The practice computer system will undoubtedly consist of a number of sophisticated pieces of equipment, and computer training is beyond the scope of this section. However, we do provide a small glossary of terms that the novice might find helpful.

Connection speed - This term commonly describes the speed with which a computer is able to send and receive data (such as web pages and emails) across the Internet. This is dependent on a number of different factors:

• Type of connection
  Standard telephone connections transfer data at 56kbps (kilobits per second). With this type of connection, webpages can be slow to display, and file attachments on e-mails can take a long time to download (so when you send attachments to someone with this kind of connection, keep them small!)
  
  ISDN connections are able to transfer data at 64kbps or 128kbps. Whilst usually used at double the speed of a standard telephone line, ISDN connections have now been largely superceded by ADSL. 
  
  ADSL connections (broadband) are able to transfer data at speeds of 512kbps, 1248kbps, or higher. This allows for very rapid viewing of webpages, and the downloading of large files such as music and video.
  
  
• Your computer
  Your computer can itself slow the speed with which data can be sent or received. The reasons for this, and remedial action are beyond the scope of this section!
   
• Internet Service Provider
  The above data transfer rates are the theoretical maximum that your connection / modem can achieve. Your Internet Service Provider (the company that provides the connection to the Internet) may not always achieve these speeds.
   
• Internet Congestion
  At times when Internet usage is high (usually when America wakes), the speed with which data travels across the Internet can be slowed by congestion. The same happens occasionally when a computer virus multiplies across the Internet.

Disc Drives - the part of a computer on which data is stored. Drives may be built in, or attached to the computer. When installed, drives are assigned a letter of the alphabet in the file directory of your computer system. Commonly, although not always, they are as follows:

• (A:) Drive - floppy disk drive (for the storage of very small quantities of data on a removable floppy disk).
   
• (C:) Drive - hard disk drive (inbuilt data storage within the computer system itself).
   
• (D:) Drive - this may be assigned to a second hard disk drive on your computer, which serves the same function as the (C:) drive.
   
• (E:) Drive - this may be assigned to a CD-Rom drive, allowing much larger quantities of data to be stored on a removable CD-Rom than can be stored on a floppy disk.
   
• (F:) Drive - this may assigned to a Jaz or Zip drive, again allowing much larger quantities of data to be stored on a removable Jaz or Zip disk than can be stored on a floppy disk. Jaz and Zip disks are not able to store as much data as a CD-Rom.
   
• (G:) Drive - this may be assigned to a DVD drive. Most such drives in use at the moment only allow the playback of DVD disks, and not the recording of DVDs.

Hardware - Any piece of physical computer equipment: the box itself, a mouse, the monitor, a server.

Modem - A device that connects a computer into the telephone line to allow access to the Internet. Most computers come with a built in standard telephone modem (see Connection speed above).

Monitor - Simply, the television screen attached to the computer. Traditional tv-like monitors offer superior resolution, and are therefore better for tasks that involve graphic design. LCD flat screen monitors are more space-efficient and less reflective and therefore better suited to non-graphic applications.

Server - This is a computer used to share files and resources between a network of desktop computers (workstations). If your practice is networked to a server, and the server fails, stand alone desktop computers will still work, but will be unable to use any of the server functions (such as Internet access or file saving on the server).

Software - The programs that tell the computer what to do and enable it to function. Operating software drives the system; additional packages can be purchased to perform specific tasks, such as word processing, graphic design and accounting.

Workstation / Terminal - A workstation or terminal is the name given to each stand alone computer on a network. There is usually at least one workstation at reception and one in each consulting room.