National Teaching and Learning Change ProgrammeInformation and Communication Technology:
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• control panel
  In Windows, this is a program which provides an interface so that the user can easily adjust various parts of the computer system, e.g. how fast the mouse moves, the colours on the screen, the volume of the speakers, the time and date on the computer, and install or remove hardware and software.
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• control unit
  The part of the central processing unit which manages the execution of instructions. The control unit fetches each instruction in sequence, and decodes it, before executing it by sending control signals to other parts of the computer.
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• control, alt, delete
  A key combination which on some computer systems interrupts or restarts the computer.
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• conversational mode
  A way of displaying messages in bulletin boards, where they appear one after the other in date and time order, as in a conversation, rather than in threaded mode where they are ordered by subject.
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• conversational mode
  When a terminal user on a network appears to be in continuous communication with the central computer, getting replies almost immediately, it is described as conversational mode.
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• converter
  A device which converts signals from one form to another, usually digital to analogue, or vice versa.
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• cookie
  A cookie is a piece of information sent to a browser by a web server when a particular site is visited. The browser then returns that information to the server when that particular website is revisited. For example, an online shopping site might use a cookie to remember which items you've placed in your online shopping cart.
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• copy
  The act of producing an identical version of a file or other data.
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• copy and paste
  The process of copying data (text, images, a file, etc.) and moving it to another place in the same, or different, document or file or computer.
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• copy protection
  Protecting the data on a disk to prevent copies of the disk being made.
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• copyright
  The legal protection that authors and publishers have about the use of their software. Computer software is covered by similar copyright laws to those which apply to books and other publications. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 protects
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• corruption
  The introduction of errors into data or programs during storage or copying. It is usually due to physical causes, such as electrical interference or faulty equipment.
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• cradle
  A stand for a personal digital assistant, or similar device, providing power to recharge it, and a connection to a computer for synchronisation.
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• crop
  In graphics software, to crop is to select part of an image. Often used to remove unwanted parts of the image.
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• crop tool
  In graphics software, the tool which allows you to crop an image.
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• cross posting
  When a user posts the same message to more than one mailing list, often to publicise something.
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• CRT monitor
  A monitor which uses a cathode ray tube (CRT).
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• ctrl key
  Also known as the control key. One of a number of special keys which, when pressed, changes the effect of other keys on the keyboard. What these keys do will depend on the software, rather than the hardware, being used.
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• currency data
  The type of a variable, field, etc., used to store data relating to currency (as opposed, for example, to characters).
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• cursor
  The cursor is the screen symbol which indicates where on the screen the next action will begin. To make it easier to find and follow, the cursor might flash on and off. When entering text, the cursor automatically advances to the next typing position after a key is pressed. Actions other than entering text require the movement of the cursor about the screen, controlled by a mouse (or other similar device), or by the cursor movement (arrow) keys.