Active Matrix LCD - A flat panel display that uses a solid state device to control each pixel cell for a higher quality image.

Amp or Amplifier - Devise which amplifies a signal. Audio or video signals.

ANSI - American National Standards Institute (ANSI Lumens)

Aspect Ratio - Ratio of height to width of a projection screen or image.

Audio In - Input audio connection for an electronic device such as a VCR, usually female RCA jacks.

Audio Out - Output audio signal from a device such as a VCR or CD player, usually female RCA jacks.

Bandwidth - Measurement of data flow capabilities.

Baud Rate - Data transmission speed, 28.8K baud is 28,800 bits per second.

Composite Video - Combines vertical-horizontal synchronization signals, color and picture into a single signal line usually a BNC or RCA type of connection.

Compressed Resolution - An electronic method of reducing the resolution of a signal to operate on a lower resolution device. An example would be an LCD Projector that has a maximum resolution of 800x600 pixels being used with a computer that is displaying 1024x768 resolution. The image quality will be reduced when compressed.

Compressor - Audio control device for automatically adjusting sound levels.

Convergence - Alignment of Red, Green, and Blue video guns to combine and produce a single color video display.

CRT - Cathode Ray Tube or picture tube as in a video or computer monitor.

DAT- Digital Audio Tape recorder/player

Decibel (db) - Unit of measure for comparing sound levels or electronic signal levels.

DLP / Digital Light Processing - Advanced beyond LCD and CRT technology for projector systems. DLP is best described as a semi-conductor light switch. Thousands of tiny, square mirrors, 16 microns wide, fabricated with 'hinges' on a static ram access chip (SRAM) make up a DMD. (Digital Mirror Device) Each mirror is capable of tilting between two states, on and off. Each mirror then switching one pixel of light. An average human hair is as wide as the width of four mirrors. The mirrors are capable of switching the pixel on and off more than 1000 times per second.

Drape Line - The line in an event set up that staging drape will follow.

Equalizer - Audio device with multiple frequency controls for adjusting sound tone quality. Often abbreviated as simply 'EQ'.

Front Projection - System where the presentation information is displayed onto the front of the screen, the side facing the audience.

Hand Held Microphone - Common style of microphone that can either be held in the hand or attached to a lectern or mic stand. Can be hard wired or wireless technology.

HDTV - High Definition Television

Hertz (Hz) - Unit of frequency measurement. 1,000 Hz = 1,000 cycles per second.

IEEE - Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, sets standards.

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network. High speed Internet access, digital video and voice. Interface Connection or isolation device such as connecting a telephone line to sound equipment.

Interlaced - Two horizontal video scans (odd, even) per video frame, NTSC is a 2: 1 interlace system.

Keystone - Trapezoid distortion usually caused by the projector being located lower than the screen center line or bottom. Most current data projectors have the capability to control this effect.

Kilohertz (Khz) - Unit of frequency measurement. 1Khz = 1,000 cycles per second.

Laser Pointer - Handheld device that projects a bright red light, typically used for manually pointing at a projection screen.

LCD / Liquid Crystal Display - LCD Projector an electronic Video/Data projector for displaying video and computer images on a large projection screen.

LCD Projection Panel - A flat panel LCD device that is placed on an overhead projector to display video and computer images.

Light Valve Projector- Very bright projection system for theater size screens.

Lumens - Unit of light measurement typically for projectors.

Luminance - Video imaging relative brightness Lux Unit of light measurement typically for cameras

Megahertz (Mhz) - Unit of frequency measurement. 1Mhz = 1,000,000 cycles per second.

Mixer - Audio or Video device used for adjusting and combining multiple signals from various sources.

Monitor - CRT based TV or Computer video display. Also can apply to audio speakers used to 'monitor' the audio going to the main speakers.

Multimedia - Any combinations of Video, Audio and Visual presentations.

Non Interlaced - Only a single horizontal video scan per video frame.

NTSC - National Television Standards Committee. (U.S. Television uses NTSC standards)

Overhead Projector - Used for displaying 8½ x 11 transparencies onto a projection screen.

PAL - Phase Alternate Line. Television standards used primarily in Western Europe.

Parallel Port - Computer input/output connection that transmits data multiple bits at a time. (Ex. Printer)

Pixel - The smallest picture element making up the computer video display.

Progressive Scan  - The progressive scan format outputs data from the camera (the signal) in sequential order as it is scanned. The scan format produces a full frame of video in a continuous stream, rather than half the image per output sequence in traditional RS-170 CCD cameras. Standard RS-170 video is interlaced and output in two separate fields, generating essentially half the image at a time. With Cohu's new 6600 Series Progressive Scan Camera, a new, full image is output from the camera every 1/60th second, making it ideal for machines to more quickly process and display information, or act according to programmed instructions.

Rear Screen Projection - Locating the projector behind a translucent screen to be viewed from the front.

Resolution - Number of pixels contained in the maximum screen viewing area. As in computer resolutions. 800 x 600, 1024 x 768.

Rigging - Devises that are used to suspend and support equipment above floor level.

RGB - Red, Green, Blue are the basic light components that make up color TV and computer displays.

Scan Rate - Horizontal and Vertical scan speeds, usually specified in Kilohertz or Hertz.

SCSI - Small Computer Systems Interface (scuzzy)

Scanning - The electronic process of moving an electron beam across the CRT surface.

SECAM - Television standards, the TV system used in France and throughout the Eastern Block Republics.

Serial Port - Computer input/output connection that transmits data 1 bit at a time. (Ex. Mouse)

Slide Projector - Used for displaying 35mm and 2"x2" slides on a projection screen.

Slide View Box - Box with light source and translucent panel used to view and sort slides used by slide projector.

Sync Synchronization - scanning signals that are used to keep the video display generator locked to the source.

SVGA - Super Video Graphics Array. Resolution = 800x600 pixels

SXGA - Super Extended Graphics Array. Resolution = 1280x1024 pixels

Telephone Interface - Device to connect a telephone line to sound system equipment for large group conference calls.

VGA - Video Graphics Array. Resolution = 640x480 pixels

Video In - Input video connection for an electronic device such as a VCR, female RCA jacks or BNC.

Video Out - Output video signal from a device such as a VCR or Camera, female RCA jacks or BNC.

Video Switchers - Devise to switch between several video sources such as cameras and video playback decks. Some units are simply a hard switch with out any type of transition when the source is switched. More advanced equipment is available to add a professional look by adding various transitions to the visual output such as a soft fade.

XGA - Extended Graphics Array. Resolution = 1024x768 pixels