Glossary

Aliasing
Jagged edges in text and along the outer boundaries of diagonal or curved objects. Anti-aliasing refers to software compensation that minimize this effect.

Ambient Light
Level of illumination from natural lighting sources already existing in an environment.

Amplifier (audio)
Device that enables sound signal to be intensified.

ANSI
American National Standards Institute, sets standards for measurements ANSI Lumens, when measured using ANSI methods.

ANSI Lumens
ANSI lumens is a scale to measure the overall brightness value for projectors. The measurement represents the average value of 9 points on the projected screen image

Aperture
Width/height of actual slide; film frame dimensions.

Aspect Ratio
The ratio of height to width of a frame or screen. The aspect ratio for television is 3:4, High Definition Television 16:9

ATA Rated Transport Case
A case rated strong enough to be shipped as freight by common carrier such as FedEx or UPS, etc. Most cases of this type are easily recognized by their plywood outer shell and metal reinforced corners. Many newer cases are made using lightweight corrugated plastics or aluminum and weigh much less than the plywood clad cases

Auditorium Lens (Long Throw)
Projection lens used for long distances

Audio In (Stereo Input)
The jack or jacks (typically standard RCA jacks) to plug in sound coming from an external source such as a VCR or computer. Many projectors have more than one set of inputs, making it easy to switch between sources.

Audio Out (Stereo Out)
The jack or jacks to hook up external amplifier system. Most projectors allow their remote to control the volume of their internal speaker and the external systems.

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B

Backlit Display
Refers to a projector control panel, which has buttons that are illuminated. This feature makes it much easier to find the controls when using the projector in a low light environment. Many projectors have feature backlit remote controls.

Back Room Projector
A projector equipped with a “long-throw” lens designed to be used much further away from the screen, often in a projection booth or back of an auditorium. Most projectors have lenses available for “long-throw” applications.

Bandwidth
The capacity of any single channel of the system to transmit data.

Baud
The unit of speed that describes the rate at which binary data is transmitted. One baud is approximately equal to one bit per second.

Bit-Mapped Graphics
A form of graphics that are defined and addressed on a bit by bit basis, thereby making all points on the screen display directly accessible.

Boom
Adjustable support for positioning microphones, lighting fixtures or video fixtures.

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C

CAT-5 (Category Five)
Pronounced as “Cat-5″ and is a type of cable used in Ethernet networks.

Cable
Wires and cords used to power and link various pieces of equipment.

Carry-on Case
Refers to a projector carry case that is small enough to meet airline standards for carry-on luggage This type of case usually does not have sufficient strength or padding for use as checked luggage.

CD-ROM
Compact disc – read only memory. A CD-ROM looks virtually the same as an audio CD. CD-ROMs can hold up to 700-800 megabytes of information.

Ceiling Mount
The ability to mount a projector to the ceiling. Most projectors, when ceiling mounted, must be hung upside- down. To eliminate image distortion known as “keystoning”, ceiling mountable projectors have the ability to electronically invert the image.

CGA
Color Graphics Adapter. This is a older, virtually obsolete, computer video standard. CGA resolution is 640 x 200 pixels with a maximum of 16 colors.

Coated Optics
A process used to modify and improve the optical characteristics of lenses. One of the primary advantages of coating a lens is to minimize the amount of light reflected back to the lamp, and the amount of ambient light that mingles with the focused light leaving the lens. Coatings can improve lens brightness by 15% or more. Coatings can also be used for filtering colors.

Coder/Decoder (CODEC)
An electronic circuit that converts analog signals into digital signals and digital signals into analog signals. These are primarily used in teleconferencing applications.

Color Contrast
Refers to the values relationship of the colors used in conjunction within an image. Contrast is required for readability of text, charts and graphs – the more contrast the better the readability.

Color Dynamics
High color dynamics are a result of dynamic range/contrast ratio’s. When we describe a unit as having excellent color dynamics, the practical description might be “rich colors, excellent definition, high contrast”.

Color Mapping
A method of converting high color computer images for use on lower color display units or projectors.

