Pay-TV
Internet
Printing
Investments
Financial terms
PAY-TELEVISION
Addressable
A device is addressable if a signal can be transmitted from
the conditional access system to the device instructing it
to carry out or cease carrying out a particular function,
for instance, descrambling a signal.
Analogue
Information is transmitted by varying the phase, amplitude
or frequency of a radio carrier wave with the information
that is being transmitted.
Bandwidth
The amount of the frequency spectrum available or needed to
transmit data (pictures, sound, digital packets etc.) over
a medium such as a cable or air, or through an electronic
device. The higher the bandwidth available, greater the amount
of data that can be transferred per second.
Bouquet
The channels offered by a pay-television provider on a given
platform.
Broadband
A transmission and switching system that has very high bandwidth
i.e. can carry large amounts of data extremely rapidly.
CA module
Conditional access module. Forms part of the conditional access
system.
Cable television
Distribution of television by cable (co-axial, twisted pair
or fibre optic).
CATV
Cable television
C-band
A frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum used heavily
for satellite transmission, having an uplink frequency at
6 GHz and a downlink frequency at 4 GHz.
Channel capacity
Maximum number of channels that a TV system can carry simultaneously.
Channel
A signal path of specified bandwidth.
Co–axial Cable
A high bandwidth copper cable, used as transmission cable
in television applications
Compression ratio
The ratio to which data can be compressed.
Compression
The reduction in size of digital files into a more compact
form for storage or transmission.
Conditional access systems or CAS
The technology that provides for selective access to specific
services, including subscription television services.
Converter
Term for set top box. Enables a conventional TV to receive
multiple channels from a satellite, cable or terrestrial feed.
Copyright
The exclusive legal rights to perform or sell a song, book,
script, photograph, etc. The copyright holder is paid a fee
or royalty when the material is used. If there is no copyright
the material may be used for free and is said to be in the
public domain.
Data protection
Technology to protect against data loss due to computer failure,
user error, unlawful access and deliberate damage.
DBS
Direct Broadcast Satellite. A system in which signals are
transmitted directly from a satellite to a home rooftop receiving
dish.
Decoder
The term given to the device in a signal receiver that receives
the scrambled signal and converts it into a quality audio
or visual signal for listening or viewing, also called a set-top
box.
Definition
Resolution, image quality. The ability of the system to display
detail.
Delivery mechanism
The way that a consumer can connect to a delivery system.
Delivery systems include cable, satellite, ASDL, etc.
Descrambler
Part of the set top box that decodes the scrambled video signal
on a protected broadcast.
Digital compression
The process of reducing the number of bits required to store
or transmit information in digital form. Most digital representations
of sound and pictures contain a great deal of redundant information.
Mathematical algorithms can eliminate this thereby reducing
the amount of space (bandwidth or time) needed when transmitted.
Digital TV
Television broadcasts using digital (as opposed to the traditional
analogue) technologies. The advantages of digital broadcasting
are increased quality and reduced bandwidth, meaning that
several channels can be squeezed in to the space taken up
by a single analogue broadcast.
Digital
A method of storing, processing, or transmitting information
in terms of binary digits.
Digitise
To turn information from an analogue format into a digital
format. E.g. create an electronic copy of a picture or sound.
Dish
A dish collects signals downlinked from a satellite or concentrates
them for uplinking to a satellite.
Downlink
The signal that travels from the satellite down to the receivers
on earth.
Downstream
Signal path from cable headend or satellite to the subscriber.
Drop cable
Piece of cable feeding into the subscriber's home.
DStv
Digital satellite television.
DTH
Direct-to-home. The generic term used to describe the system
of signal transmission from an earth station to a satellite
and then to home for viewing.
Digital terrestrial television or DTT
Digital television broadcast from ground–based transmitters.
DVB
Digital Video Broadcasting.
DVD
Digital Versatile Disk (previously Digital Video Disk). Video
storage on a 13 cm optical disk.
Earth station
Large satellite dish used for receiving and/or transmitting
to a communications satellite and providing feed to a cable
network.
