WEB TERMINOLOGY
What you need to know..
A
Asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) high-speed data transmission on a fixed phone line
B
Bandwidth is a measure of the capacity of an information channel, that is, the volume of Information that can be transmitted over a communications link in a given time.
Blog is a direct means for an individual to share ideas, thoughts, opinions, and Information concerning a particular topic with an audience, using the Web as the medium. It usually takes the form of a diary or narrative (in reverse chronological order) initiated, and frequently updated, by the blogger. Its main value lies in the establishment of networks and the Social capital created as a result, and usually comprises ephemeral material. See also: Collaboration software, Corporate blog, Unstructured information, Wiki, World Wide Web.
Browser is a client software program that is used to identify and locate various kinds of Internet resources. See also: Cyberspace, World Wide Web.
Bulletin board system (BBS) is a computerised meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and record observations and points of view without having to be simultaneously connected to the system at any given time. See also: Internet.
Business process management (BPM) involves the use of appropriate tools and techniques to design, analyse, and manage operational business processes and, where possible, to improve those processes. The term business process refers to repetitive activities performed in the context of an organisation’s normal, everyday operations. See also: Horizontal organisation, Re-engineering.
Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the long-term contractual delegation of management and operational responsibility for an IT-enabled business function, or process area, to an external services provider. BPO covers three broad areas of activity: sales, marketing, and customer care; administration and finance; operations processes (which may include materials management, procurement, distribution, or manufacturing). BPO may be partial (management or operation only) or complete (management, operation, and ownership).
C
Chat room, see Newsgroup.
Clickstreaming enables a Web site to monitor a user's movements while on site and when moving to other links from that site.
Computer-aided design (CAD) involves the use of computers in the design and engineering process. The term embraces geometric modelling, Analysis, testing, and drafting.
Computer graphics refers to the use of computers to generate and display pictorial images.
Contact management system (CMS) allows organisations and individuals to record relationships and interactions with customers and suppliers as well as allowing the development of comprehensive individual profiles. See also: Knowledge map, Social network, Social network analysis.
Content analysis describes the technique of identifying keywords and descriptors from a given Document in order to facilitate Information retrieval. See also: Descriptor, Keyword, Indexing.
Content management system (CMS) separates the management of content from that of its presentation. This allows segments of content to bear Metadata and other attributes and be handled as building blocks in putting together Web pages, thus simplifying the task of updating. See also: Information architecture.
Copyright exists automatically on original literary, artistic, musical, or dramatic works and gives protection against unlicensed use.
Crawler uses existing Internet search engines to carry out automatic search and retrieval of selected Information on behalf of a user. It may also be known as Web crawler. See also: Bot, Intelligent agents, Search engine, Spider.
Customer relationship management (CRM) is a software-based technique designed to select and manage customers in order to maximise their long-term value to an enterprise. The term covers several aspects of customer relationships, such as: campaign management systems, call centres, interactive voice response systems, e-commerce, point-of-sale, and sales automation. The intention is to understand and anticipate the needs, preferences, and buying habits of existing and potential customers. To that end, it usually employs some form of Data mining designed to exploit large customer databases. CRM is seen by some as the most important aspect of Knowledge management. See also: Database, Electronic commerce, Marketing, Value chain analysis.
Cyberspace is the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs. The term is currently used to describe the whole range of Information resources available through such networks. See also: Browser, Internet, Network, World-Wide Web.
D
Data mining is the systematic computer Analysis, through the use of statistical techniques (often employing Neural networks), of large volumes of collected Data with the aim of revealing previously unidentified patterns, trends, and relationships about customers, products, services, and other activities that can lead to new and profitable business Opportunities. As with any Database, the critical aspects are to do with accurate, up-to-date content, and with the means used for locating and matching that content to user needs; that is, with the level of intellectual input. For these reasons the procedure is complex and protracted, calling for specialised expertise and imagination. Data base mining is also known as Database tomography, Discovery informatics, or Knowledge discovery. Examples of data mining applications include: identifying new customers, predicting customer buying habits, confirming suitable loan applicants, revealing fraud, indicating potentially rewarding investments, managing equity portfolios, diagnosing medical problems, inventory management, and conducting certain aspects of Marketing. See also: Data warehouse, Predictive analytics, Text mining, Visualisation.
Data warehouse is a repository of operational Data from one or more sources within an organisation, together with data derived from a variety of external sources that have been arranged into meaningful Information, and rendered easily accessible so as to allow for effective Analysis or decision-making. See also: Data mining, Predictive analytics.
