• A digital cellular network (IN NZ by Telecom).

Data

• "Raw - unprocessed facts".

Data Analysis

• understanding HOW data is stored in your organisation and how it flows around the organisation.

Database

• A computer program that collects all data into one structure.

Database Online Analytical Processing (DOLAP)

Is an OLAP engine that sits in the database, potentially providing the fastest querying engine.

Data Catridge

• A magnetic tape device similar to a music cassette.

Data Characteristics

• the features of the data are stored in your computer system.

Data Communications

• The ability to receive and transmit data via a terminal or Personal Computer (PC).

Data Communications Equipment

• The equipment that provides the functions to establish, maintain, and terminate a connection

Datamart

• dispersed data storehouses directed at specific user needs.

Data Organisation

• the way data are stored in your computer system.

Data Processing

• the way data are processed in your computer system.

Data Terminal Equipment

• A Computer or business machine that provides data in the form of digital signals as it's output. eg ; Terminals, PC's , Computers

Data Transfer Rate

• measure of how fast data moves from the drive to your PC's memory.

Data warehouse

• Pools of historical data used in decision support and business analysis.

DCE

• see Data Communications Equipment

DDN

• see Digital Data Network.

DDS

• See Digital Data Services

Degaussing

• (or demagnetising) is required when colours are produced inconsistently across the screen as a result of a build-up of magnetic fields within the monitor.

Demodulation

• converts Analog signals to Digital form

DEN

• see Directory enabled networking

Dependency

• (Project management) A conditional relationship between tow tasks, also called logical and precedence relationship. <SWAS>

Derived column or field (GIS)

• A new column or field in a data table made up or calculated from two existing fields.

Desktop computer

• A microcomputer that sits on top of the desk or stands next to the desk.

Desktop Manager

• software that includes calculators, clocks, electronic card files, calendars

Desktop Publishing

• Professional quality printed reports, newsletters and other publications, with a mixture of text and graphics created on a Personal Computer.

Development Software

• enables a programmer to write Application Software. Eg. COBOL

Diagnostic Routine

• tests parts of the system (such as memory, keyboard) to be sure the computer is running properly.. See also System Software

Dial-up

• A Standard voice-grade telephone circuit. Generally analog.

Digital audio (Multimedia)

• A technique that stores audio as a series of numbers. [Ref 26]

Digital Data Network (DDN)

• A data service that transmits data in digital format.

Digital Data Services (DDS)

• Leased lines of various capacities, up to 2MBit/s (Nov 99)

Digital Mode

• Bits are sent across communications media

Digital Scanner

• This is a device which scans a document or scene and senses the colour and intensity of each of a number of finite positions called pixels.

Digital Subscriber line (DSL)

• A technology that uses copper lines for faster services, offered in various forms from Jetstream (Nov 99) rate-adaptive to very fast DSL.

Digital still camera (as input devices)

• An input device used like an ordinary camera which can directly load images into your computer system.

Digital versatile disk (DVD)

• a disk physically resembling a CD-ROM only thinner, capable of 4.7GB on a single side.

Digital video disk (DVD)

• see Digital versatile disk

Digital video interactive (Multimedia)

• This technology compresses video images and, in its latest version can produce animated scenes at 30 frames a second. The current (1994) compression ratio is 160:1. [Ref 26]

Direct3D (3D Software)

• Microsofts Direct3D API.

Directory

• A logical "folder" on a disk, in which files may be stored.

Directory enabled networking (DEN)

• A specification initiated by Microsoft and Cisco that prescribes an interoperable model of network elements and services, and extension of the Common Information Model (CIM) of the Desktop Management Taskforce.

Disk array

• two or more drives that work together

Disk Drive

• A device that allows either a Hard Disk or a Floppy Disk to be read/written.
• See Mirrored, duplexed, Raid, Hot-swappable

Disk mirroring

• The recording of redundant data for fault-tolerant operation. Data is written on two parts of the same disks in the same system or on two separate computer systems.

Disk Operating System

• See System Software.

Disk striping

• A type of disk array mapping in which consecutive stripes of data are mapped round robin to consecutive array members. A striped array or RAID Level 0 array, provides high I/O performance at low cost. But it also offers lower net data reliability than any of its member disks.

Display Adaptor

• A card (Circuit board) required in the PC to communicate between the Central Processing Unit and a Visual Display Unit.

DOLAP

• See Database Online Analytical Processing.

Dot-density theme (GIS)

• Data attached to a region is represented by dots. A population dot-density map may show a dot for every 1000 people.

Dot Matrix Printer

• See Printer - Dot Matrix.

Dot pitch

• The distance in mm between holes in the monitors shadow mask. (For aperture grille monitors - the distance between the grilles vertical wires) Generally the smaller the dot pitch the clearer the picture.

DPI

• Refer to Dots per inch

Dots per inch (DPI)

• Referred to as the printers resolution, is the concentration of dots within one inch. In 1998 Lasers typically have 600dpi.

Drill down

• in Decision support systems, a facility to take a progressively more detailed view.
• in Spreadsheet workbooks, the ability to copy a cell trough layers os sheets.

DSL

• Digital Subscriber line

DTE

• see Data Terminal Equipment

Dual-ported memory (Graphics cards)

• RAM with frnt and back doors. Graphics data can come in the front then directly out the back. VRAM (EDO VRAM faster than VRAM) and WRAM are both dual ported.

• A good passive laptop display, though not as bright as Active Matrix.

Duplexed Hard Disk

• Two drives (mirrored) with separate disk controllers.

DVD

• see Digital versatile disk (originally Digital video disk).

Dvorak

• An alternative keyboard layout, designed to optimise the layout of a keyboard. Versions available for single handed users.
• See - Qwerty

[Rev: 27/01/00] 12/8/98 © 1997-99 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.