Encryption
In order to prevent eavesdropping on electronic transmission,
data is transformed into a format that is unintelligible without
the proper decryption key. Special software is required to
decode the data. Encryption is essential to pay-television.
EPG
Electronic Programme Guide. An electronic directory for advanced
multichannel television and interactive TV. A sophisticated
interface programme installed in the set-top box or television
set that will enable users to search and select programmes
interactively.
Fibre optic cable
A transmission medium that uses glass or plastic fibres rather
than copper wire to transport data or voice signals.
Fibre optics
Flexible glass fibres that carry communications signals by
light produced by lasers. They provide high bandwidth, high
quality transport for digital or analogue signals. Fibre optic
cables are used as part of (wired) modern telecommunication
systems as well as modern cable TV systems. They can carry
large amounts of information in two directions.
Footprint
The geographic area covered by the beam of a satellite, the
outer edge of which is generally defined as that area where
the quality of communication degrades below an acceptable
commercial level.
Frequency spectrum
The radio frequency spectrum, whether the transmission medium
is physical wire or thin air, can be divided up into any number
of "channels". Each channel takes up a certain amount
of space on the frequency spectrum. The amount of spectrum
occupied by the channel is its bandwidth and is usually measured
in Kilohertz (KHz) and Megahertz (MHz). A broader width can
carry more information.
HDSL
High bit rate Digital Subscriber Line. A technology allowing
two high-speed bi-directional channels for audio, video, data
and text transmission.
Headend
Pay-TV industry term. The source end of a television broadcast
system. Headends receive television signals form a variety
of sources including satellite or dedicated line and transmit
it through the cable, satellite or terrestrial subscription
networks. These are packaged together and transmitted to subscriber's
homes.
Home shopping and banking
The ability for a TV viewer, telephone user or computer user
to undertake shopping or banking remotely, i.e. from their
home or their office. The implication is that the TV, computer
or other terminal can connect and exchange information with
the bank or shop, via the internet, in an instance, descrambling
a signal.
Integrated receiver decoder or IRD
Digital set-top receiver with a built–in descrambler
for decoding pay-television services.
Interactive TV
The application of new information and communication technologies
to conventional television, be it the industry, the technology,
the programmes or household viewers.
Ku-band
A frequency range used for satellite downlink transmission
which falls within the 12 to 14 GHz range of electromagnetic
spectrum, allowing use of 27 inch (or 90 cm) or
smaller ground dishes.
LMDS
Local Multipoint Distribution Services. LMDS use low-power
transmitters to broadcast programming to receiving equipment
in homes and businesses.
MMDS
Multichannel Multi-point Distribution Service. MMDS uses high-power
transmitters to broadcast programming to receiving equipment
in homes and businesses: See Multichannel, multi-point distribution
services.
MPEG
Motion Picture Experts Group. A set of standards developed
that details guidelines for access rates, compression and
conditional access.
MSO
Multiple Services Operator.
Narrowband
A data transmission system that has a small bandwidth i.e.
can only carry small amounts of information. Traditional copper
telephone cables are narrowband (offering 4 Hz analogue).
Near video-on-demand (NVOD)
Proposed use for multichannel broadcasting facilities to try
to satisfy a supposed consumer demand for flexibility in the
viewing times of movies (films). Technically, the transmission
of the same video simultaneously on several channels, but
each starting a short time after the other (for example 15 mins),
making it possible for the viewer to choose to start watching
over, say, a whole evening.
Net churn
The percentage of subscribers over a given period to terminate
their subscription, net of former subscribers who reconnect
during that period.
Pay Per View or PPV
A service which may be offered by subscription television
operators where subscribers elect to view individually scheduled
premium programmes, such as select movies and sporting events,
for a fee rather than subscribing to the whole output of a
channel or broadcaster.
Piracy
Any impersonation, unauthorised browsing, falsification, breach
of copyright, theft of data, disruption of services or control
of information in a network.
Repeater
Signals sent over a transmission line get weaker as energy
is lost from the signal. Signals also get distorted over distance.
Repeaters are used to amplify and reconstruct the signal to
enable it to be sent a longer distance.
