Router

Algorithms: Algorithms are essentially a set of well-defined finite sequence instructions used towards finishing a task. Algorithms are used extensively in computer science, bio-informatics, mathematics et al for calculation, data processing and other tasks. A computer program is one of the most basic

example:

Analog signal: Analog signals with wide ranging applications in electronics are a type of electrical signal which is continuously variable over time. Analog signals typically make use of small fluctuations in the signal itself for passing of information. Common examples of Analog signals are pressure, light, sound, and temperature- all of which can be electrically represented by Analog current or voltages.

Application Specific Integrated Circuit: Application Specific Integrated Circuit or ASIC in short is a microelectronic integrated circuit (IC) chip with a design that is application or product specific. Typical examples of ASIC application includes custom-made IC’s used for a particular type of automated test equipment or ICs that can encode/decode digital data by applying proprietary encoding/decoding algorithms.

Artificial Neural Network: Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is a system based on the function of a human brain.  The functioning of Artificial Neural Networks is grounded on creating interconnectivity between different processing elements, with each connection analogous to a single neuron in a human brain. The neurons may be simulated using a digital computer or may be constructed physically. ANN is a powerful tool for data analysis as they are able to identify and determine correlated patterns between input data sets vis-à-vis the target values.

Artificial Sensing: Artificial sensing is an emerging field incorporating numerous disparate technologies for animating, enhancing or digitalizing the human senses of sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch.

Asynchronous Pipelining: Asynchronous pipelining is a type of parallelism where processors perform various loop tasks (loop statements) contrary to different loop iterations. An asynchronous pipeline schedule is especially relevant in distributed memory systems where pipeline control is distributed across processors.

Atomic Force Microscope:  Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is a powerful tool to manipulate matters at the nanoscale. It is today used for imaging a wide range of surfaces such as glass, composites, ceramics, polymers and biological samples. Atomic Force Microscopy finds increasing application in nanotechnology and biophysics. 
The integral part of an AFM is a microscale cantilever containing a sharp tip (probe) at its end. This is utilised for scanning the specimen surface. The cantilever is typically microfabricated from Silicon (Si) or Silicon Nitride (Si3N4). The tip radius of curvature is on the order of 10 nm).  
The functioning of the AFM is as follows when the tip is put in close proximity to the sample surface, the forces that act between the sample and the tip results into deflection of the cantilever. The deflection is measured by a multi-segment photodiode through a laser beam that gets reflected on the surface of the cantilever. 

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle: An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) as the name suggests is a robotic device driven through water by a propulsion system. AUVs are self-sufficient vehicles carrying their own energy source.  The control of the vehicle is done using an onboard computer thus eliminating the need of operators located elsewhere. It is programmed with a given set of instructions to carry out missions in underwater. As the AUV traverses across, onboard Sensors take samples from the ocean and the data stored in the vehicle is retrieved at the end of the mission.

Bandwidth: In the realm of computer networks, bandwidth refers to the capacity of data/information which can be carried through a channel (typically from website or server) in a given time interval. Bandwidth is thus a synonym for data transfer. As more information is carried through the channel greater is the use of bandwidth. So logically, a video would take up much more bandwidth than for example an e-mail. A bandwidth shortage is said to have occurred when at any point the demand to carry information exceeds the carrier or channel’s capacity.  A bandwidth is typically expressed in bits per second (bps).

Black Box:  A black box is a device which records the data typically in aircraft or ships and which can be retrieved in case of any eventuality.  However in software development a Black box assumes a different meaning. A Black Box is a testing technique where the tester does not have any knowledge of the intricacies of the program being tested. The tester may know about the input or the output but does not have any inkling of how the results are achieved. A Black Box component is a compiled program that cannot be altered as a programmer is able to access it only through an exposed interface.

Blast: In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool or BLAST consists of a set of algorithms. BLAST is used to compare biological sequences like protein sequences or nucleotides. With BLAST a comparison of individual sequence can be done against a database of sequences and information obtained in case there is matching of sequences. Thus, BLAST can be applied for aligning two sequences and examining the resemblance between two or more sequences.

Biotechnology: Biotechnology is the application of developments in life sciences or use of microorganisms towards creation of commercial products aimed towards modifying human health or the environment. A very common example of biotechnology application in use since prehistoric times is the use of bacterial cells to make curds or yogurts.

