ABC Codes - Alternative Billing Codes. Used for billing alternative medical procedures. One of the ANA recognized terminologies.

AACN - American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Active Cell - the cell in a spreadsheet into which any information that is entered will be placed.

Active RFID - an RFID that is battery powered and constantly transmitting signals. Does not require scanning to be read.

Active Server Page (ASP) - an add-on for Web pages that allows for the creation of interactive pages that can show data in real time. What is an Active Server Page?

Active Window - the window on the screen on which the user is working. Other windows may be open, but not currently being worked with. A window is a file in a program such as a document in Microsoft Word.

Active Server Page - a type of Web page that is created dynamically on the fly. It pulls data from various places to create a timely page. These Web pages end in the extension .asp

Accessibility - used in connection with World Wide Web pages to denote the ability of people with disabilities to use a page. The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. Section 508 of that Act requires that when federal agencies develop or procure electronic and information technology that this technology be as accessible to Federal employees with disabilities as to those without disabilities.

Accuracy of Data - a condition that one is always working to achieve. It can be improved by methods that check the data during input such as presenting a user with a "pick list". Another method is to present the user withal screen that shows the items that will be entered into the record and asking for approval.

Address - (on Disks) Disks are divided into tracks and sectors, each with a unique address that designates the specific track and sector of the disk where something is stored.

Address - (in RAM) A specific memory location in the computer’s RAM accessible by a unique number. Think of a computer’s memory as a group of mailboxes, each of which has a specific number or address.

ADL - Activities of Daily Living

Admission, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) - a computer system that manages data about the admission, discharge and transfer of patients within a healthcare institution.

Advanced Search - a feature that generally provides a search with additional criteria to eliminate unwanted articles or Web pages.

Adware - software that is combined with another program and presents advertisements to the user of the program. Is sometimes distributed with free versions of downloadable software.

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research - a federal (US) department established by Congress in 1989 for the purpose of enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services and access to care. (Page 428 has more information.)

Aggregated data - data that represents the same piece of data for many different records e.g. a list of surgeries and length of stay for all patients for the month of April. The purpose for studying data in the aggregate is to determine patterns. The data may be from any size database from just a few records to millions of records.

AHCPR - see Agency for Health Care Policy and Research

AHIMA - American Health Information Management Association

AIDSLINE - NLM online bibliographic database for comprehensive coverage of information related to AIDS.

Algorithm - a set of unambiguous steps for accomplishing a defined task. The algorithm has a definite starting and stopping point. It may contain decision points, but finite choices are given and the results of each choice clearly stated. Used when programming a computer, however, individuals use them every day, e.g. the steps one follows in starting a car.

Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI) - a federation of nursing informatics groups.

Alphanumeric - a description given to any letter or number. Directions may tell you to enter any “alphanumeric” character or a combination of alphanumeric characters. This would be interpreted to mean that any letter or number will be accepted by the computer.

Alt+ - The alt key is a key on the bottom of a PC computer keyboard. When you see an instruction written Alt+D or any other key, hold down the Alt key while depressing the other key or keys.

ALU - see Arithmetic Logic Unit

ALT tag - This is a code added to a graphic display that provides an alternative to the graphic. For example, a brief description of the graphic, providing a to a detailed description of the graphic.

AMIA - American Medical Information Association

ANA - American Nurses Association

Analog - A system in which the measurements are continuous. Digital systems show only given values, they skip intermediate values. An ordinary clock, which shows every conceivable time is an analog system, while a digital watch shows only definite times without any intermediate values.

Andragogy - an educational theory whose current proponent is Malcom Knowles. This theory holds that adults are need to know why they need to learn something, are capable of self-direction, bring experiences with them that can provide a resource for learning, and learn to solve problems.

ANI - Alliance for Nursing Informatics

Animation - visual representations of difficult concepts, processes, and models, often involving movement. (see page 396)

Area Chart - similar to line charts, but the area(s) is (are) shaded. See Figure 9-11 page 156. Can be stacked as in the figure, or a simple line. Also used in pie charts.

Application program - a computer program designed for an end user such as a word processor or database. Distinguished from systems software which interacts with the computer.

Archived - messages are archived when they are placed on a server where they can be accessed by others. This is often done with mailing group messages.

Argument - The values that a formula uses, they may be entered by the user, or be functions provided by the software. Examples may be written “= Argument + Argument” In this example for summing the user should substitute the numbers that he or she wishes to sum for the word argument.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - the part of the CPU (central processing unit) that performs all arithmetic computations and comparisons. Essentially the brains of the computer.

Artificial intelligence - a computer application that has been designed to mimic the actions of an intelligent human in a given situation and be capable of substituting for a human. Robots are an example of artificial intelligence.

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A system arrived at early in the evolution of computers that provides for the identical representation of each character on the keyboard by a set decimal number. ASCII text is readable by most application programs whereas files saved by application programs are put into a proprietary format and are only readable by the program (or series such as Corel, or Smart Suite) that created them. ASCII files preserve only text, all formatting is lost. Every line of text is treated as though it were a paragraph. (See RTF). ASCII files have a file extension of “txt.” Creating a file in this format is an excellent way to transfer data from a spreadsheet or database to another application.

ASCII delimited file - a type of file that is in a text format, such as Notepad creates. (For more information.)

Assembly language - a second level computer programming language that enables a programmer to use words instead of numbers to tell a computer how to act.

Asynchronous learning - a form of independent learning in which learners instead of attending a class at a given time, perform their

learning activities such as responding to discussions, at times that are convenient to them.

Asynchronous communication - communication in which the reply is not made immediately after the message is sent, but when the recipient is available. Email is asynchronous communication.

Atomic level data - a small piece of precise data that represents a discrete element that has not been interpreted. For example, the number 2. It can represent many different things, but alone it is atomic level data. In a blood pressure reading, there are two pieces of atomic level data, the systolic and the diastolic. Name is NOT atomic level data, it is composed of at least two pieces, first and last name and sometimes a middle name or initial.

Attribute - a characteristic that can be applied to any selected object. These include features such as bold facing text, the margins, size, and color. In designing e-Learning it denotes factors, such as color or movement, that a medium implements. In either context, the type of communications desired, and characteristics of that topic determine which attributes will best create understanding. In a database, it refers to a field.

Audit trail - a record made by a system of all the places that an individual accesses within a system. For example, if Nancy accesses the medical record of Patient Morris, there will be a record of this. Looking at the audit trail enables the system administrator to determine whether Nancy breached security with this action.

Authentication - verifying the identification of the person logging into the system using passwords, smartcards, biometrics, or a combination of these.

Avatar - a fictionalized computer representation of self used in settings such as Second Life. "Owners" of an avatar create looks and personalities for themselves in their avatar.

AVLINE - NLM database for audiovisual programs.

Axis - in standardized classifications a concept around which a taxonomy is organized.

Backward compatibility - a program is backwardly compatible when it can use files created by an earlier version of the program, e.g. when your word processor version 12.0 will let you read and edit files created by version 9.0 of the same program. Software producers generally try to keep their products backwardly compatible, so files created with older version will not be lost when a user update. May also be called downward compatibility. See forwardly compatible.

Bandwidth - a measure of the speed at which a line (wire) transmits data. The rates depend on the type of connection such as POTS, DSL or cable.

Bar code - a method of encoding data to be machine readable. It consists of a parallel arrangement of bars (dark lines) and spaces (light elements). They represent numerical codes which conform to the Universal Product Code (UPC).

Basic - a third level programming language designed for teaching students to program a computer. Versions of it are seen in macro languages and languages used with statistical packages. Today most of the versions contain extensions, such as object-oriented features seen in Microsoft’s Visual Basic.

Bar chart - a chart that uses non-contiguous bars to display information. Best used to compare amounts. There are many different types, see Figure 9-10 page 155.

Batch processing - the type of computer processing in which computer tasks are stored during working hours and then executed when the computer is idle. It is very useful for tasks that require the computer for an extended period. Once a batch job begins there is no interaction with a user. It continues until it is finished, or there is an error. Credit card companies use batch processing to process monthly bills.

Bay - a site in a computer where disk drives (3 ½, CD-ROMS etc.) can be installed. Is not a slot.

Bcc - Blind Carbon Copy. Used to send an email message that is addressed to one person to another without the original recipient knowing that another also received the message. Different than a Cc.

BCS - British Computer Society

Beaming - a wireless infrared transmission between beam-enabled devices with the same operating system.that is limited to 3 feet.

BDMS - Bureau of Data Management and Strategy

Benchmarking - the process of comparing cost, time, productivity, or quality of a specific process or method to another that is widely considered to be an industry standard or best practice.

Benign virus - a computer virus that is not intended to do damage to your computer, it just makes itself known when given conditions are met, such as a specified date, by displaying some sort of message, or creating a noise. They can, however, create damage.

Best of Breed - the selection of systems that "best" meet the needs of a particular service or department from different vendors. It requires building an interface at the institutional level which is difficult and rarely fully satisfactory. Trend now is to integrated systems

Big Bang Conversion - a conversion from one system to another during which the entire agency switches from one system to another at the same time.

Binary system - the system of 1's and 0's used to represent data in the computer. If you studied number systems with bases other than ten (our familiar decimal system), you would refer to the binary system as a “base two” number system and our decimal system as a base ten number system.

Binary digit - the smallest unit of information on a computer. Usually referred to as a “bit.” See bit.

BIOETHICSLINE - NLM database on health-related ethical topics, produced by the Bioethics Information Retrieval Project of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. (See http://wings.buffalo.edu/faculty/research/bioethics/bio-line.html)

Biometric Garment - a piece of clothing that has a device embedded that is activated by receiving a signal. The signal may be activate by the wearer of the garment and may be biometric, such as voice, heart beat or pulse. Or the signal may be activated by an outside signal. In healthcare this could cause the garment wearer to transmit physiological values such as blood pressure etc.

Biometric identification - the use of physiological characteristics such as fingerprints or voice print to authenticate that a user is who she says she is. Biometrics devices are those that are capable of making an identification based on a specific human train that is unique to the individual.

BIOS - Pronounced "bye-os," it is an acronym for basic input/output system. The BIOS is built-in software generally found on the ROM chip built into the computer. It determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk.

Biosurveillance - the automated monitoring of health data sources to identify trends that may indicate a disease outbreak, either natural such as with flu, or intentional from terrorism

Bit - This term is short for “binary digit,” which is the unit of information that a computer processes. It is represented by a one (1) if the circuit is on and a zero (0) if it is off. A single bit will have a value of either 0 or 1. To gain meaningful information, consecutive bits are combined into larger units, for example, the byte, which is composed of 8 consecutive bits will support one character. You may hear a computer classified by the number of bits it can process at one time. The greater the number of bits, the faster the machine and the larger the program that it can support.

Black hat hacker - an individual who uses her or her computer skills to damage computers or data.

Blog - a Web site, usually on a given topic, that is (should be) continually updated. The posts are listed in reverse chronological order. Some blogs offer readers a way to comment.

Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning - a taxonomy of levels of learning developed by Benjamin Bloom in 1956. Is behavioral in orientation. (see page 394)

Bluetooth - a short-range wireless communication between devices and between the devices and the Internet whose goal is to simplify data synchronization. Prior to release a Bluetooth enabled device must pass interoperability tests by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group

Bomb - a situation in which a program hangs. Often you can close this program and reopen it and resume work. See computer crash.

Bookmark - the name some browsers (Fireworks and Netscape) give to a collection of Web addresses that the user has added to a list to make accessing it easy. Analogous to Favorites in IE.

Boolean logic - a form of logic seen in computer applications in which all values are expressed either as true or false. Symbols used to designate this are often called boolean operators. They consist of “and,” “or,” and “not.” They may be combined with mathematical operators such as equal to (=), more than(>), less than (<).

Boot sector virus - a computer virus that affects the boot sector of a disk or diskette. Hard disks contract it when a computer is booted (started) with an infected diskette in drive A.

Boot - To start the computer. The term originated in the early days of computing when starting a computer involved manually loading every set of instructions that the computer needed. The people who had to perform these tasks likened the process to “pulling oneself up by the bootstraps,” or pulling on a strap attached to the top of boots to put on a boot. The term stuck. See warm boot and a cold boot.

Braille reader - a device that is placed near or under the keyboard. Users use their fingers to “read” the information.

Broadband - The name given to a transmission wire that can carry several channels of information at the same time. Internet connections with Cable TV and DSL are examples. Provides for a faster connection to the Internet.

Browser - Short for Web browser, this is the name given to the software that locates, downloads and displays Web pages. Two popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer® and Mozilla Firefox®. Both of these are graphical browsers, which means that they can display graphics as well as text. Lynx, although not used commonly used is a text browser. It is often the browser of choice for people with severe visual disabilities.

BSA - see Business Software Alliance.

Bug - an error or defect that causes either hardware or software to malfunction, or perform differently than what the designer or programmer had intended. Given the complexity of today’s systems and software, bugs are difficult to completely eliminate.

Bullets - in computer talk, a mark used to precede an item in a list. Application programs allow many shapes to be used as bullets. Presentation programs that create slides, call a slide in which each point is enumerated separately and preceded by a symbol a bullet slide.

Bus - conceptually, a bus is a highway that transmits data. Physically it is a set of wires that data in a computer passes through. It consists of two parts, a data bus and address bus. The address bus transfers the information to the location specified by the address bus. The size of a bus is referred to as its bandwidth and it is measured by the number of bytes that can be transmitted at the same time. The wider the bus, the faster the transmission, hence a 32 bit bus is faster than a 16 bit bus.

Business skills - information management and technology skills necessary to participate in any profession, not limited to administration, but including level in nursing.

Bus topology - a type of connection for networks in which each computer is connected to one cable called the backbone or bus.

Business Intelligence - a broad category of applications and technologies for gathering, storing, analyzing, and providing access to data to help enterprise users make better business decisions. BI applications include the activities of decision support systems, query and reporting, online analytical processing (OLAP), statistical analysis, forecasting, and data mining.

Business Software Alliance (BSA) - an organization that works to promote the growth of the software industry. One of its primary educational aims is to prevent software piracy. BSA provides a hot line for callers who wish to report piracy. It also investigates and prosecutes cases of software piracy.

Byte - an abbreviation for “binary term,” which is a unit of storage, consisting of eight consecutive bits, that holds a single character (e.g., a letter, number, or symbol such as &). It represents 2 to the 8th power (2^8) or the number 256 which is the maximum number of characters that can be represented by a byte. Units of storage are measured using byte as the end of the word, with a term indicating thousands, millions, etc. of bytes as a prefix. For example, the prefix “kilo” indicates 1,000 and a kilobyte is roughly 1,000 bytes. Actually, because these prefixes are representative of powers of 2, the actual number of bytes in a represented by the prefix is greater than the prefix translated literally indicates. For example, a kilobyte represents 2 to the 10th power or 1,024 bytes.

C - a third level programming language, C is powerful and flexible. Because it is closer to assembly language (a second level language) programmers using it can write efficient code, however, it is more difficult to use than many other third level languages.

Cc - in email, a copy of a message that is also sent to another. The original recipient knows that the other person has received it, as opposed to a Bcc.

C++ - a third level programming language that adds object-oriented features to the C language. It is frequently used for graphical applications.

Cable modem - a modem for use with cable TV lines. Cable modems can provide transmission speeds of up to 2 megabits per second. Its speed plus the presence of cable TV in many homes gives it appeal.

Cache - a special form of memory that permits the CPU to access data faster. There are two types, memory cache, which is a special type of RAM where the computer stores frequently used information, and disk cache. In disk cache, a portion of RAM is set aside for data from a disk that the computer has determined the user frequently needs. L1 cache is built into the microprocessor, L2 is added on to improve performance.

CAD - Computer Aided Design

CAI - see computer-assisted instruction

CAL - Computer Aided Learning - see computer-assisted instruction

Card - a thin, rectangular plate known as a printed circuit board on which chips and other electronic components are placed. There are many different types such as a motherboard, an expansion board and a network card. See circuit board.

Case sensitive - a condition in which the computer evaluates not only the characters entered, but also whether a letter is upper or lower case. Passwords are usually case sensitive, as can be the addresses of Web sites after the first single forward slash (\).

CBI - computer-based instruction - see computer-assisted instruction

cc - carbon copy. A method of sending an email message to more than one person.

CCC - See Clinical Care Classification

CCHIT - Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology

CDA - see Clinical Document Architectures

CCDS - see Clinical Decision Support System

Cell - a rectangle in a spreadsheet, named by a letter and a number.

Cell Address - the location of a cell or rectangle in a spread sheet, it is expressed by using the letter at the top of the column and the number of the row in which it is located, e.g. C4 would mean the cell under the C that is also in fourth row.

Cell Range - a group of contiguous cells between one address such as A1 to C10. Can be named and treated as a whole.

Cell Phone - a wireless telephone.

Center for Nursing Advocacy - a private agency that disseminated information about media portrayals of nursing. Unfortunately, it was disbanded in December 2008.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - a U.S. federal agency which administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) - sometimes referred to as the “brains” of the computer, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. The CPU contains the ALU and the control unit. They are named by the manufacturer an are one of the determining factors in how a computer behaves in terms of speed, and compatibility.

Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology - a voluntary private-sector organization that is charged with developing and evaluate health information technology products. Products they have vetted and approved then carry their seal of approval. Unfortunately, these products are not necessarily HL7 compatible.

Chart - the term used by computer programs for a graph. The term graphic is used for images, generally pictures, but it can refer to any object that can be treated as a whole.

Chat - a term used for synchronous, or real-time communication via text on a computer. After initiating the chat, either user types messages which appear on the other users monitor. Often more than two people are involved in a chat. This mode of communication is sometimes used in Web-based learning. It can be confusing because as a user is replying to one message, another may appear.

Child table - a detail table in a relational database. The child table has a field that is identical to one in the master table so that data from other fields in the child can be integrated with data from fields in the master table.

Chip - a semi-conducting square often less than ¼ square inches that can contain millions of electronic circuits. The CPU is one of many types of chips that are used in a computer.

Chunking - an educational theory that holds that information in short term memory is limited to seven items, plus or minus two.

CINAHL - A bibliographic database for nursing, allied health, alternative therapies, and patient/consumer health that includes more nursing periodicals than any other database. It also indexes knowledge-based information resources in many formats. CINAHL is produced by CINAHL Information Systems in Glendale, CA.

Circuit board - a thin, rectangular plate, often called a card, on which chips and other electronic components are placed. There are many different types such as a motherboard, an expansion board and a network card.

Classification - a method of grouping like items so that they can be referred to in a more abstract manner. May use a taxonomy.

Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) - see IP address.

