Glossary k - l - m - n - o

LAN

Level: Component
See: local area network

local area network (LAN)

Level: Component
A local area network or LAN is a computer network covering a local area, such as an office or a home. This is different from personal area networks (PANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) or wide area networks (WANs). LANs are typically faster than WANs.

map

A representation or correspondence of elements in one set to elements in the same set or another set.

media

Objects on which data can be stored. These include hard disks, floppy disks, CD-ROM's and tapes.
The form and technology used to communicate information. Multimedia presentations, for example, combine sound pictures and videos (moving images), all of which are different types of media.

meeting

Level: Occurrence
An assembly or gathering of people exchanging knowledge for some common purpose in a limited period of time (time-unity: days). includes expert meetings, workshops, masterclasses.

migration

Migration means simply to copy digital information from outdated media (storage media and software formats) to new, fresh, current media and formats. Standards can greatly aid a migration strategy because standards (such as XML) are designed to be independent of any one application and thus require far fewer migrations in a given time period than quickly changing proprietary formats (such as MS Word documents). However, the 'look and feel' is endangered by this technique.

mixed reality

Refers to environments that combine elements of virtual reality and the real world.

multi-user

Refers to computer systems that support two or more simultaneous users. All mainframes and minicomputers are multi-user systems, but most personal computers and workstations are not. Another term for multi-user is time sharing.

multidisciplinarity

Collaboration between (people from) various disciplines, where the knowledge and expertise from the separate fields is integrated in a product typical for one of the disciplines, rather than merging all into a hybrid trajectory. The multidisciplinary mode of production is rather hierarchical. An example of a multidisciplinary trajectory is an artist in residence project where technological knowledge serves an artistic concept.
See also: interdisciplinarity

navigation

The skill or process of plotting a route and directing a ship, aircraft, etc., along it.
Navigation describes the method(s) by which a visitor can move around your site and the visual manifestation of this system.

network

Level: Component
A group of two or more computer systems linked together

network diagram

A diagram showing the interconnections between hardware and software modules, tied together in a network

network protocol

Metadata for entity: network
In networking, a communications protocol or network protocol is the specification of a set of rules for a particular type of communication.

observation

Watching something and taking note of anything it does. For instance, you might observe a bird flying by watching it closely.

occurred activity

Level: Occurrence
An occurred activity is an occurrence that has a time-based character and consists of (human) action rather than of a physical manifestation.
See also: occurrence

occurred product

Level: Occurrence
An occurred product refers to an occurrence that takes physical form; usually as an exhibited or staged artwork.
See also: occurrence

occurrence

Level: top-level
An occurrence is a well-defined, distinct product or a usually rather short activity in time. It is characterized by its lack of fundamental change or evolution and is always part of a larger, more abstract project.
The occurrence level corresponds with the artworks and activities that are usually archived and described by institutions as separate entities.
Includes: occurred activity, occurred product

ontology

An explicit formal specification of how to represent the objects, concepts, and other entities that are assumed to exist in some area of interest and the relationships among them.
See also: interoperability, Semantic Web, topic map, class, slot

Open Archives Initiative

The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) is an attempt to build a "low-barrier interoperability framework" for archives with digital materials.
Initially, the initiative has been involved in the development of a technological framework and interoperability standards specifically for enhancing access to e-print archives, in order to increase the availability of scholarly communication. The developed technology and standards, though, are applicable in a much broader domain than scholarly publishing alone.
The OAI technical infrastructure, specified in the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH), currently in version 2.0, defines a mechanism for data providers to expose their metadata. This protocol mandates that individual archives map their metadata to the Dublin Core, a simple and common metadata set for this purpose.
See also: Dublin Core

operating system

Level: Component
In computing, an operating system (OS) is the system software responsible for the direct control and management of hardware and basic system operations, as well as running applications such as word processing programs and Web browsers.
The operating system ensures that other applications are able to use memory, input and output devices and have access to the file system. If multiple applications are running, the operating system schedules these such that all processes have sufficient processor time where possible and do not interfere with each other.
See also: system software

outline

An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed.

output device

Level: Component
A device, such as a printer, video display, or speaker, that (re)presents data from a computer to a user.
See also: input device, input/output device