Consumer Technology
Definitions about consumer technology including Internet acronyms, tech lingo, multimedia definitions, words about personal computing and peripherals as well as terms used in wireless and mobile computing.
Desktops and laptops
Terms related to PCs, including definitions about desktop computers and words and phrases about computer components.
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product development (new product development - NPD)
Product development, also called new product management, is a series of steps that includes the conceptualization, design, development and marketing of newly created or newly rebranded goods or services.
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channel partner
A channel partner is a person or organization that provides services or sells products on behalf of a software, hardware, networking or cloud services vendor. Value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators (SIs), consultants, managed service providers (MSPs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and independent software vendors (ISVs) may all be called channel partners.
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principle of least privilege (POLP)
The principle of least privilege (POLP), an important concept in computer security, is the practice of limiting access rights for users to the bare minimum permissions they need to perform their work.
End user hardware
Terms related to peripheral devices including definitions about keyboards or mice and words and phrases about printers, monitors, digital cameras and scanners.
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RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places on multiple hard disks to protect data in the case of a drive failure.
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customer churn (customer attrition)
Customer churn, also called customer attrition, is the number of paying customers who fail to become repeat customers. In this context, churn is a quantifiable rate of change that occurs over a specified amount of time.
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Rankine cycle
The Rankine cycle is a method of providing power in a closed system where a fluid is evaporated to perform a task and re-condensed.
Internet acronyms and lingo
Terms related to Internet acronyms and lingo, including slang definitions and jargon about texting, Twitter and other social networking sites.
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cyberterrorism
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, cyberterrorism is any 'premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which results in violence against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents.'
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AI winter
AI winter is a quiet period for artificial intelligence research and development. In the past few years, AI has been on a long, strong upswing, but after several years of hype, advances and implementations, some analysts are predicting another AI winter.
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Web 2.0
Web 2.0 are websites and applications that make use of user-generated content for end-users. Web 2.0 is characterized by greater user interactivity and collaboration, more pervasive network connectivity and enhanced communication channels.
Internet technologies
This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet technologies, including definitions about port numbers, standards and protocols and words and phrases about how the Internet works.
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iBeacon
iBeacon is a small-scale network device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and acts as a transmitter to detect and track smartphones.
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Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol used for initiating, maintaining, modifying and terminating real-time sessions that involve video, voice, messaging and other communications applications and services between two or more endpoints on IP networks.
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frictionless checkout
Frictionless checkout is a collection of technologies and processes used to make online and retail shopping faster and easier for consumers.
Multimedia and graphics
Terms related to multimedia, including graphics, animation and video definitions and words and phrases about images and sound.
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Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics (MDA)
Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics (MDA) is a design framework that helps video game designers (and the software developers who work with them) understand what effect a game's rules, player capabilities and setting have on the success of a game.
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WebGL
WebGL is a graphics application programming interface (API) created for use in web applications. It is based off the open graphics language (OpenGL) embedded standard (ES).
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motion analysis
Motion analysis is a measuring technique used in computer vision, image processing and high-speed photography applications to detect movement.
Personal computing
Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.
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iBeacon
iBeacon is a small-scale network device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and acts as a transmitter to detect and track smartphones.
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greenhouse effect
The Greenhouse effect is the warming effect of the sun on greenhouse gases like CO2 that act to trap this heat in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere release heat absorbed from the sun's IR. Some of the heat released reaches the earth, along with heat from the sun that has penetrated the atmosphere. Both the solar heat and the radiated heat are absorbed by the earth and released; some is reabsorbed by greenhouse gases to perpetuate the cycle. The more of these gases that exists, the more heat is prevented from escaping into space and, consequently, the more the earth heats.
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attention management
Attention management is an area of endeavor seeking to optimize the way people allocate their limited capacity for focused mental engagement.
Printers
Terms related to printers, including definitions about scanners and words and phrases about inkjet, laser, photo and all-in-one printers.
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offset printing (offset lithography)
Offset printing, also called offset lithography, is a method of mass-production printing in which the images on metal plates are transferred (offset) to rubber blankets or rollers and then to the print media.
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rafts, skirts and brims
Rafts, skirts and brims are structures created at the base of the bottom of a 3D print. These structures are temporary and used to improve print reliability and quality.
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print bed
A print bed is the surface on a 3D printer where a print head lays down the materials that make up a 3D print.
Wireless and mobile
Terms related to wireless and mobile technology, including definitions about consumer mobile technology devices and communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and LTE.
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Apple Business Manager
Apple Business Manager (ABM) is an online portal for IT administrators who deploy Mac OS, iOS and tvOS devices in an enterprise or educational setting.
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iBeacon
iBeacon is a small-scale network device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and acts as a transmitter to detect and track smartphones.
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Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a contactless mobile financial transactions service developed for Apple devices.