APPENDIX I
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Loop): Technology for transmitting video and other broadband signals over standard telephone lines. ADSL provides broadband transmission in one direction only, with a narrow signalling channel in the other direction.
Archie: An Internet resource used to search FTP archives and locate specific files for retrieval.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): A standard computer text format used to allow the exchange of information between computers with different operating systems.
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode): A high speed communications protocol which allows transfer of voice, data and video over fibre optic cable.
AUP (Acceptable Use Policies): Policies set by networks regarding the uses to which their networks may be put.
Backbone: A large network which links regional or local networks allowing information to be passed between them.
Bandwidth: The transmission capacity of a communications channel.
Broadband: A high-bandwidth service or facility.
CA*net: Canadian backbone network of ten regional communication networks.
Cablecos: Cable television service companies.
CANARIE: Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry, and Education.
Carrier: Company which owns and provides telecommunications transmission services and facilities.
CD-ROM (Compact-Disc/Read Only Memory): A high density storage medium for computer programs, based on the compact disc.
Chat Forum: Areas of Internet and on-line services where users can post and exchange messages in an interactive on-line conversation.
Client: Software that is used to connect to, and utilize the resources of a server.
Coaxial cable, coax: A transmission line which uses a single wire at the core. This core is surrounded by insulation, followed by another layer of conducting material. Commonly used in the cable television industry.
Compression: A digital process that allows data to be stored or transmitted using less than the number of bits normally required.
Content Provider: Any person or Organization that provides content on a network.
Convergence: The coming together of computer, telephone and television into one medium based on the underlying use of digital technology in all three forms.
CU-SeeMe: A software program that runs on the Internet and allows for low- resolution, black and white videoconferencing.
Cyberspace: A term coined by Canadian author William Gibson to describe the on-line world of computer networks, where people interact without physical presence.
Digital: Information stored or transmitted as discrete binary units (1s or 0s).
Digitization: The process of converting an electronic signal or image into digital code.
Domain: The name under which a host computer is addressed on the Internet.
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator): One of the first computers, built in 1946.
Encryption: A method of securing privacy on networks through the use of complex algorithmic codes.
Ethernet: A commonly used standard for Local Area Networks.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Listing of questions and answers most commonly addressed on the Internet.
Flaming: A frank, inflammatory statement sent in an electronic mail message.
Fibre Optic Cable: Cable that uses glass fibres and laser technology to transmit data at the speed of light.
Free-Net: Computer service providing "free" access to electronic mail, the Internet, etc.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Communications protocol that allows for the transfer of files between Internet connected machines.
Gateway: An interconnection between networks so that users can treat them as a single network.
Gigabyte: A billion bytes, which is enough to hold 1,250 copies of Herman Melville's novel, Moby Dick.
Gopher: Software used in the Internet for locating information.
Home Page: The main document or opening display page on a World Wide Web resource.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language): A text formatting language used on the World Wide Web that allows display pages of information to contain "links" to other files, documents, graphics or other computer systems.
http (HyperText Transport Protocol): The transmission protocol used to transfer WWW resources from point to point across the Internet.
Information Highway: Popular term for network(s) capable of transporting voice, interactive, full motion video and data services.
Interactivity: Offering the ability for users to "interact" with data, or with the sender or broadcaster of a transmission, as opposed to simply receiving it.
Internet: Worldwide computer network, linking tens of thousands of computers.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat): Communications program that allows realtime conversations with multiple users.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): A set of digital telecommunication network interface standards.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): A file compression protocol used with still images. Compression of 4 to 1 or even 10 to 1 is possible.
LAN (Local Area Network): Computer network limited to a small area, usually a single building.
Leased Network: Wide area network using facilities leased from a carrier. Often called a "private network."
Local Loop: Circuit between a customer's premises and the telephone company switching centre.
MBone (Multicast Backbone): A "virtual network" layered atop the Internet which allows for the transmission of live video and audio signals.
MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group): A digital compression protocol that is used for motion pictures. MPEG-1 provides quality roughly equivalent to S- VHS, while MPEG-2 is equivalent to the broadcast D2 format.
MUD (Multi-User Dungeons): An interactive role-playing Internet game modelled on Dungeons and Dragons.
Multimedia: The integration of two or more information forms such as image, sound, text, animated graphics or video.
MOO (Multi-User Object Oriented): A variety of MUD (see definition) in which players are allowed to shape the environment of the game.
Narrowband: In contrast to broadband, a communication service or facility with limited capacity, usually 64,000 bits per second or less.
Navigator: Software that runs on a teleputer to guide the user quickly and easily around the program choices and different networks on the InfoBahn.
Newbie: Internet term for a new user.
Netiquette (Network Etiquette): Socially acceptable mannerisms and styles of behaviour for users of the Internet.
Network (broadcast meaning): Organization (e.g. the CBC) which provides broadcast programming to a group of affiliated local stations.
Network (telecom meaning): The facilities (wires, switches, etc.) which carry information from place to place.
Newsgroups: Information about particular news or information which network users can join and receive access to as well as have the option to add or comment on items of interest.
Optical Carrier (OC) Channels: Standard communication channels defined for fibre optic communication.
OCRInet: Ottawa-Carleton Research and Information Net: Experimental ATM broadband network in the Ottawa area.
Redlining: Providing services on a trial basis to a community in which the demographics imply success. i.e. Video on Demand trials which are run in middle to upper class, white neighbourhoods only.
SchoolNet: Data network run by Industry Canada that is used by educational institutions in Canada.
Server: A computer, or computer system, that handles incoming data from client applications, and deals with their requests. The server is the nerve centre of any network.
Set-top Box: Computer-enabled systems that would be placed on top of a conventional television set to provide enhanced network services.
Smart Agents: Individually programmable software applications that have the ability to "learn" and respond to complex cues from users to provide them with the information they need.
Spamming: Sending an unsolicited, electronic mail message to all the participants of a newsgroup or newsgroups.
Stentor: Consortium of nine major Canadian telephone companies.
Switch: Device which can link various incoming channels to various outgoing channels as required.
Sysop (Systems Operator): The manager, operator, gatekeeper, and Mr. Fixit for a multiuser computer system or BBS.
T-1, T-3: Carrier systems for transmitting digital information in telephone networks. T-1 runs at 1.544 Mbps and T-3 runs at 45 Mbps. The Internet backbone runs on T-3 lines.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): The primary protocol that is the standard enabling different computers on the Internet to communicate with each other.
Telcos: Telephone companies.
Teleputer: Computer-based multimedia system that connects users to the Information Highway's full range of services.
Telnet: Communications protocol that allows users to login to remote computers and access their resources as if using a local machine.
Twisted Pair: The copper wires used in telephone networks are twisted together in pairs. Thus "twisted pair" is often used as a synonym for telephone wiring. (Could also be a rock group?)
URL (Universal Resource Locator): The address of a document or resource located on the World Wide Web.
Usenet: A specific portion of the Internet newsgroups which includes the alt.*, sci.*, and comp.* hierarchies amongst others.
Videoconferencing: Point-to-point or multipoint communications providing video and audio links between the participants.
VOD (Video on Demand): A service which supplies film and television programming at a time specified by the consumer.
WWW (World Wide Web): An Internet-based network of file servers on which data is stored in HyperText documents providing links to other documents, files, and servers.
NEXT | HOME