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Glossary

3G
Third generation (3G) wireless network; offers faster data transfer rates than previous versions (e.g. 2G).

3GP
A type of video recorded by many mobile phones; 3GP is a simplified version of MPEG-4.

4G
Fourth-generation mobile telephone technology. When implemented, it will feature high-speed mobile wireless access with a very high data transmission speed, of the same order of magnitude as a local area network connection (10 Mbits/s and up).

ActionScript
A scripting language used by Adobe Flash. It has been improved from script syntax to one that supports object-oriented programming, and has capability comparable to JavaScript.

ADSL
An asymmetric digital subscriber line that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem.

Audiocast
Collection of audio files that is available for access via a cell phone.

Beaming
Using wireless communication to exchange data between two devices; see entries for infrared transmission and Bluetooth.

Blended Learning
A training curriculum that combines multiple types of media. Typically, blended learning refers to a combination of classroom-based training with self-paced e-learning.

Blog
Short for ‘web log’, a blog is essentially an online journal or diary; generally, alongside their messages and/or entries, bloggers can also post photos, audio and video files to create their own mini web site. Blogs are ideal for use in education as reflective logs or as part of wider communities of practice. Viewers can comment on a blog, but cannot change it.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a technology that enables your computer, mobile phone, mouse, keyboard, PDA or anything with a Bluetooth chip to communicate by short-range radio instead of cables. This is a free functionality wherever Bluetooth is installed.

Digital assets
Photos, video clips, audio clips or other media items that can be used in a learning activity.

E-News
News available in electronic form, e.g. on the Web, or specifically for mobile devices.

Firewall
A system configured to permit or deny computer traffic between different security domains based on a set of rules and other criteria.

Flash
Adobe Flash (previously called Shockwave Flash and Macromedia Flash) is a set of multimedia software created by Macromedia and currently developed and distributed by Adobe Systems; available on some mobile platforms.

Flashlite
A lightweight version of Flash for mobile devices.

Flash memory
Flash memory is a non-volatile memory device that retains its data when the power is removed.

Geotagging
Adding geographical identification data to various media such as web sites or images.

GPRS
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) - a wireless data service used by mobile phones to access the Internet.

GPS
Global Positioning System; refers to the use of satellite-to-handheld receiver signals to determine location.

Hotsyncing (HotSync)
The primary method for transferring data and programs between a mobile device and a PC, e.g. a PDA is inserted into a special cradle and files are automatically 'synchronised' (i.e. ‘compared’) so that older versions on one device are replaced by newer ones on the other device.

Infrared transmission
Infrared transmission refers to energy in the region of the electromagnetic transmission radiation spectrum at wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but shorter than those of radio waves. Infrared is used in a variety of wireless communications and control applications, such as home entertainment remote-control boxes, wireless local area networks, links between notebook computers and desktop computers and intrusion detectors. Bluetooth is becoming a more reliable form of ‘beaming’.

Jaiku
A popular micro-blogging site (now part of Google); ideal for forming communities of practice and for people on the move; see http://jaiku.com.

Janet.txt
SMS messaging service for the education sector; see www.pageone.co.uk/Janettxt.

Java
Java is a programming language originally developed by Sun Microsystems and is platform-independent; see www.javascript.com.

Linux
An open source computer operating system based on Unix. Currently one of the lesser mobile phone operating systems, Linux made a big impact in 2007/08 by being the default operating system on the Asus Eee PC (UMPC).

Just in time
Popular term to describe the benefit of mobile learning’s accessibility.

Location-based content
Text, images, audio fi les and video files that relate to the place where the user is at the time, for example within a museum or heritage site. The user needs a GPS-enabled mobile device in order to access the location-based service.

Megapixel
Quite simply, a megapixel is 1,000 pixels. Pixels are tiny, tile-like picture elements; digital images consist of many thousands of these. The higher the megapixel count, the more closely packed these elements are and the sharper the image is on screen.

Memory
Media Flash memory cards; these are solid-state electronic memory data storage devices used with all kinds of devices. They are small, convenient, fairly reliable, rugged and rewritable. There are also many types: SD Card, Compact Flash, etc. See http://memorycards.notlong.com.

Micro-blog
This, as the name suggests, is an abbreviated blogging experience. Users contribute brief blog-like comments; usually has a limit on the characters used (140) in much the same way as a text message; allows contributions from mobile devices. Examples are Jaiku, Twitter.

mLMS
Mobile Learning Management System (mLMS) – a learning management system for mobile devices.

MMS
Multimedia messaging service (MMS) – a standard for telephony messaging systems that allows sending messages that include multimedia objects (images, audio, video, rich text).

Mobile browser
A web browser designed for the small screens of mobile phones. Smartphones with web capability come with their own web browser; however, third-party browsers may be available.

Moblog
This is short for mobile blog; mainly featuring posts sent by mobile phone.