Color Palette
The total number of colors possible. Sometimes referred to in bits. (8-bit, 16-bit, 24 bit, etc.)

Color Temperature
A method of measuring the “whiteness” of a light source. Metal halide lamps have very high color temperatures compared to halogen or incandescent lights.

Composite Video
A video signal that combines all the color and timing components of the image into a single line signal.

Compressed Resolution
A process in which a projector accepts a higher resolution signal and compresses the data down to fit its true resolution. Quality of compressed images varies greatly. Many projectors offer compressed resolution for handling higher resolution than their native resolution. Some use a simple “line dropping” methods while others achieve varying degrees of higher quality with different “intelligent” algorithms.

Compressed SVGA
Unlike CRT based monitors, LCD and DLP projectors only have one “true” resolution. Many projectors in the market are SVGA (800×600) resolution. To project a higher resolution image with an SVGA projector, the original SVGA signal must be compressed down to SVGA. This is done by interpolating the data, and trying to best display all the information with only two thirds of the pixels. The resulting image gives you the higher resolution page size, but some sacrifice of image quality. The vast majority of people with high resolution computers find they will have more satisfying results by switching the output of their computer to SVGA for use with an SVGA projector, matching computer outputs with projector native resolution

Compressed SXGA
Found on XGA projectors, compressed SXGA handling allows these projectors to handle up to 1280×1024 SXGA resolution. As with compressed signal image quality is reduced with compression. Mostly SXGA is used by Workstations (SUN, SGI, IBM, HP.), typically used in applications such as medical, life sciences and engineering.

Compressed XGA
Found on SVGA projectors, compressed XGA handling allows these projectors to handle 1024×768 XGA resolution. As with compressed SVGA, the quality of the compressed image is reduced. The quality of the compressed XGA image from a given projector is a key factor in the decision process for most people choosing an SVGA projector. This is true as the market shifts from SVGA computers to those with XGA screens.

Compression Mode
A method of displaying images in a reduced size format. See also Compressed SVGA, VGA and SXGA. A compressed image often has light and dark lines and text characters with thick and thin line widths.

Computer In(put)
Typical labeling of connector on a projector or panel where the cable from your computer plugs in.

Computer Out(put)
Typical labeling of connector on a projector or panel where the cable to your computer monitor is connected. This is not available on all projectors and is not usually needed when using a laptop.

Contrast Ratio
A method of measuring the dynamic range. A contrast ratio of 15:1 (passive matrix LCDs), offers washed out colors, little detail, and images that can barely survive with significant ambient light. Projectors with Active matrix TFTs have ratios to 300:1, DLPs from 300-500:1 and Poly-Si LCDs 400-500:1. By comparison transparency film (i.e. 35mm slides) have contrast ratios over 500:1.

Convergence
The alignment of the component red, green, and blue video images on a projected display system. If the convergence is incorrect, color fringes or “ghosts” appear on the projected image.

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D

Data Rate
The rate or speed at which data is transmitted, usually stated in bits per second or Baud.

Depth of Focus
The ability of an imaging system to keep an image in focus when the object plane is NOT thin.

Device Driver
Software that allows a computer to communicate with an internal or external peripheral device, such as a printer, scanner or CD-ROM player.

Diagonal Screen
The method of measuring the size of a computer or video image. Measured from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner, a 9 FT high by 12 FT wide projected image has a diagonal of 15FT. Typically, in computer and video we assume that the diagonal dimensions are for the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio as in the previous example. Remember, the 4:3 aspect ratio is standard for Video and computer images, but some screens are square, others particularly wide.

Digital Compression
Encoding data or digital information to use less storage space or to require less bandwidth for efficient transmission.

Digital Light Processing (DLP)
The name for a technology developed by Texas Instruments: The technology inside is sometimes referred to as either “micro-mirrors”, or DMD: It works in the same way ancient people used to signal each other by flashing sunlight off mirrors. However the modern version replaces the sun with a powerful lamp and uses thousands of rotating mirrors, lined up in 800 rows of 600 mirrors each. Attach each of those 480,000 hinges to its own motor. The motors tilt their mirrors up to 20 degrees at incredible speeds. allowing the mirrors to modulate light from the lamp, and send the “modulated signal” out through a lens, on to a screen. Now comes the hard part – The 480,000 mirrors (actually 580,000 are used), hinges and motors are packed onto a “wafer” a bit larger than your thumbnail.