Scrambler
A device that alters a message at the transmitter to make
the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with
an appropriate descrambling device.
Set-Top Box
A device used to receive and decode subscription services
including the subscription television services for display
on a television. In interactive television networks, the STB
receives encoded (or compressed) digital signals from the
network and decodes (or decompresses) the signals and converts
them into analogue signals displayed on the television. In
some cases, the STB can also receives commands from the user
(usually via infrared remote control) and transmits such commands
back to the network.
Smart card
A credit card sized device with embedded processors that provides
entitlement functions and stores decryption keys and digital
signatures and which may be inserted in a set-top box.
Subscribers
Viewers who pay a fee for any programming package offered
by the company.
Transponder
A microwave repeater on a satellite that can retransmit a
signal or set of signals.
Ultra-high frequency (UHF)
Frequencies from 300 MHz to 3000 MHz.
Uplink
The signal that travels from the earth-transmitting station
up to the receiving station, such a satellite.
Very high frequency (VHF)
Frequencies from 30 MHz to 300 MHz.
INTERNET
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. Technology that allows
conventional telephone lines to carry multimedia and high-speed
data.
Bandwidth
The amount of the frequency spectrum available or needed to
transmit data (pictures, sound, digital packets etc.) over
a medium such as a cable or air, or through an electronic
device. The higher the bandwidth available, the greater the
amount of data that can be transferred per second.
Banner ad
An advertisement on a web page that is "hot-linked"
to the advertiser's site. Banner advertisements carried on
websites offer viewers the chance to "click through"
to see information the advertiser wishes to make known to
the viewer. Generally this means their main website.
Bits per second or BPS
A measurement of how fast digital data is moved from one place
to another.
Broadband
A transmission and switching system that has very high bandwidth
i.e. can carry large amounts of data extremely rapidly.
Browser Caching
To speed web surfing, browsers store recently used pages on
a user's disk. If a site is revisited, browsers display pages
from the disk instead of requesting them from the server.
Browser
A Client program (software) on a computer, set top box or
other device that is used to look at various kinds of data
resources.
CD
Compact Disc. A 13 cm laser-encoded optical memory storage
medium.
CD-ROM
Compact disc read-only-memory. A 13 cm laser-encoded optical
memory storage medium used for storing data that computers
can read.
Chat
Instant text communication over an electronic network between
users, either anonymously or with known correspondents. Today,
chat is one of the most widely used services, with millions
of people logging on to 'chat rooms' on the internet. Most
chat is on purely social, however there is a growing use of
chat in on-line games, commercial websites and in 'instant
messaging' among groups of friends or colleagues.
Click through
The action of using a hyperlink to jump from one part of the
world wide web to another.
Cookie
A small file on your computer in which a website may write
data. It may contain information such as registration information,
passwords and user preferences. They are used to provide customised
information to users, allow access to websites without the
need for re-registration, and track visitors to, and usage
of, websites. That website may use the data only, to track
your choices and custom tailor its responses.
Copyright
The exclusive legal rights to perform or sell a song, book,
script, photograph, etc. The copyright holder is paid a fee
or royalty when the material is used. If there is no copyright
the material may be used for free and is said to be in the
public domain.
Cyberspace
Used to describe the electronic space behind the screen. It
is all the information available through computer networks.
Data mining
Manipulating data in a database, for instance by looking for
trends and relationships, to extract valuable information.
Data protection
Technology to protect against data loss due to computer failure,
user error, unlawful access and deliberate damage.
Database
Data stored in a way that allows computer access. Traditionally
computer data has largely consisted of numbers and sometimes
text.
Dedicated line
A transmission circuit, which is available at all times, installed
between two sites of a private network.
Digital
A method of storing, processing, or transmitting information
in terms of binary digits. A description of data that is stored
as a series of 1's and 0's (as opposed to "analogue"
form). Computers and other modern signal processing devices
are only able to manipulate and store digital information.
Digital coding allows much more sophisticated processing of
data.
Digital compression
The process of reducing the number of bits required to store
or transmit information in digital form. Most digital representations
of sound and pictures contain a great deal of redundant information.
