ITM 100 (Class 7-12) Combined Textbook Key Terms 2025/2026

5G

The fifth-generation wireless broadband technology based on the 802.11ac standard engineered to greatly increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.

application programming interface (API)

A set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications.

applications (apps)

Software programs designed to perform specific tasks on devices.

asset tracking

Occurs when a company places active or semipassive RFID tags on expensive products or assets to gather data on the items’ location with little or no manual intervention.

automatic vehicle location (AVL)

Uses GPS tracking to track vehicles.

bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can pass from one point to another in a unit of time.

Bluetooth

Wireless technology that transmits signals over short distances between cell phones, computers, and other devices.

cartography

The science and art of making an illustrated map or chart.

choose your own device

Employees choose a company approved and configured device.

company-issued, personally enabled

Employees provided with corporate devices.

connectivity

Refers to the ability of devices to connect and communicate with each other or with networks.

data at rest

Refers to all data in computer storage.

data in motion

A stream of data that is moving or being transported between locations within or between computer systems.

data in use

Data that is currently being updated, processed, erased, accessed, or read by a system.

data transmission

Connected devices can exchange data wirelessly within the network.

digital business platform

An infrastructure that enables the exchange of goods, services, or information between participants. Examples include social media platforms, ebusiness marketplaces, and cloud computing platforms.

digital divide

A worldwide gap giving advantage to those with access to technology.

digital ecosystem

A complex network of interconnected entities, including organizations, individuals, digital platforms, technologies, and data, that interact and collaborate within a digital environment.

digital inclusion

Efforts to reduce the digital divide by providing equal opportunities and access to technology.

digital life

The ability to connect with others across the globe using social media platforms, messaging apps, and video conferencing tools.

digital literacy

The ability to use digital technology, communication tools, or networks to locate, evaluate, use, and create information.

enterprise mobility management (EMM)

An enterprisewide security strategy to enforce corporate epolicies while enabling employee use of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.

fast data

The application of big data analytics to smaller data sets in near real or real time in order to solve a problem or create business value.

geocache

A GPS technology adventure game that posts the longitude and latitude location for an item on the Internet for users to find.

geocoin

A round coin-sized object that is uniquely numbered and hidden in geocache.

geographic information system (GIS)

Stores, views, and analyzes geographic data creating multidimensional charts or maps.

gigahertz (GHz)

The number of billions of CPU cycles per second.

global positioning system (GPS)

A satellite-based navigation system providing extremely accurate position, time, and speed information.

hardware

Consists of the physical devices associated with a computer system.

head-mounted display

Consists of two small screens for each eye that displays separate images to create a stereoscopic 3D effect.

holographic AR

Creates three-dimensional virtual objects that appear to exist in the real world.

hotspots

Designated locations where Wi-Fi access points are publicly available.

identity and access management (IAM)

IAM components ensure secure access and management of user identities within the digital ecosystem.

immersive reality

An overarching term that encompasses various technologies and experiences that aim to create a sense of immersion and presence for users in a virtual environment.

Internet accessibility

The ability for all individuals, including those with disabilities, to use the Internet effectively.

IT consumerization

The blending of personal and business use of technology devices and applications.

local area network (LAN)

Designed to connect a group of computers in proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home.

location-based service (LBS)

An application that uses location information to provide a service.

marker-based AR

Relies on predefined visual markers, such as QR codes or specific images, to trigger virtual content.

markerless AR

Known as location-based or geolocation AR, does not require specific markers.

mixed reality

Combines elements of both VR and AR, allowing users to interact with virtual objects while maintaining awareness and interaction with the real world.

mobile

Means the technology can travel with the user; for instance, users can download software, email messages, and web pages onto a laptop or other mobile device for portable reading or reference.

mobile application development

The set of processes and procedures involved in writing software for wireless devices.

mobile application management (MAM)

Administers and enforces corporate epolicies for mobile applications on corporate and personal mobile devices.

mobile device management (MDM)

A security strategy comprised of products and services that offer remote support for mobile devices, such as smart phones, laptops, and tablets.

mobile information management (MIM)

A security strategy that involves keeping sensitive data encrypted and allowing only approved applications to access or transmit it.

participants

Individuals, organizations, or entities that are involved in the digital ecosystem. This can include users, customers, developers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders who interact within the ecosystem.

pervasive computing

The growing trend of embedding computer capabilities into everyday objects to make them effectively communicate and perform useful tasks in a way that minimizes the end user’s need to interact with computers as computers.

radio signals

A form of electromagnetic radiation used for wireless communication

radio-frequency identification (RFID)

Uses electronic tags and labels to identify objects wirelessly over short distances.

RFID reader (RFID interrogator)

A transmitter/receiver that reads the contents of RFID tags in the area.

