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ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
It is the standard code system used on PCs. (source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
1. Like ISDN, ADSL uses standard phone lines to deliver high-speed data communications. But while ISDN's transmission speed is limited to 64 kbps, ADSL technology can deliver upstream (from the user) speeds of 640 kbps and downstream (to the user) speeds of more than 6 mbps. Even better, ADSL uses the portion of a phone line's bandwidth not utilized by voice, allowing for simultaneous voice and data transmission. (source: www.cnet.com)
2. Existing telephone networks upgraded to allow VCR-quality video
images (but not live or high-definition signals) to be transmitted.
(source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
ATM (Asynchronous transfer mode)
It is an international packet switching standard established
by the CCITT. It is a systeme for organising a digital signal
in such a way as to allow very high speed transmission of the
signal while making optimum use of the network's transmission
capacity. A standard agreed for B-ISDN networks. (source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
Bandwidth
1. Definition of the transmission capacity of a cable. Highest
for fibre optic, lowest for copper telephone wire.(source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
2. 1 capacity for information flow
Baud
Numerical data transmission speed unit. 1 baud correspond to
1 bit/second. The miminum speed of a modem is 9,600 bauds nowadays.
(source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
baud rate
1 Measure of the rate of information exchange, maximum number of changes per second in an electric signal
bps, bits per second
1 Measure of information transfer speed
Bits/Bytes
The smallest discrete elements in a binary system: eight bits
comprise one byte.(source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
Broadband
A popular way to move large amounts of voice, data and video.
Broadband technology lets different networks coexist on a single
piece of heavy-duty wiring. It isolates signal as a radio does;
each one vibrates at a different frequency as it moves down the
line. Its opposite is baseband, which separates signals by sending
them at timed intervals. (source:http://www.ispo.cec.be/g7/backg/glossary.html).
browser
1 Computer program for a person to browse what is on the Internet
"I used the browser to get the weather forecast"
A client is usually a PC that communicates over a network both
with its peers, other clients, and with a large computer, called
a server, which typically stores data that many workers need to
use. The client has just one user, the server many.
Community Antenna Television, Cable Television (CATV)
A public network for the delivery of television programmes
to the home by cable. Existing systems use coaxial cable and are
limited in Europe to appoximately 30 channels of television. Future
Croadband systems will carry up to 500 channels.
Compression
The technique of reducing the amount of data in a signal in
order to reduce the amount of required transmission capacity,
the signal being reconstructed in its original form at the receiving
end. A device to do this is a "codec" (coder-decoder).
Coaxial Cable
Better known as coax, this is the old fat wire used by cable
TV companies and some data networks. It has more capacity than
standard copper phone wire, but quite a bit less than fiber-optic
lines.
Cyberspace
1.1 Information on the Internet, the Internet
Digital Compression
A way of reducing the number of bits (ones and zeros) in a
digital signal by using mathematical algorithms to eliminate redundant
information thereby reducing the space it occupies when being
transmitted or recorded.
Digital Transmission
In a digital telecommunication service, the original source
is transformed into and transmitted asa series of digits in binary
code (i.e. 0s or 1s). Voice, text, image or data are all equally
capable of being coded as a digital signal, so that a single network
can handle all four forms of transmission (multimedia). The string
of binary digits can be abbreviated and then re-expanded on arrival,
thus economising transmission capacity. Different strings of binary
digits can be interleaved and transmitted together, thus permitting
several separate conversations on a single line (multiplexing).
The string of digits can be encrypted prior to transmission, to
ensure a high level of information security and privacy. Through
digitalization, even a severely degraded transmission can be reconstructed
to reproduce perfectly the original source.
Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS)
The use of satellite to transmit high-power TV signals in the
BSS band for reception via small antennae direct to home (DTH).
Such services can also be carried on cable.
DNS, Domain Name System, Domain Name Server
1 Internet service for converting hostnames to internet addresses
Electronic data interchange (EDI)
A way unaffiliated companies can use networks to link their
businesses. While electronic mail between companies is common,
electronic data interchange passes bigger bundles that replace
large paper documents such as bills and contracts. Besides saving
paper, computers could save time by taking over transactions like
regular purchase orders that now require human intervention.