Mathematical algorithms can eliminate this thereby reducing
the amount of space (bandwidth or time) needed when transmitted.
Digitise
To turn information from an analogue format into a digital
format. E.g. create an electronic copy of a picture or sound.
Domain name
Unique name identifying an internet site. An English language
equivalent of a computer system's TCP/IP address. Domain names
always have two or more parts, separated by dots. The part
on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right
is the most general. It is necessary for management of the
internet that no URLs are the same.
Domain name server or DNS
Domain name servers are computers on the internet that contain
a list of all the domain names, and index them with the underlying
internet address which identifies the computer to which an
internet message is being sent.
Downloading
The process of transferring a file or program from some source
computer to your computer.
Dumb terminal
Terminal, which cannot store or manipulate the data, only
display it on a screen, e.g. a television set.
DVD
Digital Versatile Disk (previously Digital Video Disk). A
on a 13 cm optical disk used for video storage.
E-mail
Electronic mail. A method by which one person can send messages
to another.
Encryption
In order to prevent eavesdropping on electronic transmission,
data is transformed into a format that is unintelligible without
the proper decryption key. Special software is required to
decode the data. Encryption is essential to pay-television.
Firewall
Software that provides security to a computer or local network
by preventing unauthorised people having access to information
on a computer, especially where that information is on computers
that are potentially publicly accessible via the internet.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A software method by which files are
moved from one computer on the internet to another.
GIF
A graphic format commonly found on web pages. Its main claim
to fame is its ability to handle artwork very well.
GUI
Graphical User Interface.
Home page
The opening page of a website.
Home shopping and banking
The ability for a TV viewer, telephone user, computer user
to undertake shopping or banking remotely, i.e. from their
home or their office. The implication is that the TV, computer
or other terminal can connect and exchange information with
the bank or shop, via the internet.
Host
Any computer on a network that is a repository for services
available to other computers on the network.
HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language. The coding language used to create
websites. HTML resembles old-fashioned typesetting code, where
a block of text is surrounded by codes that indicate how it
should appear. The HTML reader or browser can construct an
attractive page including graphics and other media objects
from simple codes.
HTTP
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. This is the protocol used by
most browsers when reading a web page.
Hyperlink
A piece of text or graphic that is 'sensitive', such that
if a user clicks on it with their mouse (or touches it on
a touch screen, etc.) they will be "linked" to a
different place.
Internet
A global computer network. It is a worldwide collection of
independent, inter-connected networks of computers, communicating
through a common and simple language (TCP/IP), using telephone
lines. The internet communications infrastructure is owned
by many telecommunications providers around the world, not
by any one organisation. Internet technology can support many
different applications (e-mail, worldwide web, newsgroups,
live audio and video, etc.).
Internet Service Provider or ISP
Companies that sell internet access, including software, and
which generally enable users to access the internet through
a local telephone call. Users get their computers to telephone
the ISP and they are then routed onto the main backbone of
the internet and from there to remote locations.
Intranet
Use of internet technologies for private and internal communication
by organisations.
IP address
A computer's address on the internet, expressed as a series
of numbers (like a telephone number) e.g. 130.345.321.1
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network. This is a digital network
technology that moves up to 128,000 bits-per-second (ISDN
2) over a regular telephone line at nearly the same cost as
a normal telephone call. A standard ISDN line carries 64 Kbs.
Advanced modems can reach this data exchange speed over a
normal analogue circuit, making it almost redundant as a technology.
ISDN offers other services such as call waiting that analogue
networks in some countries do not offer.
Java
An object–oriented computer language which was developed
by SUN Microsystems for the purpose of enhancing the capabilities
of web pages.
JavaScript
A computer language that enables website designers to enhance
websites with more interactive features. JavaScript is a simpler
version of Java.
JPEG
Joint Picture Experts Group. A commonly found graphic format
on web pages. JPEG formatted graphics are especially good
at handling photographs. A standard for the compression of
still graphics (as opposed to video).
LAN
Local Area Network. A network of computers generally in the
same building connected together with fixed cabling or through
microwave links. A LAN can be as small as two computers linked
together.
