Application - General term for software designed for a particular task, such as word processing, sending e-mail or browsing the Internet.

Archive - Information or content that has been stored in a retrievable format.

AVI (Audio Video Interleaved): A common audio/video (multimedia) file format for developing, and viewing small videos and movies. Files are usually large in size and may take considerable time to download.

ASF (Active Streaming Format): The standard file format of WindowsMedia™ Technologies files

B - Bandwidth - The amount of information that can pass through a network connection. For a digital connection it is usually measured in bits per second, represented in Kilobits Kbps), Megabits (Mbps) and Gigabits (Gbps).

Bit - Short for "binary digit", bits are used to describe transmission speed. A bit has either a value of one (high current) or zero (low current) and is the smallest unit of measure of data in a computer.

Bit rate - A measure of bandwidth, expressed as the number of bits transmitted per second.

Bitmap - Any picture contained on a Web page. Bitmaps come from many file formats, including JPG. GIF, and TIF.

BMP (Bitmap or .bmp) - All pictures used in Web pages are bitmaps. A bitmap converts the picture to be made up of many dots or "pixels". If you zoom in or try to scale up a bitmap, it will look blocky.

Browser - A program used to view, or otherwise access documents on the Internet. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are well known "Web browsers" .

Buffering -The method for compiling enough data to begin streaming over the Internet. Bandwidth and Internet traffic determine the length of buffering time.

Byte - Short for "binary term". A byte is the basic unit of measurement for computer storage, typically the amount needed to store a typed number or letter.

C - Cache - (pronounced cash) The term for high-speed computer memory that temporarily stores web pages you have visited and other frequently used data, so tat data can be accessed more quickly.

Clip - Refers to a media file in a Web page or presentation.

Compression - By compressing data, or making it smaller, your computer uses less memory to store information. Compressed data takes less bandwidth and allows faster transmission.
Configuration - Refers to the technical specifications of the computer to be used for the digital signage application. These specifications typically include processor speed, the amount of RAM, hard drive space, and the type of video card in the machine.
Cookie - A small file from a server computer, sent to and stored by your computer when you browse certain Web sites. When you log onto a Web page and fill in your name and other information, this may result in a cookie that stores information such as your login, or username, passwords, shopping cart information, etc. on your computer . When you revisit the Web site, the cookie enables the server to "recognize" you, eliminating the need to reenter the information.

D - Data - Information in the form of text, numbers, sounds, or images that has been transcribed into bits, and can then be processed by a computer.

Digital Media - Sound, pictures, text and video available in digital format for downloading or streaming across the Internet or other network.

Domain - The address, or URL, of a specific web site. In the US, common domains are , .com (commercial), .net (network related) .edu (education), .gov (government agency), .org(nonprofit and research organizations). Outside the US, domains indicate country: ca (Canada), uk (United Kingdom), au (Australia), jp (Japan), fr (France), etc.

Download - To transfer a file(s) from one computer onto another, or install software onto your computer from the Web.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines) - A high speed Internet access telecommunications line that provides an always-on, 24/7 connection to the Internet. DSL offers download rates much faster than a 56K modem.

E - Embedded Player - A media player, such as RealPlayer, placed within a browser window so that only the media clip shows.

Encoding - Rewriting or transferring media sources from one format to another (i.e., from video tape to RealVideo).

Extension (or File Extension) One or several letters at the end of a file name that determine how the file is formatted and viewed. Filename extensions usually follow a period (dot) . For example, this.txt is a plain text file, that.htm or that.html denotes an HTML file. Some common image extensions are picture.jpg, or picture.gif.

F - Flash - A vector graphic animation software that requires much less bandwidth on the Web or on a CD than traditional video.

Format - Different programs and devices store information in a variety of ways. The specific organization of information a program or device requires is called its format. Some types of formatting are VHS, DVD, and PDF.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a common method of transferring files via the Internet from one computer to another. Depending on which 3M digital Signage software you use, you may be provided with a specific FTP login in order to access content files for your digital signage project.

G - GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - A graphics format in which images are constructed of tiny dots, also called pixels. Commonly used on the Internet because GIF files are small and can be downloaded quickly.

Graphics - Everything seen on a web page that is not text based, including pictures and illustration. There are basically two types of graphics for computers, vector graphics (object -based) that use computer algorithms to describe the shape, and raster graphics (bitmaps), that define the shape pixel by pixel.