Digital Signal Processors (DSP’s)
A specialized digital microprocessor that performs calculations on digitized signals that were originally analog and then sends the results.

Digital Video
Video where all the instructions for the images are in computer data form, i.e. bits.

Digitize
Process of converting analog information into digital information.

Disk Pad
A device used to control movement of an icon (such as a cursor) across an image. A disk pad controls movement of the cursor by making it move in the direction corresponding to the part of the disk you press down on (relative to the center.) To clarify, press down on the disk at 2 o’clock, and the cursor will move on in that direction (toward the upper right) from wherever it had been.

Display
A screen that electronically presents numbers, characters, graphics, etc. transmitted from a personal computer.

Display Size
Display size is the diagonal size of an image display device. Typical laptop LCD sizes are 12.1″ to 15″ measured diagonally.

Dissolve Unit
Device that activates fade-out and fade-in of slides from one projector to another by regulating the voltage sent to projector lamps. Dove is the most popular unit used.

Distortion (Audio)
Unclear audio signal that results from giving too much power to a speaker or amplifier.

Distortion (Video)
An undesired modification of the original signal appearing in the output. Distortion can be caused by improper setup or poor quality equipment. Distortion appears as ghosting or off color images, or is heard as muffled or crackling sound.

Distribution Amplifier (video)
An amplifier used to maintain a clean noise free signal to the projector over significant distances. Even with heavily shielded cables, the range of video and computer signals is limited to a few dozen feet before noticeable degradation. Often projection using ceiling mounted equipment, a distribution amp may be needed even with shorter distances to eliminate the interference caused by electric conduits and equipment in the ceiling near the signal cable. Many distribution amps can also split the signal into 2 or more amplified signals for driving multiple projectors, and monitors.

Dithering
The method of mixing up neighboring pixels or consecutive frames of pixel information in a random fashion to create the effect of many intermediate levels of color.

DLP
see Digital Light Processing

DMD Technology (DLP)
see Digital Light Processing

Dynamic Range
The ability to “reproduce” the full range of an inputted signal. If that range is limited, it will be difficult to distinguish between pure white and the lightest grays. Subtle details disappear without adequate dynamic range. See also “color dynamics”

DVD-ROM
This is much like a CD-ROM except that it can store up to 12 times the amount of data, 4.7GB – 18GB typically.

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E

EGA
Enhanced Graphics Array. This is the second generation of the CGA standard that it gave PCs, XTs and ATs greater resolution (640 x 350 in all models). Like CGA, it is virtually obsolete.

Electronic Whiteboard
A whiteboard that has the ability to electronically scan itself and the images can then be transferred to computer, edited, printed, emailed or faxed. Many electronic whiteboards will interface with projectors, allowing annotating of presentations and some control of the computer.

Ethernet
A very popular type of network. Sometimes people refer to NIC cards as Ethernet net cards and a network connection as an Ethernet connection. Also know as “10 Base T”.

Extended Digital Subscriber Line (EDSL)
In an ISDN application, the digital channel that delivers Primary Rate Access or 23B+D service to an individual subscriber.

F

Focal Length
A fundamental measure of lens performance, usually expressed in millimeters.

Follow Spot
Manually movable lighting instrument used to highlight and follow talent.

Frame
A single complete picture in a film recording or video.

Frame Grab
Electronically capturing and storing one screen of information.

Front Screen Projection
Projection of an image onto the front surface of a light-reflective screen from a projector placed within or behind the audience.

Full frame
Generally refers to as filling a computer monitor with a video clip. Using the entire screen.

Full Frame-Full Motion, 30 frames per second (fps)
Running full video frames on a computer at 30 frames per second, providing the same seamless video as movies, videotape and TV. Motion pictures typically run at 24 frames per second.

