Glossary: H

hacker

A computer user addicted to long-distance computing with data communications software, sometimes illegally tapping into government or industry computer systems.

hard copy

Output printed on paper.

hard disk drive

A storage device that can store hundreds of millions of characters or more.

hardware

Any computer machinery that performs information-processing functions.

head-mounted display (HMD)

A term for a set of 3-D goggles equipped with CRTs inside for use in virtual reality games or other applications.

head pointer

A hardware device for handicapped people who cannot use a mouse with their hands to select an object on a computer screen by head movement.

heuristics

Exploratory methods for problem solving that can be applied in particular situations for automated understanding, often consisting of rules of thumb or other ad hoc strategies.

hierarchical model

A method for storing data in a database that looks like a family tree with one root and a number of branches or subdivisions.

high-definition television (HDTV)

The next generation of television with much higher picture quality, to be distributed digitally and capable of being integrated with computers to offer many services and information resources to the home.

high-level language

A programming language that is more like English than it is like assembly language and thus easier to use in writing programs. Compiler and interpreter languages are all high-level languages.

home page

A term for the opening Web document that one sees at a site, which may contain links to other pages.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

The standard formatting language for creating World Wide Web pages with text, graphics, and other media.

human-computer (man-machine) interface

Term coined to refer to the points of connection and interaction between people and computer systems. Problems caused by human input of bad data to computers represent a breakdown at the interface point between people and the system.

hypertext (hypermedia)

A computer application that integrates at least one other medium with text, such as sound or graphics. Integrating all media together in one application with some kind of navigation system between creates a hypermedia application.

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