| Term
| Description
|
| Acrobat |
A software program that allows you to read PDF files |
| Activesync |
A software program that enables your desktop or
laptop computer to synchronise files with a PDA in a cradle |
| Alt key |
The key on your keyboard to the left of the space
bar |
| analogue |
Anything non-digital (e.g. an analogue sound
recorder could be a cassette recorder, or a Dictaphone) |
| Audacity |
A software program that enables you to edit sound
files and save as mp3 (with a plug-in) |
| audio cable |
A cable to connect a sound recorder or player to
your computer, usually with a microphone jack type plug at each end |
| bluetooth |
A system by which electronic devices can connect to
each other without the need for wires |
| BMP |
An image file format commonly used in Windows (it
makes quite large file sizes) |
| coordinates |
A number system used to identify a particular place
on a grid, or a map |
| cradle |
A device to connnect your PDA to your computer so
that they can communicate and swap files |
| cropping |
A method of digitally cutting unwanted areas out of
a picture so that the picture is the right size and shape and contains the
content you need |
| desktop |
This is the background screen on your computer that
is visible when you have no other programs open (or they are all minimized)
where the icons and wallpaper are shown |
| desktop computer |
A computer with a base unit (or box) that sits on a
desk typically (rather than a handheld, portable or laptop computer) |
| dictaphone |
A device for recording sounds on to a tape, or on to
digital memory |
| digital layer |
A layer added on top of something else using a
digital device, such as a computer or software program |
| digital media |
Sounds or Images, or video that has been created or
saved using a digital device and stored as a computer file |
| downloads |
A digital file or content that is saved from a
remote location on to a device that you are using, quite often this term is
used to describe saving information from the internet |
| ebook reader |
A software program that enables you to read a file
or piece of writing saved in e-Book format (for instance, the instruction on
this website) |
| event |
An event in a mediascape is something that happens
when a user enters or leaves a region on your mediascape map, or in the real
world |
| export |
Saving a file that you have been editing into a
different location |
| F2 |
The 'F2' button on your keyboard is one of the
Function keys that run along the top of the keyboard |
| file |
A digital document, picture, sound or other content
that can be stored on a computer, laptop or PDA |
| file format |
A description of the type of content that is held in
a file, usually shown as a suffix to a file name. For instance
".jpeg" is a particular type of image, and ".wav" is a
type of sound file |
| file menu |
The menu at the top of most windows applications
that allow you to access the 'open', 'save', 'exit' and other functions |
| filename |
The name of a digital file |
| Flash |
A type of digital media used to show animations and
movies on the internet |
| folder |
A place where files are stored on your computer |
| forum |
A place where pupils, teachers and schools can chat
about Mediascapes and the whole Create-A-Scape experience |
| frame |
The border of an image |
| framing |
The method by which you ensure what you want to
capture in a photo is within the frame or border of the camera lens |
| GIF |
A picture file format commonly used for graphics on
web pages (due to their small file size) |
| Global Positioning System |
A system by which satellites can communicate with
devices on earth and send information regarding the geographical position of
the device. Commonly called GPS |
| GPS |
See "global positioning system" |
| grid references |
Like coordinates, these are use to reference a
particular point on a map or a grid, they will be one set of numbers and/or
letters, followed by another set (separated by a comma) |
| handheld computer |
A computer or digital device with computing
functions, that can be handheld (such as a Palm, a PDA, or PocketPC) |
| icons |
The small images that are used to indicate what type
of file or program and your computer would be opened if you clicked on that
icon |
| ICT |
Information and Communication Technology |
| import |
A method by which you can acquire or open files in a
software program that are not currently in the same location as the file or
project your are working on |
| iPod |
A mp3 player made by Apple (a portable device that
can play digital music through headphones) |
| JPEG |
An image file format |
| landline |
A type of digital map used by the Ordnance Survey |
| landscape |
A picture format where the image is wider than it is
tall |
| LEA |
Local Education Authority |
| Maplib file |
A digital map file that can be used in the mscape toolkit. These are created in the Maplib Maker application. |
| media |
Sound, images or video, for example |
| media files |
Digital files that contain an image, or video, or
sound |
| media icons |
Icons (see "icons") that denote that that
file contains media information such as an image, sound or video |
| mediascape |
A mediascape is a digital activity or project
enabling you to experience new things in the landscape around you with a
handheld computer and pair of headphones.
