VAP = A Value-Added Process to the NetWare operation system provided by a third party vendor.

Variable = A named container that holds values, either numeric or text.

VB = (See Visual Basic.)

VBE/AI = (See  Sound board)

VBX = (See Visual Basic and CORBA )

V-CD = (See CD-Karaoke)

VCR = A videotape player designed to connect to television sets or computer video capture boards. Videotapes are recorded in video format (e.g., NTSC or PAL) in half, three quarter, or one inch formats. The most common tape is the half-inch VHS tape, but for professional video materials and videodisc mastering one-inch tape is preferred. (See also VHS, Video, and Videodisc)

Veronica = This is a search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired information. The name is an acronym for "very easy rodent oriented net-wide index of computerized archives."

VESA = Video Electronics Standards Association that set such standards as the 1992 VL-Bus standards for local buses. A highly critical discussion of the VESA/BIOS Extension/Audio Interfase (VBE/A1) that is not backwards compatible with the Sound Blaster standard appears in New Media, June 1994, p. 18. (See also Sound board, Bus, ISO 9000, and VL-Bus)

VESA/BIOS = (See VESA)

VGA = (See Graphics adapter)

VHS = Videotape having 240-325 lines of horizontal resolution. Super VHS (S-VHS) and videodiscs contain up to 425 lines of resolution. S-VHS tape decks can also play VHS formats. (See also Video)

Video = A term that was once used to refer almost exclusively to analog recordings of images on tape that can be replayed at 30 or more frames per second (fps) depicting "full motion video." Since the age of digitization, the term now refers to analog or digital recordings (e.g., digitized video in computer files and HDTV) that can be replayed at 30 fps or a reasonably close approximation of full motion video. The term differs somewhat from "animation" in that animations are successions of still frames not necessarily intended to be "full-motion" at speeds comparable to video full motion. The highest quality video connectors are termed S-video connectors, whereas the lowest quality connector is the RF connector. Because of the tremendous bandwidth required for network transmission of video between computers, it is not yet common to watch a movie on the Internet. The wave of the future isMPEG compression. However, until there are millions of computer users with enough computer hardware capacity to run MPEG digitized video, Microsoft Video for Windows and Apple QuickTime will probably remain more common in CD-ROM authoring of education materials. Video options for the PC with particular stress upon Intel's Indeo Video amd Smart Video Recorder are analyzed by Liebman (1994). (See also Internet audio and video, Active video, Video server, HDTV, IDTV, PIP, POP, Videodisc-digital, Apple AV, Amiga, Ultimedia Video, Video for Windows, fps, MPEG, VHS, NTSC, PAL, and SECAM

Making videos and animations from still screens
Hi Richard,

Although I have not done so, it is my understanding that you can play a Flash movie within Authorware using Macromedia Flash Asset Xtra described at http://www.macromedia.com/.../awflash1.html 

I do not know how to create a flash movie from Authorware.  This seems a bit awkward since Authorware is an interactive hypermedia learning software.  Presumably, Nancy would like to create multiple movies for alternative hypermedia paths.  The purpose, I assume, is to avoid having to download the Authorware player and/or to make the presentation more like going to the movies rather than having to click your way through a maze of buttons and hotwords. 

If alternative hypermedia paths were each placed in a Flash or other movie, it would be possible to link each path's movie with simple HTML links.  But if that is the main purpose, it would seem that using Authorware in the first place is not an optimal choice.  I assume that Nancy already has the Authorware files authored and is now seeking a way to present parts of them in online videos.

Making avi files seems a bit heavy in terms of bandwidth and storage capacity required.   Isn't there an MPEG alternative?

I might add some notes that I placed in New Bookmarks on March 12, 1999.  I really like Lotus ScreenCam for making animations or videos of successions of screen images.  This software does not come with a user's manual because the software is so easy to use that no manual is necessary. You can also capture audio, although Brian Zwicker once noted that even professionals have problems with ambient noise (I also have this problem).    Lotus ScreenCam is great when you want to show students a succession of steps (software usage, journal entries, mathematics calculations, statistical tests, etc.) and narrate while you go. The reader is free (and not even necessary if you save the animation as a video).

