Apple M9057 User Manual - Page 262

10-2 AppleWorks 5 User's Manual Communications terms and concepts If you're new to communications, you need to be familiar with the following communications terms and concepts. Term Terminal Host computer Connecting Session Online service Definition A screen and keyboard used to communicate with a remote (distant) computer. The remote computer can be as close as the same room or building, or as far away as another country. Using the terminal software included in the AppleWorks package, your computer can emulate (act like) a terminal, so that your computer and the remote computer can communicate. A computer that answers requests for information or that acts as a gateway to other computers. You communicate with a host computer across a serial port or network port. To communicate with a host computer, you usually need an assigned user name and password. When you identify yourself at connection time, you're logging on. When you disconnect, you're logging off. The process of establishing communication with another computer. Communication from one computer to another requires a transmission channel-usually a telephone line, but sometimes a cable between two computers. Connection by telephone requires a modem, a device that turns data from your computer into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line. The computer at the other end of the telephone connection also requires a modem. The amount of time from when you connect to an online service or another computer to when you disconnect (also called connect time). When you use a commercial online service, you're usually billed only for connect time. A host computer that gives you access to a variety of information, such as weather forecasts, airline schedules, databases used for research, and bulletin boards for communicating with other users. AppleWorks supports only text based online services and cannot be used to browse the World Wide Web.