Client - a networked computer, such as a PC that relies on a server for some operations. These functions include sending and receiving email, storing files for use throughout the network, and in some cases processing data. The client may be a video-text terminal, or a powerful computer capable of doing its own processing.

Client-server architecture - a type of network connection in which PCs or workstations called clients have software that allows them to communicate with another computer, known as the server, which can process and respond to the requests from the clients. Servers can process information, and store files used by all, including application programs. The WWW is an example of client server architecture as are many healthcare information systems.

Clinical Care Classification (CCC) - Clinical Care Classification (formerly the HHCC). One of the ANA Recognized Standard Terminologies. Developed by Saba to predict resource use in home care for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Now used in all clinical areas. Is in the public domain.

Clinical Data Repository - ".. a real-time database that consolidates data from a variety of clinical sources to present a unified view of a single patient. It is optimized to allow clinicians to retrieve data for a single patient rather than to identify a population of patients with common characteristics or to facilitate the management of a specific clinical department." From http://www.informatics-review.com/thoughts/cdr.html

Clinical Decision Support System - a "system that links health observations with health knowledge to influence health choices by clinicians for improved health care." see Decision Support

Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) - a document markup standard (specifying tags that denote give characteristics) that specifies the structure and semantics of a clinical document (such as a discharge summary or progress note) for the purpose of data exchange

Clinical Documentation - a documentation system that is used in the clinical area that is is part of the clinical workflow and provides communication of real-time information.

Clinical Information System - information technology that is applied at the point of clinical care. It includes electronic medical records, clinical data repositories, decision support programs (such as clinical guidelines and drug interaction checking), handheld devices for collecting data and viewing reference material, imaging modalities and communication tools such as electronic messaging systems.

Clinical Pathway - a program that provides timing and sequence of key interventions necessary for the desired patient outcome.

Clip art - a form of electronic artwork that can be inserted into a computer document. Most word processors and presentation programs come with clip-art, or clip-art for the program can be bought separately. Clip-art can also be found on the web. When using clip-art check the copyrights to be certain the use is legal.

Clipboard - a place in the computer’s memory (RAM) on which objects that are being cut or copied are kept. Once on the clipboard, an object remains there until replaced by another object, or deleted from the clipboard by the user. Some modern software, such as Microsoft Office products allow you to have more than one item on the clipboard.

Clock speed - The measurement of how often a pulse of electricity “cycles” or circulates through the circuits of a chip which determines how fast information is processed. The more cycles per given time period, the greater the processing speed. Clock speed that use to be measured in megahertzes (MHz) on newer computers is measured in gigahertzes (GHz).

Clone - a product that functions exactly like the more well-known product. A PC that was an IBM clone would perform exactly like the IBM.

Closed-Loop Safe Medication Administration - the right patient receives the right medication. An essential component of patient safety improvement used with bar-coded or RFID tagged bracelets is used with the eMar.

CMI - see computer managed instruction

CMS - see Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CNPII - see Committee for Nursing Practice Information Infrastructure.

Cobol - a third level programming language designed for business applications.

Code - statements written in a programming language which are the computer is capable of executing to perform a function. Can also be the "tags" in html.

Code of Ethics - a set of guidelines which are designed to set out acceptable behaviors for members of a particular group, association, or profession. Many organizations govern themselves with a code of ethics, especially when they handle sensitive issues like health care. In addition to setting a professional standard, a code of ethics can also increase confidence in an organization by showing outsiders that members of the organization are committed to following basic ethical guidelines in the course of doing their work. From http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-code-of-ethics.htm

Codebook - a "book" (often a table in spreadsheet) that records what numbers in a statistical program.

Cold boot - Turning on a computer (Booting) and having it run through all the start up procedures needed before it can be used. As opposed to a warm boot in which case the computer is restarted without turning it off.

Collective Intelligence - knowledge and understanding that emerges from large groups of people.

Column - a vertical line. In a spreadsheet they are designated by a letter. In a database, they are fields.

Combo Box - an object that can be placed on a spreadsheet or database that when clicked shows a drop down box.

Committee for Nursing Practice Information Infrastructure (CNPII) - The ANA committee that reviews terminologies for recognition. NIDSEC evaluates their use by vendors.

Community Health Information Network (CHIN) - a network of integrated health records of selected data for a community. When a CHIN is functional, the information would be available to healthcare providers such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other health interested organizations such as public health, social services, employers and educational institutions.

Compatibility - the ability of parts of a computer to work together. It may refer to the ability of an operating system to

work with user created files or the ability of an application program to work with files created with a later version of the same program. For example, files created on a Macintosh computer and saved in their native format are not compatible with any applications on a PC. See backward compatibility.

Compile - part of the process of converting a program not written in the lowest level language (machine language) to machine language so it can be run by the computer. Programming languages are referred to as source code, while the final product is machine language. For programs in all languages except Java this is done before the program is distributed. With Java the computer compiles the program as it is run meaning that it will work with any operating system.

Composite key - a key for a database that is composed of two or more fields. A key field is a field on which a database will always be indexed (sorted). The data it contains must be unique for that table, that is, no other record in the database will have the same entry in the key field. In a composite key, there may be instances where one of the entries in a key field will be identical with those in other records, but the combination of entries in the fields will be the only instance of that combination in the database.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) - instruction delivered by computer. Can vary from a simple computer program to one involving multimedia.

Computer crash - a situation in which the computer stops working or a program unexpectedly gives you an error message and quits work, taking all the unsaved data with it. A crash is NOT the operators fault. They are often caused by “memory fights,” that is two programs demanding the same slot in memory with the one that was there first refusing to relinquish it. They may also be caused by too little RAM. If a computer is crashing repeatedly there may be a hardware or software bug, or the computer may need more RAM.

Computer fluency - The skills, knowledge, and desire necessary to not only use the computer in a current setting, but to acquire new skills as the environment demands.

Computer generated information systems - computer applications that assist individuals in creating information and knowledge. There are many types: decision support tools, expert systems, and artificial intelligence.

Computer languages - a way of communicating with a computer. There are several levels of languages, lowest, machine language; second level, assembly; third level, high-level languages such as Basic or C; and fourth level languages such as standard query language. The higher the level of language, the closer it comes to natural language, the lower the language the closer it is to machine language.

Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) - a system that performs some of the administrative tasks that are a part of computer-based-instruction. May also deliver the instruction.

Computer freeze - a situation in which the computer decides to ignore any input from a user. This is usually related to one program and may be remedied by tapping and holding down in

order the following keys: Ctrl, Alt, and Delete. Then selecting end this program from the screen that appears. (If using VISTA, select "Open task Manager, then select the program.) Another term for this occurrence is “hang,” as in “My word processor hung.”

Computer-managed-learning (CML) - See computer-managed-instruction.

Computer malware - software that does malicious things. Includes viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, spyware, and some adware.

Computer networking - the connection of two or more computers so that they can share files and/or data.

Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). Although the term says physician, it includes nurse practitioners with prescriptive authority. It describes the use of the computer to enter prescriptions. These systems should be able to catch not only errors in prescribing, but also problems with drug interactions or allergies that could present a problem. In short, a well designed CPOE should be a decision support system for clinicians who prescribe medications. It will not make decisions for the clinician, but present difficulties, if any, that it sees with a given order.

Computer Virus - See virus.

Computer-based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) - a non-profit organization composed of members of groups such as nursing, medical records, dentistry, patients, and third party payers whose goal is the development of the computerized patient record. In 2002 they combined with HIMSS.

Computerized Decision Support System - see Clinical Decision Support System

Computerized Patient Record (CPR) - a lifelong record of healthcare for an individual. The system in which it resides will provide clinicians ready access to knowledge from many sources that is related to any aspect of the patient’s and perform predetermined analyses to find conditions that need attention, and provide access to information resources such as articles in periodicals. Current terminology is Electronic Health Record

Confidentiality - the protection of information about individuals from unauthorized use.

Consumer Assessment of Health Providers & Systems - "...a public-private initiative to develop standardized surveys of patients' experiences with ambulatory and facility-level care." From https://www.cahps.ahrq.gov/default.asp

Consumer Informatics - an applied science using concepts from communication, education, behavioral science and social networking {Houston, 2001 #1370}. It is designed to provide healthcare information to consumer/patients, allow consumers to make informed decisions, promote healthy behaviors, and promote information exchange and social support.{Houston, 2001 #1370}. It often refers to consumer use of electronic communications such as email and the Web in their healthcare.

Its aim is to improve health outcomes through consumer participation in their healthcare.

Context-sensitive help - help that when requested, matches the general feature that you are using. For example, if you entering vital signs into a hospital information system, when you tapped F1 to request help, help for accomplishing that task would automatically be accessed.

Contingency Plan- Sometimes referred to as "Plan B." It is a detailed plan that addresses steps to take in the event of the occurrence of significant implementation problems.

Control unit - an element in the CPU that obtains program instructions and either carries them out itself or directs them to the ALU to be accomplished.

Coordinated Licensure Information System - a cooperative effort by the National Council of State Boards to create a coordinated data base of all licensed registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses that includes information on the licensure and disciplinary history of each nurse contributed by member states. Its purpose is to assist in the coordination of nurse licensure and enforcement efforts.

Core Measures - a set of care processes developed by The Joint Commission to measure performance.

Cost Benefit - a value of the cost of the item versus its return in benefits. Sometimes referred to as Return on Investment (ROI)

Cookie - a WWW phenomenon in which a visited site sends a piece of data to the users computer and reads it the next time the user visits the site. The information is stored in an ASCII text file called the cookie file. Cookies enable the visited site to better serve the visitor. They do NOT read any information from a user’s hard drive except what is in the cookie file. See http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2007/all_about_cookies.asp

CPR - acronym for computerized patient record. (See computerized patient record.)

CPT - American Medical Association’s Common Procedural Terminology

CPU - see Central Processing Unit

Cracker - an individual who illegally breaks into computer systems with the intent of doing damage. This term has faded in use and been replaced by the term hacker. A better term for these individuals is “black hat hacker.”

Crash - see computer crash, or computer freeze

Crop - To cut part of an image out of a picture. When cropping is done in a presentation program, the original image is preserved, just parts of it are invisible. In graphical programs, it is possible to cut out the portion of an image that one wants and delete the rest.

Ctrl+ - The ctrl (control) key is a key on the bottom of a Pc computer keyboard. When you see an instruction written Ctrl+D, hold down the Ctrl key while depressing the other key or keys.

Cumulative stress disorder (CSD)- An inflammation or damage to tendons that occurs when repeated stress is placed on the tendons, muscles, or nerves. Sometimes referred to as a repetitive strain injury (RSI) or a cumulative trauma disorder.

Cumulative chart - a chart that instead of showing a base number, accumulates the date. For example, if you wish to show births, instead of showing the number of births per month, for each month you would add the prior numbers so that January would show only January, while February would show January and February, and June would show all January, February, March, April, May and June etc.

Cursor - the original term designating the screen location where whatever the user entered would appear. Today referred to as the “insertion point.”

Cyberchondria - term used to designate those who use the Web for health information. The term is a combination of the terms cyber and hypochondria to coin a word that tends to appear pejorative, or implying that a person is obsessive, but Harris International views it as a healthy habit. See http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/healthnews/HI_HealthCareNews2002Vol2_Iss12.pdf

Data - a discrete piece of objective “information.” Theoretically it is the plural of datum, but in common usage data is used to designate both singular and plural forms of the word. Data can have many different nuances. In a database it is a piece of information about something, e.g. the pulse of a client. It can be used to refer to any information that we input into a computer in any format such as a word processing document, a spreadsheet or slides that we have created with a presentation program. It is one of the major concepts in nursing informatics theory of data>information>knowledge>wisdom.

Dashboard - a user interface that, somewhat resembling an automobile's dashboard, organizes and presents information in a way that is easy to read. May be interactive. Can provide business intelligence and management reports.

Data bank - a collection of data in data base format about a given subject. A data bank of client information would contain specified data about many patients probably from different sources, a data bank of movies would contain information about many movies.

Data dump - Erasing files from a disk in a way that makes it impossible for recovery programs to read any data. May also be called disk wiping.

DataFerrett - a browser designed by the Federal Government that must be downloaded and installed to a local computer. Once installed, users can access public microdata from a variety of Federal Agencies. (see page 426)

Data mining - an analytical, automated process that uses computer “intelligence” to discover hidden relationships in large databases that are too complex to be found using conventional

statistical techniques. Requires, however, someone familiar with the data. Is not done blindly. For more information see Two Crows Corporation. (1999). Introduction to data mining and knowledge discovery.from http://www.twocrows.com/booklet.htm and http://www.twocrows.com/intro-dm.pdf

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) - a visualization of how data flows through an information system. There will be symbols that indicate where the data is collected, where it flows after being collected, where it is stored, how it is processed, and its eventual destination. Like maps, they can be very detailed as with a part of a system, for an entire hospital information system, or even a regional or national information system.

Data security - the protection of data such that it is retrievable 10, 25 or 50 years after it is entered into a computer. This involves all procedures that protect data from loss or corruption such as computer crashes and natural and man-made disasters, as well as ensuring compatibility between the method of storage and current retrieval modes.

Data warehouse - A data warehouse is a collection of diverse data from sources that one would not think of relating that is specifically structured for query and analysis. Developing a data warehouse involves processes that extract the data, then clean and date it. Large healthcare databases would produce volumes of information if put into a warehouse and subjected to data mining.

Database - A collection of data structured so that desired information can be quickly found. Can exist in a paper format, e.g. a phone book, but is more efficient when in an electronic format. With a phone book in electronic format you could easily find to whom a number or a given address belonged, or reorder the records by phone numbers. A typical database is structured with fields and records that are organized into tables (files).

Database management system (DBMS) - a system that manages a collection of files, often in a table format that enable users to store, modify, and extract information. A hospital information system and a computerized library system are examples.

Database model - The structure on which a database is constructed. Two early models were the hierarchal and network. A current model is relational

Debug - finding and correcting "bugs" or imperfections. Usually refers to a system. The hardest bug to fix is one that is intermittent, or that is difficult to recreate.

Decision models - a simplified representation of a situation that can be used for making decisions. A map is a model used to make decisions about the best route from point A to point B.

Decision-support systems - part of an information system that correlates information from many different sources including specific patient data and the literature to provide suggestions to the clinician. It may be a spreadsheets on which a user creates a model to use and specially designed decision tools that assist the user to structure the problem and make a decision based on a weighted analysis of the analysis. See Clinical Decision Support System.

Decrypt - the process of translating a coded, or encrypted, message into a readable format.

Deep linking - a hyperlink on a Web page that links to a page other than the sites’ home page. In most Web sites a home page is the top page in the hierarchy of pages. Home pages are often the information just beyond the two forward slashes of an URL to the next forward slash. Any characters beyond that link to other pages on the site are called deep links.

Default - the setting, value or procedure that a program or device will automatically assume unless specifically given other instructions. Margin settings in a word processor and width of columns in a spreadsheet are but one of many instances. There is a default, but the settings can be changed either in a single case, or the new setting can often be made the default.

Default drive - the disk drive that the computer will save files to or read files from unless given other instructions.

Defrag - a system utility program that defrags a disk. When a computer stores files on disks if a file is too large to be stored in one sector (physical section of a disk that can be located with an address), parts of the file are stored in other sectors. These sectors are not always contiguous, creating more wear on the drive as well as taking more time for the drive to find the complete file. When a disk is defragged, the sectors for all files are moved to contiguous locations.

De-identify (data) the process of removing any information from aggregated data that could be used to identify the person about whom the data was created. Such data is said to be De-identified data.

Denial of service attack - An condition in which an attacker prevents legitimate users from accessing information or services such as email or a company’s Web site. The most common type occurs when an attacker floods a network with information, often with spam. In a distributed denial-of-service attack, an attacker takes advantage of security vulnerabilities on other computers and programs them to send huge amounts of data to a Web site often causing the Web site to crash, but always making it inaccessible to use by legitimate users. To protect your computer from being part of this scheme, install and maintain both firewall and anti-virus software.

Department of Health and Human Services, sometimes just referred to as HHS (Health and Human Services)

Descriptive Data Analysis - A summary of the raw data in a research project that includes sample size, maximum and minimum values, averages and measures of variation of the data about the average such as standard deviation. Descriptive statistics describe the basic features of the data in a study. With simple graphics analysis, they form the basis of virtually every quantitative analysis of data. This is often a first step, prior to more complex inferential analysis.

Desktop - the screen that contains program icons that appears after the computer is turned on. Clicking any of the icons will open the program to which that icon belongs. Users can also save folders or files to the desktop of easy access.

Desk top publishing - the use of the personal computer, specialized programs, and a high quality printer to produce written material that resembles material that is professionally printed.

Desktop computer - a personal computer that consists of a monitor, keyboard and CPU unit. The CPU unit can be a “desktop,” (one that has its largest surface parallel to a horizontal surface) or a “tower” (a unit whose largest surface is vertical to the ground and is meant to stand upright).

Detail table - a table in a relational database that has a field that is identical to one in the master table. This enables data from other fields in the detail table to be integrated with data from other fields in both tables to create a form or a report. Sometimes called a child table.

Dialog Box - a box that pops up when you request a feature that requires more than a simple selection in a program. You enter the information needed and the feature performs according to the information you provided.

DHHS - see Department of Health and Human Services

Digest - an option for mailing lists in which all the messages for one day are sent as one message.

Digital - - A system that is based on discontinuous, discrete, data instead of a continuous, or analog data. A digital watch shows only given times, sometimes to the second, often to the minute. An ordinary clock, on the other hand is an analog device. In a regular clock the hands move continuously around the face depicting every conceivable time.

Dial-up connection - a method of connecting to the Internet in which the user “dials” a number to establish the connection. This is the slowest form of Internet connection and is still prevalent in many rural areas. In metropolitan areas is being supplanted by broadband connections

Digital camera - a camera that records images on a disk rather than on file. So named because the images are digits, rather than true images. These images can be downloaded to a computer and manipulated with a graphics program. The quality of the output is limited by the memory in the camera, the resolution of the digitizing mechanism and by the resolution of the output device which could be a computer monitor or a printer.

Digital subscriber line - see DSL

Disk drive - a device that reads or retrieves data from and writes (saves) data to a disk. There are different types of disk drives, e.g. a hard disk drives which read and write data to a computer’s internal hard disk, floppy drives that read and write to a diskette, and optical disk drives which read and may right to optical disks such as CD-ROMS.

Diskette - any removable disk that can read or write data to a disk with the exception of a CD-ROM or DVD. The original diskettes were physically floppy. The term “floppy disk” is now sometimes

used for the more firm storage diskettes (3.5in) that are in use today.

Disk Operating System - see operating system

Directory - the original name for file folder on a PC. Still used on larger computers and the Web. See folder.