Electronic-mail (E-mail)
The most common use of networks. It is a service which allow
computer users to send electronic messages to other computer users.
The use of sophisticated software ensures that the sent message
will find its way along different networks until it reaches the
address.
Electromagnetic Field
A region of space in which electrical and magnetic energy are charging the area. There are generally two components to the field: magnetic and electric, or space charge. These can be at widely varying levels relative to each other, which is an important consideration in environmental surveys.
Ethernet
The most common sort of network used in corporations. Its top
speed is 10 million bits/second. Because
it works like a party line, if too many people try to send
messages at once, the network slows dramatically.
Fiber
Fiber-optic cable, made of glass fibers instead of copper strands.
Data, expressed as pulses of light rather than electrons, is transmitted
by lasers or other devices. Optical fiber can carry billions of
bits a second, many times more than coaxial or copper wire, and
is less sensitive to electrical interference.
Fibre to the Home (FTTH)
Future optical fibre networks may extend the optical fibre
to the individual home (FTTH), or the fibre may terminate at a
"blackbox" located in the street, where the optical
signal is converted to an electrical signal and carried the remaining
distance to each home on the pre-existing copper wiring (FTTC).
Fire Wall
One way to keep hackers out. Some networking devices can limit
access to sensitive parts of a network. For example, a company
might authorize access to its salary records only to a computer
in a particular location that gives a secret password.
Frequency
Rate of vibration of a force or wave, usually measured relative to local time. (copyright 1996 by The International Tesla Society, Edited by Michael Riversong and J.W. McGinnis)
FTP or file transfer protocol
A standard means for accessing and transferring files over the Internet. FTP is also the name of the program used on Unix systems to perform this function. (copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
Flaming
Bombardment with messages by users of the Internet of any other
user or advertiser who breaks the "etiquette" of the
network. Can run to billions of bites of useless data, intended
to clog up the offender´s computer.
Full motion
Video images that run in "real time". Full motion
is defined as 30 frames per second, double the current rate possible
on most multi-media applications, such as video conferencing.
Gateway
One of the most common usages for the term is an on-line service
company that gives customers access to a server or a network as
Internet. Inside a company, the term usually refers to special
hardware that connects two different types of systems, such as
a main-frame to a local-area network.
Gigabit Network
A gigabit network means one that operates at a billion bits
a second-100 times Ethernet's speed.
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
GSM is a pan-European standard for digital mobile telephony
which provides a much higher capacity than traditional analogue
telephones as well as diversified services (voice, data) and a
greater transmission security through information encoding for
users across Europe.
Hard Disc
High capacity (up to 4 giga-octets= million characters) storing
device for computers.
Hertz
The name of a German physicist applied to the measurement of frequency in cycles per second. Heinrich Hertz, 1857-1894. (Copyright 1996 by The International Tesla Society, Edited by Michael Riversong and J.W. McGinnis)
High Definition Television (HDTV)
System designed to allow viewing at about three times the picture
height, such that the system is virtually, or nearly, transparent
to the quality of portrayal that would have been perceived in
the original scene or performance by a discerning viewer with
normal visual acuity. Such factors include improved perception
of depth.
host name
1 Name of a computer connected to the Internet
HTML, Hypertext Markup Language
Document written in HTML code
Hypertext
It is a technique that simulates how human beings think by
establishing links among different informations.
Information Superhighway
Something that can't be seen or touched, though it can be talked
about ad nauseam. Networking devices and computers, allowing them
to operate at a higher speed and carry heavy traffic such as video
files.
Integrated Broadband Communications (IBC)
The global term for the future overall communications environment,
embracing Broadband-ISDN, Narrowband-ISDN, mobile telephony and
existing conventional telephone services together with data communications
and cable TV.
Inter-activity
Interactivity in a service implies a close control by the user
of the service by means of ongoing system of two-way communication
between the user and the service provider.