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G

General Session
Opening meeting of an event; all attendees are invited.

Glass Beaded Screen
Screen used for front projection with reflective glass beads on surface.

Glass Mount
35mm film encased in glass with a plastic frame; keeps dust and fingerprints away from the film.

Gooseneck
Flexible support attached to a podium or lectern to support a microphone; can be raised/lowered to suitable height for speaker.

Gradation
The slow change of a colors density; a change in tone or texture, etc., between adjacent areas of an object or the corresponding image

H

Hard Drive (disk)
A device that physically stores data in your computer. This drive is installed inside the computer and is typically rated in Size such as 10 Gigabyte(GB). A 10GB hard drive can store 10 billion bytes of information.

Hardware
This refers to any physical piece of computer. For example, the computer itself, a monitor, a printer memory and a video card are all hardware.

Hard-wired remote
A remote control that has a connecting cable to the device it controls. Often used at a podium or lectern.

Harness
Bundle of cables.

HDTV
High Definition Television, a term used to describe advanced production and delivery systems.

High Gain Screen
A screen that uses one of many methods to collect light and reflect it back to the audience. This results in an image which is considerably brighter than the image on a white wall or matte screen. The disadvantage of a high gain screen is often a narrower viewing angle. High Gain screens are more expensive than Matte screens, but attention to the screen can make a big difference, particularly in “tough” environments such as trade shows.

House Board
Switch panel from which all electrical fixtures are operated.

Hub
A device that allows multiple computers with NIC cards to attach to a network using one network connection. Similar to a Distribution amp in the AV industry

Hz, (KHz, MHz)
Hertz or (Kilohertz or Megahertz). Cycles per second. (Kilo = 1,000, Mega = 1 million). These terms are used to express the frequency of an electrical signal.

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I

Image Compression (Compressed)
Compresses higher resolution images into lower, for example compressing a SVGA (800 x 600) down to VGA (640 x 480).

In Sync
Sound and picture are synchronized or matched perfectly. (Note: if spelled N’SYNC, this refers to an Orlando Boy Band.)

IP Address (Internet Provider)
A unique number used to identify a specific machine attached to a network. This number could be described basically as a “telephone number” used by the computer and network. There has to be an originating “phone number” and a receiving “phone number”. IP numbers are typically issued by an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and set up by a qualified technician.

Infrared remote
The traditional remote control, it transmits infrared light, like a television remote. Typical range is limited to 30 or 35 feet. Infra-red requires line of site or a bounce off of a hard surface. These signal from this type of remote control cannot pass through walls.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Standard digital service capability that includes one or more circuit-switched communication channels capable of carrying digital voice, data, or image signals, a packet-switched channel for out-of-band signaling and control, plus a collection of standard and optional features that support information productivity for the user providing higher-speed Internet access than analog systems.

Interactive
Employing the active participation of the user in determining the flow of the multimedia program.

Interface
To connect normally incompatible components so that the signal from one is readable by the second.

Interlacing
A technique used for the display of live video and some computer graphics whereby the image is displayed in horizontally stacked lines known as fields.

International Power Supply
A device that can operate under a variety of power requirements. Some units are “self-switching”, they will automatically switch to whatever power source you plug it into. Others will have to be switched (internally or externally) to accommodate a different voltage or cycle range.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)
The company that supplies access to the internet. It can be a nationwide service such as AOL or Earthlink, an internal convention center communications vendor if available.

Invert Image
Electronically flips the image from top to bottom, to compensate for ceiling mounting a projector upside down, as most projectors have “keystone” correction built in to compensate for the distortion created by “pointing up” from the table to the screen. The image must be inverted when the projector is hung upside down from the ceiling. Most projectors are operated with the lens about even with the bottom of the screen in a “table top position”, or even with the top of the screen when ceiling mounted.

IR (Infra-Red)
A type of wireless transmission using infrared light waves.

IR communication standard
A standard for wireless communicating with peripherals (printers wireless keyboards, pointing devices) and a computer. This feature is becoming common on laptop computers.