Disk drive - a machine that reads and writes data onto a disk. It rotates the disk very fast and has one or more “heads’ that read and write data. It is accessed via a slot that matches the type of the disk, generally on the front of the computer. Disk drives can be either housed within the computer (internal) or housed in a separate box that connects to the computer (external).

Disk wiping- Erasing files from a disk in a way that makes it impossible for recovery programs to read any data. May also be called data dumping.

Distance Learning - learning in which the learners are physically separate from the teacher. Modes of learning include correspondence, video, CAI, and the Internet. See synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Distributed Learning - education that is not face to face and which uses some form of technology.

DNS - This acronym has three meanings, judge which is meant by the context. Domain Name System, Domain Name Server, or Domain Name Service.

Docking Station - a device that is designed to be attached to a portable computer. They allow laptop user to connect with the amenities of a desktop computer such as a regular size monitor, full-size keyboard, and regular mouse. May be called a port replicator or computer extender.

Document - in this book, any item created by a user in an application program. See file.

Domain - a part of the hierarchical naming systems for the Internet. Top Level Domains can provide clues as to the type of organization sponsoring that Internet site and the country where this server resides. The letters in the top level domain will be found after the last period, in the first segment of the computer name following the “http://”. E.g. in the URL http://www.nursingcenter.com/store/, the letters “com” represent the top domain.

Domain Name System (DNS) - a system under which each computer on the Internet has a registered number and a name. The alphabetic names are generally used when sending messages or requesting a WWW file because they are easier to remember. The DNS translates these alphabetic names into the numbers that match the character name. These are Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. For example, the domain name www.example.com might translate to 198.105.232.4. If one DNS server doesn't know how to translate a particular domain name, it asks another one, and so on, until the correct IP address is returned.

Download - moving computer data from one computer to another. This term usually refers to moving data from a server to a smaller computer.

Downstream - the term used to refer to data that is sent from a server to a client. Often used to refer to information that is sent from the Internet to a user. See upstream.

DOS - the acronym for the original PC disk operating system developed by Microsoft®. Although it can refer to any operating system, DOS is usually used to denote the operating system for early PCS, which has been replaced by Windows.

Dot - the way that a period in an URL or email address is spoken. For example the email address Florence.Nightingael@StThomasInfirmary.org would be spoken aloud as “Florence dot Nightingale at StThomas dot org.”

Dot pitch - this term refers to how much vertical distance there is between each pixel. The smaller the dot pitch, the sharper the image. If, however, the distance is too small the screen brightness and contrast will be lessened. On color monitors the range is from 0.22 mm to 0.42 mm. The 0.22 mm dot pitch gives a better picture than the 0.42mm.

Drill and Practice - a method of imparting facts that involves repeated exposure to the information followed by questions. Useful at the lowest level of learning in Bloom's Taxonomy.

Drop down box - a list of choices that appears when a given feature is selected, such as a menu option.

DRAM - dynamic RAM. It is the type of RAM found in most micro-computers. See SRAM and RAM.

Driving force - behaviors, beliefs, organizational culture that exist in an organization or individual that can be a positive force towards change, or a force that helps to maintain equilibrium.

Download - transmit information from a larger computer to a smaller one. This process is often associated with copying files from an Internet server to a PC, but it can also refer to copying information from a PC to a PDA type computer. See upload.

Downward compatibility - see backwardly compatible.

Digital subscriber line (DSL). A telephone line that uses sophisticated schemes to pack data so that it can be sent in digital format over existing phone lines in a way that it shares the same line with regular voice. Usability is limited by the distance a user is from the telephone switching station.

DRGs - diagnosis related group. They are a classification of a hospital stay in terms of what was wrong with, and what was done for a patient.

Drop-down menu - a menu that appears or “drops down” when an item is clicked. Items that will present another menu when clicked are indicated by an ellipsis (...) or an arrow. Generally an

arrow means another menu will appear and an ellipsis designates that a pop up dialog box will appear.

Driver - this is a program that controls the interface between a peripheral device such as a printer, or scanner and the computer. When a peripheral, such as a printer, is added to a system, the appropriate driver must also be installed to allow the device to work. This is why many peripherals come with diskettes. One of the hazards of buying generic equipment that does not come with a diskette, is that the driver for the device may not be easily available.

DSL - acronym for digital subscriber line. DSL technologies use sophisticated schemes to pack data onto existing telephone lines. Sometimes referred to as “last-mile” technologies because they are used for connection from the telephone switching station to a home or office. DSL requires that the client computer be less than 20,000 feet (as this is written - this may increase) from the telephone switching station. DSL sends information in an area of a telephone wire unused by normal voice communications, hence can operate simultaneously with voice connections. It requires a special DSL modem. There are different types of DSL, most connections today in the U.S. are ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines), while in Europe they are more often SDLS (symmetric digital subscriber line). Speeds vary depending on the type of DSL and the distance from the central station.

Dvorak keyboard - a keyboard designed so that the middle row of keys includes the most common letters. In addition, common letter combinations are positioned in such a way that they can be typed quickly. Should common sense prevail (not likely) it would replace the QWERTY Keyboard. From Webopedia - "It has been estimated that in an average eight-hour day, a typist's hands travel 16 miles on a Qwerty keyboard, but only 1 mile on a Dvorak keyboard."

Dynamic IP address - and IP address that changes each time a user is on the Internet. Those who use POTS connections always have dynamic IP addresses. Cable and DSL line users often can choose between a dynamic or static IP address. See static IP address. Having a dynamic IP address makes it more difficult for intruders to invade a computer.

Early adopter - in Rogers' Theory of Innovation, an individual who adopts an innovation before the majority and influences others to adopt the innovation.

Early majority - in Rogers' Theory of Innovation, these individuals are influenced by early adopters who are averse to risks, but will adopt an innovation if they regard it as safe.

e-Book - a "book" that is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. A book published in electronic form. One of the most popular e-Book readers today is Amazon's Kindle.

e-Encounter - two way electronic exchange between a healthcare provider and a client/patient initiated by either. Today usually means email, but is moving towards substituting for office visits.

e-Intensive Care - the use of off-site intensive care specialists, nurses or physicians, to track patients in intensive care units. They monitor a cluster of screens that register heart rate, blood

pressure, and other clinical indicators for patients in these off-site units. Allows even small rural units to have access to an intensivist, or a person specifically trained in intensive care.

EFMI - European Federation of Medical Informatics

e-Health - the use of the emerging communication technologies to promote health both individually and for the general population. It includes telehealth, but also the use of many Internet tools.

EHR - see Electronic Health Record

e-Learning - the combining of electronics, generally some form of a computer, and instruction. May also be used to refer to online learning. Should not be confused with informatics.

EIDE (Enhanced IDE) - an interface between the hard drive and the computers RAM.

Electronic mail - see email

Electronic mailing list - see Mailing list group.

Electronic format - something that has been computerized. A book that is accessible by computer would be said to be in electronic format.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) - The complete record of an individual's healthcare from many sources that is created and gathered cumulatively from more than one healthcare agency. What information in it is accessible and to whom is determined by the individual whose health it records. This term is often erroneously used to mean an electronic medical record.

Electronic Mailing List - is formed by a group of people who subscribe to receive all emails sent to the group. Usually the members can also post to the list. Often called a listserv for the first software that permitted this type of group.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) - the electronic record of patient care created, and owned by one healthcare agency or healthcare provider office. Is not an electronic health record.

Electronic Personal Health Record (PHR) - A cumulative electronic healthcare record for one individual that has information from multiple sources that is created, gathered, and managed by the individual who has control of the integrity of the data and access to it.

Electronic signature - a name affixed to a document that has a digital code attached to it that positively identifies the individual. For protection, this code may be encrypted. Sometimes called a digital signature because of the digital code attachment.

Email - the transmission of message(s) from one computer to a specified computer using a computer network. Email addresses are used to locate the recipient computer. They adhere to the IP protocol.

Embed - the term used to describe importing a object from one program to another program without copying the object. Once embedded, the object stands alone, and does not change if the original object is changed. See table 4-1 (page 75). The opposite is linked.

Emoticon - a small picture � created with the normal keys on a keyboard meant to denote the writer mood in an email message. One needs to tilt one head to the left to read them. � Also called smileys.

Employee Scheduling Systems - Software used to create work schedules for employees. They work with scheduling rules such as master schedules, shift rotations, repeating patterns to quickly make the first draft of a schedule.

EMR - see Electronic Medical Record.

Encrypt - The translation of data into a secret code. In order to read an encrypted file it is necessary to access a password or secret key that returns it to normal text. Encrypted text is sometimes referred to as cipher text.

Endnote - "notes" that appear at the end of a chapter or book. See footnote

End Note - reference manager software

Encryption - the process of translating electronic data into a code that requires a code by the recipient to decode.

ENIAC - Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer

Enterprise - an entire agency, could be one lone hospital, or a multi-healthcare agency such as the Mayo Clinic.

Enterprise System - an integrated system that is uses for all departments in an agency.

ENUDS - Emergency Nursing Uniform Data Set - a modification of the NMDS for emergency room nurses.

Entity - a name that is used for a table in databases. Can also be used in database terminology to refer to a file.

EPR - Electronic Patient Record. See computerized patient record. Common name now is either EHR (accessible by more than one agency) or EMR (for one agency)

Ergonomics - designing work environments for maximizing safety and efficiency. It involves understanding how the human body functions and making sure that tasks and equipment are designed to maximize ease of use.

Error trap - a routine that a programmer puts into a program to catch an unintended entry. A well designed error trap will inform the user of what is wrong with the entry and provide instructions for making a correction. An example could be a user who inadvertently enters 55 (Celsius) as a patients' temperature. The

program would be set to catch any numbers beyond a reasonable human temperature such as 30 and 50, and would give the user a message such as "This entry does not seem reasonable for a temperature. Please enter a number between 30 and 50."

Evidence-based nursing - nursing care that is based on empirical evidence such as reliable research and patient preferences. Requires information technology skills.

Evidence-based practice (care) - clinical practice in which decision making is guided by the best research evidence available, clinical knowledge, and consultation with the patient to decide the best patient care. Requires information technology skills

Executable file - a computer file that carries out instructions in response to the programming code it contains. Application programs are controlled by executable files. The suffix to this type of file is .exe

Expert systems - a computer application designed for a specific domain such as obstetric nursing, to evaluate data and make a recommendation that an expert would make given the same situation. Expert systems have three overall parts, a data or knowledge base, an inference engine, and a user interface.

Exporting a file - Accessed from the File menu, this process converts a file from the format of the current application to that of another application, thus enabling two programs with different file formats to share the same data.

Extension - the three character after the dot in a file name that denotes the program that created it. For example, "doc" for a Microsoft Word document (although it is "docx) for Word 2007. If your file list does not show extensions, this can be changed.

Extensible markup language. See XML

External reference - referencing (linking) to data from a source not in the same worksheet. When this is done, when the value in the referenced cell is changed, the change is reflected in the cell that is linked with it.

Extranet - an extension of an intranet which provides accessibility to an agency intranet to a specific group of outsiders.

ezine - a type of online journal that is published regularly, but does not maintain archives and is not peer reviewed.

Factual database - a database that provides reference material such as drug dosages, normal values for laboratory tests etc. They are often offered as software for hand held computers.

FAQ - see frequently asked questions

FAT or file allocation table - the"table of contents" � for a disk.

Favorite - The term used by Microsoft Internet Explorer® to designate a list of folders that the user wishes easy access to. Analogous to Bookmark used by other browsers.

Fiber Optic Cable - a wire as thin as copper wire which contains very thin, pure glass fibers. Because the fibers are so small more fibers can be bundled in a size equivalent to a copper wire. Data travels over this cable in the form of light and is capable of speeds up to 186,000 miles per second, however, the technology to use all this speed has not yet been developed. It is the fastest method of sending data with speeds currently reaching 1000 megabits per second.

Field - a column in a database table for a specific piece of data. For example, an entry for patient temperature would be entered into the temperature field or column. In databases a field may be referred to as an attribute. In word processing this term describes data inserted into a mail merge document, for example a city.

Field entry - the data that is placed in a field in a specific record.

Field names - a label used to specify the contents of a field, e.g. the name"pulse" � for the field containing pulse rates or temperature for a field containing temperature.

File - on a computer, a collection of data that has been saved to a disk and has a name. Among other things, files can contain text, numbers, and images as well as code needed to run programs. Files that are user created are best kept in one location. Computers usually have a default folder where users are expected to store the files that they create. May be named "My Documents," or "Documents." � Users then create folders within that folder to store their files in an organized manner.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - a method of placing (uploading) files on the Internet or Web and retrieving (downloading) them. Web browsers handle the downloading seamlessly so users are unaware that this protocol is being used.

File extension - the characters in a file name after the dot in the name. E.g. in the name "Glossary.doc" the file extension is "doc" � indicating a file created by Microsoft Word.

File infector virus - a virus that affects executable files.

Financial managers - application programs that assist individuals or companies to manage finances. They can be as simple as an individual money manager or complex enough to manage entire industries.

Financial Management - The management of finances to create wealth for the business, generate cash and provide a good return on investment. It has to consider the risks that the business is taking and the resources invested.

Firewall - a means of preventing unauthorized access to or from an Internet connection. They can involve either hardware or software or both. Further protection is provided by encryptingcrypting the information on the network.

Firewire - a type of connection between two electronic devices, often a computer and a webcam. Its actual speed of transmission is faster than a USB port and it is an excellent method of transferring uncompressed video files.

Fixed disk - a name sometimes used for a hard disk, it is a disk that is attached to the computer, the removal of which entails a lengthy process. See hard drive.

Fixed Tangible Medium - A physical existence needed for copyright. The work must be recorded in some physical medium, whether on paper, audio tape or computer disk. Spontaneous speech or musicianship that is not recorded, (a jazz solo, for instance) is not protected by copyright.

Flame - an email message which contains strong criticism, that is usually irrational or highly emotional.

Flame war - the result of an exchange of flames. They occur usually in news groups or electronic mailing lists. The exchange continues until cooler heads prevail. They can become very nasty when posters forget etiquette. More common in lists that discuss controversial subjects.

Flash animation - an animated film created using the Adobe software Flash. Requires a Flash player to see which is freely available at Adobe. May be interactive.

Flash drive - A portable flash memory device that plugs into a computer USB port and functions as a storage device. They are small enough to be carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer with a USB drive, but have large storage capabilities.

Flash memory - A special type of memory whose contents can be deleted and written to in blocks instead of one byte at a time.

Flat database - a database that contains only one table. A spreadsheet worksheet is an example as is a table in a word processor.

Flash animation - Web animation designed with Adobe Flash Program. Requires a free plug-in that can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/. Using Flash technology a page looks the same in all Web browsers. These animations are "bandwidth friendly," � i.e. they are compressed and will load faster than many other graphical formats. If designing a Web page with animation when many of the potential users live in rural areas, check the download time before posting.

Flash Memory - A special type of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. It is popular in modems and may be called flash RAM.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test

Flesch-Reading Ease - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test

Flow chart - a graphical picture of a process with decision points and options. In more sophisticated versions it includes inputs and outputs. Is used in computer programming, design of a database,large computer systems, and anyplace where it is necessary to understand a linear concept of how something works.

Folder - the name given to a logical entity used to index files on a disk. It is similar in concept to a file folder in a filing cabinet. A folder can contain other folders as well as files.

Folksonomy - a method of collective intelligence in which groups share information by classifying it with a label.

Font - a name given to the design of characters (although in the non-computer world these are called typefaces). In the computer environment fonts are a combination of looks, spacing, size and attributes. Application programs have many different "fonts" � available such as Times New Roman, Helvetica and Arial. Some of the so called fonts such as Wingdings are actually symbols.

Footer - a piece of text that appears on the bottom of every page. Many application packages such as word processors will automatically insert these. See header.

Footnote - text that appears on the bottom of a specific page. See Endnote

Forecasting - Predictions of what will happen based on careful data analysis. The quality of the forecast depends on the data on which it was based.

Form - in databases or spreadsheets, a screen designed to ease data entry. Regardless of the order of the fields in the database, on a form the fields can be placed in any location that facilitates data entry. They may also be assigned a label that may not correspond to the field name in the database, but which provides information to facilitate data entry. Additional information for the individual entering data can also be included. Somewhat analogous to a 3 x 5 card used to record data.

Format (how something looks) - a menu option in Windows that usually has options that affect how things look. In a word processor this often refers to font, margins, justification or if the print will be in columns. In a spreadsheet format contains options for such things as column height and width.

Format cells - the ability to assign various attributes to the contents of the cell, e.g. have the program automatically add $, or a %.

Format (disk)- when referring to a computer disk this term means that the disk is prepared so that the particular type of computer, i.e., either a PC or a Macintosh, can read and write data to it. This process also checks the disk to see if has any bad sectors. If they are found the format program will close them off so they cannot be written to. Many diskettes come already formatted, however, if they are old, it will not hurt to reformat them. Formatting makes it impossible to retrieve any information that was on the diskette before it was formatted unless you are both lucky and have access to a diskette guru. � Do NOT attempt to format a hard disk unless you are an experienced and knowledgeable computer user.

Formula - a group of symbols (can be numbers) that make a mathematical statement that is used to create another number that represents a summary of the data. Used in spreadsheets and statistical software.

Forum - An electronic discussion group. Usually sponsored by an organization for its members or sometimes other interested parties. Generally requires registration and use of a login and password to access.

Forward compatibility (upward compatible) - programs that can run on newer versions of a computer. For example, if you have version 4.0 of a program and it will work on your new computer it is said to be forwardly compatible. Can also refer to the ability of version 8.0 of a program to create files that version 6.0 can read. See Backword Compatibility.

Fourth-generation language (4GL) - a programming languages closer to human language than typical third or high level languages. Many are used for database queries. See computer languages.

Frame - a device used in early Web pages. The frame is the main page that users see, any information from another file that is seen has been inserted into the frame. They may be used to preserve navigational information on a page. They create difficulties for certain browsers and for screen readers hence do not pass usability tests from sites that will examine a page for general usability.

Free-nets - public computer network that has free access and that provides information and Internet access to citizens of that community.

Freeware - software that although copyrighted is given away by the author. Because the author retains the copyright you must follow the authors wishes in terms of what you can do with it, this usually precludes selling it. This is more restrictive than public domain software.

Freeze - 1) see computer crash 2) in a spreadsheet refers to making specific rows or columns always visible on the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) - a list of questions and answers pertaining to a topic that the creator and maintainer of a site has found are often asked by users. A first stop in learning about a topic.

Function keys - keys at the top of the keyboard the have a number preceded by an"F." � They invoke features in an application program.

Functional interoperability - See technical interoperability.

FTP - acronym for file transfer protocol which is a method of transmitting files over the Internet.

