ITS Glossary of Terms A – Z Index
An alphabetical listing of Information Technology Services Glossary of Terms
A
|
AARNet |
Australian and Academic Research Network |
|
Accessibility Framework |
Refers to creating a teaching environment in which all students, including those with disabilities, are able to achieve their educational objectives. |
|
Android |
A mobile operating system from Google |
|
AS |
Application Services |
|
AV |
Audio visual |
B
|
Blackboard Gradebook |
Provides online course content and a range of online facilities such as chat, quizzes, disucssion lists, online whiteboards etc. to RMIT students. |
|
BW Web |
Business Warehouse web reports |
|
Bit |
Short for binary digit, a bit is the smalled unit used in computing |
|
Byte |
Made up of eight bits, a byte usually represents one character in data. For example, the sentence ‘how now brown cow’ would be 17 bytes in size (spaces also count) |
C
|
CAUDIT |
Council of Australian Directors of Information Technology |
|
CMDB |
Configuration Management Database |
D
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DBA |
Data Base Administrator |
|
DR |
Disaster Recovery |
E
|
eJournal |
Online journal |
|
EMS |
Electronic Messaging Service |
|
Equity Database |
Potential RMIT students are able to apply for special consideration when submitting a program application to RMIT. Potential students are known as equity -based applicants |
|
E-recruitment |
E-recruitment software to drive staff recruitment process efficiencies. |
|
e-Research |
Refers to the use of information and communication technologies to support existing and new forms of collaborative research. |
|
ERP |
Enterprise Resources Planning |
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ESS |
Employee Self Service |
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ETAG |
Educational Technology Advisory Group |
F
|
|
A social networking website which allows users to join one or more networks to connect and interact with other people. |
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Fat client |
A computer which typically provides rich functionality independent of the central server. |
|
FAQ |
Frequently Asked Questions |
|
FTP |
File Transfer Protocol |
G
|
Gigabyte |
Also known as GB or gig. It equals 1 billion bytes. |
|
Graduation Database |
Browser based application |
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GroupWise |
Current RMIT email system |
|
Gmail |
In mid 2012 it will become the RMIT email system |
H
|
HE |
Higher Education (HE) refers to undergradulate and postgraduate programs and courses funded by the federal Government. |
|
HEUG |
Higher Education User Group |
I
|
ICT |
Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a term that covers the compu6ting and electronic communications technology. ICT refers to computer systems, networks, databases, software, hardware, security devices, telephony and so on. |
|
iExplore (Data warehouse) |
Provides staff with web access to data |
|
iLab |
A virtual laboratory. Virtual laboratories are cost-effective alternatives that allow individual students to perform experiments on their own, from wherever they want, in a safe manner. |
|
iPad |
The iPad is a tablet computer designed and developed by Apple |
|
iPod |
Initially a portable hard disk drive produced by the Apple Computer corporation, there are now types of iPods which have no moving parts. An iPod is typically used to store music files such as MP3s but can also be used for storing other files such as images or other data. |
|
iPod touch |
Portable media player, personal digital assistant and wi-fi mobile platform |
|
iPhone |
The iPhone is a line of internet and multi-media enabled smartphones. |
|
IS |
Infrastructure Services |
|
IT |
Information Technology |
|
ITAWG |
Information Technology Accessibility Working Group |
|
ITIL |
Information Technology Infrastructure Library |
|
ITS |
Information Technology Services |
|
IT Downtimes |
Displays the Scheduled IT Downtimes of the services provided to the University. |
|
IT Service Desk |
The IT Service Desk provides staff and students with assistance for all information technology queries. |
|
ITTAG |
Information Technology Technical Advisory Group |
K
|
Kilobyte |
Also known as KB, kB, K or Kbyte. A kilobyte equals 1000 bytes. It is used to describe file sizes for things such as low resolution photos. |
L
|
LAN |
Local Area Network |
|
Learning Hub |
RMIT University’s online learning facility |
|
Lectopia |
A multimedia system which captures and delivers lectures for students to download, stream and podcast. |
|
LRC |
Learning Resource Centre |
M
|
Megabyte |
Also known as MB or meg. A megabyte is a thousand times bigger than a kilobyte. |
|
Mobile device |
A pocket-sized computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. Some examples are iPod touch, iPad and iPhone. |
N
|
NDS |
Novell Directory Service |
|
NetStorage |
