Terminology Tank

The following is a list of commonly used Information and Commnunication Technology (ICT) terms.

Domain name A company's or individual's permanent home on the web. Comes after the @ part of an email address or after www. Essentially, a domain name is your 'real estate' on the web.
Bandwidth The volume of data that an internet connection can carry every second. The internet's network is often referred to as pipes, so the bigger the pipe the more information that can be squeezed through simultaneously. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps).
ADSL Abbreviation for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line". ADSL is a technology that transforms a standard telephone line into a high-speed 'always on' internet connection capable of simultaneously carrying voice and data. It is termed 'asymmetric' because data moves in one direction faster than in the other i.e. data is transmitted faster from the exchange to you rather than from your premises to the exchange.
Broadband Telecommunications technology that increases the amount of information that can be sent simultaneously on an internet connection. A broadband connection provides a wide band of frequencies, adding extra lanes to your information superhighway, so to speak, which allows much faster connection and download speeds, and an 'always on' internet link.
Firewall A security barrier to prevent unauthorised access to a network or personal computer. All traffic is diverted to a proxy computer, or gatekeeper, for vetting.
Intranet An intranet is a 'private internet' which acts as a powerful means of communication within a company or a group of trading partners. Particularly practical if more than one computer platform is in use, e.g. Windows and Apple Macs. Intranets are protected from the outside world by security measures including firewalls.
URL Uniform Resource Locator, technical term for website address.
Wireless Describes telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or all of the communication path.
Wi-Fi Short for wireless fidelity: a term for certain types of WLANs. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. Wi-Fi has gained acceptance in many businesses, agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels, and fast-food facilities offer public access to Wi-Fi networks.
WiMAX A wireless industry coalition whose members organized to advance IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) networks. WiMAX 802.16 technology is expected to enable multimedia applications with wireless connection and, with a range of up to 30 miles, enable networks to have a wireless last mile solution. According to the WiMAX forum, the group's aim is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of devices based on the 802.16 specification, and to develop such devices for the marketplace.
Hot Spot WLAN node that provides Internet connection and virtual private network (VPN) access from a given location. A business traveller, for example, with a laptop equipped for Wi-Fi can look up a local hot spot, contact it, and get connected through its network to reach the Internet and their own company remotely with a secure connection. Increasingly, public places, such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops are providing free wireless access for customers.
Hot Zone A wireless access area created by multiple hot spots located in close proximity to each other. Hot zones usually combine public safety access points with public hot spots. Each hot spot typically provides network access for distances between 100 and 300 feet; various technologies, such as mesh network topologies and fiber optic backbones, are used in conjunction with the hot spots to create areas of coverage.
Wireless Local Area Network WLAN for short. A local area network (LAN) that users access through a wireless connection. 802.11 standards specify WLAN technologies. WLANs are frequently some portion of a wired LAN.
Content Management System (CMS) System that supports the creation, updating and maintenance of digital information in order to facilitate the availability of up-to-date information and content.
Digital Divide, Digital Gap The divide/gap between those who have access to and can effectively use ICTs and those who cannot.
Discussion Forum Virtual space for online discussion with other online users around the world.
e-Inclusion Activities, actions and initiatives to promote inclusion, especially of the elderly, minorities, and marginalised social economic groups in e-democracy, often initiated by governments and NGOs to connect the unconnected or citizens with special needs
e-Readiness The ability to take advantage of ICTs, dependent upon resources, competence, infrastructure and legal frameworks.
GIS (Geographic Information System) Electronic system for managing and exploiting data based on geographical locations (spatial data).
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) The study, design, development, implementation, use, support and management of computer-based information systems, particulary software applications and computer hardware.
Livestreaming Real-time transmission of audio and/or video data over the Internet.
Newsgroup A type of discussion forum implemented as a message archive replicated across servers. Messages are retrieved and posted by news clients communicating with servers using the network news transfer protocol (NNTP).
Online Surgery Web application designed to help elected representatives engage with the citizens they represent.
Open Source Software (OSS) Software of which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge.
Podcasting A method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term, coined in 2004, is a blend of the terms 'iPod', a popular portable audio device, and 'broadcasting'.
Portal Website homepage offering a large collection of resources and services, either internal or external to the site.
Social Networking Social networking refers to a broad class of web sites and services that allow you to connect with friends, family, and colleagues online, as well as meet people with similar interests or hobbies. Many, such as the popular Facebook and MySpace, let you create a profile where you can post photos, information about yourself like location, hobbies, and relationship status, and send and receive correspondence with online contacts.
Web 2.0 A perceived second generation of Internet-based services enabling people to collaborate and share information online, not representing a new standard but rather an attitude.
Webcast Real-time or archived recordings of meetings broadcast over the Internet.