Biometry: Biometry, or Biometrics, is a division of Biology that uses statistical applications for conducting the study of living things. Biometric tools are widely used in studying growth, biological similarities and differences, authentication of individuals based on his/ her behavioural and physiological characteristics.

Body Area Networks: Body Area Networks, BAN in short is an emerging field of technology that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare and pathbreaking applications in sports, communications and security.  The technology leverages wireless communications protocols allowing low-powered sensors to intra-communicate and then transmit data to a local base station as well as to remote corners.  An example of BAN is placing of small flat sensors on or under the skin of patients so that doctors are able to monitor real time data, (the bio-signs) emanating from their patients.

Border Gateway Protocol: Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Protocol addresses the issue of optimal routing path determination in modern networks.  
In today’s Transmission-Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks it is the BGP that performs inter-domain routing. BGP has replaced the now obsolete Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP), its predecessor, as the core gateway-routing protocol for use in the global Internet.

Broadband: A word that is tossed up every now and then when talking about Internet and Telecom is the Broadband. To download games, checking on your Twitter or Facebook profile or watch video all you need is internet broadband connection. A broadband channel is able to carry multiple signals. The overall capacity is divided into multiple, independent bandwidth channels with each channel operating on a specific frequency range. A broadband is also known as a high-speed internet service.

Browser: A Browser is an user agent or a Software that allows a user to search, access and interact with different types of information on the Web.

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a 3rd generation digital cellular technology. It is quite popular in the highly competitive cellular service market.  A speciality of CDMA is that it makes available more bandwidth without limiting the frequency range of individual users in the communications network.

This facilitates more number of users to communicate on the same network at any given point of time.

C-GREX: C-GREx or Chaos Game Representation Explorer is a handy Bioinformatics tool for exploring the sequence visualization and pattern analysis of biological sequences including RNA, DNA and amino acid sequences.

Cloud Computing: Cloud Computing is an emerging IT delivery model characterized by the new-age, internet-driven economics for increasing the capacities or adding capabilities without investment needs in infrastructure, training or software licensing. Today Cloud Computing is the new lingo for all the IT executives. In Cloud Computing, cloud is only a metaphor. It refers to the range of servers located remotely which hosts computing applications. A very simple illustration of what Cloud Computing Technology is all about is the email applications such as yahoomail or hotmail. Also, if you are using google docs in place of MS word on your Laptop you are very much part of the Cloud Computing environment. Cloud computing benefits include superior user experience, improved workload optimization and service delivery, reduced IT costs and complexities et al. Some of the common examples of Cloud Computing include SaaS (software as a service), MSP ((managed service providers), Utility computing et al.  Cloud Computing is finding its utility in several enterprise applications.

Clustal W: Clustal W is a general purpose alignment program for DNA and proteins. Clustal W boasts of an improved sensitivity for aligning divergent protein sequences.

Cryptanalysis: Cryptanalysis traces its origin from two Greek words. Kryptós means "hidden" while analýein means ‘to loosen’ or ‘to untie’.  It is the practice of codebreaking or cracking the code. Cryptanalysis is the study of methods to get to the exact meaning of encrypted information and typically involves finding a secret key. Thus meaning is obtained without access to the secret information which is general requirement for doing so. In the days of Cyber security threats Cryptanalysis assumes a lot of significance.

Capacitive Accelerometer: Capacitive accelerometers are among the most commercially popular Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). They are used in engine vibration tests, product shakers, fatigue testing, structural evaluation and a host of other applications. A Capacitive Accelerometer operates on the premise that, there is a repeatable change in capacitance whenever a sensing structure gets deflected due to an imposed acceleration. A Capacitive Accelerometer is similar in operation to a Piezoresistive Accelerometer but is comparatively more sensitive.  Some of the notable features of Capacitive Accelerometers are excellent frequency coverage, high level output signal and immunity to noise interference et al.

Carbon Nanotubes: Carbon Nanotubes are essentially molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon displaying electronic and other remarkable properties. The extremely thin Carbon Nanotubes with diameters about 10,000 times smaller than a human hair can be counted among the stiffest and strongest fibres.

