Fall+2007

Take a Break The 6's Site Visits - Comparisons LIS724 Terminology Dictionary

Instructional Project Presentation Sign-Up
1. Tim Prendergast 2. Erin Siem 3. Joyce Jaglinski
 * December 6

December 13 1. Rebekah Dean 2. Ann Gass 3. Ann Cullinane 4.Joy Salzman

December 20 1. Lori Jones** http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2279YUNAJNA 3. Kate Wolicki 4. Katie Cook**
 * 2. Brian Hoffmeister

The terms alpha and beta refer to releases of software that are typically not ready for commercial use. Alpha refers to the very early release, which is typically very buggy and only released to few people internal to the organization. It is helpful, in development, to get feedback very quickly from the hacker community, or potential customers with the beta version. Releasing a beta version has become standard practice with the evolution of the internet as a mode of distribution for the software. It is a part of the development model for open source software. (AG) "Alpha/Beta Definition." Define That. 18 Sept 2007.< http://definethat.com/define/268.htm>
 * Alpha / Beta Definition**

A small [|application] [|program] written in the [|Java] [|programming language] developed by Sun Microsystems for distribution over the [|Internet]. Applets run on any Java-enabled [|Web browser] independent of [|platform] ([|Windows], [|Macintosh], [|UNIX], etc.). [|Click here] to learn more about applets, courtesy of Sun Microsystems. Online Dictionary for Library Science and Information. http://lu.com/odlis/search.cfm
 * Applet**

"CNET Glossary." __CNET Reviews__. 14 Sept. 2007 <[|http://www.cnet.com>.]
 * AVI** (audio/video interleave) the file format used by Video for Windows, one of several video technologies used on personal computers. In AVI, picture and sound elements are stored in alternate interleaved chunks in the file so that they play in sync.

The numerical difference between the upper and lower frequencies of a band of electromagnetic radiation, especially an assigned range of radio frequencies. The amount of data that can be passed along a communications channel in a give period of time. //The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition//. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bandwidth
 * bandwidth**

//The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,// 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
 * baud** (bôd, bōd) measure of the rate at which signals are transmitted over a telecommunications link. It is equivalent to the number of elements or pulses transmitted in one second, e.g., in [|computer] input/output, 2400 baud equals 2400 bits per second (bps) if each pulse encodes one bit (either 0 or 1). Many [|modems] permit the encoding of several bits per baud. A 9600-bps modem that operates at 2400 baud sends four bits per baud by using a range of 16 tones (representing the four-bit combinations 0000 to 1111) to transmit data, and data compression can boost the effective transmission rate even higher. Because of this, the data transfer rate of a modem is measured in bits per second.

An online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log. "blog." //Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)//. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 16 Sep. 2007. .]
 * blog** (

Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specification that describes how mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be easily interconnected using a short-range wireless connection. Using this technology, users of cellular phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants can buy a three-in-one phone that can double as a portable phone at home or in the office, get quickly synchronized with information in a desktop or notebook computer, initiate the sending or receiving of a fax, initiate a print-out, and, in general, have all mobile and fixed computer devices be totally coordinated. Bluetooth requires that a low-cost transceiver chip be included in each device. The transceiver transmits and receives in a previously unused frequency band of 2.45 GHz that is available globally (with some variation of bandwidth in different countries). In addition to data, up to three voice channels are available. Each device has a unique … [|Bluetooth definition] sponsored by SearchMobileComputing.com, powered by WhatIs.com [|an online computer dictionary] 19 Sept. 2007.
 * Bluetooth**

A byte is a contiguous sequence of a fixed number of bits (the most basic unit of information in computing) that is used as a unit of memory, storage and instructions execution in computers. A typical byte consists of eight bits. "Byte Definition." //LINFO//. 14 May 2005. The Linux Information Project. 19 Sept. 2007 .
 * Byte**

A term that describes a language, software application or hardware device that works on more than one system. Some platform examples are: Unix, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh. Some cross platform examples are: Netscape Navigator and Java. "Cross-Platform Definition." Define That. 18 Sept. 2007. 
 * cross platform**

Central processing unit. A component of a computer system that performs the basic operations (as processing data) of the system, that exchanges data with the system's memory or peripherals, and that manages the system's other components; also called a processor. "CPU." //Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary//. 2007. Merriam-Webster, Inc. 19 Sept. 2007 <[|http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/CPU>.]
 * CPU**

DPI Printing term that describes the number of dots per inch that are used to create an image. The image can be a font or graphic. "DPI." Photoshop Elements User. 18 Sept 2007. 

