Consumer Technology
Definitions about consumer technology including Internet acronyms, tech lingo, multimedia definitions, words about personal computing and peripherals as well as terms used in wireless and mobile computing.
Desktops and laptops
Terms related to PCs, including definitions about desktop computers and words and phrases about computer components.
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chiplet
A chiplet is a sub processing unit, usually controlled by a I/O controller chip on the same package.
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product development (new product development - NPD)
Product development, also called new product management, is a series of steps that includes the conceptualization, design, development and marketing of newly created or newly rebranded goods or services.
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channel partner
A channel partner is a person or organization that provides services or sells products on behalf of a software, hardware, networking or cloud services vendor. Value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators (SIs), consultants, managed service providers (MSPs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and independent software vendors (ISVs) may all be called channel partners.
End user hardware
Terms related to peripheral devices including definitions about keyboards or mice and words and phrases about printers, monitors, digital cameras and scanners.
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bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones -- sometimes called 'bonephones'-- are headphones that transmit sound waves through the bones in a user's skull instead of their ear canal.
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RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places on multiple hard disks or solid-state drives to protect data in the case of a drive failure.
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secondary storage
Secondary storage is storage for noncritical data that will not be frequently accessed.
Internet acronyms and lingo
Terms related to Internet acronyms and lingo, including slang definitions and jargon about texting, Twitter and other social networking sites.
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phishing kit
A phishing kit is a collection of tools assembled to make it easier for people with little technical skill to launch a phishing exploit.
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B2C (Business2Consumer or Business-to-Consumer)
B2C -- short for business-to-consumer -- is a retail model where products move directly from a business to the end user who has purchased the goods or service for personal use.
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digital self-harm
Digital self-harm is targeting oneself with negative content online.
Internet technologies
This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet technologies, including definitions about port numbers, standards and protocols and words and phrases about how the Internet works.
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CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing or supernetting)
CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) -- also known as supernetting -- is a method of assigning Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that improves the efficiency of address distribution and replaces the previous system based on class A, class B and class C networks.
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dynamic IP address
A dynamic IP address is a temporary address for devices connected to a network that will continually change over time.
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middleware
Middleware is software that is used to bridge the gap between applications and other tools or databases.
Multimedia and graphics
Terms related to multimedia, including graphics, animation and video definitions and words and phrases about images and sound.
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unified communications (UC)
Unified communications (UC) is a framework for integrating various asynchronous and real-time communication tools.
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flexible display
A flexible display or foldable tech/smartphone is a visual output surface on a device that is designed to be folded or closed like a book or a device which incorporates such a screen.
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Facebook Reality Labs
Facebook Reality Labs is the social media company’s virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR) promotion, research and development company.
Personal computing
Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.
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bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones -- sometimes called 'bonephones'-- are headphones that transmit sound waves through the bones in a user's skull instead of their ear canal.
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social media
Social media is the collective of online communications channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction and collaboration.
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microlearning (microtraining)
Microlearning is an educational strategy that breaks complex topics down into short-form, stand-alone units of study that can be viewed as many times as necessary, whenever and wherever the learner needs them. Microlearning instructional modules are designed to address one specific skill or knowledge gap.
Printers
Terms related to printers, including definitions about scanners and words and phrases about inkjet, laser, photo and all-in-one printers.
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offset printing (offset lithography)
Offset printing, also called offset lithography, is a method of mass-production printing in which the images on metal plates are transferred (offset) to rubber blankets or rollers and then to the print media.
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rafts, skirts and brims
Rafts, skirts and brims are structures created at the base of the bottom of a 3D print. These structures are temporary and used to improve print reliability and quality.
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print bed
A print bed is the surface on a 3D printer where a print head lays down the materials that make up a 3D print.
Wireless and mobile
Terms related to wireless and mobile technology, including definitions about consumer mobile technology devices and communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and LTE.
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mobile operating system
A mobile operating system (OS) is software that allows smartphones, tablet PCs (personal computers) and other devices to run applications and programs.
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bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones -- sometimes called 'bonephones'-- are headphones that transmit sound waves through the bones in a user's skull instead of their ear canal.
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USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data)
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a GSM (Global System for Mobile) communications protocol that is used to send text messages.