3G: 3G is the third generation of mobile communications technology, up to 384 Kbps when a device is stationary. 4G: 4G is the newest generation of mobile communications technology, which can allow data transfer rates to and from mobile devices between 15 and 100 times faster than 3G networks.
Accelerometer: An accelerometer measures acceleration or movement and has been used in games or simulations. A gyroscope has been added to the iPhone 4, which also measures rotation around an axis and can be used in conjunction with the accelerometer.
API(s): API is an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface(s).
App(s): App is an abbreviation for application(s).
 Bluetooth: A short-range radio technology aimed at simplifying communications among Internet devices and between devices and the Internet.
CAC: Common Access Cards are identification cards commonly used by DoD and other government agencies to enhance security of computer systems and facilities.
CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a digital wireless 2G technology that uses a spread spectrum technique to scatter a radio signal across a wide range of frequencies. CDMA carriers include: Sprint, NexTel, Verizon, Alltel and Telus.
Cell Phone: Shortened form of for cellular phone which connects to a wireless communications network through radio wave or satellite transmissions, and may also provide Internet access.
Cellular: Frequency allocated for digital communications. Several competing cellular systems exist, including GSM and CDMA.
Cloud: The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer is called cloud computing.
COTS: Short for commercial off-the-shelf, an adjective that describes software or hardware products that are ready-made and available for sale to the general public.
CSS: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style language that describes how HTML markup is presented or styled. CSS3 is the latest version of the CSS specification.
E-book: An electronic version of a book. Reader applications for e-books are available for many cell phones.
Education: Education is an end in its own right. Through education we learn how to apply the knowledge and skills we’ve learned. Educational goals are generally negotiable. Education provides foundational self-development. Nearly all training includes some education. Nearly all education includes some training.
EPUB: EPUB (short for electronic publication; alternatively capitalized as ePub, EPub, or epub, with "EPUB" preferred) is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).
Feature Phone: Any mobile phone that is not a smartphone or PDA phone. Software for feature phones is often less powerful, less integrated with other features of the phone, and less integrated into the main user interface of the phone.
Firmware: Computer chips that have data or programs recorded on them are firmware.
Games and Simulations: According to Nielsen, games are the most popular application category used on mobile devices. In June 2011 64% of smartphone users and 54% of feature phone users played games. Games, simulations and scenarios are becoming much more important in learning.
Gestures: Uses of gestures on touch screens, starting with the iPhone, are becoming more pervasive. Users can change the size of the content with a pinch movement. Other gestures such as arm or hand movement above the screen or even eye movement are being tested in labs.
GPS: Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide satellite navigational system generally used for navigation and location determination.
GSM: Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), a 2G technology, is the de facto European standard for digital cellular telephone service, and it is also available in the Americas. GSM carriers include: AT&T, T-Mobile, SunCom and Rogers.
 HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is the mark-up language of the web.
HTML5: HTML5 is the latest iteration of that markup language, and includes new features, improvements to existing features, and scripting-based APIs. It is designed to work on just about every platform and has been adopted by most mobile phone browsers. It provides for offline storage and does not require plug-ins.
JavaScript: JavaScript® (sometimes shortened to JS) is a lightweight, object-oriented language, most known as the scripting language for web pages.
Learning: ‘Learning’ in the ADL sense is a modification of what psychologists mean by the term. It gives us a catchall-term for education, learning, performance aiding, and decision aiding, all of which are goals of ADL.
Location: A growing trend in mobile phone applications is more location-based apps that know where you and/or your friends or co-workers are and utilize that data in some way.
LTE (or 4G): Long Term Evolution (LTE) could allow data transfer rates to and from mobile devices between 15 and 100 times faster than 3G networks.
MIME: MIME is short for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, a specification for formatting non-ASCII messages so that they can be sent over the Internet. There are many predefined MIME types, such as GIF graphics files and PostScript files.
Native App: A native app is an application that was written specifically to run on a specific device or operating system versus one written to be delivered via a browser on the web.
NFC: Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that enables convenient short-range communication between electronic devices, used for access control, mobile payments, or peer-to-peer transfer of data.
OEM: OEM represents the Original Equipment Manufacturer.
OS: Operating System (OS) is software that controls the execution of programs and may provide various services for mobile devices.
PIM: PIM is short for Personal Information Management (or Manager).
QA: QA is used for Quality Assurance.
RFID: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology similar in theory to bar code identification used from clothing tags to missiles to pet tags to food. RFID eliminates the need for line-of-sight reading that bar coding depends on and can be done at greater distances than bar code scanning.
RIA: Rich Internet Applications (RIA) are web applications that are delivered via a browser plug-in such as Adobe Flash, Java or Microsoft Silverlight.
ROI: ROI stands for Return on Investment.
RSS: RSS (most commonly expanded as "Really Simple Syndication") is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format. [Definition from Wikipedia]
SaaS: Software as a Service (SaaS, typically pronounced 'sass') is subscription-based software deployment where all upgrades are provided during the term of the subscription. The software is hosted and updated on a central location, and does not reside on client computers.
 SDK: Software Development Kit is often called an SDK.
Sensor: A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity (such as heat or pressure or light or motion, etc.) and converts it into a signal, which can be read by an observer or by an instrument.
Smartphone: A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality.
SMS: Short Message Service (SMS) is the text communication service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices. SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application in the world.
SoC: System-on-a-chip or system on chip (SoC or SOC) refers to integrating all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single integrated circuit (chip). It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions – all on a single chip substrate. A typical application is in the area of embedded systems. [Definition from Webopedia]
Touch Screen: A touch-sensitive screen that serves as the interface on some smartphones for controlling applications or entering data with a software keypad.
Training: Training is a means to an end. Training is done to learn how to do something—it provides the knowledge and skill to do a task or a job. Training objectives are generally non-negotiable. Nearly all training includes some education. Nearly all education includes some training.
Transcoding: Transcoding refers to the operation of changing data from one format to another, such as an XML to HTML, so the output will be displayed in an appropriate manner for the device.
Ubiquitous: Ubiquitous is a term used to describe existing or being everywhere at the same time, constantly encountered, widespread or pervasive. An adjective increasingly used to describe mobile computing as it is integrated into everyday activities.
UX: UX is a term used for User Experience.
Video: Not all devices support all formats of video. It is important to identify the proper format to use for the devices you are supporting. Some formats are MPEG-4, WMV, 3GPP and 3GPP2, SWF, and FLV. Software converters are available to create existing video in a different format. Some mobile platforms also do conversions on the fly according to the needs of the device. Video support is included in the new HTML5 specifications, which reduce the compatibility issues.
WAP: Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) is a technology that allows cell phones to display specially formatted websites on a small screen. WAP was slow to catch on because it was slow and very limited graphically. For these reasons only some Web sites are available in WAP format. New PDAs, smartphones and the iPhone probably spell the end of WAP.
WCDMA: Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (Wideband CDMA), also known as UMTS in Europe, is 3G standard for GSM in Europe, Japan and the United States.
Web App: A web app is an application that uses technologies such as JavaScript, CSS and HTML5 and is executed in a web browser. The application can be run directly from a website, or it can be downloaded and installed locally in some cases, for offline use.
Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity, more commonly referred to as Wi-Fi, is used to describe a set of standards for devices that connect to a local area network using wireless technology.
Widget: A widget is a small, portable application embedded within a web page that adds dynamic content. Also known as modules, snippets, and plug-ins. Widgets are used to add entertainment and functionality to a web site.
|
Glossary |