A LEXICON OF COMPUTER TERMS: Part I

The computer world is moving so swiftly that it's hard to keep up with all the esoteric terms, acronyms and short-names in use. Below is the first part of a new lexicon of words about computers, computing, and the Internet we will be publishing during the next few weeks and months that may help orient some of our readers to this "new world order." For those of us in the 5th, 6th, 7th (or 8th!) decades, these terms can be a challenge!  ...The Editor

Note: This lexicon was compiled using definitions acquired through Google, Wikipedia, and other internet search engines.

404 - an HTTP standard response code meaning that the requested Web page could not be located. Also: Clueless about technology. As in "Joe walked out of that meeting looking completely 404."

Bandwidth - is a bit rate measure of available or consumed data communications resources expressed in bits-per-second or multiples (kilobits-per-second, megabits-per-second, etc.). The rate by which data is transmitted or received dramatically affects the utility of the Internet for users. A "slow" connection can make working on the Internet nearly unendurable.

Bandwidth hog – a derogatory term for a user of an internet connection who uses more bandwith than other users on the network.

Broadband refers to a telecommunications signal of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal. The "broader"  the band, the greater the capacity for traffic. Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times. 
History: The term's origin is in radio systems engineering, but became popularized after MediaOne adopted it as part of a marketing campaign in 1996 to sell their high speed data access. The slogan was "This is Broadband. This is the Way”. The term has never been formally defined, even though it is widely used, and has been the subject of many policy debates, including in the FCC's  controversial "National Broadband Plan."