Font Definition A font is a collection of characters with a similar design. These characters include lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols. Changing the font can alter the look and feel of a block of text. Some fonts are designed to be simple and easy to read, while others are designed to add a unique style to the text. For example, Arial has a simple, modern look, while Palatino has an older more traditional appearance. Serif vs Sans-Serif Fonts The two most ...

HDTV Definition Stands for "High Definition Television." HDTV is a high-quality video standard developed to replace older video formats often referred to as SDTV (standard definition television). While HDTV's video quality is one of the most noticeable improvements over SDTV, HDTV includes a number of other important improvements as well. First of all, the HDTV signal is digital. Instead of an analog signal, used by traditional NTSC broadcasts, HDTV is always digital. This eliminates analog int...

Boolean Definition Boolean, or boolean logic, is a subset of algebra used for creating true/false statements. Boolean expressions use the operators AND, OR, XOR, and NOT to compare values and return a true or false result. These boolean operators are described in the following four examples: x AND y - returns True if both x and y are true; returns False if either x or y are false. x OR y - returns True if either x or y, or both x and y are true; returns False only if x and y are both fa...

Integer Definition An integer is a whole number (not a fraction) that can be positive, negative, or zero. Therefore, the numbers 10, 0, -25, and 5,148 are all integers. Unlike floating point numbers, integers cannot have decimal places. Integers are a commonly used data type in computer programming. For example, whenever a number is being incremented, such as within a "for loop" or "while loop," an integer is used. Integers are also used to determine an item's location within an array. When tw...

Clock Speed Definition Clock speed is the rate at which a processor can complete a processing cycle. It is typically measured in megahertz or gigahertz. One megahertz is equal to one million cycles per second, while one gigahertz equals one billion cycles per second. This means a 1.8 GHz processor has twice the clock speed of a 900 MHz processor. However, it is important to note that a 1.8 GHz CPU is not necessarily twice as fast as a 900 MHz CPU. This is because different processors often use ...

Analog Definition Analog is an adjective that describes a continuous measurement or transmission of a signal. It is often contrasted with digital, which is how computers store and process data using ones and zeros. While computers are digital devices, human beings are analog. Everything we perceive, such as what we see and hear, is a continuous transmission of information to our senses. This continuous stream of input is not estimated, but received and processed by our brains as analog data. An...

Telecommunications Definition Telecommunications, or telecom, is the transmission of signals over long distances. It began with the invention of the telegraph in 1837, followed by the telephone in 1876. Radio broadcasts began the late 1800s and the first television broadcasts started in the early 1900s. Today, popular forms of telecommunications include the Internet and cellular phone networks. Early telecommunications transmissions used analog signals, which were transferred over copper wires....

Computer Science Definition Computer science is the study of computers and computing concepts. It includes both hardware and software, as well as networking and the Internet. The hardware aspect of computer science overlaps with electrical engineering. It covers the basic design of computers and the way they work. A fundamental understanding of how a computer "computes," or performs calculations, provides the foundation for comprehending more advanced concepts. For example, understanding how a ...

CDMA Definition Stands for "Code Division Multiple Access." CDMA is a wireless transmission technology that was developed during World War II by the English allies to avoid having their transmissions jammed. After the war ended, Qualcomm patented the technology and made it commercially available as a digital cellular technology. Now CDMA is a popular communications method used by many cell phone companies. Unlike the GSM and TDMA technologies, CDMA transmits over the entire frequency range avai...

WiMAX Definition WiMAX is a wireless communications standard designed for creating metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is similar to the Wi-Fi standard, but supports a far greater range of coverage. While a Wi-Fi signal can cover a radius of several hundred feet, a fixed WiMAX station can cover a range of up to 30 miles. Mobile WiMAX stations can broadcast up to 10 miles. While Wi-Fi is a good wireless Internet solution for home networks and coffee shops, it is impractical for larger areas. I...