Gantt Chart - a chart used in project management that shows start to end dates and associated tasks for those dates as well as costs with tasks. See page 414

Genomics - The study of the structure and function of genes. This science can help to explain individual variations in reactions to drugs, for example, why some drugs work with some patients, and not others, and which patients are most apt to develop side effects or certain diseases such as breast cancer.

Gigabyte - approximately more than a billion bytes (1,000,000,000).

Gigahertz - One billion hertzes, or one million cycles of electricity through a circuit per second. Often used to measure the clock speed of a processor. Less powerful computers measure this in megahertzs (One million hertzes).

GIGO - acronym for garbage in garbage out. This refers to the fact that if inaccurate information is entered into the computer, the output will also be inaccurate.

Glitch - A malfunction, sometimes used as a synonym for bug, but usually it refers to a hardware problem.

Goal seek - A spreadsheet function which allows, a cell with a formula to be set so that the value in a referenced cell will change to produce a given value.

Go live - the term used to indicate the process by which a system starts operating. Usually given as a date, as in "go live" will be September 25.

Gopher - A text based tool developed at the University of Minnesota that allowed users to browse the Internet resources and make selections from menus. It featured a search tool of sorts known as Veronica, (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computerized Archives). Gophers have become part of history with the rise of the WWW. Some of the more important documents that were available on Gophers have now been converted to web documents.

Gradient background - a background that starts with one color and gradually morphs to a lighter shade of that color, or even to white.

Granularity - The level of detail that a term in a standardized terminology represents. That is, how much of the antecedent actions can be captured using a term. Terms in a standardized terminology too often represent different levels of granularity. The need for granularity varies with the need of the users. For patient care it needs to be at the lowest level, for research often less granularity will suffice.

Graphic- the term used on computers to refer to non-text displays, or images that use shapes not seen on a standard keyboard. This term often refers to pictures which are known as images. Graphics demand much more memory, in RAM, on a video board, and when printed.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) - a way of interacting with the computer in which the user makes selections from images called icons. This is often done by moving an object (often a mouse, or a trackball) that moves a pointer on the screen then clicking (depress and release) a button, in a process known as point and click.

Grassroots Media - the widespread creation and posting to the Web of media such as video, photos, and blogs by non-professionals.

Groupware - a type of software that facilitates collaboration by a group of colleagues attached to a network. It supports such things as scheduling meetings, email and electronic newsletters. It is sometimes called workgroup productivity software. Users can be sitting next to each other or half a world apart.

GUI - see graphical user interface

Hacker - originally this term meant a computer enthusiast who enjoys the challenge of doing the impossible. � Today this term has been turned into a pejorative term for a cracker, or someone who uses computer skills to destroy computers or data. See black hat hacker and white hat hacker.

Handheld Computer - a computer small enough to be held in the hand. PDAs are an example.

Hang - a type of computer crash in which a program suddenly refuses to respond to keyboard or mouse input. Often depressing the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys simultaneously will allow you to exit with some manner of control. See computer crash.

Hanging paragraph - a paragraph in which the margin of the first line is to the left of the margin for the other lines of text. Sometimes called an outdented paragraph. (See figure 9-3)

Hard disk - a fixed large disk inside a computer that reads and writes to the hard disk. The hard disk is usually the primary form of storage for PCs. They continue to increase in size which in PCs is now measured in gigabytes (1 billion bytes).

Hard return - tapping the Enter key to create a permanent new line, that is one that will always start a new line unless deleted.

Hardware - This term refers to that part of the computer that you can touch such as disks, disk drives, monitors, keyboards, speakers, printers, mice, boards, and chips. In audiovisual equipment it would be the slide projector or the film projector. Without software (the film) it is nothing more than an expensive paper weight.

Hard wired - connecting a computer to a network with a wire (cable). Opposed to wireless in which the connection is by radio waves.

HCFA - (pronounced Hickva) Health Care Financing Administration

HCPCS - Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. Used for describing specific items and services provided in the delivery of health care for Medicare and Medicaid.

HDC - (Hickva) Data Centers

Header - text that is at the top of every page. Software such as word processors will automatically place this text.

Health Level 7 - see HL 7

Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) - an interdisciplinary informatics organization.

Healthcare Analytics - see Business Intelligence

Healthcare informatics - the science of managing healthcare information that draws on information and computer science, healthcare discipline knowledge, and theories such as socio-technical theory, change theories, cognitive theory, usability principles, learning theories and chaos theory.

Health Information Exchange (HIE) - the electronic exchange of health-related data between healthcare agencies not under the same ownership using agreed protocols, standards, and other criteria.

Health Information Technology (HIT). Technology applied in healthcare, generally meant to refer to electronic records. Sometimes the name of the department that has the responsibility for the electronic records.

Health literacy - The ability of individuals to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. It includes not only the ability to understand health education brochures and doctor directions, but the ability to interpret instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment slips and consent forms. It requires the ability to apply complex reading, listening, analytical and decision-making skills to health situations. Sullivan, E. and P. Glassman. (2007, July 17). "Health Literacy." Retrieved March 23, 2008, from http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/hlthlit.html. (see pages 186 and 255)

Health numeracy - the ability of consumers to access, process, interpret and act on numerical health information not just numbers, but in the form of graphical, biostatistical and probabilistic statements to make well-informed health decisions. Golbeck, A. L., C. R. Ahlers-Schmidt, et al. (2005). "A Definition and Operational Framework for Health Numeracy." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 29(4): 375–376 (Page 255)

HEDIS - Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, a plan to allow consumers and employers to compare effectiveness of health plans. Developed and maintained by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). What is HEDIS?

Hertz (Hz) - a unit of speed measurement per second. One hertz would be one cycle of electricity through a circuit per second. See megahertz and gigahertz.

HHCC - Home Health Care Classification, old name for the CCC.

HHS - Department of Health and Human Services

Hibernate - a method of shutting down the computer with programs an files open. In this mode, the program saves all the current information in RAM on the hard rive. When the computer is reactivated, it is all retrieved without having to go through the entire booting process. Is a little different than sleep mode.

Hierarchal Database - an early model for databases in which the data tables are organized in a tree format.

High Level Language - a third level programming language, e.g. Basic, Cobol, Ada or C.

HIMSS - Healthcare Information Management Systems Society.

HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) - A law passed by Congress in 1996 that is designed to protect patient privacy and to streamline administration tasks by requiring data to be standardized, i.e. to use the same coding. The HHS department was been charged with writing the rules to operationalize the Act. The privacy rules have been completed, but the rules governing transportability of data are still being considered.

HIT - Health Information Technology

HL7 (Healthcare Level 7) - criteria for transmitting healthcare data about patient registration, admission, discharge and transfers, insurance, charges and payers, orders and results for laboratory tests, image studies, nursing and physician observations, diet orders, pharmacy orders, supply orders, and master files. It defines the data to be transmitted and specifies how it will be transmitted. It is the 7th, or highest level in data interchanging.

Highlighted - an object such as a file, text, graphic etc. is highlighted when it is selected. Highlighting adds a temporary attribute to denote that the object has been selected. The highlighting disappears when the object is no longer selected.

Hoax - in computers, a message sent to people that is false. It is usually a warning of something. These easily proliferate by email. Check all warnings received by email at Snopes.

Home Health Care Classification (HHCC) - a classification system for nursing data, developed as a method to assess and classify Medicare home care patients in order to determine the resources required to provide home health services as well as the expected outcomes of care

Home page - (1) The document displayed when the computer named in the URL is accessed (the name of the computer is the letters between either the double forward slash or the www. and the first single forward slash.

Horizontal bar - a bar or box on the bottom of a screen that allows a user to move to portions of the screen that are either to the right or left. Is especially useful in spreadsheets and some Web pages. Companion to the vertical bar

Hospital Information System (HIS) - an information system that allows information from many hospital departments to be exchanged. There are generally systems within an HIS such as order/entry, lab, radiology and nursing.

Hot link - 1) A link between the same object in two programs. See Link (2). 2) an area in a Web document that is a hyperlink.

Hot plug - the ability of a computer to recognize new devices, such as a digital camera, that are added while the computer is running. Also allows devices to be removed during computer operation.

Hotspot - A location in a person has access to a public wireless broadband. They typically have a short range of access.

Hot spot - an area on a computer screen such as a picture or text, that when clicked activates a function. Links on the Web are a good example.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - the main language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. It includes formatting tags and hypertext links.

HTTP (HyperText Transmission Protocol) - the series of protocols that defines how WWW messages are formatted and what actions WWW servers and browsers will take.

Human Resource Management System - (also called HR modules) the systems that automate some human resource management (HRM). It merges basic HR activities and processes with the information technology field.

Hybrid Course - Course that involves both face to face learning and e-Learning

Hypertext - a type of cross-referencing in which text or objects are linked to another file or another spot in the current file. In a Web document hyper linked text is usually indicated by a blue color and underlining. Placing one mouse pointer on that word and clicking retrieves the file linked to that word, or moves the screen to the linked location in the same document. Objects that are hyper linked will cause the mouse pointer to become a hand when it is located over the object. Links are often called hot spots.

Hypertext Markup Language - see HTML

Hz - (see hertz and refresh.)

IAMIS - see Integrated Advanced Information Management System

ICD-9 International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision. US still using, despite ICD-10.

ICD-9CM - International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modifications.

ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, includes nursing. Has been in use in all countries except the US since 1989. CMS has mandated that all entities must update to this by October 1, 2011.

ICD-11 International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision. The first draft of the ICD-11 system is expected in 2010, with publication following by 2014 and in 2015 implementation will take place.

ICNP - see International Classification of Nursing Practice

Icon - a small picture that represents an object or program. In Windows applications, the user clicks on an icon to make a selection.

IDE - an acronym for Intelligent Drive Electronics or Integrated Drive Electronics. It is the interface between hard drives or CD-ROMs and the computer.

If/then/else - a branch control statement in an algorithm that tests a variable and executes instructions based on the results of that test, e.g. if the variable is equal to 3, flag the item, in which case if the variable it is testing equals any number but 3 it will not flag the item. When else is added the else will be executed when the If statement is false. The else may be another if statement.

Image Map - A Web graphic that has clickable links embedded within it. For example, a graphic of a heart may contain clickable links for each chamber, the valves, and the vessels. The links would lead to more explanation about each structure. On Web pages an image map is often used as a navigation bar.

IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol) - The protocol that permits an email client software to access remote messages.

IMIA - International Medical Informatics Association. An interdisciplinary informatics organization. AMIA is the official U.S. representative

Importing a file - Accessed from the file menu, this process does a real-time conversion of a file from the format of one application program to that of the application program that is retrieving the file. Allows the retrieving application program to use the data from another application program.

Index - 1) A list of words or phrases ('headings') and associated pointers ('locators') to where useful material relating to that heading can be found in a document. 2) the organization of data, i.e. a phone book is indexed by last name. 3) An organized map of contents. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_(publishing)),

Index Medicus - A print index published by NLM, which contains citations to the biomedical literature from journals reviewed and selected by the NLM Literature Selection Technical Review Committee (LSTRC). Index Medicus includes indexing for approximately 15% of the nursing journals indexed in MEDLINE.

Inferential analysis -statistics used to make inferences from data to more general conditions. They allow us to support conclusions and make predictions about the properties of a population based on information obtained from a sample. Chi Square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) are examples. Descriptive statistics tell us what's going on with the data.

Infinite loops - a condition caused by a series of programming instructions that are repeated over and over with no way to stop the loop without stopping the program. Although most examples are found in the programming world, electronic mailing lists provide an excellent example. If a subscriber to a listserv sets his or her email to automatically reply that the subscriber will be out

of the office, when a message is received from the list the automatic reply is posted to the list which returns it to the subscriber whose email again automatically posts another message to the listserv ad infinitum. This lack of responsibility on the part of listserv subscribers has caused many lists to set their default reply to go just to the poster, which has reduced the discussions to only those who know enough to use the Reply All � function when replying to a list message.

Informatics - the science of the management of information, generally interpreted to mean using computers to manage information.

Informatics nurse - a nurse who works in nursing informatics with on-the-job training.

Informatics nurse specialist - a nurse who works in nursing informatics, but who has either a master or doctoral degree or a post master or post doctoral certificate in informatics.

Information - data that has been interpreted. E.g. 37 is data. It becomes information when it is labeled Celsius. One of the core concept in the data>information>knowledge>wisdom nursing informatics theory. Differentiating between the terms is contextual.

Information Literacy - the ability to define a need for information, and the skills to locate, evaluate and synthesize information to meet this need.

Information Superhighway - a name given to the Internet, although as envisioned to evolve it will have an infrastructure that will support much faster transmission of data.

Information technology - a subject that focuses on managing and processing information, usually within an agency. The department charged with this responsibility may be called the information technology (IT) department, the IS (Information Services) or MIS (Management of Information Services).

Information Technology Skills - the ability to understand and use the practical and conceptual tools of current information technology relevant to one's professional life. This would include searching a bibliographic database, selecting relevant information, and evaluating it to employ evidence-based practice. Also the ability to use current computer technology, an understanding of the foundations of technology that enable one to increase one technological skills when changes occur, and the intellectual capital to do so.

Initiating - a critical step in starting a project during which the project goals and needs (requirements) are identified and analyzed.

Innovator - in Rogers' Theory of Innovation an individual who quickly adopts an innovation. May be seen as disruptive to an organization by those who are averse to taking a risk.

Instructional Games - a game whose purpose is to provide motivation to students to learn the needed information, involves a level of competition. (page 396)

Intangibles - achievements that are not easily calculated or the results cannot be directly attributed to the investment. Examples can include improved communication, less time hunting for charts etc. Opposite of tangibles.

Institute Of Medicine (IOM) -An independent group that serves as adviser to the nation to improve health. Under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences this group provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public.

Input - in general systems theory, information that a system gains in some manner. In a computer system, data that is entered into the system either manually or automatically.

Insert - to enter information. In many cases this is a mode, that allows information to be entered anyplace on the screen, especially in word processors, by making room for it instead of typing over it which is overtype mode.

Insertion point - a Windows term that means the screen location where whatever is typed will be placed. Is seen on the screen as a symbol that blinks. The exact symbol varies with the application program in use. May be referred to as the cursor.

Instant Messaging - real-time communication by computer when one party knows that another is online and available to receive the message. Can provide communication between a number of parties simultaneously. Requires special software.

Integrated Advanced Information Management System (IAIMIS) - a system begun at the University of Washington in Seattle to assist organizations in integrating various computer systems. Now working to integrate institutions in the region.

Integrated Interface - selection of a collection of health information systems that are already interfaced. They may not all be best-of-breed, but they do avoid interface difficulties.

Integration testing - testing the interface and communication network functionality of a system.

Integrated Review - see meta-analysis

Interactive processing (also known as transaction processing) - a method of processing information by a computer in which the computer responds immediately to user requests which are termed transactions. Giving a command to a spreadsheet and getting a response is a transaction.

Interactive video - a part of computer educational history. In this format a program a video source was integrated with a computer program. Sources for the video included a video tape, a laser disk or CD-ROM. All but the CD-ROM required a video player (either disk or tape), a card inside the computer and software to integrate it all. Created many technical difficulties! Today, all is integrated on a CD-ROM, or on the Web.

Interface - In computerese, this term can be either a noun or a verb. When used as a noun it refers to the software program that a user manipulates to give commands to the computer. As a verb

it signifies how two devices communicate, that is, how they transmit data between them. For example, when a computer sends information to the printer, it is interfacing with the printer. This type of interface besides requiring a physical connection, also requires a piece of software known as a driver. It can also refer to the ability of different computer systems to exchange data with another.

Interface terminology - a standardized terminology that is used by clinicians to enter data into a computerized information system. NANDA, the Omaha System, and the PNDS are examples of interface terminologies in nursing. Are often "mapped' to Reference terminologies.

Interlace - a technique used in monitors to produce more resolution. If a monitor is interlaced, the electron guns only draw half the horizontal lines with each pass and the other half on the next pass. Because only half the lines are refreshed at once, twice as many lines can be displayed per refresh cycle. Unfortunately, it also reduces the speed that the monitor shows images. Interlacing will actually produce higher resolution, but it slows down the speed with which the computer shows images thus it may produces screen flicker. Most monitors are non-interlaced. See non-interlaced.

International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) - a system developed by the International Council of Nurses to enable the description and comparison of nursing data for clinical populations around the world. One of the ANA recognized standardized terminologies

International Nursing Index - a nursing index. Included as a part of the Medline database since 1966. It is the electronic equivalent the print index sponsored by the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing

Internet protocol (IP) - one of the two Internet protocols, the IP is responsible for locating the computer in either an email address or Web address (known as an URL) and directing the message or in the case of the WWW, the request for a file, to the correct location. See IP addresses

Internet - A world wide network of computers that traces its origins to 1969. It enables email and provides access to the World Wide Web.

Internet Service Providers (ISP) - a company that provides a connection to the Internet. ISPs can be an online service, that is offer many features, or a plain vanilla ISP offering only a way to connect to the Internet.

Internet Service Providers (ISP) - the ability of software and hardware from different vendors to be used together without modification or the development of custom interfaces or tools. Interoperability allows the exchange of information between systems.

Interoperability - the ability of two or more electronic systems to exchange and use information. See Chapter 16.

Intranauts - a nickname for those who cruise, use and innovate on the Internet

Intranet - Networks which are accessed using a web browser, but are only available to users within a specific organization. See extranet.

Invisible Web - the portion of the web that is not accessible to search tools. It may be password protected, or it may be a page created on the fly, e.g. the page created when search a bibliographic database.

IOM - see Institute of Medicine

IP address - although the usual way that a computer on the Internet is addressed is through a name, each of these names is backed up by a number assigned to the computer. The address is four numbers form one to 255 separated by a period. Routers have an updated list of IP addresses and refer to this list when a computer name is used in an address. Given the proliferation of Internet nodes (a computer on a network is called a node), it has become necessary to devise a new method of numbering computers. Known as the Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) this system provides for new IP addresses end with a slash followed by a number. IP addresses can be dynamic or static. A dynamic address changes each time a user connects to the Internet. A static IP address is permanent.

ISDN - An acronym for integrated services digital network, which is a special type of telephone line that allows a data transfer rate of 64 kbps (Kilobits per second - remember that a bit is 1/8th of a byte) which is four or five times the rate provided by the fastest modems. An ISDN line sends information digitally and does not require a modem.

ISP - see Internet Service Provider

Java - a programming language that allows any program written in this language to be used with any operating system.

Java Script - a scripting language that is interpreted in run-time that runs in Web browsers. It easily interacts with HTML elements.

