Glossary

Providing your business with the capability to create an efficient digital workflow within your office. Combining with all common file types, Postscript 3 allows the printing of documents in super high resolution.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is the common name given to the type of technology that is used to provide an internet connection to the premises that is ‘always on’. This technology does not utilise the full capacity of an analogue line meaning that it is possible to make voice calls over the line.

A format that uses continuous variables such as voltage amplitude of frequency variations to transmit information.

Is a Linux based operating system created by Google. Each release is code named after a desert in alphabetical order.

The short hand term used for the ITU G.992.5 Annex M Standard. This is another standard of ADSL but focuses on upstream rather than downstream. In practice Annex M can be more than double the upstream speeds of the standard ADSL product.

(ADF) is a feature of some multifunctional printers, fax machines, photocopiers and scanners. Found on the top of a device, it works by taking multiple pages, then feeding them into the device one at a time.

Refers to printing in black and white. Laser printers are typically black and white only. They are the cheapest printers to run and can print the highest volume in the shortest amount of time.

Measure of information-carrying capacity of an optical fibre usually measured in MHz.km at a specific wavelength. The higher the bandwidth, the more information can be transmitted over that fibre.

Attaches to the front of your printer and extends your existing paper tray. This will give you the ability to print long pieces of paper and banners. Paper several meters long can be fed into your printer by using this type of extension. A banner feeding tray can diversify the type of printing your business can do in house, for a relatively cheap price.

Your printer has two output bins: the standard output bin on top of the printer and an exit tray. Your printer directs all media, except transparencies and envelopes, to the standard output bin. Transparencies and envelopes are automatically directed to the exit tray to reduce curling.

The science and technology of measuring and analysing biological data. It is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. Examples include fingerprint technology, face recognition, DNA, palm print, iris recognition and many more.

Is a technology standard for short range data communication, such as transferring files or using a wireless headset.

Also known as the Paper Pass Unit.This unit allows different functions to be added to a copier such as sorters and finishers.

A generic name given to products that allow you to access the internet. These products are always connected and do not utilise the whole capacity of an analogue line (PSTN) which still allows for voice calls to be made. Also see ADSL, ADSL2+ and FTTC.

A bypass tray reduces the risk of a paper jam by offering an alternative short, straight paper path. It can be used if you want to print on your own card or paper or copy straight onto originals. It is ideal for materials which can not be fed into a regular copy paper tray such as,coloured paper, odd-sized paper and card stock.

A way of correcting for the variation in output of a device such as a printer or monitor when compared to the original image data from the scanner.

Allows you to identify the telephone number of who is calling you on the screen. If that number has been saved as a contact, their name will appear. The caller can select to withhold their number and this will appear as ‘withheld’ or ‘unknown’.

Identifies the four colours used in traditional printing presses. This stands for: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Process of compacting digital data, images and text. Software algorithms search the raster image to build a greatly condensed (from a file storage perspective) format of the image.

The toner, paper, fuser oil, developer, or any other materials or parts that must be periodically replaced in a copier.

This ensures that paper does not curl or warp when moving through the photocopier, especially when using duplex printing.

A security system that aims to reduce the risk of document information being compromised. The Data Overwrite Security Unit writes over temporary stored information held on the hard drive, making it unreadable.

Needs to be enabled to allow data services, and their supplementary services such as MMS to work outside of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

When using a photocopier, information is stored on the hard drive. It is imperative that sensitive data is secure and ultimately wiped once the photocopier is redundant. Securing data is also a legal requirement.

Optional feature on some digital copiers which allows you to have the date and time stamped on copies.

Direct Dialing-In, a facility enabling telephone users to dial direct into a firm’s PABX extensions as if they were normal public telephone numbers.

Uses an array of sensors that scan the image of a document and prepare it for digital processing.

The original document is placed on a glass plate, like on a photocopier, or is sent to the digital duplicator from a computer. Then, the image is burned on a master in a pattern of tiny dots. Digital duplicators burn images consisting of up to 600 dpi. Once the image is burned into the master, the master is wrapped around a drum that contains ink. As the drum spins, the ink is pushed through the tiny holes in the master onto the paper.

The use of digital technology to enlarge an image.

Domain Name System whereby Internet Domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. In practical terms it can be likened to a telephone directory in that it can convert a name into a number that in turn is used to provide a method of contact between two or more parties. When you enter a domain into your browser, for example www.google.co.uk , the DNS service will look up the IP address of the domain and route your traffic to and from that IP address.

