High Definition: An a to Z Guide to Personal Technology

Modern life is packed with information technology, but many technical terms leave us with puzzling questions. What’s the difference between an MP3 and an MP4? How is “electronic” different from “digital”? Where, and what, is the “cell” in my cell phone? High Definition: An A to Z Guide to Personal Technology provides answers to these and thousands of other questions about the technology we live with and depend on.

With more than 3,000 terms, this is the first dictionary to bring together both the basic and the not-so-basic vocabularies of home computers, cell phones, modems, the Internet, CD and DVD players, monitors and screens, gaming systems, and other information technology found in houses, offices, backpacks, and pockets. Both the nontechnically minded and the techno-savvy will find the explanations and cross-references helpful, clear, and interesting.

The dictionary helps to decipher in straightforward and accessible language the myriad of confusing terms associated with current technology.
Buyers can bone up on the technical specifications of electronic products and why they matter. With more than 500 abbreviations and acronyms, this is an indispensable reference in a world full of technological shorthand. No other book on the market puts so much information about the technology we use every day into one convenient and thorough volume.

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Encompassing more than three thousand terms, acronyms, and phrases, a comprehensive reference brings together the vocabulary of home computers, cell phones, modems, the Internet, CD and DVD players, screens and monitors, gaming systems, and other information technology. Original.

The Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries and of other reference titles published by Houghton Mifflin Company are trained lexicographers with a varied array of interests and expertise. Most of the editors hold graduate degrees and have studied at least one foreign language. Several have degrees in linguistics or in the history of the English language. Others have degrees in science or sometimes other disciplines. All the editors familiarize themselves with the vocabulary in specific subject areas, collect materials on new developments and usage, and work in association with consultants to ensure that the content of our publications is as accurate and as up-to-date as possible.

In the 21st century, information technology has become part of everyday life, and it can be confusing because of all the new vocabulary. For the first time, there’s a dictionary that brings together more than 3000 terms used to describe the components, functions, and applications of devices found in today’s homes and offices: cell phones, computers, MP3 players, gaming systems, CD and DVD players, and more. Words, phrases, and acronyms associated with these devices are very clearly explained, and even dictionary users who consider themselves technologically challenged will find comprehensible answers to their questions and not just more confusing language. Bottom Line This guide is not intended as merely a basic introduction to some of the most commonly used terms in today’s technology-driven environment. Those who are well versed will also appreciate the thoroughness and clarity of the definitions, illustrations, and cross references. This very affordable volume should be part of every reference collection, large and small; very highly recommended for public and academic libraries of all sizes.â€"Denise Dayton, Jaffrey Grade Sch., NH

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