Dear WAOE members and lurkers,

((Here is something important, I wrote, and thought might interest to
some educators..Thanks.-Arun))

Glossary of Distance Education and Internet Terms

by
Arun Kumar Tripathi
The University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany
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Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): A binding document signed by all users
that
explains the rules of Internet use at an institution.

Address: The identification of a physical or virtual distinct entity in
a
network. On the Internet, this network address is known as a URL,
Uniform
Resource Locator, e.g., http://www.waoe.org

Amplitude: The amount of variety in a signal. Commonly thought of as the
height of a wave.

Analog: Representation of coding of information in a continuous signal
that varies in proportion to what is being represented, compared to
digital, where information is coded into discrete numerical values.
Voice
and video sources(microphones, cameras) produce analog information;
electronic equipment produces digital information. Conventional
telephone
networks and transmissions have been analog, with modems needed to
convert
digital computer data to analog form for sending over the network.
Analog
networks are subject to interference, relatively low in reproduction
quality, and not able to handle large quantities of data. The analog
network is rapidly being replaced by a Digital Network.

Archie: A program that locates files that are freely available on
anonymous ftp sites across the Internet. To use Archie, telnet to one of
these sites and login as archie.
telnet://archie.unl.edu
telnet://archie.internic.net
telnet://archie.rutgers.edu
telnet://archie.ans.net

(ARPANET) Advanced Research Projects Agency Network: The first
"Internet".
Linked UCLA, Stanford and defense contractors beginning in the late
1960's.
Retired in 1990 and its younger, brother, the Internet was brought
on-line.

(ASCII) American Standard Code for Information Interchange: A standard
for
digital representation of letters, numbers, and control codes;
understood by
most computers.

Asynchronous: It means there is a lack of synchronization. A method of
transmitting data over a network using a start bit at the beginning of a
character and a stop bit at the end. The time intervak between
characters
may be varying lengths. In video, a signal is asynchronous when its
timing
differs from that of the system reference signal.

Asynchronous Distance Education: Education in which interaction between
instructor and student does not take place simultaneously, e.g.,
traditional correspondence courses.

ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode. High Speed (up to 155 Mbps), high
bandwidth, low-delay, transport technology, integrating multiple data
types (voice, video, and data), International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) has selected ATM as the basis for the future broadband network
because of its flexibility and suitability for both transmission and
switching. It may be used in the phone and computer networks of the
future. It is also a multiplexed information transfer technique of
sending
data in irregular time intervals using a code such as ASCII. ATM allows
most modern computers to communicate with one another easily.

Audio Conference: Audio teleconference. An electronic meeting in which
participants in different locations use telephones or audioconferencing
equipment to interactively communicate with each other in real time.

Backbones: The Central network infrastructure of the Internet is often
referred to as the backbone and its allows data to travel from one
network
to another.

Band: A range of frequencies between defined upper and lower limits.

Bandwidth: A Term used to describe how much data you can send through a
connection to the Net. The taansmission capacity of a given medium, in
terms of how much data the medium can transmit in a gievn amount of
time.
The greater the bandwidth, the faster the rate of data transmission.
Information carrying capacity of a communication channel.

Baudrate: The speed of a modem measured in bits per second, 33.6Kbps is
the current fastest speed.

Bit:An acronym for BInary digiT. It is the basic unit of information in
the machine world. A bit is a digit in binary form and carries one of
two
values, 0 or 1.

bps: Bits per second- a measurement of data transmission speed.

Broadband: A loose term used to describe a high bandwidth lines, usually
a
T-3 line, with 45Mps or higher

Browser: A Program which allows your computer to download and display
documents from the World Wide Web. The two most popular browsers are
Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. It is also a software that
allows users to access and navigate the World Wide Web. Some Web
browsers,
such as Mosaic and Netscape, are graphical. Lynx is a text-based
browser.

Bulletin Board Service (BBS): A forum for users to browse and exchange
information. Computer BBSs are accessible by telephone via a personal
computer
and a modem. Many BBSs are small operations run by a single person that
allow
only several users to log on at the same time. Some are much larger and
allow
hundreds of users to login simultaneously to use the system. Huge,
commercial
examples are America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy.

Byte: A single computer character, generally eight bits. For example,
the
letter "G" in binary code is 01000111.

