4. Monitor: The computer screen where you see words, pictures and videos.

5. Laptop : A small computer that is easy to move and carry. It has the computer, monitor, mouse, and keyboard all together.

6. Internet : A world wide system of millions of computers that are connected  together in a network.

7. Cyberspace: The world that connects computers with the Internet. When  you send an e-mail to friends it goes through cyberspace to reach them.

8. Internet address: Just like your home address, this group of letters and  numbers takes your computer to a specific place on the Internet.  9. URL  (Uniform Resource Locator): This is ust another way to say Internet  address.

10. Web site: A place you visit on the Internet that has stuff to see and read.  Some Web sites have fun and useful information, but some are not safe.

11. Instant messaging:  Messages you can exchange back and forth with a friend  through a special program. It’s like a private chat room.

12. Chat room (or chatroom): A place to “talk by typing” to the other people in  the chat room.

13. E-mail (electronic mail): A letter you send through cyberspace. People love  e-mail because it’s almost instant and doesn’t take any stamps!

14. Bulletin boards or Message boards:  A place on the Internet where you can post information for other people to see.

15. Username:  A name that you pick to use when you’re on the Internet. It identifies you without telling strangers your real name.

16. Screen name: Your username in a chat room. A screen name should never say who you really are or give any personal information.

17. SPAM: Junk mail sent to your e-mail box that is usually advertising something. Don’t open or respond to SPAM because it can cause problems for your computer.

18. Virus (computer virus): A hidden computer program that sneaks into your  computer through e-mail or the Internet. Viruses can really hurt your  computer, and you can accidentally send them on to other people without even knowing it! To help keep viruses off your computer, don’t open e-mail from people you don’t know, and never click on a pop-up ad.

19. Password:  A secret word that only you should know. You use it to check your e-mail and log into Web sites.

20. Blog:  Short for Web-log. A Web site where you can post a personal journal.

21. Pop-up: An ad that pops up on your computer, trying to get you to click on  it. Pop-ups are tricks—they usually offer something that sounds great but really isn’t