"Graphical User Interface." A computer terminal interface, such as Windows, that is based on graphics instead of text. (For example, you are accessing this wiki and looking at it via a graphical user interface.) "Glossary of Abbreviations and Terms." Association of Research Libraries. 18 Sept. 2007. 
 * GUI**

"hardware." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 16 Sep. 2007. .]
 * hardware** [**hahrd**-wair] the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical devices comprising a computer system, as the CPU, disk drives, keyboard, or screen.

The [|communications] [|protocol] used in [|Web browser] [|software] to establish the connection between a [|client] computer and a remote [|Web server], making it possible for [|data] [|file]s in [|HTML] [|format] to be transmitted over the [|Internet] from the [|server] to the client machine on which the browser is installed. Most [|Web] browsers are designed to [|default] to **http:** whenever a user enters a Web address ([|URL]) without the protocol. Reitz, Joan M. (2004-2006). ODLIS: Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. //Retreived September 19, 2007.// [|//http://lu.com/odlis/search.cfm//]
 * HTTP**

A way of connecting different [|Web pages] together on the [|Internet]. A hyperlink is a word or graphic display on one Web page that allows a [|computer] to shift to another related Web page. Also called a link. A reference (link) from some point in one [|hypertext] document to (some point in) another document or another place in the same document. A [|browser] usually displays a hyperlink in some distinguishing way, e.g. in a different colour, font or style. When the user activates the link (e.g. by clicking on it with the [|mouse]) the [|browser] will display the target of the link. //The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition//. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperlink
 * hyperlink**

//**java** ( **jah**-v//uh //) A high-level, object-oriented computer programming language used esp. to create interactive applications running over the Internet. "java."// Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 16 Sep. 2007. .]

A local computer network for communication between computers; especially a network connecting computers and word processors and other electronic office equipment to create a communication system between offices. "LAN." WorldNet Search 3.0. 18 Sept 2007.// [|//http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=lan////]
 * LAN**

A liquid-crystal display; a method of displaying readings continuously, as on digital watches, portable computers, and calculators, using a liquid-crystal film, sealed between glass plates, that changes its optical properties when a voltage is applied. http://www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/LCD
 * LCD**

//**Mashups** a new genre of interactive Web applications that draw upon content retrieved from external data sources to create entirely new and innovative services. They are a hallmark of the second generation of Web applications informally known as Web 2.0. Merrill, Duane. (2006).// Mashups: The new breed of Web app. //Retrieved September 19, 2007. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/library/x-mashups.html.//

"CNET Glossary." __CNET Reviews__. 14 Sept. 2007 .//]
 * MIDI** (middy) A hardware protocol that enables communication between computers and synthesizers, keyboards, and sound cards used in composing and recording digital music. With a computer running MIDI-compatible software, you can record sounds produced by connected instruments and manipulate the sounds however you wish. MIDI files contain instructions for producing sound (note and affect information, pitch, dynamics, decay rate, and stereo position) rather than actual digitized music and thus are much smaller than sound files. Because MIDI files create no sound on their own, they must be played back by a synthesizer, a drum machine, or a virtual instrument.

Stands for "Portable Document Format." The native file format for Adobe Systems' Acrobat. PDF is the file format for representing documents in a manner that is independent of the original application software, hardware, and operating system used to create those documents. A PDF file can describe documents containing any combination of text, graphics, and images in a device-independent and resolution independent format. These documents can be one page or thousands of pages, very simple or extremely complex with a rich use of fonts, graphics, color, and images. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Portable%20Document%20Format
 * PDF**