A distinct subset of the Internet with addresses sharing a common suffix or under the control of a particular organisation or individual.

Is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, usually smaller computer system. From the Internet user's point-of-view, to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it.

In computer networking and computer science, bandwidth, network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth is a measurement of bit-rate of available or consumed data communication resources.

The transmission of packets (data) from a server or the internet towards an end user usually expressed in Mbit/s (megabit per second)

The heart of a copier on which the image is formed. It consists of an aluminum core with multiple layers of light and charge sensitive material such as selenium, or an organic based material.

Technology for transferring digital data over standard telephone lines.

The ability to print on both sides of a page. This cuts the amount of paper used in half. Duplex copying is also possible with an “automatic reverse document feeder” which can handle two sided originals.

An option that attaches to duplicators and allows you to edit the master electronically.

Ethernet for the First Mile is part of the Ethernet family of computer network protocols between telecommunications company and a customer’s premise. From the customer’s point of view, it is the ‘first’ mile, although from the access networks point of view it is known as the last mile. EFM can deliver symmetrical speeds and is much more resilient rather than the standard ADSL or Fibre to the Cabinet Products.

Messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network.

The activity of converting data or information into code, which can only be read by permitted people. This is a security feature.

An ink-jet attachment on a scanner that prints a text string on a page as it is scanned. Sometimes called an imprinter.

Allows the creation of high compression PDFs.

An IEEE network protocol standard for a 10 Mbit/s local area network. The IEEE 802.3 standard defines the various requirements and speeds of Ethernet that include 100 Mb/s, 1000 Mb/s and 10 Gb/s, Ethernet.

Family of computer networking technologies for local area networks.

Document cost management and output management solutions for printers, copiers and multifunction devices.

A telephone exchange is a centralised location housing telecommunication broadband equipment that interconnects (switch) telephone subscribers.

3rd party finishers that can be attached to the printer, to enable stapling or booklet making functions.

Is a type of print server which interfaces with a photocopier. Fiery Print Servers are typically only required for printing on very high volume, mono photocopiers or for high quality colour photocopying/printing.

A piece of security hardware or software that prevents unauthorised users from accessing private networks connected to the internet. Firewalls separate computers from the internet and check data as it arrives into the firewall or out of the computer to decide if it should be allowed to enter or be blocked if they do not meet the stated security criteria.

Is a part found in some photocopiers and printers. It provides extra features in the final format of the documents produced, such as stapling or duplexing (double-sided printing).

Fibre to the Cabinet uses the short term for a broadband connection using fibre optic to replace the usual metal local loop used for connection to an exchange. With FTTC, the optical fibre replaces the copper from the DP (street cabinet) to the exchange. In practice this allows for much higher speeds as the length of copper is much shorter and also boasts increased stability over its ADSL counterpart. With FTTC, the DLSAM is located in the cabinet rather than the exchange.

Allows you to run artwork to the edge of a page, and avoid having a ‘paper coloured’ border around the edge of a document.

The fuser rollers heat the page after the toner is applied. The toner partially melts and then sticks to the page for a permanent bond.

Is a connection point to an external network. In most scenarios this would be the internet. Commonly when setting up a router, you will see what is called the default gateway.

General Packet Radio Service is a packet oriented mobile data service on 2G and 3G networks. GPRS is sometimes described as 2.5G and provides moderate-speed data transfer.

Global Positional System is a series of satellites whose signals are triangulated to provide an accurate location or even weather conditions. This technology is used with mapping software, such as Apple Maps or Google Maps, as well as traditional GPS hardware such as a Tom Tom.

A disk drive used to read from and write to a hard disk.

A home network or home area network is a type of local area network that develops from the need to facilitate communication and interoperability among digital devices present inside or within the close vicinity.

This is the interface where you will configure and manage your horizon service. There are two levels – user levels and admin levels.

(Internet fax) enables you to send and receive faxes over the internet.

Local area network is a computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office or small buildings, such as a school or a network. The defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to wide area networks (WANs), include their usually higher data transfer rates, smaller geographic area, and lack of a need for leased telecommunication lines.

Telephony service for both geographic and non-geographic numbers that provides online access to a full range of calls.

An inner finisher is incorporated within the photocopier itself, giving the photocopier additional features such as increased tray volumes, or saddle-stitch tray for document finishing.

Enables a user to use voice and SMS service whilst overseas.

Internet Service Provider is a company or organisation that provides broadband with access to the internet.

