Glossary (Q - Z)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

For more information on many of these terms see http://www.webopedia.com/ or Delaware Healthcare Association Glossary of Health Care Terms and Acronyms

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). Can be either active in which it can be read without any human intervention, or passive which does not contain a battery; the power is supplied by the reader.

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. - Non-governmental groups organized regionally to exchange healthcare information while protecting patient privacy for the purpose of improving patient care. May also be referred to as an HIE. See Chapter 15 for more information.

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 See Regional Health Information Organization

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

SDC or SD - secure digital card

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.

Secure Digital Card - a tiny memory card used to make storage portable among various devices, such as car navigation systems, cellular phones, eBooks, PDAs, smartphones, digital cameras, music players, camcorders, and personal computers. See http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/Secure-Digital-card

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

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 be
manipulated 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. For more information.

Smart phone - a handheld device that is not only capable of phone calls, but allows a user to contact the Internet with all its services, such as email or browsing the Web. It also features the functions that use to be only on a PDA, such as maintaining a calendar and list of contacts.

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. See chapter 16 for more information.

Social Networking - an online community of people with a common interest who use a Web site or other technologies to communicate with each other and share information, resources, etc. For more information.

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.

Standardized terminology - a set of terms with agreed upon definitions useful in a given situation.

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.

Subset - a group of terms created from a standardized terminology by pre-cordinating the terms from an axis in the terminology.

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. In computer science, one of two distinct but related concepts: synchronization of processes, and synchronization of data. Process synchronization refers to the idea that multiple processes are to join up or handshake at a certain point, so as to reach an agreement or commit to a certain sequence of action. Data synchronization refers to the idea of keeping multiple copies of a dataset in coherence with one another, or to maintain data integrity. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronization_%28computer_science%29

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.

Tablet Computer - a mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen rather than using a physical keyboard. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard, a passive stylus pen, or a digital pen

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 Glossary for Standardized Terminology).

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. See Fair Use chapter 25

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 article by Hedba and Calderone.This group developed competencies in various areas. See TIGER Informatics 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 National Library of Medicine 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. See de-identifying data

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, it 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 https://www.cms.gov/nationalprovidentstand/

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 both 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. See hacker and black hat hacker.

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) - a wireless networking technology used across the globe. Wi-Fi® refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997. See
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-wifi.htm

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. See viruses

World Wide Web (WWW or 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 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.

Created December 18, 2011