Inter-connectivity
Devices (computers, lines, application programmes, etc) are
inter-connected when they can communicate which each other, that
is send and receive data. They use the same communication protocols,
for example OSI (Open Systems Inter-Connection).
Interface
That which facilitates the communication between the computer
and its user. It may be a graphic interface or a textual interface.
An interface can also be that which facilitates communication
between two appliances (e.g. the PERITEL jack links a TV to a
videotape recorder or a videodisc player).
Internet
The world's largest computer communication system, with an
estimated 100-million users. Originated in the United States,
though now operating world-wide, the Internet is a loose confederation
of principally academic and research computer networks. It is
not a network but rather the interconnection of thousands of separate
networks using a common language. Developed by the Pentagon, the
Internet first linked government agencies and colleges. Now the
Net also connects thousands of companies and millions of individuals
worldwide who subscribe to on-line services.
Inter-operatibility
Devices, in particular application programmes, are inter-operable
when, in addition to communicating with each others, they can
also execute together a common task. They co-operate. This requires
additional standards, such as API (Application Programme Interfaces)
.
intranet
Network of computers within an organization
"We handle company mail on our intranet"
"Our intranet is connected to the rest of the world"
(Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
IP
Unique number that identifies a particular computer in a network of computers
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), N-ISDN, B-ISDN
1. A single network capable of carrying several different types
of service, based on voice, data, still or moving image - by means
of digital transmission techniques. The ISDN currently being deployed
in Europe carries a communication of up to 2 Megabits/second (Narrowband
ISDN). Future networks will carry higher speed communications
(Broadband ISDN).
JPEG, MPEG
Compression standards for still (JPEG) and moving pictures
(MEPG) expert groups.
Latency
Time which elapses between ordering information and receiving
it through an interactive system. PC users on a crowded Ethernet
network get a demonstration of latency.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A network for communication between computers confined to a
single building or in a closely located group of buildings, permitting
users to exchange data, share a common printer or master a common
computer, etc. Linked groups of LANs extended over a larger area
are termed Wide Area Networks (WANs). WANS may connect users in
different buildings or countries. Networks which extend over city-wide
areas are called Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).
Local loop
The section of the telephone transmission network between the
local telephone exchange and the subscriber's premises, which
currently consists of copper wiring. In the future, optical fibre
or wireless will also be used.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), LEOS (Low Earth Orbit Satellite)
Proposed system of personal telecommunications based on communication
via a number of satellites in low orbit. The best known of these
proposal is called the "Iridium" project.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Network which extends over city-wide area.
Minitel
It is the first global experience of telematics and started
in France in 1984. It was the precursor of the electronic highway.
France Telecom is currently working on a network "Télétel
Vitesse Rapide" which allows to obtain information far more
quickly.
Mobile Telephone, Cellular
A system of mobile telephony whereby a country is divided into
thousands of small areas (cells), each of which is served by its
own "base station" for low-powered radio transmissions.
This allows a user in one cell to transmit on the same frequency
as another user in another cell without interfering in each other's
conversation. Cellular networks may employ analogue or digital
transmission. Existing networks are largely analogue, while new
networks use the European GSM digital standard.
Mobile Telephone, CT2 (2nd Generation Cordless Telephone, "Telepoint")
An economical system of cellular telephony. Unlike full cellular,
the user may not move from cell to cell during the call. The service
is commercialized as "Bi-Bop" in France, "Greenpoint"
in the Netherlands, "Pointer" in Finland, etc.
Modem (MODulator-DEModulator)
Device which transforms analogous signals transmitted by telephone
lines into digital signals which can be transmitted by computer
and viceversa.
Multimedia
The concept of closely combining voice, text, data, as well
as still and moving image. A multimedia database, for example,
would contain textual information, images, video clips, tables
of data, all equally easy to access. A multimedia telecommunications
service (such as B-ISDN) would permit the user to send or receive
any of these forms of information, interchangeability at will.
Multiplexing
In telecommunications terminology, this term means carrying
multiple signals on a communications carrier channel. In recent
cable programming terminology, it refers to "cloning"
one cable channel, like MTV or HBO, into multiple, complementary
channels to reach a broader audience. The device that makes this
possible is called a "multiplexer" or "mux".
