Glossary

0..9

2D Imager – A CCD based bar code reader that can read two dimensional bar codes. Some can even take monochrome photos up to a limited distance. Imagers usually have greater read range than traditional CCD bar code readers.

A

ADC – Automatic Data Capture. Sometimes also known as Automated Data Capture.

AIDC – Automatic ID Data Capture

Anti-Scud – Refers to a material that aids in the grip of a device. That is, it won’t slip out of the hand.

ATT – Asset Tracking Tool. A combination of software and hardware solutions designed to provide bar coding and RFID functions to tracking an organisation's assets. Usually integrated with an existing asset register such as SAP Financials / SAP Asset Register, Oracle Financials, Peoplesoft ERP, and others.

B

Backslit – A slit through the backing paper of a label to facilitate separation of the label.  Also known as Back Slit.

Bluetooth – A short range radio technology for portable and mobile devices, aimed at simplifying communications.  A specification for short range radio links between computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and other portable electronic devices.

C

CCD – Charge coupled Device (CCD) barcode scanners are durable, low power, maintenance free scanners that read bar codes by taking a picture that is decoded. Because CCD scanners have no moving parts, they are generally more rugged than laser scanners. Traditionally they have a shorter read range than lasers, but newer generation CCD scanners now provide comparible results in many circumstances.

CF – Compact Flash

CSI – Carbon Side In. Used with ribbons to indicate the ink wind direction. Also known as Face In, Carbon Side In means that the wax resin material on the ribbon faces the inside of the roll.

CSO – Carbon Side Out. Used with ribbons to indicate the ink wind direction. Also known as Face Out, Carbon Side Out means that the wax resin material on the ribbon faces the outside of the roll.

D

Direct Thermal (DT) – A printing process which uses heat (from a print head) to develop and image on the media (label) that has a special heat sensitive coating on its surface.

Drop Tested – Drop testing is performed to determine the ability of products to withstand changes in motion and applied forces. A product will be repeatedly dropped from a particular height to determine its durability. Common products that are tested include printed circuit boards for cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and handheld GPS units.

E

EEPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

EPL – Eltron Print Language. Eltron printers are now branded as Zebra however the ELP is often found in the smaller desktop printer range.

ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning. A term used to describe “company wide” management systems such as SAP.

EZ Job - Is a graphical user interface (GUI) application generation software for the Unitech HT580 running Microsoft Windows 2000/XP. It is applied to design, simulate and generate programs on the PC environment for the HT580, as well as downloading and uploading programs or files between the PC and HT580. EZ Jobs main functions are data entry, search, edit, simulations, store data entry, Browse and delete.

F

Face In – Face In. Used with ribbons to indicate the ink wind direction. Also known as Carbon Side In (CSI), Face In means that the wax resin material on the ribbon faces the inside of the roll.

Face Out – Face Out. Used with ribbons to indicate the ink wind direction. Also known as Carbon Side Out (CSO), Face Out means that the wax resin material on the ribbon faces the outside of the roll.

Fanfold – Paper made from a web and folded like a fan lengthwise and sometimes crosswise.

G

GPRS – General Packet Radio Service. This is the technology used to transmit data on standard digital GSM Mobile Telephone networks.

GUI – Graphical User Interface

H

HF – High Frequency.

I

Ingress Protection – IPxx. IP refer to an international classification system for the enclosures of electrical equipment against the intrusion of foreign bodies into the equipment (i.e., tools, dust, fingers, moisture). This classification system utilises the letters "IP" ("Ingress Protection") followed by two digits that refer to the degrees of protection.

IP54 – protection from dust and splashed water

IP64 –

IP65 –

Intrinsically Safe – A term used to describe rugged mobile computers that can be used in hazardous environments where explosives or flammable gasses may be present. The power usage of the device is such that it is below the levels required to set off an explosion.

J

K

Keyboard Wedge – An interface that allows peripheral devices, such as basic bar code scanner, to plug into a computer. The "wedge" converts scanned data to "keyboard strokes" so the PC can interpret the data.

L

Laser – Laser scanner. Laser bar code scanners normally read only one dimensional bar codes and typically  provide the greatest read distance and ability to read in bright light, including sunlight.

LCD – Liquid Crystal Display.

M

MMT – Materials Management Tool. An application designed to connect real world devices such as bar code scanners, Pick To Light systems and RFID equipment to ERP systems including SAP and others. Originally designed for SAP long before SAP had an offering for a bar code solution for their WM an IM modules. Certified by SAP Labs in Toyko in 1998, MMT still utilises a superior interfacing technology to connect the operations of the warehouse back to SAP, providing sub second response time to the warehouse along with the ability to operate for periods when SAP connectivity may be unavailable.

N

NEL – Narrow Edge Leading. The narrow edge of the label is leading off the roll.