Jaz disk - a disk that can contain from 1-4 gigabytes of data. It is portable diskette and is inserted into a special drive known as a jaz drive. They are fairly obsolete now, replaced by flash drives connected to a USB port.

JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Joy stick - a device for moving a pointer on the screen. It consists of a box with a stick that protrudes vertically from the box. Moving the stick causes the screen pointer to start moving in the direction that the stick was moved. To stop the pointer movement it is necessary to return the stick to an upright vertical position.

Justification - the alignment of text. Left or right justification lines up the text with the left or right margin respectively. Center justification centers every line. Full or justify makes all lines of text even with both margins. Unless you have access to a high quality software that equalizes the spacing between words left justified is the easiest to read.

Keyboard - an input device for a computer that resembles a typewriter keyboard, but with many other keys. The keys on computer keyboards consist of alphanumeric keys (the letters and numbers, punctuation keys, function and control keys, arrow keys, keys to delete, insert and move the insertion point, and shift and caps lock key.

Key field - a field in a database whose data will distinguish that record from all others in the database. E.g. if the medical record number is used as a key field the same record number cannot be used again for another client in that database. The database will always be indexed or sorted on that field. See composite field.

Kilobit - 1000 bits (not bytes!). A bit is 1/8th of a byte.

Kilobits - measure of the speed with which information travels on the Internet

Kilobyte - 1024 bytes. See Byte.

Knowledge -the product of transforming data to information and synthesizing the result with other information. This information can be combined by a human or a computer. One of the core concepts in the data>information>knowledge>wisdom nursing informatics theory.

Knowledge-Based Database - databases that index published literature

Knowledge Discovery (KDD)- The process of finding information from a large electronic database such as electronic health records. Uses data mining.

L1 or level one cache - the memory cache built into a given chip, i.e. it comes with that chip no matter what brand of computer you buy.

L2 or level two cache - Additional memory cache above and beyond what comes with the chip. Will vary from brand to brand and model to model of computers.

Laggard -in Rogers’ Theory of Innovation this denotes individuals who are suspicious and resistant to innovations and change. They perceive their resistance as rationale and must be certain that the innovation will not fail before they can adopt it. This group, instead of being discounted should be listened to. They may grasp weaknesses that others fail to see.

AN see Local Area Network

Landscape orientation - the name given to paper that has it’s long side on the top and bottom. It is the default orientation in presentation programs. See portrait orientation.

Laptop computer - A small, portable computer that theoretically can be used on a lap. The more common name today is notebook computer.

Late majority - in Rogers’ Theory of Innovation a member of the group who will only adopt an innovation if it is perceived as beneficial.

LCD - acronym for Liquid Crystal Display. When discussing laptops, this refers to a type of display screen often used on these computers. It also refers to a panel that is connected to the display output port of a computer and placed on top of an overhead projector to project the image on the computer screen.LCD - acronym for Liquid Crystal Display. When discussing laptops, this refers to a type of display screen often used on these computers. It also refers to a panel that is connected to the display output port of a computer and placed on top of an overhead projector to project the image on the computer screen.

Learning Assessment - a means to determine the level of learning that has occurred. Often done with testing.

Learning-content-management-system (LCMS)- 1) Software that that organizes learning objects such as slides, video clips, illustrations, quiz questions, and even course modules then presents them in infinite combinations to meet instructors needs. 2) Software that combines an LMS with many other features such as course registration, student tracking, e-mail, discussion forums, virtual student work areas, chat, Wikis, and blogs. (Page

Learning-management-system (LMS) -Software that facilitates delivering course content electronically.

Lecture replacement model - the use of a computer slide presentation to replace a synchronous presentation. The slides must stand alone, and must therefore be designed differently than when a presenter is present to answer questions and explain points.

Lecture support model - the use of a computer slide presentation as a support for a synchronous presentation. Slides in this model are used to help the audience focus on the presenter’s message and do not substitute for the message. Unless the notes section is added they are fairly useless as a handout because the information that the presenter adds is missing.

Legacy system - an older computer system that is still in use and needs to be integrated into a newer system.

Light pen - a device used to choose something from a computer screen. The user points the light pen at the desired selection on the screen and clicks the light.

Line chart - a chart in which the numbers are connected in a line. Best to show changes over time. Are different types such as stacked or cumulative.

LISP - a third level computer language designed for programming artificial intelligence, it is an acronym for LIST Processor. Was never fully realized.

Listserv - an electronic mailing list whose software forwards all messages to members of a group. Discussions in the group are focused on a specific topic. Was the name of the first software to make these exchanges possible, thus despite the different

software no used, electronic mailing lists are often referred to as listservs, even when other software is used to manage the group. Using free software at Google or Yahoo anyone can now create an electronic mailing list.

Link - 1) the name given to areas in a Web document, sometimes referred to as "hot spots," that when clicked will open the file named in the link. Links may also be used in regular application program documents. 2) The term given when an object in one program is linked to an object in another program. When changes are made to the object in either program, they are made to the object in the both programs. See embed. Table 4-1 page 75.

Local Area Network (LAN) - a network of computers that includes computers in a relatively small area such as a department or a single building. LANs can be connected to form a WAN (wide area network).

Logical - the way a user sees things. When a user asks to see data or to retrieve a file, although the data may be located in many different locations (its physical location) it is presented as one piece which is the logical view.

Logical bomb - a program that without the knowledge or permission of the user alters how a computer behaves. It is set to execute its code when a given condition, often a date, is met. Analogous to a time bomb.

Logical Observations: Identifiers, Names, Codes (LOINC) - A standardized terminology developed by the Regensteif Institute in Indianapolis to standardize data for laboratory tests. Now also standardizes assessment data. Recognized by the ANA .

Logical structure - the way something looks to the user. For example, a file looks like it is stored in one place when its physical structure is often that parts of it are stored in several different places.

Login - to enter information that allows a network or computer to authenticate you as an approved user. Usually consists of a user ID and a password. May be referred to as logging in. The opposite is to logout.

Login Name - see user Id

LOINC - see Logical Observations: Identifiers, Names, Codes

Look-up List or Table - a predetermined list of entries that will be allowed in a field in a database. The data enterer then selects one of the entries by clicking on it.

LOS - acronym for length of stay used in healthcare institutions.

Lurkers - individuals who belong to a mailing list who read the messages, but do not post. Also refers to those who read the same news group routinely, but do not post.

Machine language - the lowest level of computer languages and the only language understood by computers. All programs are translated to machine language before they will run in a process

called compiling. Machine language is binary, that is, it consists of only zeros and ones. Every type of CPU has its own unique machine language making it necessary for different programs to be written for each CPU. The Java language avoids this necessity because it is written to be compiled as it is run while programs in other languages are compiled before they are distributed. See computer languages.

Macro - a small program that automates a function for an application program. Although many of these ship with a program, in many applications users can create their own by either recording keystrokes or writing the commands using the language that the application program provides. For example, if you repeatedly need to place selected text in a redline format you select some text, turn on the macro recording tool, then record your keystrokes as you went through the steps. Then you could edit the tool bar and place the macro on it so you would only need to click it the next time you wished to redline selected text. Or, you could name it using a combination of keys, such as Ctrl+Shift+8 in which case tapping those keys would activate the macro.

Macro virus - a virus that attacks through a macro embedded in a file created with an application program such as a word processing or spreadsheet. Refuse to activate a macro on file received as a file attachment unless you are 100% certain that the macro is not a virus.

Mail merge - a process in word processors in which data from one file that is organized as a database is merged with a form that has places for fields from that data. See page 129.

Mailing list group - a group of people who all receive all postings (email) directed to the group. Groups are organized around specific topics in which all are interested. To become a member, one subscribes to the group (subscriptions are free).

Mainframes - A very large computer that is capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. These were the original computers. The first ones were huge and generated a tremendous amount of heat resulting in a need for constant cooling. Were usually in climate controlled basements with restricted entry.

Malignant virus - a computer virus that is intended to do harm to a computer. All viruses, even those designed to be benign, can be malignant.

Map - to “match” a term in one standardized terminology with one in another that has essentially the same meaning. Often not an exact match. The terms "mapped" are not to be regarded as synonyms. Generally a term in an interface terminology is mapped to a concept in a reference terminology.

MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) - A universal record format for bibliographic records.

Markup Language - A computer language that surrounds text with beginning and ending tags, typically set off in angle brackets. HTML and XML are examples.

Mashup -The compounding (“mashing”) of two or more pieces of complementing web functionalities to create a powerful web application. Examples include superimposing epidemiological information on a map.

Master table - in a relational database the table that is the core of the database. It is the table that contains the data around which a report revolves. It is the table that contains one, but never more than one, match for each record in another table. For example, if you build a relational database focusing on clients, the master table will be the demographic data about the client. The child or detail tables will be those that contain other information that will be related back to the demographic table. May also be called the parent table.

Maximized - the term used to describe a program window when it takes up the entire screen. Clicking on a button at the top of the screen, toggles between a window that is maximized, or minimized.

MEDLARS - MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System

MEDLINE ® (MEDlars onLINE) - the NLM online database indexing medical journal articles.

MEDLINE - an NLM bibliographic index for medical subjects. It was the first true database for medical literature. Records begin with 1966 journals, with experimental records from 1964 and 1965 now available as OLDMEDLINE.

Megabit - one million bits (not bytes!). A bit is 1/8th of a byte.

Megabits per second - measurement of the speed of the transfer of data. Is equal to 125,000 bytes. Abbreviated Mbit or Mb (note lower case b).

Megabyte - one million bytes (See byte.) Abbreviated MB (upper case B). When used as megabyte per second, it is equivalent to 1,000,000 bytes per second.

Megahertz (MHz) - One million hertzes, or one million cycles of electricity through a circuit per second. Often used to measure the clock speed of a processor. More powerful computers measure this in gigahertzes (One billion hertzes). The clock speed determines how often a pulse of electricity “cycles”through the circuits, hence how fast information is processed. The more cycles, the greater the processing speed. One MHz represents one million “cycles” per second, hence a 66 MHz computer processes 66 million cycles per second. A 120 MHZ computer will process 120 million cycles a second. Larger computers now measure speed in gigahertzes.

Megapixel - one million pixels. You will see the term when the resolution of a graphics device such as a scanner or digital camera is discussed.

Megs - abbreviation for megabyte

Menu tab - a "tab" on the top of a window which when clicked will reveal other options.

MeSH - Medical Subject Headings. The “controlled vocabulary” terms used to index materials in PubMed and Medline databases, also used by CINAHL.

Meta-Analysis - The process of systematic reviews and analysis of the results of multiple, similar research studies. For more detailed information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_analysis

Meta-searcher - a search tool that searches the index of many search tools and returns sites from all of them. May be helpful for topics for which there is very little information.

MHZ - see megahertz.

Microcomputer - a small computer, intended for one individual. Although it can be networked and serve as a “dumb terminal,” it is also capable of running applications on its own. Microcomputers, depending on their size, can be further divided into desktop computers, laptops, notebooks, palm tops, or handhelds.

Microdata - Non-aggregated data about the units sampled. For surveys of individuals, microdata contain records for each participant.

Microprocessor - A silicon chip that contains a processing unit that controls the device. They come in many sizes from one in a watch to a large computer.

Minicomputer - an old term that designated a computer that was between a microcomputer and a mainframe in size. Today this term is not used much.

Minimize - the term that describes a program window that does not fill the entire screen. When a program is minimized, a user can change the amount of screen real estate that it occupies by dragging the edges with the mouse. Square buttons on the top right of the screen toggle between a window that is minimized and one that is maximized.

Minimum Data Set - a designated set of data which will meet the needs of a given group. May or may not include the terms to be used to collect the data.

Mission Critical - services that are vital the existence of the organization such as a financial system.

MMx - This designation for a microprocessor chip indicates that a set of 57 multimedia instructions are built into it. These chips permit the computer into which they are installed to play any software program written to the MMx specification without the addition of a separate sound or video card.

Modem - A device that allows a computer to send data over telephone lines. It is an acronym for Modem-Demodulator. It converts a computer’s digital signal to the analog signal used by telephone lines.

Monitor - the box that contains the screen on which you see computer output. Monitors can be monochrome, gray scale or color. Quality is indicated by the number of times they are “refreshed” each second, that is how many times the screen is redrawn. If the refresh rate is too low, the monitor will flicker. The size of a monitor screen is measured diagonally.

Monoaxial taxonomy - a taxonomy organized around just one concept or axis.

MOOs (Multi-object Oriented ) - a program that creates a virtual environment in which users assume a character and walk about examining objects on their walk. Users will give commands such as go north, the computer will tell the user what s/he sees. If the computer says that the users sees a wallet, the user may again say go north, or may say pick up the wallet. Starting as dungeons and dragons game their use has spread to education. As graphical MOO environments are created they will find more use.

Motherboard - A component of a personal computer that is the main circuit board. Attached to it are the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control peripheral devices, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk drive as well as connectors for attaching additional boards. On many PCs it is possible to replace this component to upgrade to a faster computer.

Mouse - a peripheral device connected to the computer, that when moved, moves a pointer on the screen. The screen pointer is positioned over a selection at which time the user depresses and releases the left mouse button, a procedure called clicking the mouse. When the left mouse button is held down the selected

object can be dragged to another location. (Left handed people can change the mouse to accommodate them.

Moving - in Lewin’s theory of change, the time when equilibrium between driving and restraining forces have been upset and there is a movement. It may be either toward a change or away from it.

MS Windows™ - an operating system from Microsoft. It is a GUI interface using point and click to carry out commands. First introduced in 1985, it was quirky. It was 1990 with the release of Windows 3.1 that this became popular.

Multiaxial taxonomy - a taxonomy that uses terms on more than one axis to create a term describing the phenomenon.

Multi-tasking - in computer terminology, having more than one application open at the same time. This was made possible in PCs with the introduction of the Microsoft Windows Operating System. It also allows users to easily copy information from on program to another.

Multimedia - any combination of hardware and software that integrates text, graphics, video, animation, and sound. Although envisioned very early in the evolution of computers, they were uncommon until the mid 1990's when computing power sufficient to facilitate their use became available at a price affordable by the general public. Due to their large size, they are often distributed on a DVD. First ones were Interactive Video

NANDA - see North American Nursing Diagnoses Association, International

Nanosecond - one billionth (1,000,000,000) of a second, abbreviated ns.

National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) - a proprietary database of the ANA which collects and evaluates unit-specific nurse-sensitive data from hospitals in the United States who elect to participate. Participating facilities receive unit-level comparative data reports to use for quality improvement purposes.

National Health Information Netword (NHIN) - A proposed framework of integrated communications that will link health improvements and information technologies. It is hoped that it will eventually encompass databases, the written word, audio and video to provide a dynamic web of information to promote healthcare. The objective is to help health care decision makers, providers, and patients in all settings to access health information. Formerly referred to as the

National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII). See Wikipedia

National Institute of Nursing Research a federal agency under the national institutes of health (NIH) and the United States department of health and human services. It funds clinical and basic research as well as research training on health and illness across the life span to support better patient care. The research focus includes health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities, and end-of-life.

National Library of Medicine- a governmental institution with the mission of making the knowledge derived from biomedical research accessible to all health professionals.

Navigation Bar - A set of buttons or graphic images often in a row or column that provide links to major topic sections on a Web site. May also be an image map. (page 262)

National Provider Identifier - see Unique National Provider Identifier

NCQA - National Committee for Quality Assurance. This is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 that is dedicated to improving health quality {NCQA Organization, 2007 #1602}. The NCQA seal is a widely recognized symbol of quality. NCQA is a private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system, helping to elevate the issue of health care quality to the top of the national agenda.

NCVHS - National Committee of Vital and Health Statistics

NDC - National Drug Code

NDNQI see National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators

Needs Assessment - identification of the expectations or requirements of a proposed system. In this part of the system life cycle, data and information pertinent to the project goal and scope are put together and translated to the needs for the system. It is imperative that this step be deep and thorough and that work flow be thoroughly analyzed.

Negative tilt - a position of a keyboard in which the top row of keys is lower than the bottom row. The opposite is a positive tilt in which the bottom row is lower than the top row. Typewriters has a positive tilt, an ergonomically incorrect wrist position, that was designed into computer keyboards with the use of extendible legs at the far end of the keyboard. When a keyboard is positioned properly these legs are not extended and a small object such as a wrist rest is used to raise the near end of the keyboard.

Net neutrality - the principle that all Internet users should be treated equally in terms of downloading information whether it is a small file, or a large one. This principle has been in effect since the start of the Internet and has led to its phenomenal growth. To alleviate the traffic jams that are developing on the Internet, broadband carriers want to determine which content is delivered the fastest thus altering the principle.

Network - an connection of computer hardware and software that allows communication between computers.

Network Model Database - a database model that improved on the hierarchical database model by making it possible for relationships to exist between levels.

News group - See Usenet News

NHII - National Health Information Infrastructure

NIC - see Nursing Intervention Classification

NIDSEC - see Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center

NIH - National Institute of Health

NII - National Information Infrastructure - see information superhighway

NIWG - Nursing Informatics Working Group (from AMIA).

NILT - see Nursing Intervention Lexicon and Taxonomy

NINR - see National Institute of Nursing Research

NLM -see National Library of Medicine

NLN - National League for Nursing

NMDS - Nursing Minimum Data Set. A list of 16 pieces of data that if collected on all patients cared for by nurses would make possible the comparison of data from different settings and different regions. It is composed of elements in three categories, nursing care, client demographics and service.

NMMDS - Nursing Management Minimum Data Set. A modification of the NMDS for nurses in management.

NNN - a term sometimes used to designate a combination of NANDA, NIC and NOC.

NOC - see Nursing Outcomes Classification

Nodes - 1) a computer that is connected to a network. 2) a piece of hardware that sends wireless signals. Often used to repeat signals so the wireless network can be accessed in different areas.

Non-interlaced - a monitor that is not interlaced. See interlaced

Normalized - a database in which there is no duplication of data. The process of arriving at this design is called normalization. Accomplishing this usually involves creating two or more tables related by at least one common field.

North American Nursing Diagnoses Association, International (NANDA) A standardized terminology recognized by the ANA for nursing diagnoses. To capture nursing interventions and nursing outcomes, requires the use of NIC for nursing interventions and NOC for outcomes.

Nosology - the science of systematically classifying diseases.

Notebook computer - a microcomputer that is small enough to fit into a briefcase.

NSF - National Science Foundation

NSFNET - National Science Foundation Network Nursing informatics - a subspecialty in healthcare informatics and nursing that focuses on defining, acquiring, manipulating, storing, and retrieving data that is essential in providing safe and quality nursing care.