Cable Television: A broadband communications technology in which
multiple
television channels as well as audio and data signals are transmitted
either one way or both ways through a direct by wire distribution system
to single or multiple locations.

CD-i- Comapct Disc Interactive: A multimedia format that uses digital
and
optical laser technology to store and display text, video, still, and
animated images. Not compatible with the CD-ROM format, CD-i uses a
stand-alone player that connects directly to a television set.

CD-ROM, Compact Disc-Read Only Memory: A record like storage medium that
uses digital and optical laser technology to store about 600Mb of text,
pictures, and sound on a single disk. With newer versions (CD-ROMXA,
CDTV,
CD-i) animations and moving pictures can be retrieved from the discs.

(CGI) Common Gateway Interface: An interface between a Web site and
a user. It allows forms, surveys and other documents to be filled
on-line
and the results automatically sent to the web site's UNIX server.

Codec (COder/DECoder): Device used to convert analog signals to digital
signals for transmission and reconvert signals upon reception at the
remote
site while allowing for the signal to be compressed for less expensive
transmission.

Compressed Video: Video signals are downsized to allow travel along a
smaller carrier.

Compression: Reducing the amount of visual information sent in a signal
by
only transmitting changes in action.

COM port: Communication or serial port on PCs usually used for a data
communication interface

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI): Teaching process in which a
computer
is used to enhance the education of a student.

(CPU) Central Processing Unit: The component of a computer in which data
processing takes place.

(CSU/DSU) Customer Service Unit/Digital Service Unit: Sometimes called a
digital modem. It does not modulate or demodulate, but converts a
computer's
uni-polar digital signal to a bi-polar digital signal for transmission
over
ISDN lines.

Cyberspace: The nebulous "place" where humans interact over computer
networks, same as virtual space.

Database: A computer holding large amounts of information that can be
searched by an Internet user. A storehouse of information on the Net.

Desktop Video: The merger of video, telephone, and computer technologies
for the purpose of delivering multimedia information and
telecommunication
capabilities at the individual computer workstation.

Dial-up: It is using telephone lines or ISDN networks to connect your
computer to the Internet.

Dial-Up Network: Connection to a network (Internet) using a modem and
telephone lines. Usually done with a commercial on-line service,
e.g.,AOL,
or a Internet Service Provider (ISP) e.g., NETCOM.

Digital: A data signal transmitted using discrete steps in voltage
rather
than frequency, as in an analog signal.

Directory: A list of files or other directories on a computer at an
Internet site.

Distance Education: Conveying knowledge from a distance. The
organizational framework and process of providing instruction at a
distance. Distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s)
are
physically separated, and technology such that voice, video,data and/or
print is used to bridge the instructional gap.

Distance Learning: The term Distance Learning is typically used describe
video-enabled instruction, that means, it is integrated voice, data, and
video transmissions) in college, university, medical school or
kindergarten through the Twelfth grade environment. Distance Learning
permits especially gifted teachers to reach an almost limitless number
of
students around the world.

Distribution System: Any program that can be received by a satellite
antenna and distributed into several viewing areas.

Domain: It is the part of the Internet address that specifies your
computer's location in the world. The address is written as a series of
names separated by full stops. For example, the Domain name at Global
SchoolHouse Foundation is www.gsh.org, this shows that Global
SchoolHouse
Foundation is an organization. The another example,
www.statistik.uni-dortmund.de, it shows that Statistics faculty is
connected to the University of dortmund, and the last letters .de shows
the it is in (Deutschland) Germany. The German word for germany is
(de)utschland.
The Most common top level domains:
.edu Educations(US)
.net network resource
.com Commercial(US) www.aspensys.com
.org Organization(US)
.de (Code for Germany..)
.gov Public bodies..www.odci.gov/cia, //www.fbi.gov
.mil Military http://www.darpa.mil.us
.us (Code for United States)


Download: The process of taking information stored on the internet and
copying it to your computer's hard disk, You will find yourself
downloading the latest shareware www.search.com Transfer files from a
server to a PC across a network (Internet).

(DVI) Digital Video Interactive: A format for recording digital video
onto
compact disc allowing for compression and full motion video.

(DVTC) Desktop Videoconferencing: Videoconferencing on a personal
computer.

Echo Cancellation: The process of eliminating the acoustic echo in a
videoconferencing room.