Country Code Top level Domain (ccTLD): TLDs with two letters (such as .in - India, .cn-China, .fr- France, .kr -South Korea, .uk - United Kingdom etc) have been established for more than 250 countries and external territories. These are referred to as "country-code" TLDs or judt "ccTLDs". ccTLDs are assigned by IANA or Internet Assigned Numbers Authority based on the ISO 3166-1alpha-2 country codes. Designated managers operate the ccTLDs according to local policies, which are adapted to meet the specific needs of the country or territory involved such as economic, linguistic, cultural and legal circumstances.

Cognitive Science: Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field encompassing a broad range of both intertwining and contradictory theories about how thinking takes place, how information gets represented and transformed in the brain. Cognitive Science combines insights from several disciplines including artificial intelligence, neuroscience, linguistics et al.

CMOS: CMOS or Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is one of the most popular semiconductor fabrication technology characterized by low energy consumption and high switching speeds. CMOS are semiconductors, used extensively in digital logic circuits, such as microprocessors, static RAM and microcontrollers. The reason for the name complementary stems from the fact that both n- and p-MOSFETs are needed by Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuits. 

Contactless Smart Card: A Contactless Smart Card is used for applications where protecting personal information is paramount along with delivering secure and quick transactions. Some of the common applications include identity cards, payment cards, electronic passports et al. In mass transit systems, Contactless Smart Cards are ideal choice as they can be used without the need for taking out the cards from the purse. Contactless Smart Cards contain embedded smart card secure microcontrollers, internal memory and small antennas. The communication between the chip and the reader takes place through a contactless radio frequency (RF) interface

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a 3rd generation digital cellular technology. It is quite popular in the highly competitive cellular service market.  A speciality of CDMA is that it makes available more bandwidth without limiting the frequency range of individual users in the communications network. This facilitates more number of users to communicate on the same network at any given point of time.

CMOS: CMOS or Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is one of the most popular semiconductor fabrication technology characterized by low energy consumption and high switching speeds. CMOS are semiconductors, used extensively in digital logic circuits, such as microprocessors, static RAM and microcontrollers. The reason for the name complementary stems from the fact that both n- and p-MOSFETs are needed by Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuits. 

DNA: DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic or hereditary material in humans and most of the other living organisms. DNAs are mostly stored in the nucleus of cells and can replicate themselves.

Dielectric Materials: Dielectric Materials are characterized very low electrical conductivity thus they find extensive use in electronics and electrical components. In Dielectric materials electrical fields are sustained with minimal chances for leakage. Solids like glass, plastics, mica and porcelain (ceramic) are good Dielectric materials. A major application of Dielectric materials is in Semiconductor Chips where they are used for insulating transistors from each other.

Decision-Feedback Equalizers: Decision-Feedback Equalizers are nonlinear Equalizers having a forward and feedback filter. A primary advantage of using DFE is that it can cancel ISI (inter-symbol interference) as well as minimize noise enhancement in high speed data communications.

Domain-Name System (DNS): The Domain-Name System (DNS) of the Internet makes it possible for users to refer to Websites as well as other resources using the convenience of domain names (such as "www.icann.org") that are easy to remember in place of all-numeric complex IP addresses that are assigned to each computer on the World Wide Web. The domain names are made up of a series of character strings (also known as "labels") which are separated by dots. TLD(top-level domain) is the name given to the right-most label in a domain. There are essentially two types of TLDs within the DNS. One is called the Country Code Top level Domain (ccTLD) and the other is known as Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs).

Dot Net: Dot Net (.NET) is a Microsoft software application running on the Windows OS.  It provides necessary tools and libraries to the developers enabling them to create Windows software easily and quickly. End users can benefit from Dot Net by getting high quality and secured applications. 

Domain Name System: The Domain Name System or DNS in short is a distributed internet directory service. In simple terms it provides the way to locate the internet domains and translate them into IP (Internet Protocols) addresses. The importance of DNS can be understood from the fact that if DNS is slow or fails to work we would not be able to locate web addresses and email transfers stalled.

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing: Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing abbreviated as DWDM constitutes the latest in global network technologies. DWDM is characterised by increased carrying capacity, increased speeds, flexibility and reliability all with a comparatively lesser cost of service. A DWDM optical fiber can at the same time combine effectively and transmit multiple signals over a same DWDM fiber.

Enzymes: Enzymes are basically proteins acting as biocatalysts (facilitating chemical reactions) in living organisms. From cells, tissues to organs, bones nothing can work without enzymes. For example in our digestive system our guts would take a long time to digest the food without the enzymes, infact, in our body every single metabolic function is governed by the enzymes and we would not be living, without them.