Nurse Licensure Compact - a feature from the National Council of State Boards which allows a nurse licensed in a participating state to practice in another IF the nurse follows the state laws regulating nursing in that state. See Chapter 26

Nursing Intervention Lexicon and Taxonomy (NILT)- a system developed by Dr. Susan Grobe and colleagues that was to permit the computerization of the natural language that nurses use to describe nursing interventions.

Nursing informatics - the management of nursing data based on a combination of the fields of information science, computer science and nursing science.

Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center. An ANA committee that evaluates the use of nursing terminologies recognized by the ANA CNPII committee in vendor products. This committee does NOT recognize standardized terminologies, this is done by the CNPII.

Nursing Informatics Working Group (NIWG). Nursing working group in AMIA

Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) - an classification scheme for standardizing the language for nursing interventions. Recognized by the ANA.

Nursing Knowledge - the scientific knowledge that supports the practice of nursing.

NMDS - see Nursing Minimum Data Set

Nursing Management Minimum Data Set (NMMDS) - a modification of the NMDS for nurses in management.

Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS)- the minimum set of nursing data necessary to compare nursing data across different settings and geographical areas.

Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) - a classification scheme that standardizes the language for nursing outcomes. Recognized by the ANA

Object - To a computer, any entity that it can manipulate. In word processing this can include items such as a letter, word, sentence, paragraph, picture, part of a document or the entire document. In graphical programs an object is the item selected which can be an image, part of an image, everything on the screen, or text. In a spreadsheet, an object is a cell, group of cells, chart, or anything selected on the screen. Databases regard individual entries, fields, records, and the various parts and wholes such as tables, forms and reports that display data as objects. Objects can be nested,

that is a word can be an object nested within a sentence object which can be nested within a paragraph object. Treating things as objects allows properties to be applied to an entire piece rather than having to apply them to each piece of an object.

OCLC - Online Computer Library Center, Inc. - a nonprofit, membership, library computer service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs. It maintains a database of the cataloging records for all its member libraries, which serves as the foundation for interlibrary resource sharing between member libraries.

OCR - see optical character recognition

Office suite - a group of desktop application programs consisting of a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation package from one vendor that are designed to work well together. Relational databases may be included in the professional version, or as a generic part of the package. Other programs are often bundled with these.

Omaha System - The Omaha System is a standardized nursing terminology for computerizing nursing problems, interventions and outcomes for community based practice. Is in the public domain. Recognized by ANA

Online - directly connected to a computer, for example a printer is online when ready to receive information to print. Also used to signify a connection between a computer and another computer or network, or to describe the condition when a computer is connected to the Internet. (Chapter 14)

Online Analytic Processing - a sophisticated process of analyzing a relational database.

Online documentation - information helpful in learning how to perform a function in a computer program that is available by clicking on help on the menu line (or in non-graphics programs, by tapping a given key).

Online journal - a term too often used to denote any journal with a Web presence. This presence may be only an advertisement, or may include a table of contents and even a few articles. A true online journal is published only on the Web and features full text articles.

Ontology - A formal description of the concepts and relationships in a domain. In more pragmatic terms, when an ontology is developed for a given domain it defines the vocabulary used in queries and assertions. A commitment to a common ontology guarantees consistency, but not completeness.

OPAC - Online Public Access Catalog

Operating System -The most important program on a computer. It performs tasks such as recognizing keyboard input, sending output to the screen, locating files and controlling peripherals such as disk drives and the printer. All programs run “on top of” the operating system. PCs generally use Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7) operating system or an open source program Linux.

The Apple Mac uses different operating systems which is why programs that work on a PC do not work on an Apple Mac and vice versa. The Apple Mac may be capable of using both Windows and an Apple Mac operating system.

Open source software - software for which the code is made available free of charge with the thought that many different programmers will improve the code and make the program more useful.

ptical character recognition (OCR) - the process that converts print to a computerized form that can be manipulated by a computer. It requires software which identifies the individual image of each character and translates it to an keyboard character. Few are 100% accurate and a good proofing of the result is usually necessary.

Optical disks - A secondary storage medium in which data is read and written using a laser. They can store huge amounts of data, measured in gigabytes.

Outcomes Potentially Sensitive to Nursing (OPSN) - A medical diagnosis such as a urinary tract infection that is an “outcome potentially sensitive to nursing” and is thought to be due to nursing care. When medicine does the measurement it is often uses as a measure of the contributions of nurses in providing inpatient care . More accurate predictions can be obtained with the use of the nursing standardized terminologies

Outline feature - a feature in word processors that will automatically “number” and renumber lines or paragraphs when one is moved. Regular text can be written below each outline point.

Output - 1) in general systems theory, information or results from the processing of data. In a computer system, the output from data that has been entered, stored, manipulated, and presented by the computer; 2) in computers, anything that results from input. Output can be meaningful information or gibberish, and can appear in a variety of forms, including numbers, characters, pictures, or a printed page. See Appendix B for output devices.

Outdented paragraph - see hanging paragraph.

Overtype - when text that is entered replaces the existing text in that space. The opposite is the insert mode

Page Description Language (PDL) - a programming language for printers. The two standards are PCL (Printer Control Language) and Postscript. They are used to control the page output of a laser printer. Advertisements may state that a computer is compatible with PCL (The Hewlett Packard- HP) standard, but not accept any HP cartridges. When a PDL is used, the processing of printing is done by the printer which frees the computer from the time and resource consuming task of formatting the page.

Page Break - where a new page starts in a word processor. This is done automatically by word processors, or it can be created by tapping Ctrl+Enter. NEVER create a new page by using the Enter key. It produces the same problems that you would encounter if you created a new paragraph by tapping the space bar, namely rendering editing a tedious, practically impossible process.

Page Description Format (pdf) - a type of file that can be downloaded from the Web and viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. This format is best reserved for files that require a specific layout such as a form. Many search tools cannot locate these files.

Page orientation - a distinction between whether a page has the long side horizontally (landscape) or vertically (portrait). See figure 4-7 on page 69. Changing this is usually found in a page setup menu.

Palm Operating System - a proprietary operating system used on the Palm PDA.

Parallel Conversion - a method of converting to a new system that requires the operation and support of the new and the old system for a period of time. It involves the least risks but increases workload for the users.

Parallel port - a connection on older computers used to connect peripherals to a computer. Printers often used this connection. Technically the connection on the cable was a BD-25 and had 25 pins. Replaced today by USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports.

Parent table - see master table

Pascal - a high level computer language named for Blaise Pascal.

Passive RFID - an RFID tag that must be scanned to be read. Opposite of an active RFID

Password - a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers used to authenticate a user to a system. The best passwords involve a combination of letters and numbers in a manner that a word is not formed. E.g. “Sec9uR7ity.”

Path name - the full name of the path to a file or folder. It starts with the name of the disk and a colon and a backward slash. For example, the path name of a file named Issues that was created by Corel Word Perfect ™ saved on the A drive would be “a:\Issues.wpd.”

Patient Care Data Set - a data dictionary developed by Dr. Judy Ozbolt and colleagues for clinical terms used in acute care settings by nurses and other non-physician health care disciplines that was to be used to record patient problems, patient care actions, and expected patient outcomes. Was retired.

Patient Classification Systems - software that groups patients according to the amount and complexity of their nursing care requirements. It serves as a tool to measure patient needs, caregiver interventions, and the skill levels required to meet those needs.

Patient Portal - A portal specific to an individualize that is tied to the patient’s electronic health record. A patient portal may only offer one way communication to a patient, but the information will be specific to that patient. For example, prenatal information would be targeted by the month or week of pregnancy.

PCDS - see Patient Care Data Set. A retired standardized nursing terminology.

PDA see Personal Digital assistant

PDL - see page description language

PDF - see page description format

Peer-Reviewed Article - an article published in a journal that submits manuscripts to colleagues knowledgeable in the field for review before publication. Reviewers are suppose to evaluate the manuscript for factual knowledge and make recommendations about whether the manuscript needs revision, or should not be published at all. Most articles subjected to this process are vastly improved by the suggestions of the peer reviewers and resulting author revisions.

Peer-to-peer network - a peer-to-peer (P2P) network is created when two or more PCs are connected and share resources without going through a separate server computer.

Peer-Reviewed Article - one that has been subjected to a review by peers before publication.

Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) - A standardized nursing terminology recognized by the ANA that was developed and is maintained by the American Operating Room Nurses. It was developed to make visible the contributions of nurses in the operating room. It has since evolved to encompass the entire peri-operative period.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - a small hand held device that combines computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. In the past most used a stylus rather than a keyboard for inputting data or a graphical shorthand. Today folding keyboards are available for them. Besides providing personal information management capabilities, new ones provide access to reference tools, electronic textbooks, and clinical computational programs. They can exchange data (synchronize) with notebooks and desktops. (See http://webopedia.com/TERM/P/PDA.html for more information)

Personal health record (PHR)- a compilation of healthcare information from many sources for a consumer. This system is suppose to allow a person to access all their electronic health records from any location. The owner of the PHR will determine who can see what part of their record. Some healthcare agencies now provide these for patients, but they only contain information from within their agency. A full PHR will require that healthcare providers and agencies have electronic medical records and that are part of an Electronic Health Record system.

Personal identifier - See unique personal identifier

Personal information manager (PIM) - The category is fuzzy, but PIM is a type of software designed to facilitate the management of personal information such as addresses or dates. Some are capable of accepting notes such as reminders, lists, dates and to link these bits of information together in useful ways. May also

include calendar, scheduling, and a calculator. Often software on a PDA.

Personal Reference Manager - software that automates the management, indexing, and use of references in scholarly articles. It can place citations of its contents in text, and create a reference list.

Peripheral- An external device attached to a computer. Examples of peripherals include printers, zip or jaz drives, scanners, display monitors, keyboards, and mice.

Personal bibliographic reference managers - a software program that facilitates downloading the results of bibliographic searches for the purpose of developing your own searchable personal bibliographic databases. They usually includes the standard bibliographic fields, plus a notes field for adding comments. They also allow you to output bibliographies formatted according to the needed publication format, such as APA or MLA Style Some now permit the additions of WWW sites to the database.

Personal Computer (PC). A computer designed for an individual user. Compared to mainframes and minicomputers they are relatively inexpensive. Prices range from $500 to over $5000 depending on the processor, amount of RAM and other add-ons.

Petabyte - more than 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (See Byte)

Piconet - (off site)

Pick List - a list of terms that a user selects from when entering data. In databases this is achieved by creating look-up tables.

Pilot Conversion - a method of converting to a new system by implementing on a small scale to ‘test the waters’ to see what issues might occur with a full conversion. The conversion would involve only one unit at a time. It is imperative that a date be set for the end of the pilot.

PITAC - President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee. This committee was disbanded in 2005. President Bush has let an advisory committee on information technology expire without reappointing current members or selecting new ones.

Phased Conversion - a method of bringing up a new information system gradually. This type of conversion is done incrementally with several alternative approaches such as implementing one component of the system to a group of departments of throughout the organization.

Pharming - - hacking into a DNS router by malicious people and changing the IP address for legitimate Web sites to one that pretends to be the real site. Users being unaware that they are not at the legitimate site may enter personal information that is used maliciously.

Phishing - a trick used to entice people to access a Web site designed to look like a legitimate site and enter information that can be used to steal identities, bank accounts or use credit cards not their own. These URLs will be embedded into an email message; the address looks legitimate, but if you check the lower

left corner of the screen while your mouse pointer is on the supposed URL, you will see where you will actually be taken if you click on the URL.

Physical - the way things actually are. For example, data may be stored physically in many different files, its physical view, but brought together in one location for viewing by a user. The latter is the logical view of the data.

Physician Quality Report Initiative (PQRI) - a U.S. federal mandate authorized in December 2006 with the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 whose purpose is to provide financial incentives to fee-for-service care providers for cost effective high quality care. Run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) - a system that allows for digital versions of all of the diagnostic images, such as x-rays and MRI’s to be stored in the electronic patient record.

Pie chart - a circle chart that compares percentages.

PIM - see personal information manager

Pixel - a term that means picture element. A pixel is the smallest part of a computer image. A screen image is made up of many vertical and horizontal pixels which are often referred to as dots, although they are square. The more pixels in a given space, the smaller the pixel and hence the better the image. The number of pixels that a monitor is capable of displaying is its resolution. Because images on a screen are created by vertical and horizontal dots, a circle on a screen may not be seen as completely round when the size of the pixels used to create the circle is not large enough to fool the eye into seeing a round shape.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) - An Internet connection that is used by dialing the number of the Internet Service Provider. POTS lines are restricted to a transfer rate of 56.6 kilobits per second to the computer (about 700 characters per second). May be referred to as dial-up. In many metropolitan areas is being replace by broadband connections.

Plotter - A device that is interfaced with a computer and draws (plots) pictures on paper based on commands a user gives the computer usually through a computer aided design (CAD) program.

Plug and play - the ability to attach a device to a computer and have it work without the hassle of changing settings because this is accomplished automatically by the computer.Plug-in - hardware or software that adds a feature to another system. Often used to denote helper applications for web browsers, for example, to read PDF files requires a plug-in known as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Some moving pictures also require plug-ins before they are usable. Other plug-ins include Real Player, Apple Quick Time or Shockwave. All can be downloaded from the Internet for free. When properly set up, a plug-in automatically starts operating when it is needed.

lug-in - a computer program that interacts with another program, usually a Web browser to allow content to be seen. Examples are

Abobe Acrobat Reader™ and Adobe Flash Player™. These programs are usually freely available for download on the Web.

PNDS - see perioperative nursing data set.

Podcast - a digital audio file made available on the Web. These files are downloaded, and can be played with special software on a computer such as Microsoft’s Windows Media Player®, or another piece of hardware such as an MP3 player. Although technically only audio, this term has erroneously started to be used to include vodcasts, or digital video downloads that are played the same way as a podcast. See vodcast.

Podcatching Software - software that allows a user to to play podcasts on their computer. This may be an MP3 player, Microsoft Windows Media Player®,or with VOIP by dialing a number.

Point and Click - the process of moving a mouse pointer to a desired command and clicking (rapidly depressing and releasing) the left mouse button to select that command. Left handers can reset the mouse for their convenience.

Point size - size a character of text will be when printed. A point is about 1/72nd of an inch. The most commonly used point size in computer documents is 10 or 12 points. Transparencies should never have a point size less than 18 points and the point size on computer or 35 mm slides should be 24 points or more.

Point of Care (POC) - the place where the care is done. The best way to capture data is at the point of care, that is, input devices of some sort should be available to care givers at the scene of the care.

POMR - see Problem Oriented Medical Record

POP - see Post Office Protocol

Pop-up window - a menu that “pops up” when an object is selected and a button clicked (On a PC this is the right mouse button.). They may also appear when a selection on a menu followed by an ellipsis (...) is clicked. May be a dialog box. Also a window that appears in a Web browser. Often shows an advertisement. For this reason, pop-up windows in Web applications have acquired a bad reputation and software is available to block these.

Port - a connector on a computer that can be used to connect a cable to another device. Ports can be serial or parallel, USB (universal serial bus) or Firewire. Also a term used to denote a physical device for transmitting data over networks.

Portable Monitoring Device - 1) a portable input device that can be worn or insertable subcutaneously into the patient's body to measure physiological values. 2) an input device that is attached to a variety of peripheral monitoring equipment such as sphygmomanometer. This device transmits the values to a central location. 3) A touch screen with text and audio to ask the patient health assessment questions. Answers may produce education tailored to the answers.

Portal - any web site that offers a wide array of resources and services such as email, forums, a search tool, and links to useful sites. It is the blending of all Internet tools into one useful service. Generally a portal is targeted at a specific population such as professionals in a discipline, healthcare consumers with a specific medical condition, those looking for either general or specific health information, or shoppers for specific products such as baby products. (Chapter 15)

Portrait orientation - the term given to the position of paper when the narrow sides are on the top and bottom. This is the default layout for word processors. See landscape orientation.

Positive Patient Identifier (PPID) - a method of positively identifying a patient, often with bar-coded or RFID tagged bracelets used with the eMar for “closed-loop” safe medication administration

Post Office Protocol (POP) - a standard protocol for receiving e-mail. It is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server.

POTS - see plain old telephone service

PPID - see Positive Patient Identifier

PQRI - see Physician Quality Report Initiative

Process interoperability - the ability of work processes to be coordinated. Includes considerations such as a user-friendly systems and effective use.

Project goal - a succinct statement that describes the project which is specific and measurable.

Project scope - a detailed plan of all of the elements that are entailed in a project. Budget and time overruns occur when there is scope creep.

Progressive disclosure - the revealing of points on a slide or overhead, one at a time to coincide with the oral presentation. Presentation programs make this easy to accomplish.

Primary data use - using data for the purpose that it was collected.

Print Screen Key - a key that when tapped will place a picture of the entire screen on the clipboard from where it can be pasted into any application that will accept a graphical object.

Printed circuit board - a thin, rectangular plate, often called a card, on which chips and other electronic components are placed. There are many different types such as a motherboard, an expansion board and a network card.

Printer - a device that prints output from a computer. There are many different brands, each of which requires a specific driver to properly operate. (See driver)

Privacy -The rights of individual people to decide when, where, and how information about themselves will be communicated to others. The prevention of disclosure of information from a patient. (Chapter 14)

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - A nonprofit consumer education and advocacy project whose purpose is to advocate for consumers' privacy rights in public policy proceedings. They also maintain an online record of all types of security breaches.

PRO - Professional Review Organization

Process Improvement - the application of actions taken to identify, analyze and improve existing processes within an organization to meet requirements for quality, customer satisfaction, and financial goals.

Process interoperability - the coordination of work processes. It has been referred to as workflow management and is related to integrating computer systems into work settings. It includes such considerations as a user-friendly system and effectiveness in actual use.

Problem Oriented Medical Record (POMR) - a multi-disciplinary medical record that is organized by the client’s problems with all disciplines charting in the same place for each problem. Most patient records today are organized by discipline.

Programmer - an individual who writes the code that creates software applications.

Programming languages - see computer languages

Prolog - a third level computer language used in expert systems and artificial intelligence.

PROMIS - a computer system devised by Dr. Larry Weed and associates at the University of Vermont in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Problem Oriented Medical Information System

PPRC - Physician Payment Reform Commission.

Properties - features of an object (word, picture, document) that can be applied to that object. Some examples for a letter or word are color, size, font, while those for a page are margins, layout (portrait or landscape), and those for a graphic include the size, and its position in a document. In databases and spreadsheets, besides properties for words etc. the properties include behaviors, or programmed actions that will be taken under specific situations. A list of available properties is often seen when a user right clicks on the object.

Protocol - an agreed upon format for a procedure. In computer terminology it often refers to methods for exchanging data between two devices. It includes standards for the type of error checking, data compression if used, how the originating machine will indicate that it has completed sending, and how the receiving machine will indicate that it has received the message.

