Glossary (F-K)

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Fax Machine
A device that scans a paper document and transmits the image over the telephone system.

Fiber Optic
A type of broadband technology with speeds far exceeding that of DSL or cable modem.
• See also: Broadband, DSL, Cable Modem

File Hosting Service
A company that provides space on a server it owns for the general public.

File Sharing
The accessing or sharing of files by one or more users.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A standard way to transfer files between computers.

FireWire
A high-speed connector widely used for downloading video from digital camcorders to the computer.
• See also: USB

Flat Panel/Screen
A thin display monitor used for computers and TVs.

Frame
A single image in a sequence of images.
 
G.Lite ADSL
An alternative to cable that allows for high-speed, "always on" digital communications over standard phone lines.
• See also: Cable

GIF
A small file format with a limit of 256 colors. Image quality is less than a JPEG or TIFF.
• See also: JPEG, TIFF

Gigabit Ethernet (GigE)
A type of local area network (LAN) technology that raises transmission speed to 1 Gbps.
• See also: Local Area Network (LAN), Router

Global Systems For Mobile Communications (GSM)
One of the world's leading digital cellular systems, most popular in Europe and Asia.

Hacker
A person who develops a program that can break into a computer, Web site, database, etc.

Handheld
Handheld electronic devices, such as a BlackBerry, that lets a user access the Internet, send e-mail, organize a schedule and more.
• See also: PDA, Blackberry

Hard Drive
The primary storage device in desktop and laptop computers, servers and other equipment.
• See also: Desktop, Laptop, Server

High Definition DVD (HD-DVD)
High-density disk format designed to hold high-definition (HD) video. Competitor to Blu-ray.
• See also: High Definition (HD)

HDTV Ready
Any TV that can display high-definition formats when connected to a separate HDTV tuner.
• See also: High Definition (HD), High-Definition TV (HDTV)

High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP)
Helps prevent digital audio and video content from being copied or intercepted while in transmission.
• See also: DVI, HDMI

High Definition (HD)
Describes image resolution or audio quality that is far superior to the highest quality standard definition TVs and stereos.
• See also: Resolution

High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA)
An organization whose goal is to create standards-based, interoperable solutions to enhance the high-definition (HD) entertainment experience.
• See also: High Definition (HD)

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
A USB-like connector capable of transmitting high-quality and high-bandwidth streams of audio and video between compatible devices.
• See also: USB

High-Definition TV (HDTV)
A high-resolution digital television broadcast and playback system, superior to traditional TV quality.

Home Theatre In A Box (HTIB)
A system that contains the equipment a user needs to create a home entertainment center, such as speakers and subwoofers.

Hotspot
Locations, such as airports, hotels and even Starbucks, that offer public access to Wi-Fi wireless networks.
• See also: Wi-Fi

Hub
A device used to connect multiple computers to a single network connection.

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
The first four letters of a Web site address, representing the protocol used to connect to the Web.
• See also: URL

Inkjet Printer
A popular type of printer that uses wet ink or toner, resulting in pages that can smear upon output. Appropriate for minimal printing needs.
• See also: Laser Printer

Interactive Television (ITV)
Allows viewers to interact with television content as they view it, beyond controlling the volume or channel.

Interlaced Scanning
A method that transmits and presents an entire picture on a television screen in two passes.
• See also: Progressive Scanning

International Standards Organization (ISO)
One of the world's largest developers of technical standards, such as 802.11.
• See also: 802.11

Internet
An electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world.

Internet Protocol (IP)
The basic communications protocol of the Internet.
• See also: Protocol

Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A company that provides access to the Internet.

IP Address
A unique string of numbers that identifies a computer or server on the Internet.

IP Telephony
Enables users to make phone calls over the Internet via a computer and some specialized equipment, such as a VoIP phone. 
• See also: VoIP

iPhone
Apple Computer's new mobile phone.

iPod
Apple Computer's popular music player.

JPEG
A file format used for the transport of compressed images. Image quality is better than a GIF but less than a TIFF.
• See also: GIF, TIFF