Chapter 8 - Digital Devices and Media

Question 1

Analog

Answer 1

waves that illustrate the loudness of a sound or brightness of colours in an image at a given moment in time

Question 2

Analog to digital converter chip

Answer 2

chip that converts analog signals into digital signals

Question 3

Base transceiver station

Answer 3

large communications tower with antennas, amplifiers and receivers/transmitters

Question 4

Bluetooth

Answer 4

type of wireless technology that uses radio waves to transmit data over short distances, often used to connect peripherals such as printers and keyboards to computers or headsets to cell phones

Question 5

Cell phone

Answer 5

telephone that operates over mobile network

- can offer Internet access, text messaging, personal information management features and more

Question 6

Codec

Answer 6

rule implemented in either hardware or software which squeezes a given amount of audio or video information into less space

Question 7

Copyleft

Answer 7

simplified licensing scheme that enables copyright holders to grant certain rights to a work while retaining other rights

Question 8

Data plan

Answer 8

connectivity plan or text messaging plant in which data charges are separate from cell phone calling charges and are provided at different rates from those of voice calls

Question 9

Digital convergenceq

Answer 9

use of a single, unifying device to handle media, Internet, entertainment and telephony needs, expressed in range of devices

Question 10

Digital rights management (DRM)

Answer 10

system of access control that allows only limited use of material that has been legally purchased

Question 11

Digital signal processor

Answer 11

specialized chip that processes digital information and transmits signals very quickly

Question 12

E ink

Answer 12

very crisp, sharp grayscale representation of text achieved by using millions of microcapsules with white and black particles in a clear fluid

Question 13

E-text

Answer 13

textual information stored as digital information so that it can be stored, manipulated and transmitted by electronic devices

Question 14

E-reader

Answer 14

device that can display e-text and that has supporting tools like note taking, bookmarks and integrated dictionaries

Question 15

Feature phone

Answer 15

inexpensive cell phones with modest processors, simple interfaces and often no touch screens

Question 16

Global positioning system (GPS)

Answer 16

system of 21 satellites (+ 3 working spares), built and operated by US military that constantly orbit the earth, provides information to GPS-capable devices to pinpoint locations on earth

Question 17

High definition

Answer 17

standard of digital TV signal that guarantees a specific level of resolution and a specific aspect ratio which is the rectangular shape of the image

Question 18

Mobile switching center

Answer 18

central location that receives cell phone requests for service from a base station

Question 19

Multimedia message service (MMS)

Answer 19

service that allows users to send messages that include text, sound, images and video clips to other phones or e-mail addresses

Question 20

Peer to peer sharing (P2P)

Answer 20

process of users transferring files between computers

Question 21

Resolution

Answer 21

clearness of sharpness of an image, controlled by the number of pixels displayed on screen

Question 22

Sampling rate

Answer 22

specifies the number of times the analog wave is measured each second, the higher the sampling rate the more accurately the original wave can be recreated

Question 23

Short message service (SMS)

Answer 23

technology that enables short text messages (up to 160 characters) to be sent over mobile networks

Question 24

Synchronizing

Answer 24

process of updating data on portable devices and a computer so that they contain the same data

Question 25

Telephony

Answer 25

use of equipment to provide voice communications over a distance

Question 26

Tethering

Answer 26

approach which makes sure that as long as you have a 3G signal, your computer or smartphone can access the Internet even when it tells you there is no available wireless network

Question 27

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Answer 27

technology that facilitates making telephone calls across the Internet instead of using conventional telephone lines

Question 28

Wireless Internet service provider

Answer 28

ISP that provides service to wireless devices such as smartphones