Public domain software - software that is freely available and is NOT copyrighted, thus can be used without restrictions.

Pull - The usual WWW technology in which users request information such as a Web page. See push.

Push - a method used in client/server applications of delivering computerized information. Under this system recipients give the sender guidelines for the types of information which they want forwarded to them. When information meets the guidelines it is automatically sent to the individual. Push may be very selective in the guidelines that a user specifies, or broad such as used by the broadcast media in which they decide what to broadcast, or push to listeners and viewers. See pull.

QWERTY Keyboard - the normal keyboard that you see attached to a computer. It is a hangover from early typewriter days and was designed to be inefficient so that a good typist could not jam a typewriter. Takes its name from the top 6 left letters on the keyboard. Should be supplanted by the Dvorak keyboard. From Webopedia - "It has been estimated that in an average eight-hour day, a typist's hands travel 16 miles on a Qwerty keyboard, but only 1 mile on a Dvorak keyboard."

Quality Improvement - a formal approach that uses one of numerous models to analyze performance and develop systematic efforts to improve it.

Quick Launch Bar - a portion of the last line of the screen that contains program icons that when clicked will open (launch) that program. Users drag the program icons for programs they use frequently from either the desktop or All programs on the Start button to the quick launch bar to make access easier.

Querying a Database - gaining information from the data in a database by asking questions. For example, if you had a database that contained the name of surgeries and the length of stay (LOS) you could query the database as to what the average LOS was for each surgery.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) - A method of identification that uses a tag embedded with circuitry that contains data that can be sent and read by a receiver. Is also called dedicated short range communication (DSRC).

Random Access Memory (RAM) - a type of memory in a computer whose contents disappear when the computer is off. RAM is the memory that is used when users are working on documents, spreadsheets or presentations in a presentation package. It is named random access because any byte can be accessed without touching other bytes. It is found not only in computers, but also in printers.

Randomized-Controlled Trials - a method of research in which treatments are randomly assigned to subjects. With sufficient numbers, it controls for unknown factors that could affect the results. Considered the gold standard for research in health care.

Range of cells - a set of cells in a spreadsheet that have been designated by the user to be treated as one object. It is then possible to treat these cells as one unit for example in applying attributes or moving the cells.

Readability - Two meanings: 1)The ability to read information from a screen, that is, the size of the font, contrast etc. 2) The ease of understanding of reading material. It is often measured by the theoretical grade level of the text, which may or may not be accurate. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test. Microsoft Word can be used to measure readability.

Read Only Memory (ROM) - memory in a computer that is programmed in by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. It contains information needed by the computer to start itself and open an operating system.

Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary - see RSS

Real-time - 1) Occurring immediately. For an EHR this would mean immediate results, even for aggregated reports. That is, there should be no delay between the data being entered into the computer and the results being reported. 2) In telehealth the transmission of patient data as it is occurring, often a visit in which the healthcare provider interacts with the remote patient . Great information at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/real_time.html

Reboot - restart the computer. See cold and warm boot.

Record - physically speaking, a row in a database. It will contain all the pieces of data in the database about the subject of that row. For example, a record in a telephone book would contain the name, address and phone number for one individual. In database terminology may be referred to as a tupple.

Referenced cell - a cell in a spreadsheet that is used in a formula in another cell. For example, in a formula in cell D4 that wants the result of multiplying the numbers in cell A2 by the number in cell B5, cells A2 and B5 would be referenced cells.

Reference information model (RIM) - a model of the structure of a reference terminology. For more information about the nursing reference terminology model see http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=33309

Reference manager - a type of software that allows users to manage references. Permits electronic downloading of citations, and automatically inserts citations into documents and formats them according to the desired format such as APA, or AMA.

Reference terminology - a standardized terminology that comprises a set of terms to which the terminology in an interface terminology can be mapped. Because the concepts as matched in the reference terminology may not be exact, using a reference terminology to translate from one terminology to another may not be an exact match.

Refresh - when talking about monitors, it refers to the rate at which a display screen is redrawn, it may be called the vertical frequency or vertical refresh rate. It is measured in hertz (Hz). VGA and SVGA monitors must have a refresh rate of at least 75 Hz or screen flickering may be distracting. The higher the refresh rate the less the monitor flickers. Screen flicker can also occur when low-persistence phosphor dots are used in manufacturing the

screen. When the term refers to dynamic RAM it means the number of times the RAM needs to be rewritten in order to remember the data it holds. This refresh rate is in the thousands.

Refreezing - in Lewin’s theory of change, the process whereby driving and restraining forces for a change move to provide an equilibrium in an organization. If this state is too strong, it may mitigate against more change.

Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) - a Health Information Exchange organization that is regional.

Regression Testing - testing the functionality of a system.

Relational Database - A database model in which the tables are structured so they are logically associated with each other by key fields. Any data element can be found by knowing the name of the table, the field name, and the value in the primary key field.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) See cumulative stress disorder.

Report - in a database a formatted and organized presentation of data. If the report is generated from a relational database, the data can reside in one or many tables and can represent one, any, or all the fields in any of the tables. It’s purpose is to provide information from the data.

Request for Information (RFI) - a list of requirements for a system that is sent to a vendor with a request for information as to how and if they can be met. The vendors selected should be carefully vetted before this process is initiated because it requires a great deal of work on the part of the vendor, as well as in evaluating the return.

Request for Proposal (RFP) - a detailed document sent to potential vendors asking them to submit information on how their product will meet the user’s needs. It should be a list that can be answered using yes, yes with customization, yes with future releases, or no.

Research Practice Gap - the gap between what is known and what is practiced in the clinical area. A perfect example is the "nothing by mouth after midnight" practice for all surgical patients.

Research Utilization - the application of research. In nursing this translates to failure to use current research results in clinical practice. See research practice gap.

Resolution - a term used to define the sharpness and clarity of an image. In monitors, it refers to the number of dots (pixels) that are used to create the screen image. A 640-by-480 pixel screen is capable of displaying 640 distinct dots on each of 480 lines, or about 300,000 pixels. The actual dot per inch (dpi) measurement depends on the size of the screen; a 15 inch screen with 640 by 480 resolution would display about 50 dots per linear inch. When discussing printers, resolution also refers to the number of dots per linear inch. A 300 dot per inch (dpi) printer is capable of printing 300 distinct dots in a line 1 inch long, or 90,000 dots per square inch.

Restraining force - in Lewin’s theory of change, forces that work against a change. They are hard to identify and are often due to personal psychological defenses or group norms embedded in the organizational or community culture.

Restricted License - A state-enacted law that permits the practice of telehealth with certain restrictions. IT specifically requires compliance with the laws of the state where the patient resides. A 'restricted' license law permits the practice of telehealth across state lines, provided a reciprocal agreement exists with the state where an applicant for such a license resides.

Return on Investment (ROI) - the value in dollars that will occur as a result of an investment.

RFI - see Request for Information

RFID - Radio Frequency Identification

RFP - see Request for Proposal

RHIO (Regional Health Information Organization) - Non-governmental groups organized regionally to exchange healthcare information while protecting patient privacy for the purpose of improving patient care.

Rich Internet Application (RIA) - a Web application that has the features and functions of desktop software.

Rich text format (rtf) - a type of text file that preserves most formatting, but can be opened by almost any word processing program. This is a type of file often used with text files when sending them as an attachment because it preserves most formatting, but allows almost all word processors to open the file with no regard to which word processor created it.

RIM - see reference information model

Ring topology - a type of connection arrangement for a local area network (LAN).

Rollback - backing out of the implementation; the cancellation of the system implementation. Indicative of poor planning, lack of adequate change management, vendor promises that could not be fulfilled (vaporware), or any combination of these factors.

ROI - see return on investment

ROM. - see Read Only Memory

Root - the top level of file organization of a disk. Denoted by the file name, a colon, and backward slash. For example, the root of the disk in drive A is “a:\”

RSS Feed - (Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary) a technology that allows users to subscribe to a site and then notifies the user when there are updates to the site.

RTF - the acronym for rich text format. See rich text format.

Scanner - a device that converts printed material to a computer image. If the scanner uses OCR software, text may be converted to text that a word processor can manipulate, if not the scanned material will be one image.

SBL - see Simulation-Based Learning

S&F - see store and forward

Scholarly Nursing Journal - a journal in the field of nursing that uses peer review. May be an online or print journal.

Scope creep - unanticipated growth of a project that results when users discover what is possible and want more functions. It leads to cost and time overruns. Can be ameliorated, but probably never completely eliminated, by a very thorough analysis of work flow, understanding the situation and planning for more features, or both.

SCORM - see Sharable Content Object Reference Model

Screen saver - a program that when installed takes over the screen when a given time period has elapsed and no keystrokes or mouse movement has been detected. They were initially devised to protect screens from a permanent etching caused by the same pattern being displayed on the screen for a prolonged period of time. Modern monitors do not have this problem, but screen savers have become popular as a way to hide one’s work, or as a form of amusement. Screen reader - a software program that uses a computerized voice to read a computer screen out loud. Computer users who are visually impaired or blind often use screen readers to navigate the Web. Elementary screen readers are bundled with operating systems, for example, Microsoft Windows™ comes with Narrator, the Apple Mac™ with VoiceOver™, although full-function screen readers are best for those that are visually limited. (Chapter 15)

Screen reader - a software application that attempts to interpret what is being sent to the computer output, usually the screen, and translates it to speech, or a Braille reader.

Scroll bar - a bar that is seen on the bottom and right side a window that when dragged allows a user to see other parts of the screen.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) - an interface used for attaching peripherals to a computer. It supports a fast data transmission rate.

Search tool - a program that searches for specified keywords in a specified set of data. Often used to designate programs that search the WWW for information.

Secondary data - the use of data or documents that have been collected for another purpose, such as data in a medical record, for other purposes. An example would be discovering how many patients with a given condition have a specific treatment. In the EHR world it refers to healthcare data collected for patient care, then being deidentified and used in research For more information.

Security audit - The hiring of outsiders to come into an agency and attempt to gain access to data, passwords and patient information.

Semantic interoperability - the ability of one computer system to understand the meaning of data that it receives from another system, and to send meaningful data to another system. At its highest level, the receiving computer can act on the received message without human interpretation. More information.

Semantic Web - an extension of the Web that will rely on machine-readable information and metadata to provide a more accurate way of locating information on the Web. Sometimes referred to as Web 3.0.

Seminal Work -Work that is frequently cited by others or seems to influence the opinions of others. An example is Graves, J. R. and S. Cocoran (1989). The Study of nursing informatics. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 21: 227-231.

Serial port - a connector to which one can attach a cable to interface with a peripheral. In the past was often used for a mouse. The connectors conform to either RS-232C or RS-422 standards. These terms are the labels applied to the connector, as an “RS-232C connection,” or an “RS-232C connector.”

Server - A computer that functions to manage networked resources. Servers can perform different services such as managing printers, storing files for use by computers to which it is networked, or processing data. They are usually dedicated, that is, they perform no other tasks beyond the server tasks. In small networks they can also function as a workstation.

Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) - 1) a learning module that can be imported into any SCORM compliant LMS 2) a collection of standards and specifications for web-based learning.

Shareware - software that although copyrighted can be freely distributed for trial purposes. Users are honor bound to send the owner of the copyright a registration fee.

Shift+tab - holding down the shift key while tapping the tab key. Used to move the insertion point backwards in cells, fields, or on a form with entry boxes.

Significant Interest Group (SIG) - a group of people interested in a subject who meet either in person or online to discuss the subject. Online SIGs may be called forums or conferences.

Simulation - a representation of a situation with a similar but simpler model that can easily bemanipulated to manage learning. In healthcare, the model can be anything from a doll, to an interactive manikin that can be programmed to reproduce healthcare crisis to which the learner must respond.

Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) - learning that uses simulation as a primary learning method.

Single Sign-On - a login that allows the user to access multiple clinical applications with only one login/password for authentication.

Sleep - a mode of partially turning off the computer that places information about all the open programs and files that are open within them into RAM where it can be quickly opened when the computer is activated. The computer in this mode uses much less power than when on. Many computers today will automatically place themselves in sleep mode after a given period of inactivity. To reactivate, use the power on button. It is a little different than hibernate

Slot - an opening in a computer, usually on a motherboard, into which printed circuit boards known as cards can be placed. They may be called expansion slots because they allow you to add features by inserting the appropriate card into the slot. A slot is NOT a bay. (See bay.)

Smart card - Technically any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which can be read and written to by any computer equipped with the correct software and in possession of the user’s PIN. In healthcare, this card is given to patients and is embedded with healthcare data. The amount of data on the card varies with the healthcare agencies providing it. Functioning similarly to the central processing unit of a computer, smart cards contain RAM, ROM and an operating system.

Smart phone - a handheld device that combines a cell phone (mobile phone) with a PDA.

Smileys - see emoticons

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - a protocol for transferring email reliably and efficiently over the Internet independent of the transmission system.

SNOMED CT- Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terminology. An interdisciplinary standardized terminology maintained by the IHTSDO.

Socio-technical approach- a way of approaching a change that includes organizational factors in the design and the politics of an organization. The design stage should respond to input from users and the social and political context of the organization must be considered in the design and implementation of the system.

Socio-technical Theory - a theory relevant in informatics that looks at the impact of the implementation of technology in an organization.

Software - a system (as in operating system), utility, or application program expressed in computer-readable language, that is code. They are what allow a human to make the computer a functional element. Software exists electronically in RAM as instructions for the computer to follow and is often referred to as a “program.” Except for the fact that, unlike software, you can touch these items, the pictures on a film in a movie projector can be seen as analogous to software. The hardware, would be the film projector.

Software piracy - using a copy of a computer program that is not legally yours to use. On a home computer this would mean a program “given” to you by a friend so you would not have to buy it. At work, it means software for which the institution does not own a license for each and every computer on which it is used. It is taken seriously by the Business Software Alliance and prosecuted.

Solver - A spreadsheet function, available with some spreadsheets, which allows, a cell with a formula to be set so that the value in several referenced cells will change to produce a given value.

Sort - a reordering of records in a database. Sorts can be done of the groupings created by a sort such as a secondary and tertiary sort.

Source code - software program instructions in their original form. For example, if a program is written in the third level language C+, the source code is the C+ document that is behind the program.

Spam - electronic junk mail. Email that is sent to users without their permission.

Speech recognition - the translation by the computer of the spoken work to printed text. Depends on a special type of software. The computer does not understand what it is printing, it just prints what word the speech recognizes from the speech. Works best with some training. Documents created with this software must be carefully proof read.

Spreadsheet - An application program that facilitates numerical tasks. It is set up as a table in which each box is called a cell. Letters go across the top and numbers down the side, allowing each cell to be accessed by a name, e.g. A1 or B3. Formulas can be written using the cell name allowing automatic calculations. Some spreadsheets are multidimensional, meaning that you can link one spreadsheet to another by formulas.

Spyware - software that is downloaded surreptitiously to a user’s computer and records keystrokes for transmission to a third party. May be programmed to only record keystrokes to things like bank accounts or when the user is shopping online. Most anti-virus software today checks for this type of malware.

SQL - see Structured Query Language

SRAM - static RAM. More expensive than DRAM, it is faster and requires less power than DRAM.

Stacked chart - a chart in which each new level, instead of using a zero base, starts at the top of the prior item. Thus although the chart may indicate 40 for a given item, when it is place on top of the number 38, the reality is that it is only worth 2.

Standard - an agreement to use a given protocol, term, or other criterion that has been formally approved by a nationally or internationally recognized professional, trade associations or governmental body. See Chapter 16

Standardization - the situation when standards are used.

Star topology - a type of connection arrangement for a local area network (LAN)

Stark Rules - results of a law passed by Congress in 1989 that prohibited physicians from referring patients for Medicare covered laboratory services in which they had a financial interest. Changes have since been made because the anti-kickback rules were interpreted to bar hospitals from donating technology or making other gifts to doctors or independent physician practices. Is a very complicated area. Controversial because it may force doctors to accept the hospital's vendor. For more information see page 362 in the text and http://www.duanemorris.com/articles/static/medpracmgmt0508.pdf

Start Button - a small box with the word "Start" on it that when clicked presents the opportunity to start programs, or even to "start" turning off the computer.

Static IP address - an IP address that remains the same every time a computer is connected to the Internet. See dynamic IP address.

Status line - a line at the bottom of the screen that gives information about the program that is open, such as the page one is on, or if the caps lock is on.

Statistical Analysis - using statistics to analyze a set of numerical data that often results in decision making.

Statistical Software - Software used to do statistical analysis

Strategic Planning - the process of creating a strategic plan which is a roadmap to guide an institution in meeting its mission. It is used to guide decision-making practices over a three or five to ten year period. It also provides a guide for the acquisition of resources and budget priorities. It should be a living and breathing document that allows for flexibility.

Store and Forward (S&F) - a method in telehealth in which results of various diagnostic and assessments are stored and then forwarded to where they will be evaluated. Opposite of real-time.

Storyboard -1) a visual plan for everything that will be present in a presentation project such as images, audio, links, text, and animation. It saves time in the production by eliminating confusion about where the presentation is going, and errors before they occur. 2) In nursing standardization terminology, it means writing a scenario, then determining the salient points.

Streaming - a technique for delivering data used with audio and video in which the recipient is able to hear or see part of the file before the entire file is delivered. Involves a method for the recipient computer to be able to do a smooth delivery despite the uneven arrival of data.

Streaming video - video delivered by streaming.

Structured Query Language (SQL) - the name of the coding that is used for querying in many databases. It is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard computer language for retrieving and updating data in a database.

Subform - a form in a database that is placed on the form for another table to permit data to be entered into both tables from the same form.

Subject Heading - standardized terms used to index or catalog reference materials.

Supercomputer - the fastest, most expensive type of computer. They are used in applications that require numerous mathematical calculations. For example, weather forecasting, animated graphics, and petroleum exploration. A supercomputer runs one application at a time in contrast to a mainframe which is capable of executing many different programs at the same time. By addressing only one task at a time they are able to devote all their resources to this one situation which provides the speed and power needed.

Super Disk - a diskette that can store 120 megabytes of information. The drives are backwardly compatible with the regular 1.4mg 3 ½ inch diskettes.

Super User - a clinical person who is extremely proficient with a system and teaches and supports colleagues in its use.

Support Group - A group whose members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared situation. Good description at Wikipedia.

Surge Protector - a device for protecting computers and other electronic devices from surges (transient increases) in electrical power. Even though these are brief enough to be measured in nanoseconds, they can cause great damage. They will not protect against lighting, but against a transient increase such as may be caused by a device like a refrigerator or air conditioner coming on.