In response to Brian's question, I don't think the quality of the audio or the video has a much of anything to do with whether you use Lotus ScreenCam, Microsoft Camcorder, or Hyperionics. HyperCam.  The quality issue depends more upon the hardware of the particular computer used when the video or animation is captured.

I will comment on Lotus ScreenCam scm animation files versus avi video files. When I make an animated scm file it looks great and requires a small amount of disk space, say 249Kb of space for a 62 second animation. If I save the same file as a video avi file the same segment requires up to 55,092Kb of disk space for the highest quality video.

A minor difference is that the scm player must be downloaded to play the 249Kb file or any other scm files (this free scm player is very quick and easy to download and install from the Lotus web site). Most computers already have some capability to play avi files without downloading a proprietary player.

The essence of this problem arises in terms of web bandwidth. I once downloaded a 3,153Kb avi file from Ronald Tidd's web site at http://www.sbea.mtu.edu/rrtidd/avi/Excel/excel97.htm. It took 78 minutes to download across a T1 line starting.  Of course the download would have been much faster when I arrived at work before 5:00 a.m. At either time of day, however, the download would have been much faster if Ronald had instead made a scm or other animation file of the same screen events the file would have been much smaller and flowed over the web much more efficiently.

As a compliment to Ronald, I want to stress that the quality of the audio and video is magnificent. However, It took 78 minutes to download a 3,153Kb file that only yields 45 seconds of playing time. One of the reasons for the high quality is his high sampling rate used in capturing the audio and video. A high sampling rate yields great quality at a great cost in terms of file size and bandwidth requirements on the Internet. I doubt that the software used matters nearly as much as the video/audio sampling rate, the quality of the microphone, the quality of the computer's capture hardware, and the screen resolution and video adapter quality of the computer itself (since we are talking about capturing successions of screen images here). I would opt for the Lotus ScreenCam scm file unless higher quality audio is absolutely essential. Users will save immense amounts of downloading time and disk storage space savings.

One drawback of the Microsoft Camcorder and the Hyperionics. HyperCam appears to be that they will only capture avi video files. Lotus ScreenCam provides a choice between the scm animation or the avi video options.

In any case, the relevant web sites are as follows (prices may have changed since March 12, 1999):

Lotus ScreenCam free trial version
http://www.lotus.com/home.nsf/tabs/screencam
$28 PC Zone price at 800-419-9663

Microsoft Camcorder
Free inside the MS Office 97 Package
Reviewed at http://winweb.winmag.com/library/1996/1296/12r48.htm

Hyperionics. HyperCam
http://www.hyperionics.com/
$30 for downloading at the Hyperionics web site

Bob (Robert E.) Jensen
Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Professor of Business
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212
Voice: (210) 999-7347  Fax:  (210) 999-8134 
Email:  rjensen@trinity.edu
http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard J. Campbell [mailto:campbell@RIO.EDU]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 3:37 PM
To: AECM@VAX.LOYOLA.EDU
Subject: Re: Authorware and Flash

Nancy:

I'm a Flash author, but not into Authorware, but I am sure that you can play a Flash movie WITHIN Authorware. Alternatively, you can capture a non-interactive Flash movie as an avi file using a product like Camtasia (www.techsmith.com), which is one product I'll be showing at my CEP workshop - "Techie Teaching Tips: Beynd PowerPoint" at the annual AAA meeting Session # 19.

http://www.rutgers.edu/.../00cpe19.htm

Richard J. Campbell

www.VirtualPublsihing.Net

mailto:campbell@VirtualPublishing.Net

-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy Lapierre [mailto:nlapierr@nbnet.nb.ca]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 9:28 PM
To: rjensen@trinity.edu
Subject: Authorware and Flash

Hello!

I would like to know how I can convert an Authorware presentation into a flash movie?

A message from Gary Schneider [garys@SANDIEGO.EDU] on July 27, 2001

I've had very good luck with a product called HyperCam from
         www.hyperionics.com

It does produce very fat AVI files, but those can be converted into MPEGs
with a free utility (link is on the Hyperionics site). HyperCam runs about
$30. They also have, if I recall correctly, a file editor that you can use
to touch up the AVIs before converting them. That product does cost
something closer to $100, but it is not essential for most people.

