Upcoming Events
Unite 2010
11/10 - 11/12 @ Montréal, Canada

GDC China
12/5 - 12/7 @ Shanghai, China

Asia Game Show 2010
12/24 - 12/27  

GDC 2011
2/28 - 3/4 @ San Francisco, CA

More events...
Quick Stats
134 people currently visiting GDNet.
2406 articles in the reference section.

Help us fight cancer!
Join SETI Team GDNet!
Link to us Events 4 Gamers
Intel sponsors gamedev.net search:
Look Up: (916 Terms)
Browse the Dictionary
Section:
Categories:
Audio (80) Business (59) Community (19)
Design (89) Design Patterns (7) File Formats (32)
Games (64) General (83) Graphics (241)
Hardware (54) Network (41) OS (26)
People (30) Programming (143)
Contributions by Jeremy T. Gibson
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. As opposed to SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line), an ADSL connection runs through an ordinary phone line and receives data over the internet at high speeds, comparable to those of cable modems, though it transmits data at only a fraction of the speed at which it receives data -- but still faster than a conventional 56Kbps modem.
See Also:SDSL
Cable Modem
An internet service which transmits data through a thick cable to the consumer; naturally, this means that a lot of data can be transmitted quickly. Though the technology itself has no self-imposed limits -- other than the maximum speed possible for transmission -- cable companies often place maximum speeds on the internet connections, since people generally don't need much upload speed. This is in the best interest of the consumer, because it allows everyone to have fair access to the total amount of speed available to the company.
See Also:Modem
Modem
A shorter term for "modulator/demodulator". This is a device which takes data from a computer and turns it into a series of audio pulses which can be sent over a telephone line; on the receiving end, these pulses are "demodulated" into a copy of the original data. Modern internet devices like ADSL and cable no longer use this exact type of technology, but the term "modem" has been expanded to include these devices.
See Also:Cable Modem
SDSL
Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. This is a high-speed internet connection which, like a cable modem, runs at very high speeds. Unlike conventional ADSL (Assymetric Digital Subscriber Line), however, an SDSL connection is "symmetric" -- it receives data just as fast as it sends data, and in both cases, this is very fast. However, SDSL requires its own special line -- whereas ADSL runs through a normal phone line -- and is very expensive.
See Also:ADSL


Navigation
Home
About
Contributors
Add Definition

The Game Dictionary™ is a trademark of GameDev.net LLC. No duplication, reproduction, or transmission of the Game Dictionary or its content is allowed without the consent of GameDev.net LLC.