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J

Joystick
A device used to control movement of an pointer icon (cursor) across an image. Each physical location of the “stick” corresponds to a location on the screen.

K

Keystone
The “wedge” shape picture caused when the projector is not even with the horizontal or vertical center of the middle of the screen. Most data and video projectors use optical and electronic methods to correct this problem.

L

Laptop
A small portable computer with a self contained LCD display.

Laser Pointer
A small pen or cigar sized device that contains a small battery powered laser, which can project a small, red, high intensity spot of light that is immediately very visible on the screen.

Lavaliere
Small microphone that attaches to clothing.

LCD
Liquid Crystal Display – a glass panel display that works by controlling the opacity of segments of itself by varying the electrical signal. Each individual segment called a pixel, acts as a shutter, to control the amount of light being passed through.

LCD Projector
A projector using an LCD to modulate the light.

Light Valve
Another projection technology, found in the “big” systems, these units are extremely bright and capable of producing “stadium size” images.

Long Throw Lens
A lens designed for projection from a very long distance. Long throw lenses would be used in a projection booth in the back of a theater, etc. A typical long throw lens might have to be 50 to 100 ft. back to project a 10 ft. diagonal image.

Luminance
The relative brightness values of a particular object in a scene.

Lux
A unit for measuring light, as methods of measurement are not standardized, numbers provided by manufacturers usually do not provide all necessary information to compare one product to another. A preferred unit of measuring light output is the ANSI Lumen.

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M

Masking
Draping around a screen to create a specific projected image.

Matte White
Smooth white vinyl front projection surface.

Maximum Distance
The longest distance from the screen that a projector lens can properly focus the image.

Maximum Image Size
The largest image a projector can throw.

Megabyte
1 million, or 1,048,576, bytes or characters. It is abbreviated as MB or Meg.

Memory
The device in the computer’s main unit that stores information, both permanently (hard-disk) or temporarily in microchips (RAM or random-access memory).

Menu Driven
Refers to the type of controls on a projection device. The user will be offered an on screen menu display of major categories such as Computer, Video, Audio, Display, Options. After selecting one, you will get another menu of choices with items like brightness, contrast, etc. after select one of these and you can then adjust it. Most projectors are menu driven but also offer the most widely used functions in a non-menu fashion, such as separate control buttons for volume, brightness, and contrast, as well as switching between sources.

Metal Halide Lamp
The type of lamp used in many medium and most high-end portable projectors. These lamps emit a very high amount of light for the amount of power they consume. Unlike many other types of lamp, they slowly lose intensity (brightness) as they are used. As they get older the corners of the projected image becomes noticeably darker. Metal halide lamps usually last between 400 and 600 hundred hours. They usually cost from $300 to $600 retail, but most are around $500. However, cost can vary widely. These lamps output a very “hot” temperature light, Their whites are “extremely” white and make Halogen lamps whites look yellowish in comparison.

Micro-Mirror Technology (DLP)
see Digital Light Processing (DLP)

Microprocessor
An electronic circuit, usually on a single microchip, that performs arithmetic, logic, and control operations, customarily with the help of internal memory, also on the chip.

Minimum Distance
The closest position that a projector can focus an image onto a screen.

Minimum Image Size
The smallest image a projector can create.

Mixer
Audio unit by which sound signals from all sources feed into one system; allows for dissimilar inputs (mic and line) to be combined and controlled into one output.

MOD
Manager on duty who is responsible for handling guest problems. Usually refers to a hotel management function.

Modem
A device that turns digital signals from the computer to analog signals so that they can be easily transmitted over the phone lines. The modem also converts the analog signals back into digital signals to your computer. Modems can be internal or externally attached.

Multimedia
A general expression that indicates the ability to integrate several different types of media. Media types include, video, photos, sound, clip art, graphic design, text and more.

Multimedia Computer
Generally refers to a computer that has a minimum set of features including, active matrix display, a sound card and speakers, fast video, and usually a CD-ROM or DVD player built in

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N

Network
Interface Card (NIC)
An expansion card that enables a computer to attach to a network.