Database is a collection of interrelated Data stored together without harmful or unnecessary redundancy and structured in such a manner as to serve one or more applications. The data are stored so that they are independent of programs that use the data.
Document management system is a computer-based technique for storing and retrieving documents held in a wide variety of formats or in a number of geographic locations. Many systems allow for the control and recording of changes to documents, as well as a measure of the volume of use. A document management system may also be referred to as a Record management system. See also: Document.
Domain name is the unique identifier for an Internet site, having two or more parts separated by dots. Reading from left to right leads from the general to the specific.
Download is to retrieve Information from the Internet.
E
Electronic commerce covers a range of activities under which businesses and their customers can carry out transactions electronically between computer systems. This greatly reduces costs and improves efficiency. The more popular term is e-commerce. See also: Electronic commerce, Electronic funds transfer.
Electronic mail refers to a system for sending messages by means of a computer system or Network. It is more popularly known as email.
Enterprise content management refers to the use of appropriate technology and software to collect, manage, store, and retrieve content of any kind, including documents and Unstructured information within an organisation in order to better achieve the aims and goals of the enterprise. The practice is sometimes inappropriately referred to as Enterprise search. See also: Document, Enterprise systems, Information management, Information system, Information technology, Knowledge management.
Enterprise information management is sometimes used in place of the more common term, Information management.
Enterprise information portal (EIP) is a term used to describe both the home page of an organisation’s Intranet and the intranet itself, together with its content. Users typically have access to the system from a personal starting page. See also: Web site.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP), also known as Professional services automation (PSA), is a software-driven technique that is intended to optimise the use and application of resources (project management) and manage mission-critical processes (such as workflows, time and expense reporting, collaboration, and Knowledge capture). The software often incorporates Corporate performance management software. See also: Knowledge management.
Extensible mark-up language (XML) allows content producers to add Metadata to non-text items (that is, images, audio, video) and facilitates retrieval of unstructured Information (an important aspect of Knowledge management).
Extranet is that portion of an organisation’s Intranet that is accessible by selected individuals (for example, collaborators, suppliers, partners, major customers).
File transfer protocol (FTP) is a very common method of moving files between Internet sites; it offers a means to Login to another site for the purpose of retrieving or sending files. See also: File.
F
Firewall applies to software designed to protect internal computer networks against unauthorised access or intentional hostile intrusion. See also: Corporate security, Counterintelligence, Network.
Folksonomy is a user-generated Taxonomy used to Classify and more readily retrieve Documents (including Web pages, images, links, and other content). A folksonomy should ideally be originated by, and easily accessible to, its primary users. Folksonomies are frequently used in: collaborative or social tagging, social bookmarking, social classification, or social indexing. See also: Classification scheme, Keyword, Ontology, Taxonomy, Thesaurus.
H
Host is any computer on a Network that acts as a repository for services available to other computers on the network. It is quite common to have one host machine provide several services, such as the World Wide Web or Usenet.
Hypertext is a File structure applied to the complex, the changing, and the indeterminate. It allows the user to make links to other documents using words or phrases that cause those documents to be retrieved. Sometimes described as a Semantic network, a hypertext system has three major components:
- a collection of items of Information;
- a Semantic network linking related items of information;
- tools for recording items of information, for creating links, and for searching through the system.
HyperText markup language (HTML) is the coding language for creating Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web. It is very like a typesetting code, where blocks of text are surrounded by codes that indicate how it should appear. In addition, HTML allows one to specify a block of text or word that is linked to another File on the Internet. See also: Code.
HyperText transfer protocol (HTTP) is a system for moving Hypertext files across the Internet. See also: File, Hypertext.
I
Icons are graphical representations of computer functions or files that facilitate user recognition and selection. See also: File.
Information system refers to the applications and software that perform business functions or support key processes. Performance criteria concern the quality and functionality of the software, its flexibility, and the speed and cost of development and maintenance.
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual, or numerical Information using computers and telecommunications. It is mainly concerned with the flow of information through networks. Primary criteria for business performance are ease of use, reliability, and responsiveness. See also: Mociology, Network, Technological fusion.
Internet is an international public computer Network based on the popular network standard TCP/IPS (Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol suite) with no single owner or government involvement. It provides infrastructure for Electronic mail, electronic bulletin boards, File storage, Document transfer, Login to remote computers, distributed processing of large programs, access to the World Wide Web, and the handling of Multimedia documents. See also: Browser, Bulletin board system, Intranet, Network.
Internet relay chat (IRC) is a huge, multi-user live chat facility. Private channels may be created for multi-person Conference calls.
