Glossário e Definições

Glossário de Teletrabalho

ACTS (Advanced Communications Technologies and Services). A European Union Research and technology programme under the Fourth Framework. ACTS is concerned with the deployment and use for economic and social benefit of advanced trans-European networks and services, such as ISDN, mobile communications, broadband and multimedia services. ACTS focus is on applications rather than the technology per se.

ADAPT is an initiative financed by the European Social Fund which aims to assist the workforce adapt to industrial change. Thus, the Information Society and advances in ICTs are looked at from the human resources development perspective, issues which are of direct relevance to telework. The Social Found is contributing 1.6 BECU over five years and, together with Members State co-funding, this reaches 3.2 BECU.

AET (Asociación Espanola de Teletrabajo). Spanish Telework Association.

AFTT (Association Française de Teletravail et des Téléactivités) French Telework Association.

Broadband. Generally data transmission speeds in excess of 1 Mbps. Contrast modem speeds of 28.8Kbps and an ISDN channel of 64Kbps.

Browser. The software used to display HTML pages on the World Wide Web. Netscape’s Navigator and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are the world’s most widely used browsers.

BTA Belgian Telework Association.

Cable Modem. A device that interfaces between coaxial cable television/voice channel and home computing equipment. Holds the potential for providing higt speed Internet access.

Call Centres. An example of remote office working, where work previously dispersed is centralised into one centre, often located in an area with available labour, lowers cost and good telecommunications connections. Calls to local customer service centres are automatically diverted to the centre, which typically covers a large region or continent.

CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work). The software tools and working methods used to support teamwork, especially virtual teamwork (q.v.). It includes the use of computer conferencing, electronic “white board” systems and use of Intranets. A more popular, though restricted, term in groupware (q.v.).

CTI (Computer Telephony Integration). The integration of computer systems with telephones. This may be dial-out facilities from a computer, or more typically use of intelligent exchange facilities that brings up caller information and database records on a computer screen when a telephone is answered.

Cyberspace. A term used to describe the imaginative “space” where people communicate electronically using email and other online services, normally over the Internet. The name was originally coined by William Gibson in his science fiction novel Neuromancer to describe the “world” of computers, and the society that gathers around them.

Desk Top Conferencing (DTC). Videoconference where communications is from computer-to-computer, rather than remote video camera to local monitor.

Digital Economy. Characterisation of the new global economy dominated by digital infrastructures, i.e. electronic or digital networks based upon ICT infrastructures and especially the Internet. (See also network economy).

ECTF European Community Telework/Telematics Forum.

eCommerce. Sales and purchase of goods or services over telecommunications networks, notably the Internet.

EDI (Electronic Data Interexchange). The exchange of structured electronic messages (such as orders or invoices) over special telecommunications networks to replace paper transactions.

eEurope. An initiative by the European Union to accelerate the development of the knowledge economy.

EITO European Information Technology Observatory.

email. Electronic mail. Sending and receiving messages over computer networks, such as the Internet.

ERDF (European Regional Development Funds). One of the four Structural Funds of the European Union.

ESF (European Social Funds). One of the four Structural Funds of the European Union.

ESPRIT (European Special Programme for Research into Information Technology). A European Union research and technology programme under the Fourth Framework. Its focus is on collaborative development of core technologies such as complex semiconductors, multimedia and expert systems.

ETD (European Telework Development). An initiative under the ACTS programme. The aim of the initiative is stimulate the beneficial uptake of telework, Teletrade and Telecooperation

ETO (European Telework Online). The web site on European telework (http:// www.eto.org.uk), supported in part by ETD.

ETW (European Telework Week). A coordinated week of activities, such as conferences, exhibitions and open-house events to focus public and media attention on the economic and social benefits of telework. The first European Telework Week was held from 9-16 November 1995, and has been followed by others, growing more diverse and widespread annually.

eWork Work practices making use of information and communication technologies to increase efficiency, flexibility (in time and place) and the sustainability of resource use.

Extranet A network using Internet protocol that allows external organisations, such as suppliers or customers, access to selected internal information. In essence, it is an Intranet with gives external users restricted access (for example using password protection) to particular information through the firewall.

Free agent a US term for an individual similar to the traditional free-lance worker but extended over a much wider geographical range and a greater number of interlocking makes because of new networking capabilities.

FTP (File Transfer protocol). The process for transferring binary files (e.g. documents or software) across a network.

Groupware A class of computer software that allows several users to collaborate through sharing information. Computer conferencing and group decision support systems are types of groupware.

GSM A European standard for cellular phone digital communications. Allows phones to be used in countries across the Europe and certain other parts of the world (over 130 in total).

HTML (Hyper text mark up language). The code used on www pages to instruct the browser how to display the text.

Http (Hyper text Transfer protocol). The protocol used to transfer information across the World Wide Web. It indicates that the information is encoded in HTML.

ICT (Information and Communications Technology). A generic term that covers both information technology (computer hardware and software) and telecommunications equipment and services. Its increasing use indicates the growing convergence between these strands of technology.

Information Society. The term adopted the European Commission to indicate a society where information is a key component of economic and social activity. Citizens, both consumers and workers, use information intensively.

Intelligent Agent. A piece of software using artificial intelligence techniques that operates autonomously using a set of rules. A common type of agent is one that roams the Internet and searches out information. Other types filter incoming information and messages for items of relevance to particular users.