H - Host - Computer that provides documents to users, functioning as the beginning and end point for data transfers.

HTML - (Hypertext Markup Language) A standardized language of computer code imbedded in all Web documents, that tells the Web browser how to display everything on the screen. When you view a Web page, you are looking at the end result of this code working with your browser.

Hyperlink or Hypertext - The text or graphics on a Web page that can be selected by clicking on them with your mouse, and will connect you to a different area of the same Web page or a different Web page. Hyperlinks are also used to load multimedia files, such as AVI movies.

I - Image-Illustrations - pictures or nearly anything else graphic that is not text.

Imagemap - A graphic or image that contains interactive areas. When clicked on, it launches another program or Web page. Imagemap's should not be confused with a clickable graphic. A clickable graphic usually contains just one link. An imagemap usually has many hyperlinked areas.

Intranet - The internal computer communications network used by businesses and corporations.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that sells connections to the Internet for personal or business use. before you can connect to the Internet, you must first establish an account with an ISP.

J - Java - A network-oriented programming language invented by Sun Microsystems designed for writing programs that can be downloaded to your computer through the Internet. Using small Java programs (called "Applets"), Web pages can include functions such as animations, calculators, and interesting functions.

JavaScript - A simple programming language developed to enable Web page authors to design greater interactivity into Web pages.

JPEG or JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - A compression technique for still images that reduces them to a small percentage of the original file size. Not a good choice for text or simple line drawings.

K - Keyword - Usually refers to a word or phrase typed into a browser to begin an online search.

L - Language - refers to programming languages, which like human languages, involve sets of rules and syntax that computers understand, allowing computers to carry out the tasks set by the program.

Link - Normally a hypertext entry which lets the reader jump to a new location. In current Web use, it specifically means a Web address, or URL, which, when clicked on, transfers the reader to that location.

Local Playback - A file that exists on the same computer device, versus an external source such as the web.

M - Media - This is the blanket term used for audio, images such as photos, and video, as well as the ways they are used to reach the viewer (i.e., streaming media).

Multimedia - As the name implies, multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media. This includes text, graphics, audio, video, etc. For example, a presentation involving audio and video clips would be considered a "multimedia presentation." All 3M Digital Signage Software enables playback of a multimedia presentation for digital signage.

Memory - The actual amount of data a computer can store either on a disk or on a chip.

MPEG - ( standards developed by Moving Picture Experts Group) A type of audio/video file found on the Internet. There are three major MPEG standards: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4.

MP3 (MPEG1, audio layer 3) - A format used for the compression, storing and transmitting of CD-quality audio, which can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or handheld MP3 player.

Multimedia - Presenting information by means of more than one "media", i.e. any combination of traditional computer graphics, text, animation, sound, and video.

N - Network - Two or more computers linked together, usually by phone lines that can share information and resources, including software. When you are connected to the Internet, your computer is part of a network. The most commonly found networks are LANs (Local Area Networks) in which computers share the same office, room, or building and WANs (Wide Area Networks) in which the computers are connected at different geographic locations by telephone lines or even radio waves (wireless communications). FRED Digital Signage software by 3M Digital Signage supports both LAN and WAN type networks.

O - On-demand - Archived or stored content that users can access whenever they want, without the constraints of a traditional broadcast schedule.

Online - Actively connected to the Internet. Adjective: Activities of Internet users, such as online shopping.

Operating System - The foundation type of software for controlling a computer system (i.e. Windows, Macintosh, Linux)

P - PDF (Portable Document Format) - file format developed by Adobe Systems that is used to capture and deliver almost any kind of document, without changing the format or recreating the document in other applications. Usually used for long formats. Viewing a PDF file requires Acrobat Reader, which is built into most browsers and can be downloaded free from Adobe.

Platform - Often used to define the operating system your computer runs on (i.e., Windows, Macintosh, Linux), but platform can also refer to your computer hardware (i.e., Macintosh or PC).

Plug-in - A type of software that extends the capabilities of programs already on your computer. For instance, you probably require a plug-in to see certain types of animation or watch movies on your computer.