I've used Hyperionics' HyperSnap-DX for years to snap screen shots for my
books and have had very good experiences with the company and their support
of both products.

Video adapter = The video hardware that determines the resolution and color depth of screen images. A k-bit adapter can display 2 to the kth power colors. For example, an 8-bit adapter displays up to 256 colors whereas a 24-bit adapter can display over 16 millions colors in a single screen. In hypermedia authoring, problems are created when the color depth of the authored image is higher than the color depth of the user (customer, student, reader) computer. Mac and PowerPC computers will usually dither to make the image reasonably good for users, whereas PC users may have terrible images if their video adapters are too low in color depth. The same thing can happen if the user's PC screen resolution adapter is lower than the authored PC screen. These are terribly frustrating problems for authors and users. For this reason, most of the commercial PC graphics and video CD-ROM files are authored for lower video adapters than the author's video adapter. For example, the author may be capable of presenting a graphics image in 30 million colors in a resolution of 1024 by 768. The author may elect, however, to only use no more than 256 colors in standard VGA resolution in order to have better images on user computers with lower powered video adapters.

Video board = A somewhat misleading term that can apply to video capture and/or video playback hardware inside a computer. Video can be played back on computers without having video capture hardware. This enables CD-ROM users to view video and animations without having to install MPC or other standard video capture boards. However, if video capture boards are installed, users can also connect their computers to video sources (video recorders, video cameras, and television signals) in order to either view incoming video "on the fly" and/or capture segments of the video into digitized formats such as quicktime, avi, MPEG, or JPEG video formats. . Video board options for PCs are compared in NewMedia 1996 Tool Guide. In particular, Windows users should not purchase or install a video capture board before reading Doyle (1994b). He provides excellent advice on things to do before installing a Windows video board along with comparisons of alternative hardware options. Price is not currently a good indicator of quality and features. He also provides important advice for capturing and storing video files. For example, video files should not be saved using disk compression utilities like Doublespace or Stacker. For capturing and playback of digitized video into and out of computer files, a full-motion video frame grabber (digitizer) of some type allows authors to capture selected full-motion video (camcorder, videotape, videodisc, cable TV, satellite dish, etc.) images and convert those analog frames into digital graphics files on the computer. Video boards (cards) and frame grabbers start at around $200, but prices vary a great deal with vendors and options, including options under Microsoft Windows Video MCI standards, Apple QuickTime standards, IBM M-Motion (MM) standards, MPEG standards, and Intel Indeo standards. Virtually every major computer brand on the market has multiple options for video (multimedia) devices. Many of those devices also have accompanying frame grabber software. For example, readers may consider Pioneer's LaserActive system (213-746-6337). Compression boards for PCs come in a variety of prices and features. MPEG compression requires MPEG playback boards and/or MPEG authoring boards such as the Optibase MPG-1000 digital video code compression/decompression) board (800-451-5101).. Other alternatives such as XingIt from Xing Technology (800-294-6448) for video capturing software on ReelMagic MPEG playback hardware from Sigma designs (800-845-8086) are listed in Appendix 6. MPEG encoding compression boards are now available for under $1,000. Most computer vendors are now offering MPEG playback (decoding) options, but these differ from recording (encoding) options. However, until there are millions of computer users with newer computer hardware capacity to run MPEG digitized video, Microsoft Video for Windows under MCI standards and Apple QuickTime will probably remain more common in CD-ROM authoring of education materials until the market sorts out its preferences for MPEG, DVI, and the Intel Indeo. The term "video overlay" is used to depict a video board option to view live video "on the fly" in a monitor screen without burdening the CPU until the user elects to capture video. Not all video cards have video overlay options. (See also Active video, QuickTime, and Video capture)