N-ISDN (Narrowband ISDN)
see ISDN
Node
Point of connection and conversion between fibre optic and
coaxial cable.
NTSC
The colour TV system established by the US National Television
Standards Committee and used in North America, Japan and their
dependents. NTSC produces interlaced 525-line 30-frame/second
pictures.
Network, Intelligent
An intelligent network includes sophisticated features superior
to those of the ordinary telephone service, such as advanced software
allowing the customisation of the services provided to individual
customers. For example, it allows the called party to redirect
calls intended to another terminal (e.g. from a home phone to
an office phone). It allows calls to be billed wholly or in part
to somebody else than the caller ("freephone" services).
It also provides virtual private network services.
Open Network Provision
Principle of non-discriminatory opening of telecommunication
networks to all telecom operators and service providers on the
basis of the harmonisation of access and usage conditions of telecommunications
infrastructures with the view to develop a trans-European information
market. The ONP is being applied to leased lines, packet switching
transmission services and ISDN, and will be applied to voice telephony
in 1998.
Optical Fibre Network
Telecommunication networks based on fined glass fibres, down
which signals may be sent by flashing a laser.
PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange), PBX (Private Branch
Exchange)
The private switchboard located on one's premises and by which
a business subscriber controls the calls on his own internal telephones.
PAL (Phase Alternation Line)
West German-developed colour TV systems used in most of Europe,
Africa, Australasia and South America. Like SECAM, PAL produce
interlaced 625-line, 25 frame/second pictures.
Pay-per-view
Programming sold on a per-occasion or per-title basis. Access
can be controlled electronically in response to subsbriber orders
using an addressable cable converter. Digital Signals switching
the service off or on are sent to that converter's unique "address".
Personal Communication Network (PCN)
A form of cellular telephone network specifically adapted for
personal portable use based on a technology known as DCS 1800.
Such services are currently being deployed in Europe. Similar
services in the USA are referred to as PCS (Personal Communication
Services).
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
A pocket sized personal computer with advanced features and
communications facilities, where text is introduced by handwriting
on a screen, also referred to as "notepad" computer.
Portability
Used in reference to a computer programme, portability means
that the programme can be executed on a number of different computers
without or with only minimal changes.
Protocol
Standard rules that govern how computers talk together.
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
The everyday telephone network used for the transmission of
voice conversations, fax images and for low speed data transmission.
Radiomessaging
Sending of messages via radio waves.
Sampling
The transformation of an analogous signal (Sound Image) into
a digital code. Sampling consists of the analysis of electronic
signals at regular and brief intervals. A large number of synthesisers
produce sounds created by sampling.
Satellite Dish
Device necessary to get channels broadcast via satellite. The
diameter varies from 60cm on.
SECAM (Séquentiel couleur à mémoire)
The colour TV standard developed in France, also used in Eastern
Europe, CIS and parts of the Middle East and Africa. SECAM produces
interlaced 625-line, 25-frame/second pictures.
Server
The machine that talks to clients. More precisely, anything
from a PC to a supercomputer that shares files and other services
with multiple users.
Smart Card
It is a card that is able to store digital information. It
was created in 1974 and used for many purposes since (e.g. credit
cards, telephone cards).
spam
Message sent or posted to an excessively large number of people on the Internet
"Your spam was seen by a large number of people"
Software
That which belongs to the domain of intellectual creation in
contrast to the appliances which facilitates their reproduction.
The programmes for computers, CD-ROM and video games are all software.
Telematics
The application of information and communications technologies
and services, usually in direct combination. A Telematics Application
is a system or service meeting User needs.
Telematics Infrastructure
The assemblage of telecommunications and information-processing
systems and services that offers a base for telematics applications.
Teleservice
A service provided from a remote location using the telematics
infrastructure.
Teleworking
Work carried out using the telematics infrastructure at a place
other than that where the results of the work are needed. This
definition covers home, mobile or "telecottage"-based
teleworkers employed by an organisation, independent workers and
teleservice companies offering specific services to both firms
and individuals.