Internet A network of a computer networks, estimated to be around 10 million world–wide. Any computer can join the Internet and exchange information, provided it makes an appropriate physical connection and operates the TCP/IP protocol.

Intranet An internal Internet. In other words an internal computer network that runs the Internet protocol (TCP/IP). Most intranets have a computer “gateway” to the wider (external) Internet and deploy a “firewall” to prevent unauthorised access to a company’s information.

IPR (Intellectual Property Rights). Rights to intellectual material normally in the form of content on electronic networks where it can be difficult to control copying and use without the IPR holder’s knowledge and/or permission.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Services that allow sharing of multiple devices on a single line, telephone, fax and computer access to online services. Basic rates ISDN service consists of two 64bps digital communications channels, while primary consists of 32. Although ISDN offers significant benefits for certain kinds of telework, their costs and ease-of-use have deterred many home workers when contrasted with high-speed modems.

ISP (Internal service Provider). A supplier of Internet including access. Originally distinguished from IAPs (Internet Access Provider) since they provided the major back-bone connections between countries, and sold on bandwidth to smaller local IAPs. The term seems to be declining in use.

ISPO (Information Society Project Office). A service unit established by DGIII and DGXIII to act as a bridge builder between Commission Services and external counterparts active in Information Society issues.

IST (Information Society Technologies) Programme. A European Union research and technology programme under the Fifth Framework (1992-2002). The IST Programme is based around four Key Actions, including Key Action II on New Methods of Work and Electronic Commerce, as well as a number of cross programme activities and accompanying measures.

IT (Information Technology). Strictly speaking is only computer hardware and software not including telecommunications equipment and services, but is often used synonymously with ICT to mean both these types of technology especially as they are now substantially converged.

LAN (Local Area Network). A network that connects computer together within a small area, usually a single office. Facilities such as printers and disks can be shared. Many LANs have gateways to connect their users to external services such as the Internet.

MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group). A group that defines compression standards for video (moving) images, notably MPEG-2. A new standard, MPEG-4, defines images in terms of objects and their attributes, making it easier to manipulate audio-visual objects remotely over networks.

NACT (National Advisory Council on Teleworking). National Council established by the Irish Government to advise it on the development of teleworking employment opportunities in Ireland and to recommend attainable actions which will contribute to the realisation of those opportunities.

NC (Network Computer). A computer that relies on a computer network for its ongoing operation and software, which is download as required.

Network Economy Characterisation of the new global economy dominated by networks, I-e. multifarious nodes and connections in contrast to hierarchical and otherwise controlled economies. Normally means the electronic or digital network based upon ICT infrastructures and especially the Internet.

NTF (Netherlands Telewerk Forum). The national teleworking association in the Netherlands.

RISI (Regional Information Society Initiatives). Part of this article 10 of the Structural Funds.

SIT (Societa Italiana Telelavoro). A national society for teleworking in Italy.

Social Partners. Organised representatives of labour market interests such as employers associations and trades unions.

SOHO (Small Office Home Office). Defined by marketers as a segment of buyers with common characteristics. This is a small office, that may be part of a person’s home. The amount and size of equipment used is generally lower than that in large offices, and users more costs sensitive.

SME (Small to Medium Enterprise). In European Union terms this is defined as an enterprise, which has less than 250 employees, is less than 25 per cent owned by large companies, and has a total turnover of less than 40 MECU or annual balance sheet of less than 27 MECU. This definition dates from 1996, and replaces and earlier definition that included enterprises less than 500 employees. It includes medium, small (less than 50 employees) and micro-enterprises (less than 10 employees).

TAP (Telematic Applications Programme). A European Union research and technology programme under the Fourth Framework. Its focus is the application of information of information and communications technologies in areas such as education, heath, transport and libraries.

TCA (Telecottage Association). The biggest telework association in the UK. Although its roots are in the telecottage movement its full title is The Telework, Telecottage and Telecentre Association.

Teleactivity A generic term not widely used, to include all types of Teleactivity that are part of telework, Teletrade or Telecooperation. Examples of teleactivities are teleshopping, telebanking, telemedicine etc.

TWI Telework Ireland, the Professional Association of Teleworkers in Ireland.

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). An Emerging cellular standard that supports speeds up to 2Mbps, and designed as a successor to GSM. Its name is slightly misleading in that one of its aims to provide seamless services to users across both fixed and mobile networks.

Videoconferencing The use of camera (with microphone) and monitor to allow visual communications over a high-speed communications link (typically 1 Mbps or higher) instead of proximity face-to-face communications.

Virtual Organization An organization of various independent members that operates cooperatively (and may have been created) without the constrains of space and/or time.

Virtual Communities Communities that have been developed around an area of common interest, and use online techniques to sustain themselves.

Virtual Teams, Virtual Teaming The concepts of virtual working applied to a work team. Members of the team work at different locations and use Telecooperation methods to progress their joint work.

Webcasting Broadcasting live video and audio data over the Internet. For example, speeches and talking heads from conferences can be received by Internet users over the ordinary telephone network in real time.

WWW (World Wide Web). The collection of HTML pages that reside on Web servers across the world. It is estimated that are over 100 million publicly accessible www pages on the Internet, a number that has been more than doubling every year.