Synchronization - the automatic copying changes from one electronic device to another. Often used to copy information on a PDA to a personal computer or vice versa.

Synchronous communication - communication in real-time, in which when a statement is made, or a question asked, the reply is immediate.

Synchronous learning - learning in which every one works together at the same time. All classroom learning is synchronous. Online learning, may or may not be synchronous.

Sysop - an individual responsible for a bulletin board.

System Life Cycle - the name given to the phases involved in selecting and implementing an information system. Their names depend on the author, but essentially the steps are analysis (needs assessment), planning (system selection), design (system is tailored for a specific agency), implementation and maintenance and evaluation. These steps parallel the nursing process.

System Tray - a place on the bottom right corner of the screen where icons which when clicked will control parts of the system such as the volume of the speaker, or the ability to safely remove a flash disk from the computer.

Systematic Review - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_review

Systems software - the operating system and utility programs. Includes programs such as compilers and debuggers.

Table - a collection of data structured in rows and columns. In database terminology may be referred to as a tupple.

Tag - (1) the name given to instructions enclosed in a greater than (<) and lesser than (>) sign that allow a document to be formatted to standards. HTML uses these tags to tell a browser how to display text such as in bold face, or an image. XML uses tags to identify various parts of a document so that it may be used in many ways. (2) a label given to a file that permits a user to search for the file, or to group like files together. Introduced to PCs with photo editing programs, now available to files in some applications in Microsoft Office®.

Tangible - achievements that can be clearly measured, calculated, and quantified with numerical data. Opposite of intangible.

Task bar - the last line on the screen in a Windows computer that contains the names of the various programs that are open. If it is not immediately visible, placing the mouse pointer in the location will make it appear. The left portion is the Quick Launch Bar.

Taxonomy - A way of organizing, or classifying items that follows a set of rules and is focused on a given concept or philosophical base. Organized in a pyramid so that everything in a lower level connected to the same object shares characteristics. (See page 291).

TCP - see Transmission Control Protocol

TEACH Act - The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002, is an Act of the United States Congress that clarifies what uses of copyrighted material are permissible in distance education. It outlines what requirements the information technology staff and students of a university must abide by in order to be in compliance with the TEACH Act.

Technical interoperability - the exchange of data between systems so that is usable. This type of functionality enables data from a laboratory system to be exchanged and acted on with the pharmacy system in a given hospital. More information

Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform (TIGER) - see http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Informatics/TheTigerProject.aspx This group developed competencies in various areas. See their wiki to access the various competencies.

Telehealth - using communications networks to provide health services including but not limited to, direct care, health prevention, consulting, and home visits to patients in a geographical location different than the provider of these services. Any delivery of health services to a client in a geographical location different than the provider.

Telehomecare - monitoring and delivery of healthcare in the patient’s home instead of the provider’s work setting. Allows the patient to receive care in their own home and avoids time-consuming costly visits to office appointments or hospital admissions.

Telemedicine - a part of telehealth that is defined as a health professional in one location using electronic technologies for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a patient in another location.

Telemental Health - use of telehealth to deliver psychiatric healthcare.

Telenursing - the practice of nursing over distance using telecommunications technology.

Telepresence - a set of technologies which gives the appearance that a provider is in the same location. Part of telehealth.

Teletrauma - the use of off site physicians and nurses in a trauma center, or a specialized monitoring site in which a team monitors a number of different facilities, from which the team can view any diagnostic tests, the patient, and talk with on site staff to provide provide advise and guidance for physicians and nurses in hospitals without a trauma specialist team.

Telephony - Computer software and hardware that can perform functions usually associated with a telephone. See Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

Telepresence - the combination of robotics and virtual reality permitting a surgeon with special gloves and the appropriate audio and video technology to manipulate surgical instruments at a remove site.

Telnet - A feature in computer connectivity that allows you to log into a distant computer and use the features of the computer as though you were sitting in front of it

Template - a term that has different meanings depending on the application program. Overall it is a style used to determine how a file will look, that is how it is formatted. In spreadsheets and database it is the blank screen. In a presentation program it refers to the looks of the slide, e.g. a bulleted slide, or a text slide. Word processors use it to format how the document will look, e.g. columns, landscape mode, the font, or placement of any images. Users can create new templates and save them to use again.

Terabyte - Approximately a trillion bytes (1,000,000,000,000). See Byte

Terminology List - a list of terms presented to a user to facilitate data entry for electronic documentation. May be known as a “pick list.”

Test script - set of situations commonly called scenarios that are devised to test a system before implementation. Well designed ones must depict normal and abnormal events that could occur after implementation.

Thin client - a network computer without a hard drive. Processing is done on the network server as is file storage. They function as a computer terminal and are much cheaper than a PC.

Third Level Language - a high level programming language, two levels removed from machine language. See computer languages.

Threaded messages -the organization of messages by the topic of the message. The success of this depends on those who reply using the same subject for messages on a given topic and initiating a new topic when sending a message with a new topic. This is used to organize messages in News Groups and in archives for mailing lists. It is also used with online discussions in forums, or distance education.

Throughput - The processes used by the system to convert raw materials or energy from the environment into products that are usable by either the system itself or the environment. Part of general systems theory.

TIGER - See Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform

Title bar - the top line on the screen that contains the name of the program in that window. It may also contain the name of the file that is open in that program. It is blue when the window is not minimized (does not fill full screen) and can be used to drag the window containing the program.

Toggle switch - a button that when clicked will reverse whatever condition is currently being used. For example, if a sentence is selected and the user clicks on the “B” icon on the tool bar, the text will become bold faced. Clicking on the B again will remove the bold facing from the selected text.

Tool Bar - a line or ribbon of tools applicable in a program at a given time. Usually seen at the top of the screen.

Top Domain - see domain

Topology - The connection arrangement for a network.

Touch screen - a screen which when the user touches a specified spot translates that to a selection and performs accordingly. For example, if you touch a spot on a menu, that choice will be made.

Tower computer - the CPU of a desktop computer that has its largest surface vertical to the ground and is meant to stand upright.

Translation Literature - literature that translates the information from research and clinical practice into useful documents such as patient care guidelines.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) - one of two agreed upon protocols used on the Internet that enables two host computers to establish a connection and exchange data.

Transportable - an object that is constructed so that it may be fairly easily transported. Not to be confused with portable, which means easily carried. They were the original “portable computer.

Transportables weighed at least 15 pounds, they were also termed “luggables.”.

Trojan Horse - a type of virus that comes disguised as another program. That is, a “friend” gives you what is theoretically a calculator program, but when you run it, it releases the Trojan Horse in your computer.

Tupple - a name used by professional database developers for a table. May also be referred to as a file.

Tutorial - step-by-step programs designed to guide learners to learn.

Twitter - see http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/T/Twitter.html

UCDS - Uniform Clinical Data Set

UHDDS - Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set

UMHDS - Uniform Minimum Health Data Set

UMLS® - Unified Medical Language System. An effort by the NLM to allow users familiar with any standardized terminology to find all the information on a given topic while still using the language familiar to their discipline.

Unfreezing - in Lewin’s theory of change, the process of creating an imbalance in the driving and restraining forces so that the driving forces are stronger.

Unidentifiable Data - Data that has had any information removed that might allow it be related to a specific patient.

Unintended Consequences - an outcome, good or bad, that was not planned or deliberate.

Unique personal identifier (UPI) a value permanently assigned to an individual for identification purposes and is unique across the entire national healthcare system. Although part of HIPAA has not been implemented yet due to privacy concerns.

Unique National Provider Identifier - A unique standard 10 digit unique health identifier for health care providers that is required by HIPPA. For more information see http://www.dhs.state.ri.us/dhs/whatnew/npi.htm

Unzip - to uncompress a zipped file. Modern operating systems have this capability.

URL - Universal Resource Locator. The technical name for a Web address.

UNLS - Unified Nursing Language System

UNLS - Unified Nursing Language System, at one time a part of the UMLS, but this theme has been abandoned.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) - A combination electrical surge protector and power back-up that contains a battery to maintain power in blackouts. They will keep a computer and all else plugged into them for several minutes, often 20. Some have software that allows a user to automate backup and shutdown in case power failure occurs when you are away from the computer.

Universal Resource Locator (URL) - 1) the address one puts in the locator bar of a Web browser; 2)the name given to addresses used for documents on the World Wide Web. They generally start with “http://” or” www,” or some variation such as “https://” which indicates a secure site.

Upload - transmit information from a smaller computer to a larger one. This process is often associated with placing files on an Internet server from a PC, but it can also refer to copying information from a PDA type computer to a PC. See download.

Upstream - the term used to refer to data that is sent from a client to a server. Often used to refer to information that a user sends to the Internet. See downstream.

URL - see universal resource locator

Urban Legend - a story told as though it is an actual happening to someone either known by the teller, or someone he or she knows. Often sent by email.

Usability - the degree to which an object is usable, the ability of a users of a system to carry out their tasks safely, effectively, efficiently, and enjoyably. Often used in terms of software, hardware or Web sites.

Usability Testing - the evaluation of a system by actual users who represent each group of users. In each group of users should be people at varying levels of comfort with the computer.

USB - (Universal Serial Bus) - a data transfer standard that supports ports that will allow many peripherals to be connected to a computer. Data is transferred faster than with either serial or parallel ports. The USB port has pretty much replaced parallel and serial ports. The original USB ports transferred data at 12 megabits per second. A USB 2.0, the current standard, transfers data at 480 megabits per second.

Usenet News Group - An electronic discussion forum focused on a given topic. Older ones are organized into categories such as Science (Sci). Accessible with a special reader available in all browsers. Must be purposely accessed to read messages and post.

User group - a group of people who all use the same device or application program. User groups are a great source of information from real users instead of vendors. Some information systems have user groups, some may be sponsored by the vendor, others by users. Vendors pay attention to user groups.

User ID - a combination of letters used to login, or gain access to, a system. Various systems of designating user ids are used, such as first initial and last name, most of which are fairly easy to guess.

Vanilla Product - a standard product offered by a vendor that a user can customize with added features, a baseline product. Similar to the standard desktop PC that a buyer can customize by adding features or more hardware such as a larger hard drive.

Vaporware - software that exists only in the dreams of a vendor. Involves promises that are never met. A good reason to always evaluate a system that is functional.

Vertical bar - a bar or box on the right side of the screen that when dragged moves the visible part of the screen up or down. The size of the bar or box provides an approximation of the length of the file, the smaller the box, the larger the file. It’s placement on the horizontal line tells one about where one is in the file lengthwise in the file. Companion to the horizontal bar

Video-text terminals - a name for a terminal that receives information from users, sends it to a computer for processing and reports to the user the output from the computer. It has no ability to process any data. These are sometimes called dumb terminals. This function today is performed by thin clients.

Videoconferencing - a conference using computers between participants at different locations in which the participants can see one another. These locations may be next door or half-way around the world.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) - a private network that is built from a public network by creating “tunneling” links in the network and often using encryption.

Virtual - a view of something that is not based in a physical reality. For example, data in a database is stored in a table, but one can view it in many different formats. These formats are a virtual view.

Virtual reality (VR) - an artificial environment created with computer hardware and software. The defining characteristic is the inclusion of participants inside the information with the ability to behave as they would if the environment were real.

Virus - an uninvited, self-replicating, piece of code that infects a computer and proceeds to perform its functions, which are usually destructive to the computer or files, without the permission of the owner. It may attach to other executable programs, such as a word processor or spreadsheet or a macro (file virus), or to the section of a diskette that the computer accesses when it boots (boot sector virus). It is spread through infected files.

Vodcasts - a digital video file available on the Web that can be downloaded and played on special players, or on a computer with special software such as Microsoft’s Windows Media Player®. May be erroneously referred to as a podcast.

Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) - Software and hardware that enables people to use the Internet for telephone calls. The software sends voice data using the regular Internet protocols. The biggest advantage of this type of communication is that there is no additional charge beyond what the user pays for Internet access. Often referred to as telephony.

Voice recognition - the ability of a computer to recognize a human voice and translate it into text. There are two types of voice recognition: discrete and continuous speech processing. The most common and least expensive is the discrete speech processing. Many systems still require the speaker to train the computer to understand his/her language.

VR - see Virtual reality

WAN - see Wide Area Network

Warm boot - restarting a computer without turning it off. On a Macintosh and some PCs this is accomplished by pressing the reset button. On other PCs, it is necessary to simultaneously depress the Control, Alt and Delete keys (known as the three finger salute) for a few moments.

Web 2.0 - a term introduced in 2004 to denote what some call the second generation of the Web that allows the Web to be more interactive. Allows for Web services such as Wikis and blogs.

Web 3.0 - a term used to describe the evolution of the Web in a way that will transform the Web into a huge more accurately searchable database. Sometimes thought of as the Semantic Web.

Web Browser - see browser

Webcast - a one-way presentation using the Web for video to audiences who may be goth in a room and in a different geographical location.

Webinar - the Web version of a live seminar in which there is a speaker and audience participation.

Web conferencing - a set of computer tools that enables logged in users to conduct a live meeting or presentation on the Web.

Web cookie - See Cookie

WEP - see wired equivalent privacy

White hat hacker - an individual who tries to penetrate computer security, but then notifies the administrator of any breeches so they can be fixed. They may be hired by a company to find any security flaws.

Whiteboard - a display in which multiple computer users in different geographical locations can write or draw while others watch. They are often used in teleconferencing.

Wide Area Network (WAN) - a computer network that encompasses a wide geographic area. These are usually in physically removed sites, the distance may be next door or across oceans. WANs often consist of several LANS wired together, usually through public networks such as the telephone system. The largest WAN is the Internet.

WiFi™ (wireless fidelity) - Trademark owned by the WiFi Alliance,that is a standard for a wireless connection to the Internet.

Wiki - Web server software that allows users to create and edit Web page content with any Web browser. It supports the creation of new pages and hyperlinks.

Wikipedia - an encyclopedia created with a wiki that is edited and maintained by thousands of users around the world. It can be found at (http://www.wikipedia.org). Although content is not officially peer reviewed in the formal academic sense, it is reviewed by experts around the world who edit it and request additions when necessary, a system that some think is superior to formal academic peer review. One weakness is the lack of authors’ names and the last date when a page was updated. An excellent place to find out about new technologies before they find their way into print.

Wildcard - a character that is used to designate that the user does not care what, if any, character(s) are in the data.

Wired equivalent privacy (WEP) - a standard method of encrypting wireless transmissions and providing secure Internet connections. There are different levels of protection from 40-bit to 128 bit. To access a network using WEP, one has to know and enter a series of numbers known as the WEP key. Not secure enough for corporations or healthcare agencies, it has been superseded by Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

windows - used with a lower case “w,” this term refers to areas of the screen. The active window can use all the screen or if superimposed on the screen it is distinguished in some way, often with a dark blue bar at its top.

Windows - with an upper case “W” see MS Windows™

Windows ™ Computers - Computers that are descendants of the original IBM-PC that use the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Windows Vista® - the version of the Microsoft Windows operating system released in 2007.

Windows XP® - the version of the Microsoft Windows operating system released in 2002.

Wireless - a use of any electrical device that connects through radio frequency and is not physically connected to any other device.

Wisdom - the ability to act wisely with knowledge. Added as the last step in the data, information knowledge continuum by Nelson & Joos (as cited in Joos, Whitman, Smith & Nelson,1992.). [1989. On language in nursing: From data to wisdom. PLN Visions, Fall, 6-7.][Joos, I., Whitman, N. I., Smith, M. J. & Nelson, R. (1992). Computer in Small Bytes. New York: National League for Nursing Press.] The 2007 version of the ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics now includes this concept as one of the core concepts in this nursing informatics theory.

Wizard - a name given to software tools that provide help in implementing a given feature in a program. Generally are very limiting in what they provide. To really use a software product, one needs to move beyond the wizards.

Word processing - (word processor) an application program that allows the user to create, edit, save, and print documents. They provide many functions over and above normal document editing such as the ability to mail merge, automate functions with macros, create tables and add pictures to your document.

Word wrap - a feature of most computer text applications in which the computer automatically knows where the start of each line of text in a paragraph should be. The user only taps the enter key to start a new line at the start of a new paragraph, or wherever s/he is certain that the next information should start a fresh line.

Work Flow - a sequence of operations that designates the work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. In informatics identifying it involves determining the process in which documents, information, or tasks are passed from one individual to another for action.

Work Flow Redesign - changing the work flow to improve efficiency. Often required when moving from a paper to an electronic system.

Workbook - a collection of worksheets in a spreadsheet that is saved as one file. Most spreadsheet applications provide for many different worksheets in a workbook.

Worksheet - a single page in a spreadsheet. Consists of 256 columns and 16,384 rows. Can be named and moved within a workbook. Together with other worksheets makes up a workbook.

Worm - A program that replicates itself without the use of a host file although some modern computer worms also use files to hide inside. It differs from a virus because it can run independently and can spread without a host program, but may hide within a file, often in a macro attached to the file. An example is a program that arrives on a computer, often in an attachment, that sends email with itself attached to everyone in the address book on the infected computer. A virus needs a host program to run, and the virus code runs as part of the host program.

World Wide Web (WWW pr W3) - a part of the Internet that consists of interlinked documents that are accessed and viewed using a Web browser. WWW document can contain text, images, videos and other multimedia. Navigation between documents is by clicking on hyperlinks, or areas that access another Web page.

x factor - Size of lower case letters in a font.

XML - a acronym for extensible mark-up language that allows for the creation and formatting of documents in a way that specifies their contents. XML is finding a use in health care as a way to include parts of free text in a database.

Z39.50 compliant - a national standard for BIBLIOGRAPHIC information retrieval. Officially known as ANSI/NISO Z39.50-1995 - Information Retrieval (Z39.50): Application Service Definition and Protocol Specification, this standard establishes protocols for communication between two different computer systems. When an application is Z39.50 compliant it meets the requirements of this national standard.

Zip - to use a special program to compress a file to reduce its size. Large files are often zipped before being sent as a file attachment. A recipient must then have software that unzips the file. Modern operating systems come with the ability to compress and uncompress files. There are also software programs to compress files.

Zip disk - a portable disk that will store 100 megabits of data and is slightly larger than a regular 3 ½ inch diskette will store 100 megabits of data. It is inserted into a special drive known as a zip drive. It is fairly obsolete, having been replaced by flash drives connected to a USB port.

Zipped file- a file that is compressed without losing any data to make it smaller in size. Requires software, which is part of Microsoft Windows, or can be purchased. Works best with text files, most graphical files are unable to be compressed very much,

Zombie - A computer that is unprotected by firewalls and has been implanted with a program that unbeknownst to the owner puts it under the control of a black hat hacker. It is then used by the malicious hacker to launch a denial of service (DoS) attack. May also be referred to as a zombie ant.