Non-Interlaced
Each line of an image is scanned during each total vertical (full) screen refresh, this process greatly reduces image flicker, resulting in reduced eyestrain.

NTSC
National Television Standards Committee. Usually refers to the standard for video and broadcasting used in the United States, Canada and several other countries. The NTSC standard is older and produces lower resolution than other television systems used in the world.

O

OHP
The common abbreviation for overhead projector.

Operating System (OS)
This refers to the program that allows you to access the basic functions of your computer. A computer cannot run without some type of operating system. The most common operating system are Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.

Overhead Projector (OHP)
A device consisting of light source, a glass platform and a focusable lens assembly, designed to project to a screen, images from transparencies.

Overlay
The ability to superimpose computer generated graphics and/or text on motion or still video.

P

PAL
Phase Alternate Line. The PAL television system used extensively in Great Britain and western Europe.

Palette
The number of colors available for use in creating an image.

Parallel
A method of transmitting several bits of data simultaneously through a communications channel.

Patch
Plug-in connection between two lines.

Peripheral
External devices controlled by the computer, e.g. printer, keyboard, mouse.

Pix Cart/Pixmobile
Rolling cart used for monitors, projectors, etc.

Pixel
Short for picture element. The smallest element of a raster display represented as a point with specified color and intensity.

Polysilicon LCD
Liquid Crystal Display technology for LCD projectors. Polysilicon is usually 3 separate layers of LCDs, for red, green and blue light. This results in increased color dynamics, with high contrast ratios around 350-500:1. Polysilicon is ideal for multimedia applications.

Power Lens
Typically a motorized lens that allows adjustment of focus and zoom from a remote control.

Pre-Con
Pre-convention meeting where the meeting planner and hotel department heads meet to review the purpose and details of an event.

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Q

R

Rear Screen Projection
The projector is placed behind a translucent glass, vinyl or plastic screen, out of sight of the audience. It projects onto the back of screen and the audience sees on the front. Some large screen projection monitors use rear screen projection.

Receiver
Consumer-type television set that has a tuner and accepts regular broadcast signals.

Refresh Rate
The number of times the screen image is “painted” or refreshed per second, expressed in Hz.

Resolution
Number of dots or pixels per unit of area. The greater the pixels per unit area the higher the resolution, giving more detail.

Response Time
The reaction time for a pixel to turn on and off. An active-matrix LCD projection panel’s response time is fast enough to display full-motion video and rapid mouse cursor movements.

Reverse Image
Reverse image is a feature found on many projectors which flips the image horizontally. Reverse image is needed for rear projection.

RF
Radio frequency. In video, this signal carries both audio- and video-like commercial broadcasts.

RGB
Red, Green, Blue, A video or data signal in which the component color information of a video signal is carried as separate signals. Also used to describe the type of monitor.

Riser
Platforms of various heights (12-18″, 18-24″, or 24-36″), used to elevate the speaker or head table so they can be seen throughout the room.

Room Night
Number of hotel rooms occupied multiplied by the number of nights each room is occupied.

S

Safelock
Portable stand with four removable/extendible legs.

Scan Rate
Referring to the horizontal or vertical rates, expressed in Kilo Hertz(kHz).

SCSI
Small Computer Systems Interface, pronounced “scuzzy”. A device independent interface used for a wide range of peripherals.

SECAM
A television standard for video and broadcasting. Used mainly in France and the former East Bloc countries. Higher resolution than NTSC.

Serial
A method of transmitting data bit-by-bit through a single communications channel.

Server
A computer used to store and supply data to many users at the same time. These machines typically use a fast processor with a generous amount of memory and require special setup procedures.

Short Throw Lens
A lens designed to project the largest possible image a short distance. They are often required for rear projection, where the depth behind the screen is limited.

Skewing
Zigzag pattern on a TV screen due to improper head alignment on the video deck.

Software
Refers to the programs that run on a computer. For example, Microsoft Word and Excel is software.

Sound Card
An expansion card that allows the computer to play sound/music through speakers. This card will also allow recording of audio directly to the hard drive.