E-mail Address: The Unique address within the Internet which allows
people
to send mail to you. Your e-mail address is made up of your name, the
symbol and your domain name, so the address is
tripathi@... is the address for the user
tripathi working at amadeus machine at the Statistics Faculty of
University
of Dortmund in Germany. To locate net users, please visit at
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/finding-addresses

Facsimile (FAX):System used to transmit textual or graphical images over
standard telephone lines.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions. FAQS are files stored on the Net which
store the answers to Frequently Asked Questions, if you are stuck check
the FAQS first before you ask you own question.

FDDI Fiber Distributed Data Interface: a standard that defines
high-speed
fiber networks.

Fiber Optic Cable: The transport fibres of glass or plastic that are
enclosed by material of a lower index of refraction and that transmit
light throughout their length by internal reflections. These fibres are
bundled into cables and are capable of transmitting very large amounts
of
digital information (data) in both directions with very little loss in
signal quality.

Filter: Hardware or software designed to restrict access to certain
areas
on the Internet.

Finger: Software that allows the user to enter the address of an
Internet
site to find information about that systemOs users or a particular user.
Some finger addresses return other topic-specific information.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP): An application program that uses TCP/IP
protocol to allow you to move files from a distant computer to a local
computer using a network like the Internet.

Flame: It is an inflammatory e-mail usually directed against the poster
of
a message.

Free-Net: Any one of more than two dozen freely accessible Internet
sites,
primarily offering community and educational information.

Frequency: The number of complete oscillations per second of an
electromagnetic wave..

Full Duplex: Process that allows both parties to Receive (listen) and
transmit (talk) at the same time.

Full Motion Video: Signal which allows transmission of complete action
taking place at the origination site.

Fully Interactive Video: (Two way interactive video) Two sites interact
with audio and video as if they were collocated.

Gateway: A network element(node) that performs conversions between
different coding and transmission formats.

Gopher: A menu-based system for browsing Internet information.

Graphical interface Software designed to allow the user to execute
commands by
pointing and clicking on icons or text.

GUI- Graphical User Interface: A picture like control panel or screen(as
opposed to a text-based screen), that makes a computer or presentation
system easy to use. Amiga, Macintosh, and Windows environments are
example
of GUIs.

Hacker: A computer user who illegally visits networked computers to look
around or cause harm.

Half Duplex: Communication process that allows only one parties to
transmit (talk) at a time.

Home Page or Homepage: the top level hypertext document in a collection
of
pages or web site. Often uses index.htm as file name.

Host: A network computer that can receive information from other
computers.

(HTML) HyperText Markup Language: The programming language used to
create
web pages.

(HTTP) Hypertext Transfer Protocol: The protocol used to provide hyper
text links between pages. It is the standard way of transfering HTML
documents between Web servers and browsers.

Hypertext: A document which has been marked up to allow a user to select
words or pictures within the document, click on them, and connect to
further
information.

Infobot (or mailbot): An email address that automatically returns
information
requested by the user.

Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS): Microwave-based,
high-frequency
television used in educational program delivery.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): A digital telecommunications
standard allowing communication channels to carry voice, video, and data
simultaneously, see module three.

Interactive Media: Frequency assignment that allows for a two-way
interaction or exchange of information.

Internet: A worldwide network of networks. It si also the network of
networks that connects more than three million computers (called hosts).
The Internet is the virtual space in which users send and receive email,
login to remote computers (telnet), browse databases of information
(gopher, World Wide Web, WAIS), and send and receive programs (ftp)
contained on these computers.

Internet account: Purchased through an Internet service provider, the
account assigns a password and email address to an individual or group.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC): Interactive, real-time discussions between
Internauts using text messages. Users log into designated Net computers
and join discussions already in progress. More information about IRC can
be obtained via ftp.
Ftp to: cs-ftp.bu.edu

Internet server: A computer that stores data that can be accessed via
the
Internet.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): Any organization that provides access
to
the Internet. Many ISPs also offer technical assistance to schools
looking
to become Internet information providers by placing their schools
information online. They also help schools get connected to the Net.

Internet site: A computer connected to the Internet containing
information
that can be accessed using an Internet navigation tool such as ftp,
telnet, gopher, or a Web browser.

(IP) Internet Protocol: The underlying packet standard used to connect
networks over the Internet. IP is half of a protocol suite that works
and
must work with TCP.

ISDN- Integrated Services Digital Network: A type of digital phone
service
that provides versatility in terms of switching and data management.