(Or "peripheral device", "device") Any part of a computer other than the [|CPU] or [|working memory], i.e. [|disks], [|keyboards], [|monitors], [|mice], [|printers], [|scanners], [|tape drives], [|microphones], [|speakers], [|cameras], to list just the less exotic ones. High speed working [|memory], such as [|RAM], [|ROM] or, in the old days, [|core] would not normally be referred to as peripherals. The more modern term "device" is also more general in that it is used for things such as a [|pseudo-tty], a [|RAM drive], or a [|network adaptor]. Some argue that, since the advent of the [|personal computer], the [|motherboard], [|hard disk], keyboard, mouse, and monitor are all parts of the base system, and only use the term "peripheral" for optional additional components. //The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing//. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/peripheral
 * peripheral**

A [|neologism] coined from the [|term] "picture element," any one of the tiny dots of uniform illumination that in the aggregate comprise the image on a television screen or computer [|monitor]. Pixels may be [|binary] (black and white) or multivalued to display colors or gradations of a gray scale. A pixel on a color screen is a combination of three dots--blue, green, and red. To see the pixels on a computer monitor, wipe the surface of the screen with a clean, damp cloth or tissue. In a //pixilated// image, the individual pixels can be seen with the unaided eye, usually because the image has been over-enlarged ([|click here] to see an example). Synonymous with //pel//. **//See also//**: [|bitmap]. Online Dictionary for Library Science and Information. http://lu.com/odlis/search.cfm
 * Pixel**

Originally referred to a specific type of computer [|hardware] architecture, but the [|term] now includes both the hardware and [|operating system] installed on the [|CPU], usually for a model or entire family of computers (//examples//: [|Windows], [|Macintosh], [|UNIX]). The [|term] //cross-platform// is used in reference to [|device]s, [|application] [|program]s, and [|data] [|format]s designed to function on more than one type of computer system. Reitz, Joan M. (2004-2006). //ODLIS: Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science//. Retreived September 19, 2007. http://lu.com/odlis/search.cfm//
 * Platform**

(from iPod and broadcast, but not confined to the Apple iPod) The practice of preparing audio and video programs like radio and TV broadcasts, but distributing them thru the Internet for playback on MP3 players, iPods, and similar devices. "Podcasting." __Barron's Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms__. 9th ed. 2006.
 * Podcasting**

Apple Computer's standard for integrating full-motion video and digitised sound into application programs. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/QuickTime
 * QuickTime**

Any of various XML file formats suitable for disseminating real-time information via subscription on the Internet. Example: RSS has become a popular technology for bloggers and podcasters to distribute their content. "RSS." //Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)//. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 16 Sep. 2007. .]
 * RSS** - WHAT DOES RSS STAND FOR? WHAT DOES THE ACRONYM MEAN?

A server is a computer/device which provides information or services to computers on a network. "Server Definition." Define That. 18 Sept. 2007. 
 * Server**

A generic term for [|computer program]s and their associated [|documentation], as opposed to [|data] used as [|input] and generated as [|output]. In computing, data is "processed"--software "runs." A software product consists of a set of instructions written by a programmer, distinct from the manufactured [|hardware] used to run it. The [|term] includes systems programs such as [|operating system]s (OS), [|database management system]s (DBMS), [|utilities] that control the operation of the computer itself, and [|application] programs designed to process [|data] and accomplish specific tasks for the user. **//See also//**: [|search software] and [|Web browser]. Online Dictionary for Library Science and Information. http://lu.com/odlis/search.cfm
 * Software**

A stripped-down computer that runs programs off a network server. A thin-client computer lacks a hard drive; it depends on the network for data storage resources. "CNET Glossary." __CNET Reviews.__ 20 September 2007. <[|http://reviews.cnet.com]>
 * Thin Client**

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) provides high-speed, easy connectivity between peripheral equipment (scanners, printers, PDAs, etc.) and a personal computer. "Universal Serial Bus (USB*) Overview." Intel Corporation. 19 Sept. 2007 <[|http://www.intel.com/technology/usb/>.]
 * USB**

The filename extension for digitized sound wave files under Microsoft Windows. ".wav." __Barron's Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms__. 9th ed. 2006.
 * .wav**

[From Hawaiian //wiki//, to hurry, swift.] A collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2005, 2000 by Houghton MIfflin Company. Updated 2005. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
 * wik·i** (wĭk'ē)