Source
An input feeding a signal to a projector.

Striplights
Lighting instruments with a line of lamps, often with reflectors and color gels, used in color lighting.

STN
Super Twist Nematic.

SVGA (Super VGA) Resolution
SVGA refers to a 800 x 600 pixel display, regardless of the number of colors available.

SXGA Resolution
SXGA refers to a monitor resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixel display, regardless of the number of colors available.

S-Video Input
S-Video is a standard for transmitting video information. It provides significantly better image quality than composite video.

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T

TFT
Thin Film Transistor. This is a technology that places the controller of an LCD panel directly on the surface of the glass.

Touchscreen
A display device that acts as an input device by responding to the touch of the user.

Track Ball
A device used to control movement of an icon (such as a cursor) across an image. Rotating the ball in a direction corresponds directly to the mouse’s movements.

Track Lighting
Lights attached along a rod-like metal track mounted on a ceiling or wall, permitting flexible spotlighting and other lighting effects.

Transmitivity
The percent of the light that is transmitted off the stage of the overhead projector that reaches the screen at a given distance.

True Color
A term for 24 bit color (16.7 million colors – any combination of 256 shades each of Red, Green, and Blue).

Turnaround/ Turnover
Tear-down and reset of a room from one event to another.

Tweak
To make fine-tuning adjustments.

U

V

VESA Standard
A set of display specifications agreed upon by the Video Electronics Standards Association. A non-profit group organized to define and improve computer graphics standards.

Valance
Drape that is hung above the screen.

VCR
Videocassette recorder; playback and recording.

Video
The capability to project images from a VCR, laser disc, DVD or PC with CD-ROM drive.

Video Cards
An expansion card that allows the computer to display images to a monitor. Video Cards come in many different resolutions VGA, SVGA, XGA, 3D/FX.

Video Standards
A variety of broadcast and video standards, including NTSC, PAL, SECAM. Multiple Video Standards is an important feature if you plan to use your projector in other countries. These standards are not compatable with each other, but may be played back on what is known as a “World Deck”, which replays all of these forms of video.

Viewing Angle
Maximum angle, top, sides or bottom, at which a viewer can clearly see an image projected on a screen.

VGA
Video Graphics Array. The standard way a computer outputs video to a screen or projector.

VGA Resolution
VGA resolution normally refers to a 640 x 480 pixel display, regardless of the number of colors available.

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W

White Board
Used like a chalkboard but utilizes dry erase markers instead of chalk.

Window
A portion of the computer screen in which a video image or other information is presented.

Wings
Drape that extends from floor to ceiling on either size of the screen

Workstation
A single desktop computer connected to a network, typically dedicated to a single user. Usually a high-end machine found in an engineering or graphics company.

Workstation Resolutions
Generally a number of different resolutions, higher than 1024 x 768. Most widely used: 1280 x 1024, 1152 x 900 and 1600 x 1200. Some workstations can be set to the lower resolution of 1024 x 768, but are not normally operated there.

WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get (pronounced: wiz´-ee-wig) This refers to a graphical display mode in which the page on the display screen represents exactly what will appear on the printed page.

X

XGA Resolution
One of several terms used to describe 1024 x 768 resolution.

Y

Y-Cable
Most computers have only one monitor output. Subsequently, a special cable is necessary to split the monitor signal so it will work simultaneously with both a monitor and a projector.

Z

zip File (WinZip)
Not to be confused with the ZIP® drive – A .zip is any computer file that has been reduced in size by using a compression program, such as WinZip. This can be very helpful in shortening attachment download times or conserving disk space.

ZIP® Drive /JAZZ® Drive
Not to be confused with the .zip file — These are removable hard drives that can store between 100 Megabytes (ZIP) up to 2 Gigabytes (JAZZ); useful for transferring large media files.

Zoom Lens
A lens with a variable focal length. This translates to being able to adjust the size of the image on a screen by adjusting the zoom lens, instead of having to move the projector closer or further.

Zoom Lens Ratio
The ratio between the smallest and largest image a lens can projector from a fixed distance.

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