Link
An electronic connection between two web pages or sites.
Modem
Modulator or demodulator. A device for turning the digital
information that computers use into analogue information that
can be passed down ordinary telephone wires. Modems therefore
"attach" computers to the internet or another network.
Network computer
The name given to a computer which relies on network facilities
to store data and programs.
Newsgroups
A general name given to a vast collection of public access
bulletin boards. A newsgroup is generally a discussion group
on the internet devoted to talking about a particular topic.
Thousands of these news groups exist ranging from the obscure
such as discussions of tropical fish diseases to the highly
popular such as job offers.
Off line
A situation when a computer is not connected to another computer.
On line
An expression denoting the fact that two computers, or computer
like devices, are linked in some way. A PC that is connected
to the internet, or to a private service such as a banking
or news service, is said to be on line.
Page views
Number of times a user requests a web page.
Page
Traditionally websites are referred to as collections of electronic
"pages". Each web page is a document formatted in
HTML that contains text, images or media objects such as RealAudio
player files, QuickTime videos or Java applets. The "home
page" is typically a visitor's first point of entry and
features a site index. Pages can be static or dynamically
generated.
Piracy
Any impersonation, unauthorised browsing, falsification, breach
of copyright, theft of data, disruption of services or control
of information in a network.
POP
Point Of Presence. An internet access point set up by an ISP.
PPP
Point to Point Protocol. PPP is a superset of the TCP/IP protocols.
Real time
In true or actual time. A computer video file compressed,
transmitted and decompressed in real time is in effect being
broadcast "live".
Response time
The time between the user submitting a command to a system
and the system producing the desired outcome.
Search engine
A Search Engine is a piece of software, available on the web,
which will locate related sites using a keyword search. For
example a user may search for all sites with the words IDAHO
and REALTY in their description. The Search Engine will return
a list of all the sites that match those words.
Secure socket layer or SSL
A Netscape developed protocol (technology) that operates with
internet systems to ensure security of transactions in services
such as electronic commerce and home banking.
Server
A host machine. A computer, or software on a computer, that
makes services or information available on a network to other
computers. A server provides two roles, providing connectivity
to the internet, and passing files from its hard drive to
someone requesting them. In effect, serving files.
Surfing
The process of reading web pages and moving from one website
to another.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This term
describes two software mechanisms used to allow multiple computers
to talk to each other in an error–free fashion.
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol works with IP to ensure that
data "packets" travel safely on the internet.
Unique user
The number of different individuals who visit a site within
a specific time period. To identify unique users, websites
rely on some form of user registration or identification system
(see Cookies).
UNIX
A computer operating system (the basic software running on
a computer, underneath things like databases and word processors).
UNIX is designed to be used by many people at once ("multi-user")
and has TCP/IP built-in. UNIX is a prevalent operating system
for internet servers, and for interactive television systems.
URL
Unique Resource Locator. A website's address on the world
wide web. This is the internet address which tells a user
where to locate a specific web HTML File. A typical URL would
be www.carat.com. It consists of a prefix identifying an organisation
and a suffix identifying the type of organisation. In the
example www.carat.com, carat identifies the organisation and
com identifies the type of organisation as being a commercial
one. Other common suffixes are org for non-profit organisation
and edu for educational establishment. Sometimes the suffix
consists of two parts. For instance co.uk indicates a commercial
organisation in the UK.
Video conferencing
Using a computer or any network terminal with a video camera
attached, to talk to and watch a correspondent in a remote
location.
Virtual reality
This is generally the creation of images on computer screens
that mimic a three–dimensional world.
Web browser
A computer on which web information is stored and "served"
to other computers that request to view it. A piece of software
that allows a computer user to look at information stored
on the web.
Web
Common abbreviation for the "World Wide Web", which
is a technology, running on the internet. The web is a way
of transferring files on the internet using a hyperlink system
to link computer files or pages with a simple user interface.