To create a mediascape, you start with a digital map. Using special
software, digital sounds and pictures are attached to specific points on the
map. |
| MP3 |
A digital music or sound file format |
| MP3 player |
A device for playing digital music through
headphones (for example, an iPod or iRiver) |
| Ordnance Survey |
An organisation that is responsible for mapping and
providing maps, both paper and digital to the public |
| OS grid references |
See "grid references" - these ones are
used specifically by the Ordnance Survey |
| OSLO |
The Ordnance Survey Liaison Officer |
| pairing |
Ensuring that each PDA is linked with only one
specific GPS unit |
| palmtop |
A handheld computer, like a PDA |
| partnership |
A link that is made between your computer and your
PDA to ensure that your Mediascapes can be copied form one to the other, and
other files can be exchanged if necessary |
| paste |
The method by which you save a file into another
location (after you have copied form its original location) |
| PC |
Personal Computer (such as a desktop computer) |
| PDA |
Personal Digital Assistant - a handheld computer
that is used to experience Mediascapes as you move around |
| PDF |
A file type that can be read using Acrobat - often
used for instructions and manuals |
| PDF reader |
A software program for reading PDF files, such as
Acrobat |
| Personal Digital Assistant |
See "PDA" |
| Picasa |
A software program used for opening, editing,
rotating, resizing and cropping pictures (amongst other things) |
| picturescape |
A mediascape that contains only pictures |
| pixels |
A unit of measurement used on computer screens (for
instance most computer monitor displays are 1024 x 768 pixels in size) |
| point source |
A type of object that can be placed on your
mediascape to play a sound effect or music located at a particular point. As
a user gets closer to the centre of the point source, the sound will get
louder |
| pops up |
Windows will sometimes pop up over another window
when you are using a computer program, in order to tell you something
important or ask you a question |
| port settings |
The settings that you can specify in the Mobile
Bristol Toolkit client (on your PDA) to determine what part of the PDA
hardware will listen for satellite GPS signals |
| portrait |
A picture format where the image is taller than it
is wide |
| program |
A software application or tool that can be used for
carrying out tasks on your computer |
| project |
A project in MobileBristol Toolkit is the mediascape
you are creating |
| PSD |
An image format, often created in a program called
Photoshop |
| ratio |
Relation in degree or number between two similar
things - in the case of a map scale, this shows the relation between the size
of the map and the size of the actual thing being mapped (i.e. the land) |
| region |
An area created on your mediascape that you can
attach sound or images top so that they play or display when someone walks
through the area in eth real world. They can sometimes be called Hotspots |
| scan |
A method by which you can create a digital version n
of a paper image or document, buy using a scanner plugged into your computer |
| scrapbook |
The Create-A-Scape Scrapbook is where pupils,
teachers and schools can share their experiences of Mediascapes |
| socket adaptor |
An adaptor that allows you to plug 2 sets of
headphones into one headphones socket, allowing 2 people, to experience the
same mediascape |
| sound wave |
The digital sound you have created displayed in
graphical form, as lines that go up and down |
| soundscape |
A mediascape that contains only sounds |
| Streetmap |
A website service that allows you to find places on
a map, by postcode or street name |
| Streetview |
A map format used by the Ordnance Survey |
| tab key |
The button on your keyboard usually the left of the
"Q" key |
| taskbar |
The bar at the bottom of your computer screen that
often has the "Start" button and the time on. |
| TIFF |
An image file format, often used in digital mapping |
| toggling |
A method by which you can switch quickly between
software programs on your computer (by using the Alt and Tab keys) |
| toolkit |
The HP Labs mscape toolkit - that is used to create
and experience Mediascapes |
| touch-pad |
A flat, compact version of a mouse that usually is
part of a laptop and sits just below the keyboard |
| trigger |
The action or event that will make something happen |
| tweaks |
Small changes that can be made (to your mediascape,
to improve it or make it work better) |
| WAV |
A sound file format commonly used in windows |
| window |
The software program or application display area |
| Windows Media Player |
A software program that can play music, sounds,
video, and can save music from CDs in mp3 format |
| windows sound recorder |
A software program that can be used to record sounds |
| zooming |
The method by which you can increase the size and
scale of a map |