Internet service provider (ISP) is a company selling access to the Internet. See also: Point-to-point protocol.
Intranet is any dedicated, privately owned computer Network that is based on the same standards and protocols (TCP/IP) as the Internet and which provides an inexpensive publishing platform for its owner. Applications might include Electronic mail, electronic access to company documents (including, for example, company files or internal directories and databases, debriefings or After action reviews, examples of best practice), and video communications, with the aim being to facilitate collaboration and information sharing. An intranet usually offers access to the Internet, suitably protected to prevent unauthorised access from outside. See also: Database, Debriefing, Directory, Document, Enterprise information portal, Groupware, Knowledge management, Learning organisation, Transmission control protocol.
Invisible Web is that portion (estimated to be between 60 and 80 per cent) of total Web content that consists of material that is not accessible by standard Search engines. It is usually to be found embedded within secure sites, or consists of archived material. Much of the Information may, however, be accessed through a Library gateway, a Vortal, or a fee-based Database service.
K
Keyword is a substantive word in the title of a Document or a record in a Database that can be used to Classify or index content. A keyword provides access to the item when it is used as a search term. See also: Classification scheme, Controlled vocabulary, Indexing, Metadata.
L
Link analysis is an Internet search technique that dispenses with Keyword searching, employing instead a complicated Algorithm that is based either on the number of Web pages linked to a specific site that is relevant to the search requirements, or on the number of visits to a site in a given time.
Local area network (LAN) provides facilities for communication between computer users within a specific location, up to a range of about ten kilometres (but usually confined to one site or one building). See also: Network.
Login is either the account name used to gain access to a computer system or the act of entering a computer system.
Mailing list is a system (usually automated) that allows people to send email to one address, whereupon their message is copied and sent to all other subscribers to that mailing list. It facilitates discussion among people using different kinds of email access. See also: Electronic mail.
M
Metadata is Information (in the form of a Metatag) that describes an internet document and facilitates its retrieval. It is very similar to a Bibliographic reference, but - where present - is often more extensive, and may include author, title, affiliation, sponsor, Abstract, keywords, language, publisher, date published, contact details, Classification scheme, and so on; probably the most useful being keywords. See also: Document, Enrichment, Indexing, Internet, Keyword, Taxonomy, Thesaurus, Topic maps.
Meta-indexes permit searches using several search engines simultaneously through the medium of one search request. Individual results are presented as a single list. See also: Search engine.
Metasearch engine is a Search engine that simultaneously submits a search query to a number of other search engines and produces results that may be manipulated in some way for the benefit of the searcher.
Metatag, see Metadata.
Modem (modulator-demodulator) is a device for converting Data to sound signals, and vice-versa, for transmission over telecommunications networks.
Multimedia refers to an interactive system that integrates text, sound, and video. Typical applications are business presentations, training and education, databases, and electronic correspondence.
O
Open proprietary information includes Information gathered through Reverse engineering of legitimately acquired products and services, or through legally conducted Business intelligence operations.
Open source information is unclassified published Information. It includes non-proprietary Grey literature as well as Information published electronically (on the Internet, for example).
P
Password is a Code used to gain access to a secure system. It may take the form of a word or phrase, or any combination of numbers and letters (in both upper and lower case). See also: Authentication, Corporate security.
Phishing is the fraudulent use of email to persuade recipients to disclose personal information, such as bank account numbers and passwords. See also: Corporate security, Electronic mail, Password.
Point-to-point protocol (PPP) is a means whereby an individual computer communicates with an Internet service provider (ISP).
Portal is a Web site that acts as a Gateway to the Internet by providing a broad and diverse range of services, including directories, Search engines or, links, email, reference tools, forums or chat facilities, access to online shopping and banking, games, entertainment, and so on. See also: Directory, Electronic mail, Mega-portal, Vortal.
Search engines are microprocessor-driven software programs capable of successfully retrieving Information from computer networks or databases in order to match the needs of searchers. They automatically Index keywords in context, usually by using Robots, then search those indexes for keywords that match the user’s request. Generally speaking, they are more suitable than directories for conducting Research. Current developments may incorporate Visualisation techniques. See also: Bot, Crawler, Database, Directory, Keyword, Metasearch engine, Network, Spider.
R
Robotsare re-programmable, multifunctional manipulators designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialised devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a range of tasks. The term, often abbreviated to Bot, is also applied to programs that search the Web in order to gather specific Information on behalf of a user. See also: Crawler, Robotics, Search engine.
