Terms, definitions, acronyms

10BASE2

Physical Layer Specification for thin cable Ethernet (also called Cheapernet or Thin Ethernet) Using RG-58 standard coaxial cable. IOBASE2 is nomenclature for IOMbit/s, Baseband, 555 ft maximum segment length (IEEE 802.3)

10BASE-T

Physical Layer Specification for Twisted-Pair Ethernet using unshielded Twisted Pair wire at 10Mbit/s. (Rather than StarLAN's IMbit/s). 10BASE-T is nomenclature for 10Mbit/s, Baseband, Twisted Pair cable.(IEEE 802.3)

ADP

Automated data processing.

AppleTalk

Apple Computer's proprietary LAN protocol suite for linking Macintoshes and peripheral devices. AppleTalk is a CSMA/CA network with 115 Kbps data rate and allows connecting up to 32 devices [Top]

Algorithm

A documented, logical sequence of actions or steps that form rules that are used to determine a solution or answer.

Alphanumeric

Characters made up of either alphabetic or numeric symbols.

Al

Artificial intelligence. Using computers to simulate human thought.

ADP

Automated data processing - The manipulation of data using a computer-based system to achieve desired result. [Top]

AMIA

An organization - The American Medical Informatics Association.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

Application

The term refers to software that performs a useful function or the useful function itself

Archie

An internet system for locating publicly available files by anonymous FTP. [Top]

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

A standardized representation of letters; as binary numbers.

Backup

The process of copying computer information into a second storage area for safety.

Batch Processing

The process by which data are collected and processed in groups.

Baud

The speed of data transmission, measured in bits per second, over phone lines.

Binary

A number system having two symbols, 0 and 1, which is used in computer systems.

Bit

A binary digit with the value of either 0 or 1. [Top]

bps

Bits per second

Byte

The number of bits necessary to form one character.

CDD

Clock distribution device

CIO

Chief information officer [Top]

CIS

Clinical information system.

Calcification system

Sorting categories of a subject into groups based on an established criteria.

Clinical information system (CIS)

A system designed to collect, store, and/or transmit information that is used for clinical applications.

CBR

Computer based record.

CMT

Connection management [Top]

Collision

Overlapping Transmissions which occur when two or more nodes attempt to transmit at the same time, in which case the interference is termed a collision.

CPR

Computerized patient record.

CRC

Cyclic redundancy check

 

DB

Database [Top]

Database

A collection of one or more data sets.

Data dictionary

A description of all data fields within the system.

Data set

Defined sets of information collected for a specific purpose.

Decision Support Systems.

Systems that enhance the use of information as a strategic weapon [Top]

Dial-up

Connecting to a computer by calling it on the telephone.

EDI

Electronic data interchange.

End-user computing

Development and use of programs by the user; not the computer professional. Ethernet A kind of local area network.

Expert System

A three-part program (user interface, knowledge base, inference engine) that solve problems based on "expert" methods and knowledge. [Top]

FDDI

Fiber distributed data interface - ANSI defined standard for high speed (100 Mhps) LAN communications using fiber optic cable. It uses a dual ring or dual ring to trees topology and a token-passing media access method. It is compatible with the standards for the physical layer and the MAC portion or the data link layer of the OSI model. Up to 1000 stations can be connected with up to 1.7 Miles (or 9000 ft) between stations.

FEP

Front End Processor [Top]

Flame or flaming

A vehement, zealous written attack against the author of an electronic message or posting

Freenet

A network that provides free Internet access to people in a certain area. [Top]

FTP

File transfer protocol.

File transfer protocol (FTP)

A protocol that defines how to transfer files from one computer to another

Gopher

A menu-based system for exploring Internet resources.

Hardware

The physical components of an information system.

Health information infrastructure

A high speed, interconnected communications network with CPR systems, knowledge based systems and databases that use common definitions, codes and forms. Heuristics. Problem solving methods. [Top]

HIS

Hospital information system.

Hospital information system. (HIS)

A system that serves the information needs of the hospital.

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Interface

The mechanism/method by which interaction takes place between the user and the machine.

Internet

The worldwide "network of networks." Also Internet A collection of individual networks working together as one. [Top]

IP

Internetwork protocol

IS

Information system.

ISDN

Integrated services digital network - A model for the integration of voice, images, and data in a universal interface for networks.

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

ISO

International Standards Organization [Top]

IT

Information technology.

Knowledge-based system

A system that combines access to data and systematic use of logic rules and probabilistic statements (stored expertise) that can help caregivers make better clinical decisions.

LAN

Local area network [Top]

LED

Light emitting diode

Local area network (LAN)

A link or "network" that allows individuals to share information, printers, and/or software programs over a short distance(typically within the same room or geographic area). [Top]

LLC

Logical link control

MAC

Media access control

MIC

Media interface connector

MIS

Management information system.

Modem

Device that translates "computer-talk" into "phone-talk," and vice-versa, so that computers can communicate with each other over telephone lines. [Top]

Multiplexor

A device that allows multiple computers or peripherals to be linked simultaneously to a single machine.

Network

Linked computers.

NFS

Network file system

Network interface card (NIC)

Interface card required in the expansion bus of a personal computer to connect to the cabling or a LAN.

NIS

Nursing information system [Top]

Nursing Informatics

The study of information technology as it applies to the discipline of nursing and includes information technology, computer science, information science, nursing science and management information systems.

Nursing information system (NIS)

A system that is designed specifically to serve the information needs of nursing. [Top]

Office automation

Use of computer-based, office-oriented technologies to increase productivity (word processing, information storage and retrieval and electronic communications systems).

Operating system

The master program for running the computer. [Top]

OSI

Open systems interconnection

PAD

Packet assembler/disassembler

PDU

Protocol Data Unit

PHY

Physical layer protocol [Top]

RFS

Remote File Server

SCAMC (Symposium on computer applications in medical care)

An annual AMIA meeting/program.

Software

The commands the computer follows to carry out its functions.

SQL

Structured query language [Top]

Stand-alone systems

Self-contained microcomputer system for meeting the computing needs of a single user.

Structured text

Concepts and ideas in text, but with designated, assigned codes for computer analysis.

TCP/IP

Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol - Protocols developed by the Department of Defense to link computers from multiple vendors across networks. It works at the third through fifth layers or the OSI model. [Top]

Telecommunications systems

Transmission of voice, data, image and or text over a considerable distance.

Transmission control protocol (TCP)

A transport layer, connection-oriented, end to end protocol It provides reliable, sequenced, and unduplicated delivery or bytes to a remote or local user. TCP provides reliable byte stream communication between pairs of processes in hosts attached to interconnected networks. [Top]

Turnkey

A complete hardware and software package that allows the user to immediately implement its designated function.

System requirements

The traits or characteristics necessary for the system to function. [Top]

Telematics

The use of electronic technologies to transmit information

WAN

Wide area network.

World wide web (WWW)

A hypertext-based system for finding and accessing resources on the Internet. [Top]