Glossary

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Desktop
A personal computer that is not portable and stays on top of a desk. Also refers to the display area on the computer.             

Dial-Up
A type of connection that is established over telephone lines using a modem.

• See also: Modem

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)
A group of technology companies that promote a vision of a wired and wireless interoperable network of computers, electronics and mobile devices in the home.    

Digital Noise Reduction (DNR)
A process to reduce the amount of random noise on a DVD.

Digital Powerline Networ
Technology provides the transmission of data to users over the same lines that bring electric power to homes and businesses.            

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
A type of broadband technology that transmits data faster over traditional telephone lines already installed to homes and businesses.

• See also: Broadband

Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
Records, saves and plays back TV programs from a hard drive instead of traditional video tape. Also known as a personal video recorder, or "PVR." TiVo is a popular brand.    

• See also: PVR

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
A digital connection used to connect devices such as projectors and TVs, replaced by HDMI.

• See also: HDMI, Flat Panel

Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
A one-way TV broadcast service that transmits data from a communications satellite to a small round or oval dish antenna, providing a similar service to cable.

Display
The TV-like part of the computer that displays information.

• See also: Monitor

DivX
An MPEG-4-based compressed digital video format used to distribute movies on the Internet.

• See also: MPEG

Dolby Digital
The surround sound standard format used in today's home theaters for DVD-video and in part for HDTV.

• See also: Surround Sound, DVD, HDTV

Dots Per Inch (DPI)
Measures the resolution of displays and printers.

• See also: Pixel, Resolution

Download
The act of receiving a file from another computer, over a network, and saving it on your own computer.

• See also: Upload

Drive
Reads and writes discs, such as a CD-ROM.

• See also: CD-ROM

DVD
A type of optical disk technology similar to a CD-ROM but able to store a full-length movie.

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
The most common type of computer memory.

Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
Text messages sent to recipients over the Internet. Files such as documents and photos can be attached and mailed as well.

Encryption
A method used to scramble transmitted data, making it unreadable to everyone except the recipient.

Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV)
A TV that is capable of receiving high-definition broadcasts, but can't display them in true HD quality.

• See also: High-Definition TV (HDTV)

Ethernet
The standard technology a user needs to access a local area network (LAN).

• See also: Local Area Network (LAN), Router

Fax Machine
A device that scans a paper document and transmits the image over the telephone system.

Fiber Optic
A type of broadband technology with speeds far exceeding that of DSL or cable modem.

• See also: Broadband, DSL, Cable Modem

File Hosting Service
A company that provides space on a server it owns for the general public.

File Sharing
The accessing or sharing of files by one or more users.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A standard way to transfer files between computers.

FireWire
A high-speed connector widely used for downloading video from digital camcorders to the computer.

• See also: USB

Flat Panel/Screen
A thin display monitor used for computers and TVs.

Frame
A single image in a sequence of images.