S
Server is a computer, or software package, that provides a specific service to client software running on other computers. A single server machine may have several different server packages, thus providing many different services to clients on the Network.
Social network is a map of relationships between individuals or organisations. It comprises nodes (usually individuals or organisations) and ties (the connections between them), which may operate at many different levels, ranging from families and close friends to sovereign nations. Social networks often have a critical role to play in the management of organisations, enabling problem-solving, decision-making, collaboration, and information sharing, as well as facilitating trade and commerce. They may be used for conducting Social network analysis. See also: Contact management system, Knowledge map, Networking, Usenet, Wiki.
Spam is mass, unsolicited commercial Electronic mail on the Internet.
Spider is a program that searches the Web in order to gather specific Information on behalf of a user. See also: Bot, Crawler, Search engine.
Spyware is any software application that is generally installed without the knowledge or consent of the user, to obtain, use, or interfere with personal information or resources, content, or setting, for malicious or undesirable purposes.
Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol suite (TCP/IPS) is the suite of protocols that defines the Internet. Originally designed for the UNIX operating system, they are now available for every major kind of computer operating system. TCP ensures proper delivery of Data; IP directs Information through the Network.
U
Uniform resource locator (URL) is the standard method of allocating an address to any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web.
Usenet is an outdated term for a worldwide system of discussion groups, with comments passed among hundreds or thousands of machines. The system is completely decentralised, with numerous discussion areas, each of which is known as a Newsgroup. A Usenet is now more commonly referred to as a Social network.
V
Vapourware applies to the deliberate and premature announcement of a product before it is ready for the Market in an attempt to discourage potential customers from considering the purchase of similar, competitors' products. Mainly applicable to software, it is a form of Disinformation.
Video conferencing provides real time video and voice communication between terminals, usually employing dedicated systems in a Conference room setting. Video conferencing may also be accomplished by using a webcam and personal computer, when it is usually known as Desktop conferencing.
Virus is a small program that can be transferred into a computer system and adversely affect the operation of that computer. It can also be propagated by passing from computer to computer, not unlike a biological virus, by way of networks, emails, or on a contaminated storage device. A virus attaches itself to an existing program and runs with that program, causing whatever problem it is designed to introduce. See also: Corporate security, Electronic mail, Network, Trojan, Worm.
Vortal, an abbreviation of vertical portal, is a subject-specific Directory or Database, as opposed to the more generic Portal. Vortals are usually created by academics, researchers, experts, government agencies and other subject specialists; hence the material is usually of a higher quality than that found through general Search engine sites.
W
Web 2.0 currently lacks a precise definition. It is true to say, however, that although Web 2.0 need not necessarily incorporate new technologies it is generally more interactive than hitherto, tending to encourage increased content creation, collaboration, and learning, and it places considerable emphasis on the user. It is very much oriented towards social networking. See also: Blog, Folksonomy, Social network, Wiki.
Web rage describes the anger or frustration provoked by slow Internet access.
Web site is an online collection of pages (or screens) of linked Information on the World Wide Web; usually accessed by way of a Home page. See also: Information architecture.
Webinar (abbreviation of Web seminar) is a presentation delivered over the Web using Videoconferencing.
Weblog, see Blog.
Wide area information server (WAIS) is a software package that allows the Indexing of huge volumes of Information, and then makes those indexes available for retrieval across the Internet, or other networks. A prominent feature is that the search results are ranked according to their relevance. See also: Index, Network.
Wiki (from the Hawaiian word for quickly) is a medium for collaboration that allows many people to participate in the production of a long-term knowledge repository or database, often devoted to a specific subject or field of interest. It is based upon a relatively unstructured collection of hyperlinked documents that may be modified or edited by any number of authors but that also incorporates a mechanism for comparing the result with the pre-edited version. A wiki allows users to gather all information pertinent to a project or activity in one central location. See also: Blog, Collaboration software, Corporate blog, Knowledge map, Social network.
World-wide web (www), a component of the Internet, is a system that enables Information (including text, audio, video, and graphics) to be accessed anywhere on the Internet using active text links called Hypertext. Users can move with ease between different computer systems or information sources on the Internet by navigating a trail of highlighted text or graphical links on the Web pages. Data are automatically downloaded to the Browser software used to navigate the Web. See also: Web site.
Worm is similar to a Virus; the difference being that it does not contain deliberately destructive instructions (although it may cause damage by overloading the system) and it does not require the presence of a host. It is usually passed over the Internet.
Yellow pages is the colloquial term for a Knowledge map.
