Monday,
January 12, 2004 |
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ITerminology |
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Skunkworks: A
typically small and loosely structured group of people who research and
develop a project for the sake of innovation. The term typically is used
in regard to technology projects. A skunkworks often operates
independent of a company’s normal research and development operations
and therefore often is subject to limitations in resources. Skunkworks
projects often are undertaken in secret with the understanding that if
the development is successful then the product will be designed later
according to the usual process. A famous example of a skunkworks project
is the first Apple Macintosh computer. The term comes from the Skonk
Works, the Kickapoo Joy Juice bootleg brewing operation in Al Capp’s
Li’l Abner comic strip.
Land: The raised
area on a CD or DVD where data is stored. CDs and DVDs store data in
lands and pits. The lands represent 1 and the pits represent 0 in binary
computing. The bits are read by the disc drive
that uses a laser beam to distinguish between the lands and pits based
on the amount of scattering or deflection that occurs when the beam of
light hits the surface of the disc.
Pit: The recessed
area on a CD or DVD where data is stored. CDs and DVDs store data in
lands and pits. The lands represent 1 and the pits represent 0 in binary
computing. The bits are read by the disc drive that uses a laser beam to
distinguish between the lands and pits based on the amount of scattering
or deflection that occurs when the beam of light hits the surface of the
disc.
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