ISO: International Standardization Organization, An international
standards body.

ITFS- Instructional Television Fixed Service: A band of low-power
microwave frequencies set aside by the Federal Communications
Commisson(FCC) exclusively for the transmission of educational
programming
and licensed to public institutions.

JAVA: A Computer language developed by SUN which allows you to write
software which works on a wide range of computers . JAVA is currently
the
programming language of choice on the Internet and it allows tiny
programs
to be created and sent over the network, More information is available
at
http://java.sun.com

JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group, a joint effort of ISO and TSS.
JPEG has established an international standard for still image
compression.

Kbps: One Thousand bps, actual number is 1024 bps.

LAN- Local Area Network: A private transmission that interconnects
computers within a building or among buildings for the purpose of
sharing
voice, data, facsimile, and/or video.

LaserDisc: A record-like storage medium that uses analog and laser
optical
technology to store up to 54,000 full colour still pictures and 30-60
minutes of full motion video on a disc. LaserDisc players can be
controlled by computer and can provide random access to any segment on
the
disc within 1-3 seconds.

LCD Panel: A device using a semi-transparent liquid crystal display(LCD)
that allows the display of computer information on an overhead
projector.
The panels cut the light substantially, requiring very bright
projectors.

Listserv: An e-mail program that allows multiple computer users to
connect
onto a single system, creating an on-line discussion.

Local Area Network (LAN): Two or more local computers that are
physically
connected.

(MBONE) Multicast Backbone: a network that works in conjunction with the
Internet for audio and video applications

Microcomputer: A computer with a microprocessor chip-based processing
unit. Microcomputers are the original personal computers that many
people
use at home and at work.

Microwave: Electromagnetic waves that travel in a straight line and are
used to and from satellites and for short distances (i.e., up to 30
miles).

MODEM: Acronym for MOulate DEModulate. Hardware that allows computers to
interact with each other via telephone lines by converting digital
signals
to analog for transmission along analog lines. MOdulator/DEModulator, a
gizmo which translates the digital information your computer produces
into
analogue signals that can be sent down the phone lines.

MOO: Acronym for a lot of things, on of which is Multi-user-dimension
Object Oriented. They are multimedia, interactive environments in
virtual
space. Formerly in the confines of Telnet, MOOs now have taken advantage
of the WWW.

MPEG -Moving Pictures Experts Group: The group that has defined the
multimedia compression standard for consumer and professional digital
audio and video.

Mosaic: A dated example of browser.

Mbps: One million bps, actual number is1,048,576

Multimedia: Any document which uses multiple forms of communication,
such
as text, audio, and/or video.

Multi-Point Control Unit (MCU): Computerized switching system which
allows
point-to-multipoint videoconferencing.

National Information Infrastructure (NII): The official U.S. government
name for the Internet and other computer networks. Commonly known as the
Information Superhighway, please see at http://www.benton.org

Net surfer: Someone who browses the Internet with no definite
destination.

Network: A group of computers that are connected in some fashion. Most
school networks are known as LANs, or Local Area Networks, because they
are networks linking computers in one small area. The Internet could be
referred to as a WAN, or a Wide Area Network, because it connects
computers in more than one local area. It is also a series of points
connected by physical or virtual connects.

Netiquette: The Etiquette of using the Internet, to avoid breaching
Netiquette make sure that you investigate any FAQs or new user sections
of
newsgroups and do not send irrelevent e-mail.

Newsgroups: These are the bulletin boards of the Internet. There are
around 20,000 groups covering every subject under the sun. Most IAPs
have
a newsgroup server which periodically takes all new messages from
a newsgroup feed and adds the messages which have been posted by its own
users. To access the newsgroups stored on your IAPs newsgroup server you
need a newsreader program.

Online/Offline: When you are logged onto a computer through your modem,
you are said to be online. When you are using your computer but are not
connected to a computer through your modem, youOre said to be working
offline. On-line is also a Buzz word that indicates access to a
computer
network.

PC(Personal Computer): A generic term used to describe many kinds of
small
format personal computer systems found at schools, homes, and offices.
Sometimes identified by the speed of the central processing board
(486,6840,etc.).

(POP) Point of Presence: actual site of an ISP or other service

(PPP) Point-to-Point Protocol: a type of Internet protocol that uses the
serial (COM) port connection.

