Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesThere is a program on E! called Talk Soup and it has something to do with being the reference point for talk shows. What follows can almost be considered Tech Soup-a guide to understanding some of the technology lingo that buzzes all around.
Even those who are not very technical, and those in non-technical positions, are inundated with buzzwords, lingo and acronyms.
Following are some of the common, not-so-common and up-and-coming terms you need to know (and understand) so that you can stay ahead.
3G. Third Generation. This refers to wireless technologies and 3G is the newest that is readily available in the marketplace. Products labeled as 3G are made to transmit voice and data at higher rates of speed than the other generations of wireless products and solutions.
802.11: The wireless standard that helps dictate how wireless devices operate. There are four versions, each with its own set of operational standards: 802.11,802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
802.16: One of the many IEEE standards for wireless technology. 802.16 allows for fixed broadband wireless access (BWA) at high rates of speed at long distances, up to 37 miles.
Blackberry: A common and popular type of wireless, portable e-mail device. Blackberries are always online since a subscription is required and they allow for users to send and receive e-mail anywhere, anytime.
Bluetooth: A type of wireless networking that operates off of a PAN. In Bluetooth, devices communicate via short-range transmissions, which means that the devices talking to one another need to be between 10 meters and 100 meters apart.
BPL: Broadband Over Power Lines. This is the newest way to receive broadband connectivity, by harnessing the power supplied by power lines.
Broadband: A high-speed transmission of voice, data and video. Cable modems and DSL are popular terms used to describe broadband and this is the next generation of dial-up access.
BWA: Broadband Wireless Access. High-speed Internet access achieved without wires. Last-mile access is also known as BWA.
Connectivity: Loosely used to describe how two devices communicate with one another. The term can be used to explain the interaction between essentially any two devices that move data back and forth.
Dial-Up: Dial-up is connectivity on demand. Using an analog modem, a user would need to manually connect to the Internet service provider by dialing into the provider via the modem, hence the term dial-up.
DSL: Digital Subscriber Line. DSL technology has made telephones lines capable of providing digital connectivity at high rates of speed. The other big factor with DSL is that it is always ready to go. DSL requires no dial-up since the signal runs simultaneously through the phone line, which is why it is always on.
Ethernet: Pronounced ether (as in the old-fashioned laughing gas) net (as in the slang for the Internet). The primary type of connection used to run a LAN. The word Ethernet is implied nowadays and when one talks about a LAN connection, they are almost always referring to a connection made via Ethernet. Ethernet is a network configuration.
FTP: File Transfer Protocol. The FTP protocol allows for files to be electronically transmitted, via the Internet, from one computer or Web site to another. Many prefer FTP transfers for information, especially if the files are image files. Typical e-mail deals with text only, though graphics and images can be sent as well. E-mail itself is also notorious for getting jammed up when large images are being sent. FTP helps alleviate this problem. FTP transmits the binary files that images become during the transfer process, but with FTP, coding and encoding does not need to occur so there is one less step in the transfer process.
Hot Spots: An area covered by a wireless access point such as 802.1 lb or 802.1 la. Anyone entering the hot spot with an 802.11-based laptop has connectivity to the Internet. Numerous Web sites exist that keep track of places one can go to tap in to the Internet for free by accessing it through a hot spot.
Hub: A connection device within a network that allows for devices, such as computers, to talk to one another. A hub is a common device and multiple devices hook into it so that they can communicate; they link in via connection through one of the hub's ports.
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This organization has members who are engineers, scientists and students. The group engages in meetings, technical conferences, working committees and research. The IEEE is one of the premier authorities, if not the premier authority, in setting standards for both computers and communications issues.
IrDA: Named after the Infrared Data Association, this technology allows devices to talk to one another, provided that they have line of sight. This is similar to aiming a remote control at a TV.
LAN: Local Area Network. A network that is contained within a building or campus. This is predominately the type of network that is in widespread use.
Last-Mile Access: The connection going from a customer to the telephone, cable or Internet company. Traditionally, making that last-mile connection involves using copper-based telephone wire or coaxial cable, but wireless technologies with long-distance operation abilities now allows for such connections to be done wirelessly.
MAN: Metropolitan Area Network. A network that encompasses a large area, generally a city or neighborhood.
Network Configuration: The term basically refers to how a network is designed and set up. When one says that they are going to configure a network, they are adding in options to make the network unique. When one talks about the configurabiity of a network, they are referring to the network's ability to be modified, which is important since network, system and user requirements are always changing, mainly because of new technologies.
NIC: Network Interface Card. This is added to a computer, either desktop or laptop, and allows for network access. Some computers have these built in while others require a NIC card to be added on.
PAN: Personal Area Network. By using transmitters and receivers, this type of network allows for the transfer of data when two devices, or individuals, are extremely close to one another.
PDA: Personal Digital Assistant. PDAs have become quite popular, as they are minicomputers. They allow for personal contacts and information to be stored on them locally. Many PDAs have synching and wireless connectivity functions as well, which means that a PDA can communicate with other devices. PDAs can be hooked up to one's cell phone for access.
PDF: Portable Document Format file, which is an electronic file format and is synonymous with Adobe. The biggest benefit of PDF files is that they are not dependent upon locally stored software. This means that anyone, on any system, provided that they have at least Adobe Reader, can view a PDF; they need no other special software or fonts installed on their system in order for them to open the documents. PDF files can be stored and viewed on the Internet, or downloaded and viewed as time permits.
PoE: Power Over Ethernet. When electricity is used to operate networking equipment over Ethernet cable. No extra power cord is needed at the product location, minimizing the amount of cables needed and/or the hassle of installing extra outlets. Not all products can be powered this way.
RFID: Radio Frequency Identification. RFID is a wireless technology that is used to gather information. Known as data collection, RFID can be used to track both objects and people. Items with RFID tags in/on them can be tracked via receivers that gather the information contained within the RFID chip itself.
Router: A device that moves data from one LAN or WAN to another. When someone has a wireless router connected to their computer, it allows for communication between the public WAN (the Internet provider) and the user's LAN (home or office network). The main function of a router is to move data packets around.
Smart Phone: A cell phone that has the ability to do more than just operate as a phone. Smart phones provide digital voice service, e-mail, text messaging, paging, Internet access and browsing, voice recognition and picture taking (known as a camera phone).
Tablet PC: A small computer that has many of the same functions as a traditional desktop or laptop. Tablet PCs also have handwriting recognition ability, which allows users to handwrite information on the device by using a stylus and the device translates that information.
TCI/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol. The TCP part ensures that information being sent is done so in a manner that is understood by the receiving network.
UWB: Ultra Wide Band. This wireless technology uses low power and transmits signals at a higher frequency, which makes it faster.
Video over IP: Using the same technology, Video over IP allows for video transmissions to occur in the same manner as voice transmissions occur with VoIP.
VLAN: Virtual Local Area Network. A network of computers that operates as if the computers are connected to the same wire even though they may actually be physically located on different segments of a LAN. VLANs are controlled and operated by software, not cables or hardware. In a VLAN, when a computer is moved to another location, it can stay on the same VLAN without any hardware changes.
VoIP: Voice Over IP, also known as Internet Telephony. VoIP hardware and software uses the Internet to transmit phone calls by sending voice data in packets. VoIP is popular because calls over the Internet do not incur long-distance charges beyond what the user is paying for Internet access, but VoIP phones are required for operation and generally a VoIP calling plan is also required.
FEED