Technology glossary

	Definitions
CD-ROM	^{(Compact Disk–Read Only Memory): Disk resembling an audio CD, but containing data in the form of text, images, and sounds. CD-ROMs can be read only on computers equipped with a CD-ROM drive. Currently, a CD-ROM can hold} ^{the equivalent of 250,000 pages or 5,000 images.}
CD-ROM Extra	A CD-ROM that allows both data processing (with data read by a computer) and conventional use (with data read by a CD player).
CDI	^{(Compact Disk Interactive): In the early days of the CD-ROM medium, some were called CDIs in order to specify their content and use. Since then, CD-ROM has come to encompass the term, with the understanding that all CD-ROMs are interactive.}
Data medium	Medium containing software or data. Diskettes have been replaced by CD-ROMs and cartridges; in the near future, DVD will be the standard data medium.
Digital data	^{Information in the form of bits that can be used by computers. Texts, photographs, videos, and sounds can be digitized.}
DVD	^{The data medium of the future, destined to be the new standard within the next few years. Although it is about the same size as a CD-ROM (about 12 cm in diameter), a DVD can hold a huge quantity of data (up to 17 gigabytes, or almost 30 times more than a CD-ROM). This capacity is directly linked to the amount of memory required for video and audio. For example, a DVD will be able to hold a movie with several translations, the movie’s soundtrack, and an interactive interface. At the moment, the term for which DVD stands is vacillating between "Digital Video Disc" and "Digital Versatile Disc."}
HTML	Programming language for building Web sites. An abbreviation for Hyper Text Markup Language, HTML allows users to create links between words to provide access to information on a thematic basis.
Hyperlinks	Links allowing easy navigation between elements of different types: visual, audio, text, animation, video sequences, etc.
Hypertext	Similar to a hyperlink but using text only.
Interactive	^{Describes software that facilitates process of consulting or navigating through a product. The notion of interactivity is essential for CD-ROMs, as it indicates the dynamic of how they are used.}
Interface	^{Any means of communication between a user and a computer, such as images (graphical interface) or texts (text interface) displayed on a screen. Also, any apparatus that permits communication between two devices—for instance, between a VCR and a DVD reader or between a computer and a modem.}
Internet	Interconnection via cable or satellite of a large number of computers, belonging to both individuals and businesses, in such a way as to permit distribution and rapid and personalized exchange of images andinformation of all types
Multimedia	^{Computers, software, compact discs, and remote servers capable of processing or containing data of different types: texts, images, sounds. A key element in multimedia is the interactivity between the users and the application.}