The world wide web is based on a "client/server system"
where a piece of computer software called a browser can download
and display text, graphics, video, and sound from any other
computer on the network. The web has a common addressing system
(see URL). The web address (URL) identifies an individual
computer on which internet information is stored, this is
known as the domain name. The content of the web is not restricted
to being delivered over the internet, but can be selected
and distributed in other ways. As well as being a technology,
the web has become a huge collection of interlinked information
and entertainment including tens of thousands of commercial
websites.
Website
A website is a location on the internet, specifically it refers
to the POP location in which it resides. All websites are
referenced using a special addressing scheme called a URL.
A website can mean a single HTML file put up by an individual
or hundreds of files placed on the net by a commercial venture.
Window system
World Wide Web
See Web.
WWW
See Web.
Zip
One of the most commonly used compression formats for PC and
UNIX based computers.
PRINTING
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information. The general specification
of bits in a computer to input, store, process and output
text characters.
Bit Map
In computer imaging, the electronic representation of a page,
indicating the position of every possible spot.
Black Printer
In color reproduction, the black plate, made to increase contrast
of dark tones and make them neutral.
Blind Image
In lithography, an image that has lost its ink receptivity
and fails to print.
Bond Paper
A grade of writing or printing paper where strength, durability
and permanence are essential requirements. Used for letterheads,
business forms, etc.
Byte
In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to
one character or eight to 32 bits.
CMYK (Process colours)
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black-subtractive primary colours.
Printing colours for process colour reproduction.
Colour Balance
The correct combination of cyan, magenta and yellow to (1)
reproduce a photograph without a color cast, (2) produce a
neutral gray, or (3) reproduce the colors in the original
scene or object.
Colour Filter
A sheet of dyed glass, gelatine or plastic, or dyed gelatine
cemented between glass plates, used in photography to absorb
certain colours and transmit others. The filters used for
colour separation are blue, green and red.
Colour Separation
The process of separating colour originals of photographs
into the primary printing colour components in negative or
positive form.
Cyan
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-colour process ink. It
reflects or transmits blue and green light and absorbs red
light.
Dimensional Stability: Ability to maintain size; resistance
of paper or film to dimensional change with change in moisture
content of relative humidity.
Dot Gain
In printing, a defect in which dots print larger than they
should, causing darker tones or stronger colors.
Font (Typeface)
In typesetting, a complete assortment of letters, numbers,
punctuation marks, etc. of a given size and design, including
“Nimrod” (Die Burger) or “Helvetica”
(Fairlady).
Fountain Solution
In lithography, a solution of water, a natural or synthetic
gum and other chemicals used to dampen the plate and keep
non-printing areas from accepting ink.
Grain
In papermaking, the direction in which most fibers lie, corresponding
with the direction of the paper during the manufacturing of
paper.
Gravure (Galvano)
Generally used in the printing of magazines. The process of
printing from a lowered surface. A cylinder is etched with
cells of varying depth. These hold the ink. By using the natural
absorbency tendencies of paper, the ink is drawn from the
cells onto the paper.
Halftone
The reproduction of continuous-tone artwork, such as a photograph,
through a contact screen, which converts the image into dots
of various sizes.
Layout
The drawing or sketching of a proposed printed item. All printing
instructions e.g. font type and size, paper-weight, are included
with the layout.
Litho Offset (Planographic)
Generally used in the process of printing books. The image
area (printing area) and non-image area (non-printing areas)
are essentially on the same plain (level). It works on the
principle of the antipathy (non-compatibility, repelling each
other) of water and grease. In other words, the image becomes
grease (ink) loving and the non-image becomes water accepting
(the one repels the other) This process generally uses flat
sheets of paper, which are printed individually.
Magenta
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-colour process ink. It
reflects or transmits blue and red light and absorbs green
light.
Make-ready
In printing, all work done to set up a press for printing.
Makeup
In composition, the arrangement of lines of type and illustrations
into sections or pages of proper length.
Moiré
In colour process printing, the undesirable screen pattern
caused by incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones.
Optical Character Reader (OCR)
A device that allows a computer to read printed or written
information.
Register
In printing, fitting of two or more printing images in exact
alignment with each other.