Enterprise Resource Management: Enterprise Resource Management is a software tool for a systematic tracking of all that flows through a business. These include capital, manpower, inventory, time et al. ERM is considered crucial for the efficiency and productivity of any organization.

Ethernet: Ethernet is a standard communications protocol and is the most popular technology for building a local area network (LAN). The Ethernet Technology has traversed a long distance from 1980s when it was first deployed widely, to modern Gigabit Ethernet technology displaying peak performance speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Internet Protocol (IP) and other high level network protocols use Ethernet for their mode of transmission.

Fiber Optics: Fiber Optics is essentially strands of optically pure glass or plastics that have revolutionized telecommunications-telephony, internet, cable TV et al. As thin as human hairs Fiber Optic lines are used for transmitting digital signals over long distances including under the sea. Optical Fibers are bundled up into thick optical cables for   transmitting light signals.Along with telecommunications, Optical fibers are also finding extensive use in medical and defence applications.

Fiber Bragg Gratings: Fiber Bragg Gratings technology is extensively used in the Telecommunications industry. They find applications in signal processing, sensors, fiber lasers, wavelength division multiplexing, broad-band filtering, laser stabilization et al. Fiber Bragg Gratings FBG in short are made using a complex process. The core of a single-mode fiber is laterally exposed to a periodic pattern of intense ultraviolet light.  Due to this exposure there’s a permanent increase in the refractive index of the fiber's core.  This activity leads to the creation of a fixed index modulation based on the exposure pattern. The fixed index modulation is known as grating.

Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA): Field Programmable Gate array (FPGA) devices find extensive use in the logic or digital electronic circuits. An FPGA consists of Integrated circuits (IC). The IC includes a 2D array of general-purpose logic circuits, termed as logic blocks or cells. Their functions are programmable. All the cells are interlinked by programmable buses. The basic architecture of an FPGA device consists an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) which are embedded in a configurable interconnect structure. On all sides of the CLBS are the configurable I/O blocks (IOBs). FPGA technology applications find wide use in different spheres, right from equipment for video and imaging, circuitry for spacecraft and other strategic applications requiring high reliability and extreme environment applications.

Fluorescence Correlation Spectrometers: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) is a single-molecule detection technique for high-sensitivity measurement of molecular interactions. Unique features of FCS measurements make it ideal for use in assaying techniques.

Game Theory: Game Theory refers to a mathematical model of devising an optimum strategy in various fields like economics and biology to a given situation where players have choice of limited and fixed options.

Gigabit: A Gigabit (represented as Gb) of data is a unit of measurement for use in computers. One Gigabit equals one billion bits of data.  A Gigabit of data defined as above should not be confused with a Gigabit of Internet bandwidth.

Gene: A Gene refers to the basic unit of heredity found in living organisms. Genes contain a long strand of DNA storing the data to build and maintain cells and then pass the genetic information to the offspring.

Genotype: In the broadest sense Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism or a virus.

Grid Computing: Grid Computing facilitates sharing of tasks over multiple computers. With Grid computing techniques resources of multiple machines can be used for performing data storage and complex calculations spread across geographical distances.

GNU Compiler Collection: The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), is counted amongst the most popular compilers used now. GCC is a complete set of tools for compiling programs in C, C++, Objective C, JAVA et al.  The features of GCC which make them much sought after includes multilevel source code error checking, debugging information,  different levels of optimizations and generating code for more than 30 different computer architectures.

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a globally accepted standard for digital cellular communication. It is one of the most advanced digital technologies available in the cellular marketplace. GSM wireless technology has spread its wings to more than 214 countries worldwide. In GSM wireless telephony Voice data is digitized and compressed.  Subsequently it is send across a channel along with two other streams of user data each according to its own time slot. GSM can operate at 900, 1800 or 1,900MHz frequency.  

HVAC: HVAC acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning. These three together are closely related fundamental functions at home, workplace or any other building.  The primary use of HVAC or Climate Control is for regulating room temperature, airflow and humidity so as to ensure they remain within acceptable range and provide comfort.