MP3
MP3 employs a compression technique, with bits of information being discarded to allow data to be compressed into files that are relatively small in comparison with .WAV files, but which retain subjective CD quality.

MPEG-4
This is a compression format for audio and video.

M-teaching
Teaching with the support of mobile, handheld devices.

Open source
Any program whose source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit.

Operating system (OS)
The base software of a computer device; mobile OSs include Palm OS, PocketPC, Android and Symbian.

Personal digital assistant (PDA)
A small handheld computer, typically providing a calendar, contacts address list, calculator and notetaking applications. It may also include other applications, such as a web browser and a media player. Small keyboards and pen-based input systems are most commonly used to input data.

PIM
Personal Information Manager; refers to applications for computing devices that organise personal information, such as addresses, dates and task lists. Most handheld mobile devices have this capability.

PMP
Personal media player – a device capable of storing and playing digital media, e.g. an Archos.

Podcast (1)
This is a term that has been popularised by the use of MP3 players (iPods specifically) and is essentially a multimedia broadcast hosted on a web site. It can be audio or video, and is delivered in a format that is compatible with computers and most mobile devices, generally MP3 or MPEG-4. A podcast can be regularly updated and utomatically downloaded through software such as iTunes and RSS feeds.

Podcast (2)
More colloquially than the definition above, a podcast has come to mean any type of audio file that is recorded by, or for use on, an MP3 device; the recording may or may not have been downloaded from a web site.

PRS
General Packet Radio System. Offers data transfer, albeit significantly slower than 3G.

PSP
Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) – a handheld games console.

QR code
A two-dimensional barcode which a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan to provide information for the user. For example, information about bus times and numbers can be accessed from a QR code placed at a bus stop.

RSS feed
Really Simple Syndication – it is a means of sharing and broadcasting content from a web site. Items are automatically downloaded into a special ‘reader’ or published onto another web site or device.

SD card
Secure Digital Memory Card. The standard SD card capacities range from 8 MB to 4 GB. More recent updates to the system, SDHC, have increased the capacity to 32 GB. MiniSD and microSD are popular on many mobile phones.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module – part of a removable smart card ICC (Integrated Circuit Card), also known as SIM cards, for mobile cellular telephony devices such as mobile computers and mobile phones.

Shozu
Shozu (www.shozu.com) provides a service that allows mobile devices to interact more fully with other online services, e.g. a moblog.

Smartphone
A mobile phone with PC-like functionality, For some, a smartphone is a phone that has a Windows-based OS while for others it might mean that there are advanced PIM (see entry above) capabilities and a good camera. In all cases, the device will have full internet capabilities and often also a full QWERTY keyboard.

SMS
Short Message Service (SMS) – better known as text messages (of up to 160 characters) via mobile phones.

Streaming
A way of sending audio and video files over the Internet in such a way that the user can view or listen to the file while it is being transferred. See entry for YouTube.

Symbian
A consortium of PDA and mobile phone manufacturers, which use the Symbian operating system (www.symbian.com), formerly called Psion EPOC.

Tablet PC
A Tablet PC is a wireless PC that allows a user to take notes using natural handwriting with a stylus, digital pen, or on a touch screen. It is similar in size and thickness to a paper notepad. There are two formats: a convertible model with an integrated keyboard and display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded down over the keyboard, or a slate style together with a removable keyboard. The user’s handwritten notes, which can be edited and revised, can also be indexed and searched or shared via e-mail or mobile phone.

Twitter
A popular micro-blogging site (www.twitter.com). Ideal for forming communities of practice and for keeping in touch on the move.

WAP
Wireless Application Protocol – an open international standard for applications that use wireless communication. Its principal application is to enable access to the Internet from a mobile phone or PDA.

Ultra-mobile PC (UMPC)
Ultra-mobile PCs are the result of a joint development by Microsoft, Intel and Samsung. The original definition for a UMPC included a screen size of 7 inches or smaller, some later models, while not increasing in size overall, include screen sizes up to 8.9 inches. According to Microsoft and its partners, the devices are intended for portable productivity and entertainment. UMPCs may run a full version of the Windows XP operating system.

VLE
Abbreviation for 'virtual learning environment', a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting.

.WAV
A standard format for storing sound in computer files.

Web 2.0
A term given to an evolution of the World Wide Web; it describes a range of technologies and functionality that enable anyone to have a presence on, and ‘author’ content on, the World Wide Web. Encompasses technologies such as blogs, wikis and sundry other forms of interaction. Provides many opportunities for interaction via mobile devices.

Wi-Fi
Sometimes known as ‘wireless broadband’ or wireless fidelity, this is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used in home networks, mobile phones, video games etc.

Windows Mobile
Operating system developed by Microsoft for some mobile devices.

Wiki
A type of web site that allows users to easily add, remove, or otherwise edit or change the site’s content. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring.

YouTube
A popular video-hosting website; videos can be contributed and distributed via mobile devices, as well as PCs; see www.youtube.com.

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