O

P

PalmOS – Palm Operating System

PCMCIA – Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. PCMCIA cards can be used for wireless connectivity, modems and other functions in laptops, notebooks and PC’s that may be lacking them natively.

PDA - Personal Digital Assistant.

PDF417 – Portable Document Format 417 bar code. A two dimensional bar code.

Perforated – A line of holes in a label and / or backing paper to facilitate separation.

Pick To Light – A technology where digital displays inform humans about pick quantities. Typically used in areas where extremely high picking activity is required.

Pocket PC – An operating system environment for "Windows" PDAs based on the Windows CE core operating sytstem. Pocket PC includes a different layout of the user interface and additional applications. Current versions are now referred to as "Windows Mobile".

Polypropylene – The most common variety of synthetic materials used in bar code labels. Far more durable than paper and usually tear proof.

POS – Point of Sale.

Q

R

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification. RFID is an automatic identification method relying on storing and remotely retrieving data on a tag. The tag has an embedded antenna for communicating with the RFID reader. Tags can be "active" and include a battery or other power source, or more commonly "passive" where the tag gets its energy from the reader. Passive tags receive a "big wave" of radio energy from the reader and reflect or echo back a "little wave" containing their identity.

RS232 – Recommended Standard 232. Commonly used in computer serial ports and printers, becoming less popular since the late 1990’s as other communications have become more popular including USB.

RoHS Compliance – Restriction of Hazardous Substances. Also known as Lead-Free or Directive 2002/95/EC, originates from the European Union and restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. Australia is also looking to adopt this directive. See www.rohsguide.com for further information.

Rugged / Ruggedised / Ruggedized – A term used to describe mobile computers, PDA’s, bar code scanners and RFID equipment that has been designed to operate in harsh environments and working conditions.  The Ingress Protection (IPxx) rating given to ruggerdised equipment relates to the specific conditions in which the device is expected to functions despite extreme weather and other conditions present in the operating environment.

S

Scan Pack – A method of packing goods where each item must be scanned individually into uniquely identified containers.  Commonly used in "supply to retail" and in conjusntion with a business to business message called an Advance Shipment Notice (ASN),  The ASN contains the items and container identifiers, allowing the receiver to greatly improve their receiving process because they know the expected contents of each container.

SDIO Slot – Secure Digital Input Output Slot. SDIO slots provide devise like bar codes scanners, PDA’s, mobile computers and digital cameras with additional storage space. GPS receivers, WiFi or Bluetooth adapter, modems, RFID and Ethernet adapters can be incorporated into other devices with the SDIO slot.

SDK – Software Development Kit

Stylus – Pen tool provided as inbuilt accessory with many PDAs and mobile computers to facilitate “typing” or data entry on the device.

Symbology – Refers to the type of Bar Code “language” or "font". There are many different bar code symbologies from commonly used Code 39 and EAN13 through to Codabar, most commonly used for blood products and within the medical industry.

T

T&A – Time and Attendance

TCP – Transmission Control Protocol. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to another using a strategy to insure that the data will not be lost in transmission or be effected by unwanted interference from other devices.

Thermal Transfer (TT) – A printing process which uses heat (from a print head) to transfer a pigmented wax or resin from a ribbon onto the media (label).

TFT – Thin Film Transistor. A more modern variant of traditional Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

U

UHF – Ultra High Frequency. A band of electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. In Australia, UHF RFID is licensed to operate between 918-926MHz at 1 watt. Special licensing must be obtained from GS1 to run UHF RFID interrogators at 4 watts.

USB – Universal Serial Bus. USB was designed to allow many peripheral devices (mice, keyboards, PDA’s, cameras, printers) to be connected to a PC using a standardised interface socket. Its popularity over connection methods like RS232 are largely due to its plus-and-play capabilities, ability to provide power to other devices and does not require individual device drivers to be installed.

V

VOIP – Voice Over Internet Protocol. A protocol designed for the transmission of voice data through the internet or other switched packet networks. A popular example in widespread use is the service globally available over the internet known as SKYPE.

W

WEL – Wide Edge Leading. The wide edge of label is leading off the roll.

WiFi – A local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet.  802.11 b/g/n

Windows CE – Also referred to as Windows CE.net in later versions. The core operating system for many Windows consumer electronics devices, including PDAs, smart phones and embedded systems.  Most commonly coupled with Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) or Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition.

Windows Mobile – A user interface and applications based on Windows CE designed especially for mobile devices such as PDAs.  Previously called PocketPC.

X

Y

Z

ZPL – Zebra Print Language. The native print language used by Zebra printers. However many new Zebra printers use Eltron Print Language (EPL) today and some printer models support both. Care should be take to understand the exact print language required when selecting a replacement printer for an existing application. For new installations, either choice is acceptable.