Video camera  = A camcorder camera that records full-motion images and audio directly to videotape. Video cameras exist for filming tapes of varying widths. Usually the wider the tape (e.g. one inch versus half inch), the better the picture quality. However, other factors such as High 8 versus Regular 8 come into play. High 8 cameras are especially popular among hand-held cameras, because of the professional quality for the size and price of the camera. Users who, for example, purchase an 8 mm video camera can play the tape into a videotape recorder and record VHS tapes or videotapes of other widths. (See also Hi-8, VHS, and Dry camera)

Video camera = A camera that captures video to tape or tape cassettes. These are typically called camcorders with popular models being analog camcorders in Regular8 or Hi8 quality. (See also Dry camera and Video from digital (DV) camcorders)

Video camera still = (See Dry camera)

Video capture = a process of transforming a video (e.g., NTSC) image into a computer (digitized) image. Video capturing options are reviewed in New Media, March 24, 1997, pp. 58-70. The process entails adding hardware and software designed to transform an analog (TV) image, say from a videotape, into a digital computer image. Usually a video capture board must be installed that is compatible with the bus of the computer. For example, a PC generally has an ISA, EISA, or MCA bus that in turn requires a compatible video capture board inside the computer. Video boards also enable computer users to view videotape or television images "on-the-fly" without necessarily capturing the images into computer files. Video capture boards vary greatly in price and quality. What is best for a given computer depends a great deal upon the amount of RAM, video RAM, graphics adapter, screen resolution, color depth, and speed of the computer. More recent comparisons are provided by Doyle (1994a) and (1994b). In particular, Windows users should not purchase or install a video capture board before reading Doyle (1994b). He provides excellent advice on things to do before installing a Windows video board along with comparisons of alternative hardware options. Price is not currently a good indicator of quality and features. (See also Video board, Active video, and QuickTime)

Video card = (See Video board)

Video digital (DV) camcorders = (See Video from digital (DV) camcorders)

Video/audio networking (streaming)  = refers to audio and video on network that commences to play before files are fully downloaded. The terms "real" and "streaming" are synomyms in terms of network video and audio. For example, see http://www.tvontheweb.com/ and http://www.intrastream.com/ for an examples of streaming video players. An example of a daily news application is the Nightly Business Report delivered over real video at http://www.nightlybusiness.org/. Examples of real audio are provided at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/bookbob.htm#Real1 For more detail see Web streaming.

Videoconferencing = Remote communication in which two-way video images are transmitted with audio. Although this can be accomplished with video cameras on special telephone connections, it is now possible to become much more sophisticated with videoconferencing using computers. A review of available systems is provided by Sherman (1995). Many colleges have videoconferencing systems in place (e.g., see T H E. Technology Horizons in Education, September 1993, pp. 38-40). Purportedly, the highest proportion of videoconferencing worldwide is for education and training. A review of videoconferencing options for the Internet is provided in New Media, March 24, 1997. (See also IRC, Internet phones and videoconferencing, Teleconference, and DSS)