Domain name
A company's or individual's permanent home on the web. Comes after the @ part of an email address or after www. Essentially, a domain name is your 'real estate' on the web.

Bandwidth
The volume of data that an internet connection can carry every second. The internet's network is often referred to as pipes, so the bigger the pipe the more information that can be squeezed through simultaneously. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps).

ADSL
Abbreviation for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line". ADSL is a technology that transforms a standard telephone line into a high-speed 'always on' internet connection capable of simultaneously carrying voice and data. It is termed 'asymmetric' because data moves in one direction faster than in the other i.e. data is transmitted faster from the exchange to you rather than from your premises to the exchange.

Broadband
Telecommunications technology that increases the amount of information that can be sent simultaneously on an internet connection. A broadband connection provides a wide band of frequencies, adding extra lanes to your information superhighway, so to speak, which allows much faster connection and download speeds, and an 'always on' internet link.

Firewall
A security barrier to prevent unauthorised access to a network or personal computer. All traffic is diverted to a proxy computer, or gatekeeper, for vetting.

Intranet
An intranet is a 'private internet' which acts as a powerful means of communication within a company or a group of trading partners. Particularly practical if more than one computer platform is in use, e.g. Windows and Apple Macs. Intranets are protected from the outside world by security measures including firewalls.

URL
Uniform Resource Locator, technical term for website address.

Wireless
Describes telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or all of the communication path.

Wi-Fi
Short for wireless fidelity: a term for certain types of WLANs. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. Wi-Fi has gained acceptance in many businesses, agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels, and fast-food facilities offer public access to Wi-Fi networks.

WiMAX
A wireless industry coalition whose members organized to advance IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) networks. WiMAX 802.16 technology is expected to enable multimedia applications with wireless connection and, with a range of up to 30 miles, enable networks to have a wireless last mile solution. According to the WiMAX forum, the group's aim is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of devices based on the 802.16 specification, and to develop such devices for the marketplace.

Hot Spot
WLAN node that provides Internet connection and virtual private network (VPN) access from a given location. A business traveller, for example, with a laptop equipped for Wi-Fi can look up a local hot spot, contact it, and get connected through its network to reach the Internet and their own company remotely with a secure connection. Increasingly, public places, such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops are providing free wireless access for customers.

Hot Zone
A wireless access area created by multiple hot spots located in close proximity to each other. Hot zones usually combine public safety access points with public hot spots. Each hot spot typically provides network access for distances between 100 and 300 feet; various technologies, such as mesh network topologies and fiber optic backbones, are used in conjunction with the hot spots to create areas of coverage.

Wireless Local Area Network
WLAN for short. A local area network (LAN) that users access through a wireless connection. 802.11 standards specify WLAN technologies. WLANs are frequently some portion of a wired LAN.

Content Management System (CMS)
System that supports the creation, updating and maintenance of digital information in order to facilitate the availability of up-to-date information and content.

Digital Divide, Digital Gap
The divide/gap between those who have access to and can effectively use ICTs and those who cannot.

Discussion Forum
Virtual space for online discussion with other online users around the world.

e-Inclusion
Activities, actions and initiatives to promote inclusion, especially of the elderly, minorities, and marginalised social economic groups in e-democracy, often initiated by governments and NGOs to connect the unconnected or citizens with special needs

e-Readiness
The ability to take advantage of ICTs, dependent upon resources, competence, infrastructure and legal frameworks.

GIS (Geographic Information System)
Electronic system for managing and exploiting data based on geographical locations (spatial data).

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
The study, design, development, implementation, use, support and management of computer-based information systems, particulary software applications and computer hardware.

Livestreaming
Real-time transmission of audio and/or video data over the Internet.

Newsgroup
A type of discussion forum implemented as a message archive replicated across servers. Messages are retrieved and posted by news clients communicating with servers using the network news transfer protocol (NNTP).

Online Surgery
Web application designed to help elected representatives engage with the citizens they represent.

Open Source Software (OSS)
Software of which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge.

Podcasting
A method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term, coined in 2004, is a blend of the terms 'iPod', a popular portable audio device, and 'broadcasting'.

Portal
Website homepage offering a large collection of resources and services, either internal or external to the site.

Social Networking
Social networking refers to a broad class of web sites and services that allow you to connect with friends, family, and colleagues online, as well as meet people with similar interests or hobbies. Many, such as the popular Facebook and MySpace, let you create a profile where you can post photos, information about yourself like location, hobbies, and relationship status, and send and receive correspondence with online contacts.

Web 2.0
A perceived second generation of Internet-based services enabling people to collaborate and share information online, not representing a new standard but rather an attitude.

Webcast
Real-time or archived recordings of meetings broadcast over the Internet.