Rotary Web Offset
The same process as “Litho Offset”, with the exception
that the paper is fed into the machine from a web / role of
paper. This process is generally used in the printing of newspapers.
Run
The number of copies printed of a certain publication.
Saddle Wire / Stitching
In binding, to secure a booklet/brochure by wiring it through
the middle fold of the sheets.
Screen & Screen Angle
A halftone screen on film having a dot structure of graded
density. In colour reproduction, angles at which the half-tone
screens are placed with relation to one another, to avoid
undesirable moiré patterns. The set of angles often
used is: black 45°, magenta 75°, yellow 90°, cyan
105°.
Screen Density or Ruling
Measured in dots per square inch (Dpi). Available from
75Dpi for newspaper prints to 2200Dpi for high-class books
or magazines.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
A file format for exchanging bitmapped images (usually scans)
between applications.
Vignette
An illustration in which the background gradually fades away
until it blends into the un-printed paper.
Worm (Virus)
‘Write once, read many times.’ A type
of optical memory device.
WYSIWYG
In electronic publishing, an acronym for What You See Is
What You Get, which means that the composite page viewed
on the screen of a workstation essentially represents what
the printer will output.
Yellow
Hue of a subtractive primary and a 4-color process ink. It
reflects red and green light and absorbs blue light.
INVESTMENTS
Common Stock
A class of securities representing ownership and control in
a corporation and that may pay dividends as well as appreciate
in value.
Dividend
Distributions to stockholders of cash or stock declared by
the company's board of directors.
EDGAR
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR).
An electronic system developed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. EDGAR permits companies to file electronically
with the SEC all documents required for securities offerings
and ongoing disclosure obligations. EDGAR became fully operational
mid-1995.
Form 20-F
A Securities and Exchange Commission 1934 Act registration
statement and annual report form typically used by foreign
issuers.
Form 6-K
The Securities and Exchange Commission form for non-US issuers
to make periodic reports.
Form F-1
The Securities and Exchange Commission 1933 Act form registering
the securities of a non-US company to be issued as part of
a public offering.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
A company's first sale of stock to the public. Companies making
an IPO are seeking outside equity capital and a public market
for their stock.
Market Maker
A firm that maintains a firm bid and offer price in a given
security by standing ready to buy or sell at publicly-quoted
prices. The Nasdaq Stock Market is a decentralised network
of competitive Market Makers. Market Makers process orders
for their own customers, and for other NASD broker/dealers;
all NASD securities are traded through Market Maker firms.
Market Makers will also buy securities from issuers for resale
to customers or other broker/dealers. About 10 percent of
NASD firms are Market Makers; a broker/dealer may become a
Market Maker if the firm meets capitalisation standards set
down by NASD.
(The) Nasdaq Stock Market
The Nasdaq Stock Market is a major national and international
stock market that uses computers and telecommunications for
the trading and surveillance of thousands of securities. The
Nasdaq Stock Market is built on a unique system of competing
Market Maker firms that list specific prices for the sale
or purchase of securities. The Nasdaq Stock Market also is
unique in its use of a flexible computer-screen trading system
that enables people to trade by computer from wherever they
are located.
Nasdaq Composite SM Index
A statistical measure that indicates changes in The Nasdaq
Stock Market. The Nasdaq Composite Index measures all Nasdaq
domestic and foreign common stocks. It is market-value weighted:
each company's security affects the index in proportion to
its market value. Securities in the Nasdaq Composite Index
generally are assigned to subindexes based on their Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) codes.
Price/Earnings ratio
The price of a share or stock divided by earnings per share,
usually calculated using the latest year's earnings. The p/e
ratio is also called the multiple.
Public Float
The portion of a company's outstanding shares that is in the
hands of public investors; shares not held by company officers,
directors, or investors who hold a controlling interest in
the company.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The federal agency created by the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 to administer that act and the Securities Act of 1933.
The statutes administered by the SEC are designed to promote
full public disclosure and protect the investing public against
fraudulent and manipulative practices in the securities markets.
Generally, most issues of securities offered in interstate
commerce or through the mail must be registered with the SEC.
|
