Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
phishing
A practice that entails
sending bogus messages purportedly
from a legitimate institution to pry
personal information from customers
by convincing them to go to a “spoofed”
Web site.
policy-based storage
management
Automation of storage
using previously defined policies.
programmer
A specialist responsible
for modifying or developing programs
to satisfy user requirements.
portable computer
A computer small
enough to be carried easily.
programming languages
Sets of
keywords, symbols, and a system of
rules for constructing statements by
which humans can communicate
instructions to be executed by a
computer.
predictive analysis
A form of data
mining that combines historical data
with assumptions about future
conditions to predict outcomes of
events, such as future product sales or
the probability that a customer will
default on a loan.
physical design
The specification of
the characteristics of the system
components necessary to put the logical
design into action.
project deadline
The date the entire
project is to be completed and
operational.
pilot start-up
Running the new
system for one group of users rather
than all users.
preliminary evaluation
An initial
assessment whose purpose is to dismiss
the unwanted proposals; begins after all
proposals have been submitted.
project milestone
A critical date for
the completion of a major part of the
project.
pipelining
A form of CPU operation
in which multiple execution phases are
performed in a single machine cycle.
project organizational structure
A
structure centered on major products or
services.
primary key
A field or set of fields that
uniquely identifies the record.
pixel
A dot of color on a photo image
or a point of light on a display screen.
primary storage (main memory;
memory)
The part of the computer
that holds program instructions and
data.
planned data redundancy
A way of
organizing data in which the logical
database design is altered so that certain
data entities are combined, summary
totals are carried in the data records
rather than calculated from elemental
data, and some data attributes are
repeated in more than one data entity
to improve database performance.
project schedule
A detailed
description of what is to be done.
projecting
Manipulating data to
eliminate columns in a table.
private branch exchange (PBX)
A
telephone switching exchange that
serves a single organization.
public network services
Systems that
give personal computer users access to
vast databases and other services,
usually for an initial fee plus usage fees.
problem solving
A process that goes
beyond decision making to include the
implementation stage.
plasma display
A plasma display uses
thousands of smart cells (pixels)
consisting of electrodes and neon and
xeon gases which are electrically turned
into plasma (electrically charged atoms
and negatively charged particles) to
emit light.
quality
The ability of a product
(including services) to meet or exceed
customer expectations.
procedures
The strategies, policies,
methods, and rules for using a CBIS.
quality control
A process that ensures
that the finished product meets the
customers' needs.
process
A set of logically related tasks
performed to achieve a defined
outcome.
Platform for Privacy Preferences
(P3P)
A screening technology that
shields users from Web sites that don't
provide the level of privacy protection
they desire.
questionnaires
A method of gathering
data when the data sources are spread
over a wide geographic area.
process symbol
Representation of a
function that is performed.
processing
Converting or
transforming data into useful outputs.
Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID)
A technology that employs a
microchip with an antenna that
broadcasts its unique identifier and
location to receivers.
point evaluation system
An
evaluation process in which each
evaluation factor is assigned a weight, in
percentage points, based on
importance. Then each proposed
system is evaluated in terms of this
factor and given a score ranging from 0
to 100. The scores are totaled, and the
system with the greatest total score is
selected.
productivity
A measure of the output
achieved divided by the input required.
profit center
A department within an
organization that focuses on generating
profits.
random access memory (RAM)
A
form of memory in which instructions
or data can be temporarily stored.
Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT)
A formalized
approach for developing a project
schedule that creates three time
estimates for an activity.
rapid application development
(RAD)
A systems development
approach that employs tools,
techniques, and methodologies
designed to speed application
development.
point-of-sale (POS) device
A
terminal used in retail operations to
enter sales information into the
computer system.
programmed decision
A decision
made using a rule, procedure, or
quantitative method.