Apple’s mobile operating systems, found on iPhones, iPods and iPads.

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.

Integrated Service Digital Network lines predate broadband, offering speeds of up to 128Kbps. Although ISDN services are still available, most businesses will find broadband to be a better value offering.

Local Loop Unbundling is the process where the incumbent operator (BT Openreach) makes their local network (the copper cables that run from customers premises to the telephone exchange) available to other companies. Operators are then able to install their own equipment allowing them to provide their own service direct to the customer.

A bespoke service covering: general maintenance, ordering and purchasing of cartridges, arranging engineer call outs, providing meter readings and anything else in the print management area. In essence a managed print service takes care of all aspects of print workflow.

Equivalent to about 1 million Bytes

An instance of faulty feeding of something (typically paper) through a machine.

The number of A4 size originals a scanner can scan per minute.

Making outgoing calls

An optional finisher that places sheets into aligned sets for stacking or off-line binding.

The number of sheets of paper a copier can store in the paper tray(s).

Also known as the Bridge Unit, it allows different functions to be added to a copier such as sorters and finishers.

Can be attached to the paper tray to prevent the theft of valuable forms, blank cheques or just plain paper from your printer or copier paper trays.

Thickness or weight of paper that is ideal for use in the photocopier, measured in gsm (grams per m2).

Setting which allows photographs to be copied more clearly.

A way of spreading the cost of your copier whilst ensuring it is professionally maintained. Leasing can be a cost efficient method of acquiring a photocopier at a quarterly agreed rate.

Servicing is a way of keeping your photocopier well maintained. General servicing keeps the photocopier running to its optimum.

This booklet maker is a flexible solution for creating booklets. Options include: Movable staple position, a fold mechanism and book fold option.

(Pages Per Minute) the number of pages a device can output per minute. This varies between machines but also between B&W, colour copies and paper sizes.

Assessing print volumes, consumption, running costs and specific user requirements to establish how much is currently spent, and how much could be saved.

Attaches a copier to a computer network and converts files into printing instructions for the copier. Also known as a raster image processor (RIP).

If your company prints over a network, printer ports must be created to allow connections to form between print servers and printers.

Public Switched Telephone Network is the name given to a standard copper telephone line.

Many photocopier models come with the option to punch paper so the documents can be instantly placed into ring binders. This eliminates the need to punch documents manually, further enhancing workflow in an office.

Is the ability for an end user to make and receive calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, by means of using visited network).

Refers to a method of book binding. The sheets are gathered together, folded in half and then stapled through the fold line. For example creating a5 booklets from a4 paper. It is most effective for binding booklets with less than 65 pages.

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a version of DSL where the upload and download speeds are the same. i.e. symmetric

Ensures that when you send documents to print, they will not come out of the printer until you have manually entered your details into the machine. This is usually done by username, password or by swiping a smart card.

The session initiation protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol for initiating, managing and terminating voice and video sessions across packet networks. Calls set up by SIP use Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) to carry packetised speech between the codecs in the phones.

A device for reading a card whichrecognises a card and its information. This is often used to control access to a photocopier, authenticating the user.

When printing out documents with multiple pages, the sorter unit can ensure the last page of one document and the first page of the next document are distinguished by breaking the alignment by a few mm. The sorter can also staple each document to create individual booklets.

SRA3 is slightly larger than standard A3 size. Its dimensions are 320 mm X 450 mm.

Allows you to stamp every page, in order to add a date or page number.

The IP address signed to a router when it gains authentication. This IP address will always be the same for the duration of the broadband service unless it is specifically requested to be changed by the ISP.

Machine equipped with a long heavy removable knife for trimming paper sheets with a downward slicing action.

The transmission packet (data) from a customer to a server or the internet usually expressed in Mbit/s (megabit per second)

Voice over Internet Protocol, or in more common terms, phone service over the internet. This is the delivery of a phone service delivered via your internet connection instead of from your local phone company.

Wide Area Network is a network that covers a broad area, for example any network that links across metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries. The most common example of this would be the internet.

Gives you direct access to the internet, for easy browsing of websites on the colour touch-screen. Enabling the user to access brochures and information in PDF format and print directly.

The colour balance on a digital camera. Applying white balance is the process of removing unrealistic colour cast, so objects that appear white in person are rendered white in the photo.

Allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.

The third generation of mobile technologies. In the UK, this is the UMTS Network.

The fourth generation of mobile technologies. In the UK, this is the LTE Network.