Provides simple, internet-based access to files stored on RMIT corporate file servers via a standard web browser. |
|
NoBITS |
Notice of break in IT service |
|
Notifylink |
Notifylink is a service that allows staff email, calendar and contacts (GroupWise) to sync and be used on mobile devices. |
O
|
Open Source Software |
Open source describes a type of software license that makes source code available to the general public with relaxed or non-existent copyright resstrictions. |
|
ORBIT |
Browser based applications |
P
|
PABX |
Private Automatic Branch Exchange |
|
PCBuy |
Hardware for RMIT University is purchased through our current preferred supplier agreements by means of the PCBuy program. |
|
PeopleSoft |
RMIT academic management system |
|
Petabyte |
Also referred to as PB. Equals one quadrillion bytes or 1000 terabytes of computer storage |
|
PR |
Portfolio Relationship |
|
PS |
Project Services |
Q
|
QAS |
Quality Assurance Services. |
R
|
RDS |
Remote Dial-in Service |
|
REAP |
RMIT E-learning Advancement Program |
|
Research Master |
Browser based application |
|
Result Processing |
Browser based application |
|
RightNow |
A web-based Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) solution. |
|
RMIT ID |
Your RMIT ID is your staff or student number |
|
RMITnet |
RMIT network |
|
RMIT network account |
NDS account |
|
RPO |
Results Processing Online (RPO) is a web based application for entering current results for both TAFE and Higher Education courses. |
|
RTAG |
Research Technology Advisory Group |
S
|
Sandpit |
A virtual or online environment where new programs or content can be tested without affecting the original system. |
|
SAP |
Manages RMIT’s financials, human resources and property management services |
|
Second Life |
Launched in 2003 by Philip Linden, Second Life is a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). A virtual reality community, in which users create an identity, meet people, buy land and build their own objects. Users can interact as if they were living another life. |
|
SELS |
Student EMS List Service |
|
Service Management Methodology |
An internationally recognised way of managing IT services and resources. |
|
SFX |
Browser based application |
|
SkillPort |
Browser based application |
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Skype |
Allows users to make telephone calls over the internet and also offers features such as instant messaigng and short message service. |
|
SLA |
Service Level Agreement |
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Smartcard |
A pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which enables transactions to be carried out in a flexible, secure and standard way. |
|
Smartphone |
A mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. |
|
SMS |
Short message service commonly known as text messages intended for mobile phones. |
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SOE |
Standard Operating Environment |
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SPAM |
Unsolicited bulk electronic messages |
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SSL |
Internet protocol security method |
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Streaming media |
Sound (audio) and pictures (video) that are transmitted on the Internet in a streaming or continuous fashion. Files are sent compressed via the Internet and begin playing as they are being downloaded to a computer. |
|
STS |
Student Timetabling System |
|
Student Issues Database |
Browser based application |
|
Student Portal |
A web-based gateway to online information and services related to students’ programs and their learning, administration and student life. |
T
|
TAFE |
Technical and Further Education (TAFE) refers to voactional education programs anad courses funded by the State Government. |
|
Temore Dial-up Systems (RDS) |
Browser based application |
|
Terabyte |
One trillion bytes or 1000 gigs. |
|
Thin client |
A computer, or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfil its traditional computational roles. |
|
TSUPG |
Teaching Spaces Upgrade Group |
U
|
uBillIT |
Web based telephony invoicing/reporting system |
|
uniCalendar |
Browser based application |
V
|
VoIP |
Voice Over Internet Protocol |
|
Voyager 7.2.1 client |
Desktop application |
|
Voyager 7.2.1 (WebVoyage) |
Browser based application |
|
VPN |
Virtual Private Network |
W
|
WAN |
Wide Area Network |
|
Web Accessibility Compliance Framework |
An accessibility framework for RMIT. The framework is not linked to specific W3C version numbers such as WCAG 1.0 or 2.0. The accessibility framework is designed to be forward-looking, and to develop along with W3C standards. |
|
WebBoard |
Browser based application |
|
Webfarm |
Browser based application |
|
WebLearn |
Browser based application developed by RMIT for quizzing, survey and assignment submission application. |
Y
|
You Tube |
A video sharing website where users can upload view and share video clips. |