URL, Uniform Resource Locator
Location of a document on the Internet "The best URL for dictionaries is http://www.studytech.com/"
Note:
A URL provides a uniform way to specify where a document may be found on the Web. (Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
Universal Service
A set of basic services that must be made available at an affordable
price to all users by public or private operators irrespective
of the user's geographical location.
Value Added Service (VAS), Value Added Network Service (VANS)
Services other than those under monopoly may be offered by
other service suppliers which use national network as the basic
transmission medium but "add value" to the basic transmission
facility. What is exactly included in the notion depends on the
regulatory situation of each country.
Video-on demand
Systems that enable the viewers to order and see a given programme
at the exact time the viewer specifies. Near-video-on-demand (NVOD)
systems approximate this capacity. This can be accomplished by
staggering the start of a programme every 15 or 30 minutes.
Virtual Reality
Computer-based systems that supply the visual and aural effects
to project the viewer into an imaginary environment beyond the
screen. The user is supplied with computer-generated images and
sounds giving the impression of reality. The user interacts with
the artificial world by means of sensors and apparatus including
helmets ("visiocasque") and gloves which link the user's
perceptions and movements and the audio-visual effects. Future
work in virtual reality is directed towards increasing the impression
of reality, for example by means of 3D images, and transmitting
"virtual reality worlds" to users located remotely from
the source computer.
Virus
Small informatic programme able to disrupt the functioning
of other programmes.
Visiopass
It is a decodificator that enables the user to contact a video
on demand service.
Wide-Area Network (WAN)
A complement to LAN. A WAN consists of multiple local networks
tied together, typically using telephone-company services. WANs
may connect users in different buildings or countries.
A
B
"The connection has a high bandwidth"
"That site does not have enough bandwidth to handle the load"
Note:
Bandwidth is usually measured in bps
(copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
"You need a 14.4K baud rate modem"
"That data transfer went at a high baud rate"
"High baud rates have been getting more reliable"
Note:
Baud rate is often confused with bps
(copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
"Set the modem at 9600 bps"
"How many bps did you get while transferring the file"
Note:
Bps is often confused with baud rate
(copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
"Some browsers are easy to use"
"My browser got me information from all over the world"
(copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
C
Client
"I found it in cyberspace"
"Look around cyberspace for it"
1 Concerning the Internet
"That cyberspace site will have the information"
"He is a cyberspace expert"
Note:
Originated by author William Gibson in his novel "Neuromancer"
Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
D
"Does the DNS have the address"
"Look up the address in the DNS"
"We can not access that site because the DNS is down"
Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
E
(copyright 1996 by The International Tesla Society, Edited by Michael Riversong and J.W. McGinnis)
F
G
H
"What host name did you pick for yor computer"
"I will have to know the host name first" (Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
"Here is the HTML that document came from"
"Show me the HTML"
"Convert it to HTML format"
"That is an HTML document"
Note: HTML was initially created for use as a common document language for the world wide web. It indicates the type of information rather than the exact way it is to be presented. The actual presentation is left to the software that converts the contents to a suitable format for viewing.
(Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
I
"What is the IP for that computer"
"You need an IP in order to set up a connection to the network"
"The computer must know its IP so it can respond to other computers"
(Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
2. The plain old telephone system doesn't handle large quantities of data, and the phone companies realized this a long time ago. So the ISDN spec was hammered out in 1984 to allow for wide-bandwidth digital transmission using the public switched telephone network. Under ISDN, a phone call can transfer 64 kilobits of digital data per second. But it's not always easy to adopt. (source: www.cnet.com)
J
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
"The Internet has too many spams"
Note:
A canned meat product that is called Spam was widely used during the Second World War. People got tired of seeing it at meals and it became associated with excessive quantities of something. A comedy show named Monty Python used the word spam in a skit and it became a derisive term for flooding with excessive information. (Copyright 1996 by Robert K. Ware)
T
U
"Put the URL for weather data in the document"
V
W