Protocol: A formal set of standards, rules, or formats for exchanging
data
that assures uniformity between computers and applications.

QuickTime: A software solution developed by Apple to allow the
simulation
of moving video throughout a variety of programs. Files are known as
"Quick-Time Movies".

RAM: Random Access Memory, It is temporary memory storage area in a
computer that can be changed.

RealTime: An application in which information is received and responded
tp
immediately.

Request For Comments (RFC): Online documents that have to do with
technical standards for the Internet. Serial Line Internet Protocol
(SLIP)
or Point to Point Protocol (PPP, a Dial-up IP) Internet connections Both
allow a computer to connect to the Internet using a modem and telephone
line. Users then navigate the Internet using software on their own
computer. This is in contrast to using a Dialup Internet Connection,
where
a user is forced to navigate the Net using a text-based set of menus.

Satellite TV: Video and audio signals are relayed via a communication
device that orbits around the earth.

Scanner: A device that uses a moving optical reader to store a page or
photo for translation into digital (bitmap) information.

(SLIP) Serial Line Internet Protocol: Predecessor of PPP. Allows a user
to
connect to the Internet directly over a high-speed modem.

Server: A computer with a special service function on a network,
generally
receiving and connecting incoming information traffic.

Signature file: Return address information such as name, phone number,
and
email address that users put at the bottom of email messages.

Spam: Slang for posting the same message to multiple newsgroups--frowned
at on the Internet.

Synchronous Distance Education: Distance Education that takes place real
time but in different locations, the virtual classroom.

T-1 (DS-1): High speed line capable of carrying 1.54 Mbps. T-1 has 24
voice circuits and can be divided into 12 ISDN lines

T-2 (DS-2): High speed line capable of carrying 6.312 Mbps. 96 voice
circuits

T-3 (DS-3): High speed line capable of carrying 44.736 Mbps. 672 voice
circuits

T-4 (DS-4): High speed line capable of carrying 274.176 Mbps. 4032 voice
circuits

TCP: Transmission Control Protocol ---the BIG DADDIE of the Internet
Protocols. TCP takes the Information to be transmitted by the
application
and passes it to the IP(Internet Protocol) to be transmitted. IP is
responsible for getting a packet of information from one host to
another,
while TCP is responsible for making sure messages get from one host to
another and that the messages are understood.

Telecommunication: The science of information transport using wire,
radio,
optical, or electromagnetic channels to transmit receive signals for
voice
or data communications using electrical means.

Teleconferencing: Interactive communication among people at two or more
locations using telecommunications.

Telnet: It allows users to access computers and their data at thousands
of places around the world, most often at libraries, universities, and
government agencies.


TSS: Telecommunications Standardization Sector. The TSS develops
technically-oriented international communications standards. All member
countries of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), one of
the
specialized agencies of the United nations, can participate in the work
of
TSS.

Unix: A computer operating system commonly used on the Internet.

Uplink: The communication link from the transmitting earth station to
the
satellite.

Usenet Newsgroups: More than 10,000 topic-oriented message bases that
can
be read and posted to. Also called newsgroups, please visit at
http://www.dejanews.com

URL: A Uniform Resource Locator is basically the address of any resource
on the Internet. You type the URL in your browser and you are whizzed
off
to the appropriate site. e.g. http://www.lightspan.com

Veronica: A computer program that helps Internauts find what theyOre
looking for on gopher servers around the world. Instead of looking
through
menus, Veronica allows users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site
that holds the information they want.
Gopher to: veronica.scs.unr.edu

WAIS Wide Area Information Servers: These servers allow users to conduct
full-text keyword searches in documents, databases, and libraries
connected to
the Internet.

WWW: World Wide Web--also known as WEB--this is the generic name given
to
all of the hypertext-based HTML documents on the Internet. A
revolutionary
Internet browsing system that allows point-and-click´navigation of the
Internet. The WWW is a spiderweb-like interconnection of millions of
pieces
of information located on computers around the world. Web documents use
hypertext, which incorporates text and graphical links to other
documents
and files on Internet-connected computers.


REFERENCE:-

a. The spectral virtual uniersity learning network, http://www.vu.org

b. University College and Extension Services, The Choice for Continuing
Education and Professional Development, California State University,
Long Beach.

Best Regards
Arun Kumar tripathi
E-mail: <tripathi@...>
--