Videodisc = An antiquated  "large" (more than 12 cm or 4.72 inches) injection-molded optical disc containing digitized information that has been recorded with a laser device and must be read on a laser device known as a videodisc player. See CD-DVD for a discussion of why videodisc technology is in the sunset of its use in the world. The most common sizes are eight and 12-inch discs. A 12-inch disc will hold 54,000 video frames of super VHS quality. Full-length movies usually require more than one disc since only 30 minutes of video with audio can be stored on each side of a 12-inch CAV disc. A CLV disc can hold up to 60 minutes per side of a 12-inch disc. CLV holds more video but is more limited than CAV in terms of searching for individual frames. Two audio tracks can accompany a video track, thereby enabling educational audio to accompany entertainment audio. Although a videodisc resembles a CD-ROM in appearance, there are major differences. Relative to a CD-ROM disc, the laser disc is "large" in varying sizes of eight or more inches. Whereas a CD-ROM player can hold computer files and computer graphics images in common file extensions (e.g., GIF, BMP, PCX, TIF, JPG, etc.) and can be treated as a computer storage disc somewhat analogous to a high-capacity floppy disc, a videodisc cannot hold computer files. Videodiscs are more like videotape in that they are recorded in video formats such as NTSC or PAL or SECAM. Videodisc players are generally connected to television sets and will play on-the-fly in a computer only if that computer has a video board for any video source such as television inputs and VCR inputs. Videodisc and videotape images can be "captured" and transformed into computer files only if the computer has video capture hardware and software. Videodiscs are currently used in some multimedia presentations but their future in hypermedia is uncertain. Videodisc players cannot be made portable as CD-ROM players. Recently options became available for desktop recording of videodiscs. For example, Panasonic (201-348-7837) offers the LQ-3031T model starting at $12,500. However, most videodiscs mastered in professional labs require inputs of professional-quality videotape (usually one-inch videotape) produced in a video workstation. A second drawback of videodiscs is that, unlike CD-ROM discs, videodiscs cannot be previewed prior to being mastered. There are two types of videodiscs known as CAV and CLV. The most common entertainment and educational videodiscs are CLV discs. There are currently four levels of interactivity for videodisc players. Level "one" is controlled with an inferred or wired remote control or bar code reader. Level "two" players have programmable memory. Level "three" is controlled by an external computer which greatly improves interactive controls with hypermedia software. Level "four" is a high speed computer interface videodisc player that accesses each side of the videodisc. Level four is more useful for using a videodisc as an external storage device for computer data. For a short discussion of levels of interactivity see Lynch (1994), p. 19. Sources of educational videodiscs are given in Appendix 6. Applications in accounting education and training are listed in Appendix 1. Alternative videodisc players are discussed by Waring (1994a). Most hypermedia authoring software packages allow for interactive random access of videodiscs. NeXt users can control videodiscs from the Xanthus Craftman. One of the best buys for less than $1,000 is the MDP-1700R Multi Disc Player from Sony that plays different size discs and has an auto reverse feature that allows viewing and searching on both sides of the disc without having to turn the disc over in the playback machine. Videodiscs are likely to be overtaken by CD-DVD discs that will hold both video and data files. (See also CD-DVD, Bar codes, CAV, CLV, Delta Project, Videodisc-digital, CD, Titles, and CD-I)

Videodisc levels = (See Videodisc)

Videodisc-digital = A videodisc in digital format. For example, the DDV-7100 8-bit, 4.5 MHz bandwidth model was unveiled in October 1993 by Optical Disc Corporation (800-350-3500). The DDV-7100 will hold four hours of compressed digital video on one side of a 12-inch videodisc. Later systems will hold up to 10 gigabytes of data or one hour of HDTV. This technology is intended for interactive television of the future and for satellite uplinks and mass storage video servers. Playback units start at under $5,000 but recording units are likely to be found only in professional videodisc recording and reproduction laboratories since the disc recorder sells for almost $100,000 and requires other workstation hardware and software. This technology will probably be overtaken by newer CD-DVD technology. (See also CD-DVD)

Video Editing (Digital) 

"Digital Video Editing" by Reno Marioni, Webmonkey, April 24, 2002 --- http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/02/15/index4a.html 

In the pages that follow, I'll be taking a look at the basics of digital video editing and production using Apple's iMovie and Final Cut Pro 3, both of which run on the Macintosh (under either OS 9 or OS X).

iMovie is a free digital video editing program that comes bundled with every new Apple computer. It's geared towards the novice, so it's incredibly intuitive and easy to learn. Final Cut Pro 3 is a more complex and professional level program with lots of features and a price tag of US$999. That may seem like a lot of cash, but it's spare change compared to the costs of traditional video editing.

So the time has come for mere mortals - even poor, starving artists - to produce fine-tuned documentaries, commercials, music videos, and other works of video artistic expression. It just takes equal parts desire, dedication, and creative talent.