Portal - A Web site that serves as a starting point to other destinations or activities on the Web. In addition to the initial web site information sought, a portal often includes links to all types of information, not necessarily related to the portal's initial Web site subject. FRED SE and FRED NE use FREDNexus.com, a portal designed for web based administration of the software.

PowerPoint - Microsoft Office software that lets you create slide- and narration-enhanced business presentations. All FRED Digital Signage Software solutions support PowerPoint.

Protocol - An agreed upon established method for transmitting data between two devices over the Internet. Push - In client/server "push" refers to sending data to a client without the client requesting it. The most widely used push technology is e-mail, it is a push technology because you receive mail whether you ask for it or not, that is, the sender pushes the message to the receiver. In programming, "push" is to place a data item onto a stack. In the case of FRED NE Digital Signage software, the stack is a data area (or buffer) used for storing requests for content that need to be handled.

Q - QuickTime -Software program that allows the user to view and experience a variety of digital media, including video, sound, animation, graphics, text, music, and 360-degree virtual reality ( VR ) scenes.

R - RAM (Random Access Memory) - Hardware inside your computer for short-term storage of data. It comes in 32-bit, 64-bit, 128-bit, 256-bit, and higher. Additional Ram can be added to your computer to increase the amount of storage capability.

Real time - The actual time an event takes place. For example, real-time can refer to a live broadcast or an active exchange between a host and user.

Resolution - Described in dots per inch (dpi), resolution refers to the clarity and detail of an image. On a 15-inch monitor there are usually 680 pixels of width, times 480 lines of height. This multiplies to a total of around 300,000 pixels, or a resolution of around 50 dpi. The higher the dpi, the more clear and precise the image will appear.

Resources - The term used to describe anything you draw upon and need for a particular task. For example, e-mailing a large file requires network resources, which include the size of the server, the speed of connection, scalability and so on.

RGB: Red, Green, Blue: the three colors that are combined to comprise all the "mixed" colors on a computer screen.

S - Server - A computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers. The term can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server, or to the machine on which the software is running, e.g. "Your content will be stored on the FRED NE server, so you will not need to purchase a computer for your digital signage content storage."

SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) - a markup (layout) language that lets Web site creators easily define and synchronize multimedia elements (video, sound, still images) for Web presentation and interaction.

Sound Card - An expansion or circuit board that adds audio capabilities to a computer. Sound cards enable the translation of audio from the traditional analog format to digital for computer use.

Streaming media - An Internet data transfer technique that allows a live flow of digital information, both audio and video, in real time. The user needs a player, or a special program (plug-in) to hear and/or view the streaming media.

T - Template - A file that serves as a starting point for a new document. When you open a template, it is pre-formatted in some way.

TIF (Tagged Information File Format TIF or .tif a.k.a. "TIFF" or ".tiff") - A graphic file format used for still images, or bitmaps, found in Web pages.

U - Upload -Transferring data (usually a file) from the computer you are using to another computer. The opposite of download.

URL (Universal Resource Locator) - The unique address of any web document.

V - Vector Graphics -Also called "object-oriented" graphics, these programs store images using computer algorithms to define the shapes, lines, animation, and so forth. Vector graphics are growing in popularity because the images can be resized and scaled without distortion, and the file sizes are relatively small, for easy downloading on the Internet.

VBR (Variable Bit Rate) - A two-pass encoding process that analyzes and compresses movies to an optimal data rate; as opposed to a uniform data rate, VBR varies from second to second.

W - WAV (.wav) Pronounced "wave", refers to a digital audio sound file.

Webcast - Web delivery of a live or delayed broadcast, such as movies, videos, or radio and television.

Web Designer - The person responsible for creating how a web site looks. Usually trained in creative graphic design, but also needs an understanding of Web-based programming and information architecture in order to create a site that is highly functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Web Developer - A person who builds a web site from a technical standpoint. Provides expertise for programming and software technologies.

Web Site - A place on the World Wide Web used for communicating a specific message and information. A site is usually comprised of graphics, text, audio, video, and possibly dynamic media.

Wizard - A built-in help file that guides the user through a step-by-step process designed to help set up a particular application or program.

Z - Zip (.zip) An easy-to-use data compression technology that holds directory structures in addition to files. Large file and graphics are usually compressed as ZIP files to sent over the Internet to another user. After the ZIP file is downloaded, a decompression software program to "unzip" it is needed.

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