Successful Freelancing Glossary
August 6, 2008 |
Definitions of Terms Used on Successful Freelancing Advisor
Broadband - a term used to describe large-capacity networks that have the ability to carry multiple voice, video, or data channels simultaneously. Sometimes referred to as high-speed Internet, broadband is an ‘always on’ fast connection to the Internet, generally provided by either cable or DSL service.
Chi - the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is the balance of negative and positive forms in the body believed to be essential for good health.
Commissioned - being charged with the task of creating something unique at the request of and funded by some authority. In a copyright sense, upon completion and delivery, the authority then becomes the sole owner.
DSL - digital subscriber line - represents a family of technologies that permit the high-speed transmission of digital data over standard telephone lines. Once limited to subscribers who were in close proximity to a telephone company central station, DSL broadband service is now widely available.
Docking station - a device into which a laptop computer inserts that enables the user to utilize peripheral devices, like a full-sized keyboard, large monitor, or printer, as if the unit were a desktop computer. Many people complain about the ergonomics of using a laptop, and this solution resolves those issues.
Ergonomics - the science of matching the physical work environment to human needs. It involves studying the “fit” between man and machine to optimize both human well-being and overall system performance and to ensure that tasks, equipment, information, and the environment suit each worker.
Feng shui - an ancient Chinese system of designing buildings and space arrangement according to special rules about the flow of energy, aimed at achieving harmony with the environment.
ISP - Internet Service Provider - This is a company that provides their customers with access to the Internet using dial-up, DSL, or cable connectivity. Most ISPs also provide email accounts and host web pages for their customers.
Modem - a device that converts digital data from a computer into analog signals suitable for transmission over a telephone line. Modems work in pairs, with one at the receiving end converting the analog signals back to digital. A modem is required in order to receive Internet service.
Mosaic - the browser that made the Internet popular by making it easy to access web pages through a graphical interface.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – utilizing methods aimed at increasing the amount of visitors to a web site by ranking high in the search results of a search engine. The higher a web site ranks in the results of a search, the greater the chance that site will be visited by a user. SEO efforts may involve a site’s coding, presentation, and structure, as well as fixing problems that could prevent search engine indexing programs from fully indexing a site.
Social networking sites - focus on building online communities of people who share interests and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Social networking web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, and their business equivalents LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Ryze, are being used regularly by millions of people, and demonstrates that social networking is here to stay as an enduring part of everyday life.
Virtual assistant - an individual who provides administrative, technical, creative, or social assistance to clients, who is usually another independent entrepreneur. VAs, as they are known, work from their own office (hence “virtual”), using the Internet, email, teleconferences, and fax machines as methods of communicating and accomplishing work.
Virtual Private Network (or VPN) - a network scheme in which portions of a company’s local area network use the Internet to connect to another remote location. The information sent across the Internet is encrypted to ensure that only authorized users can access the network and that the data cannot be intercepted. The advantage of a VPN is to provide to small firms the same security capabilities that large corporations enjoy with private lines at a much lower cost because they utilize a shared public infrastructure (the Internet) rather than a private one.
Wi-Fi - the term commonly used to describe a local area network that uses high frequency radio waves to transmit and receive data over short distances, usually a few hundred feet. Wi-Fi is short for “wireless fidelity”. The term Wi-Fi is actually a brand name for a set of engineering standards known as IEEE 802.11.