RFID tag

An electronic identification device that is made up of a chip and antenna.

satellite

A space station that orbits the Earth receiving and transmitting signals from Earth-based stations over a wide area.

secure hypertext transfer protocol (SHTTP or HTTPS)

A combination of HTTP and SSL to provide encryption and secure identification of an Internet server.

secure sockets layer (SSL)

A standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, ensuring that all data passed between them remains private.

service set identifier (SSID)

A unique identifier or name that is assigned to a wireless network to distinguish it from other nearby wireless networks.

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)

A technology that combines computer vision, depth sensing, and mapping techniques to enable AR devices to understand and navigate the physical environment in real-time.

smart glasses (AR glasses, or smart eyewear)

Wearable devices that feature integrated displays, sensors, and computing capabilities.

smartphone

Offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a basic cell phone.

software

The set of instructions that the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks.

spatial audio systems

Deliver 3D sound, enhancing the sense of presence by providing accurate audio cues based on the user's position and orientation.

spatial data (geospatial data or geographic information)

Identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on Earth, such as natural or constructed features, oceans, and more.

SSL certificate

An electronic document that confirms the identity of a website or server and verifies that a public key belongs to a trustworthy individual or company.

streaming

A method of sending audio and video files over the Internet in such a way that the user can view the file while it is being transferred.

streaming data

Data that are generated continuously by thousands of data sources, which typically send in the data records simultaneously, and in small sizes (order of kilobytes).

value creation

Refers to increasing or enhancing the worth, utility, or desirability of a product, service, or business entity.

VR input devices

Handheld controllers, data gloves, or motion-sensing devices enable users to manipulate objects, navigate virtual spaces, and perform actions within the virtual world.

VR motion tracking

Uses various sensors and tracking technologies to monitor the user's movements and translate them into the virtual environment.

Wi-Fi 6

The next generation of Wi-Fi; expected to operate at 9.6 Gbps.

Wi-Fi band

A ____ refers to a specific frequency range that is used for wireless communication in Wi-Fi networks.

Wi-Fi infrastructure

Includes the inner workings of a Wi-Fi service or utility, including the signal transmitters, towers, or poles, along with additional equipment required to send a Wi-Fi signal.

Wi-Fi network identification

The SSID serves as the name of a wireless network and is broadcasted by the wireless access point (WAP) or router to let devices in the vicinity know that the network is available for connection.

Wi-Fi protected access (WPA)

A wireless security protocol to protect Wi-Fi networks.

Wi-Fi standards

Wi-Fi operates based on specific Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards.

wired equivalent privacy (WEP)

An encryption algorithm designed to protect wireless transmission data.

wireless

Refers to any type of operation accomplished without the use of a hard-wired connection.

wireless access point (WAP)

Enables devices to connect to a wireless network to communicate with each other.

wireless broadband

Refers to high-speed Internet access provided through wireless communication technologies, allowing users to connect to the Internet without needing physical wired connections.

wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)

A means by which portable devices can connect wirelessly to a local area network, using access points that send and receive data via radio waves.

client

Computer that is designed to request information from a server.

client/server network

A model for applications in which the bulk of the back-end processing, such as performing a physical search of a database, takes place on a server, while the front-end processing, which involves communicating with the users, is handled by the clients.

coaxial cable

Cable that can carry a wide range of frequencies with low signal loss.

Ethernet

A physical and data layer technology for LAN networking.

fiber optic (or optical fiber)

Refers to the technology associated with the transmission of information as light impulses along a glass wire or fiber.

Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6)

The “next generation” protocol designed to replace the current version Internet protocol.

interoperability

Capability of two or more computer systems to share data and resources, even though they are made by different manufacturers.

network

A communications system created by linking two or more devices and establishing a standard methodology in which they can communicate.

network operating system (NOS)

The operating system that runs a network, steering information between computers and managing security and users.

network topology

Refers to the geometric arrangement of the actual physical organization of the computers (and other network devices) in a network.

network transmission media

Various types of media used to carry the signal between computers.

packet-switching

Occurs when the sending computer divides a message into a number of efficiently sized units called packets, each of which contains the address of the destination computer.

router

An intelligent connecting device that examines each packet of data it receives and then decides which way to send it onward toward its destination.

server

Computer that is dedicated to providing information in response to external requests.

telecommunication system

Enables the transmission of data over public or private networks.

twisted-pair cable

A type of cable composed of four (or more) copper wires twisted around each other within a plastic sheath.

wire media

Transmission material manufactured so that signals will be confined to a narrow path and will behave predictably.

wireless media

Natural parts of the Earth’s environment that can be used as physical paths to carry electrical signals.

attenuation

Represents the loss of a network signal strength measured in decibels (dBs) and occurs because the transmissions gradually dissipate in strength over longer distances or because of radio interference or physical obstructions such as walls.

bit

The smallest element of data. It has a value of either 0 or 1.

bit rate (or data rate)

The number of bits transferred or received per unit of time.