IT & computers

To access = The ability or right to use or enter something or somewhere.

I’m not authorized to access the files. Only managers are.

To back up = To make an electronic copy of something you have produced.

I back up all the important work I’ve done onto an external hard drive.

A bookmark = To add a website to your list of favorites so you can easily find it again.

I have all my bookmarks carefully organized into folders to make it easier to find them when I go online.

A browser = A computer program that allows you to access the information on the internet.

The company sent me a link that wouldn’t work with Internet Explorer or Google Chrome, so I had to download a new browser.

The components = The parts that make up the computer, such as the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

My desktop computer has six components, including a very large monitor, which is great for movies.

To crash = When the computer shuts itself down because something is wrong.

I spent two hours working on the quote, and then my computer crashed, and I lost all my work.

Corrupted = When there are errors in the computer data (information) that make unwanted changes to the original data.

The documents on my computer desktop all corrupted and now I can’t open any of them.

A desktop computer = A computer that sits on a table and has a separate monitor, keyboard, and other parts.

My desktop computer takes up a lot of space, so I am thinking of replacing it with something smaller.

The keyboard = The part of the computer with letters, numbers, and signs, that you use to type on.

Did you know in France the top line of a computer keyboard starts with AZERTY, but in England it’s QWERTY?

A laptop computer = A portable computer that normally consists of only one component. 

My new laptop computer is very light, so it’s easy to carry it everywhere to work on.

Links = Web page addresses that are often sent in the body of an email or document.

I will send you the link to their website, so you can see how amazing they are for yourself.

A monitor = The screen of the computer.

I knocked my computer monitor on the floor and it broke. My new one was expensive, but it’s much wider.

A mouse = A small device that allows you to move around the computer screen and click on things.

I don’t recommend getting a mouse that has to be attached to your computer, as it uses up one of your USB ports.

The software = The computer programs you use to do things.

My computer came with a very good software package, but I only really use Word and Excel.

A spreadsheet = Software that allows you to calculate information and present it in columns.

I use a spreadsheet to know exactly how much money I spent every month.

Storage = How much information can be stored on the computer.

My computer’s storage is nearly full, so I need to move some files onto an external hard drive and make more space.

To shut down = To close the programs and allow your computer to turn itself off.

All staff should shut down their computers before going home to save on electricity costs.

To upgrade = To get a new and better version.

I upgraded my word processing software, but it’s so different to the old version that I don’t know how to use it.

A USB port = A hole on the side of your computer that can be used to connect things to your computer, like flash-drives, speakers, or phone chargers.

Using a flash-drive is the best way to carry out a presentation, as I can stick it into the USB port of any computer.

A virus = A program designed to cause damage to your computer or computer software.

My sister opened a virus on her computer and didn’t know. It sent itself to everyone in her address book.

A website = A location on the internet that contains one or more pages.

Can you send me your website address, so I can see what you do?

Word processing = Software that allows you to produce documents on your computer.

Other than the internet, I mostly use my computer for word processing because I work from home and produce documents.