Virtual Conferencing Glossary

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T1 - High speed digital transmission system at 1.544 Mbps. Common in the USA.

T.120 - The ITU-T's "Transmission Protocols for Multimedia Data", a data sharing/data conferencing specification that lets users share documents during any H.32x videoconference. Like H.32x specifications, T.120 is an umbrella Recommendation that includes a number of other Recommendations. Data-only T.120 session can be held when no video communications are required, and the standard also allows multipoint meetings that include participants using different transmission media. The mandatory components of T.120 include rec-ommendations for multipoint file transfer and shared-whiteboard implementation.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A defacto transport protocol initially included with many ver-sions of UNIX, but now available on just about every computing platform. This ubiquitous protocol is essen-tial for networking between disparate platforms. TCP/IP is the protocol that runs over the Internet.

Telecommunications - The art and science of applying services and technologies such as radio, cable-based services, wireless transmission, and optical fibre networks in order to enable communications over distance.

Telecommuter - A work-at-home computer user who connects to the corporate LAN backbone using remote access tech-nologies.

Telecommuting - The process of commuting to work electronically rather than physically. Telecommuting will find much greater acceptance as the public switched telephone network become more digital and as videoconferencing and multimedia technologies are more readily available for the desktop.

Teleconference - Teleconference is holding a conference via a telephone or network connection. Once the conference is in progress most applications allow the group to share applications and the use of a common whiteboard.

Telemedicine - The practice of using videoconferencing technologies to diagnose illness and provide medical treatment over a distance. It allows health professionals and medical experts to remotely consult with patients and health care providers giving vital, cost effective, confidential medical services to virtually any location, rural or urban, national or international. Patients, doctors and other health professionals can benefit from the latest technol-ogy and treatments while remaining in their own health care facility. Consultations, educational programming and administrative conferences are just some of the programs that can take place through Telemedicine.

Terminal Adapter - ISDN equipment that adapts non-ISDN equipment to access an ISDN network.

Touch panel - A touch-sensitive display device for controlling equipment.