Haptics: Haptics is an interdisciplinary domain involving human physiology and psychology, neurology, engineering and cognitive science. Haptics is essentially studying the modalities of touch and its associated sensory feedback. Haptic devices refers to those devices and supporting software which allows users to sense (touch and feel) and manipulate 3D virtual objects.

Infrared: Infrared is an energy radiation having a frequency invisible to our eyes. Infrared is widely used in communication and control devices. Integrated Circuits: Integrated Circuits (ICs) are also known as chips. ICs are etched onto tiny semiconductor (silicon) chips. Complex integrated circuits are used in most of today’s electronic gadgets and equipment.

Intelligent Home: Intelligent Homes are the new age wired-homes allowing to have a control of all the aspects of home environment. These include lighting, security, telecom, appliances, climate, music et al from any locations. A single point remote or keypad controls every aspect of the home.

Intelligent Transportation Systems: In simple terms, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) refers to use of computers and different forms of communications technologies to solve the problems of transportation. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) facilitates collection of relevant data and intelligence for a proper implementation of a plan for smooth flow of traffic and other transport management issues.

Intelligent Sensors: Intelligent sensors are smart devices having Signal Processing functions which are shared by distributed machine intelligence. Robots which have the ability to perceive and reason are good example of Intelligent Sensors. Intelligent Sensors are now widely used in industrial setups in harsh environments detrimental to human safety. 

Intranet and the Internet 
Intranet and the website accessible on the open Internet are essentially two distinct information spaces. There are a number of differences between the two along various dimensions. It is always a good idea to have a separate user interface design to maintain such distinction. This is important because the users should readily know when they are on the internal net (Intranet) and the moment they access the World Wide Web. Further, a different design will also aid in better navigating, sense of place and a clear understanding of information management (information which is internal, secure and confidential vis-à-vis information which is freely shared).  

Some of the major differences between an Intranet and the Internet are highlighted here:

·         Nature of Users: Access to Intranet is mostly open to employees of organisations having a fair idea about the company, its operations, organizational structure, terminologies and circumstances. Access is password protected and accessible only to employees or authorized users. Whereas an Internet site is more of a public face of an organisation accessed by customers with limited knowledge about it and not very keen to know about its day to day functioning.

·         Nature of Tasks: Intranet applies for facilitating the day to day work within an organisation, this may include complex applications whereas an Internet site maintained by an organisation is for the world to know what it does, product details et al.

·         Type and Quantum of Information: The Intranet verily by its nature will assimilate a variety of detailed information- draft reports, project status reports, HR information, internal progress and other information, whereas the Internet site primarily delves into more of marketing information as well as customer support information. The amount of information generated also differs. Typically, Intranet contains much more number of pages as compared to an organisation’s website. This can go even upto 100 times. This is chiefly because works by many departments are well documented on the Intranet even though they never publish anything publicly (on the internet).

·         Navigational System: An Intranet is generally supported by a stronger navigational system as compared to an Internet site. This is because Intranet encompasses a larger volume of information. A navigation system in an Intranet also facilitates movement between Servers whereas an internet public website is required to support within-site navigation.

·         Design: An Intranet design typically is focussed more on task-orientation and less flashy. There is generally a single Intranet design. An Intranet can be enriched with a large number of options and features without intimidating or overwhelming the users, which can be the case on the open Internet with rapid surfing between sites.

·         Bandwidth Specifications: Intranets may be accessible from the Internet but their speed is often much faster than Websites typically stuck at low-band or mid-band, server breakdowns and other problems. So it is not uncommon to see applications such as multimedia, rich graphics and other advanced high-bandwidth content, such as audio and video on Intranet pages.

Internet Protocol: Internet Protocol refers to the set of techniques for transmission of data over the Internet. Devices connected to a network, internet or even a local area network (LAN) is assigned an Internet Protocol number. This address helps in unique identification of the device among all other devices which are connected to the extended network.

Interactive Voice Response: An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System allows callers to create complex voice response system over the telephone. IVR is very useful in providing 24x7 automated customer service and reducing clerical processing.

IPV6: Internet Protocol Version 6 or IPv6 in short is the next generation Internet Protocol for taking the place of the current IP version, IPV4( Internet Protocol, Version 4). IPV6 boasts of a lot of improvement over IPV4 in terms of routing, number of available addresses and network autoconfiguration.

In Silico Analysis: In Silico Analysis refers to performing an analysis using computers in tandem with informatics capabilities.