Continued at  http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/02/15/index4a.html 

Video for Windows = Animation and video files that originally were developed by Microsoft Corporation for PCs running under Windows. This has become a widely popular option for PCs operating under MCI standards. Like QuickTime, Video for Windows is a low cost and low fps option that will be common in CD-ROM authoring of education materials until MPEG compression options and video networking become more widespread. Although Microsoft's Video for Windows and Apple's QuickTime captured early market share leads in digital video, newer and better compression alternatives such as Indeo and MPEG probably will take over this market. (See also DVI, QuickTime, Indeo, MPEG, Video, AVI, MCI, and Ultimedia Video)

Video from digital (DV) camcorders = Camcorders that capture video directly into digital formats that offer many advantages for multimedia computer files. The captured video can be copied indefinitely with higher resolution, digitized audio, and no loss of frames. The mini-DV cassettes are smaller and have at least double the capacity of the Regular 8 and Hi8 analog cassettes. Vendors and products are reviewed by Doyle (1996). (See also Dry camera)

Video on the Internet = (See Internet audio and video)

Video overlay = (See Video capture)

Video scan conversion = (See Scan converter)

Video server = The combination of hardware and software that allows for storage and transmission of continuous animation and video in real time. The core of a video server is a continuous media operating system that allows animation, audio, and real-time video to be processed and transmitted across networks or over digital television satellites. Major players are rushing to develop video servers, including the over $100 million dollar per year effort by the Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and Microsoft Corporation to develop the Tiger video server as part of the overall information highway architecture development code named Mimosa by Microsoft managers. For a review see Soat (1994). Microsoft's Tiger Video Server competes head on with rival video servers from IBM, Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Silicon Graphics Corporation, and others. What is unique about Tiger is that it can save about 90% on costs and can network the video directly into PC computers. For comparisons of video servers, see The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 1994, p. B1. (Also see Switched network and Set-top box)

Islip Media Inc. in Pittsburgh offers a speech recognition search engine for video libraries. It is costly, howver, at $50,000 for a 50 user license. The Islip web site is at http://www.islip.com/

Video streaming = (See Web streaming)

Video toaster  = (See Amiga)

Virtual = a seeming reality that lacks some elements of total reality. Since the early days of computing, simulation has become the most common form of achieving virtual worlds for learning and research. The term "virtual" is now loosely applied in many contexts. At one extreme it is applied to most anything connected with a computer or networks. For example, network chat lines may be viewed as "virtual communities." Interactive creation (by multiple persons) of artificial worlds (e.g., MUDs, MOOs, MUSHes, simulations, etc.) has become a major component in creating virtual communities. At the other extreme there is virtual reality in its most advanced stages with headgear, wired body suits, simulated odors, simulated tactle sensations, surrounding 3-D worlds, interactions of multiple people and machines in a shared cyberspace, etc. Entire courses are either using or devoting the course to "virtual communities." For example, students in a sociology course at Northern Arizona University create virtual communities in a simulation of the colonization of mars. A Harvard University course is entitiled "Virtual Communities" with a web site at http://icg.harvard.edu/.../course-intro.html. See CMC, The term "virtual community" has evolved to where it usually refers to "conversations" that are not face-to-face and are often anonymous to at least the point where speakers cannot be identified (although groups to which they belong might be known). The key element is anonymity. Corporate boards of directors and other groups often pay to rent "silent meeting rooms" that are available in some universities such as the University of Arizona, Syracuse University, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and other campuses. In a "silent meeting," participants can be face-to-face and still communicate anonymously. This is because the "conversations" are taking place within the computers in front of all participants. When a participant makes a point, none of the other participants can detect which person in the room made the comment. See IRC, Simulation, USENet, MUDs, MOOs,and Virtual Realtiy.

Virtual Reality = Computer and video "VR" simulations that entail wearing headgear, electronic gloves, and possibly electronic body suits such that users are immersed in a cyberspace of simulated reality that gives the sensation of being in a three-dimensional world where objects can be moved about with hand movements and sensations of walking and touching are simulated using super computing power. The origins of virtual reality are in flight simulators of the military. There are now VR game arcades and laboratories where wide varieties of applications in entertainment, training, medical research, architectural design, data research, etc. are taking place. Virtual reality programs require massive computer power. Usually, the closer authors attempt to simulate the real world, the greater the computing power needed to achieve sensations of reality. Although most of virtual reality applications to date have been in training and entertainment, there are some applications in data analysis such as the use of VR to analyze international portfolio data in the TIAA/CREF Pension Funds. Winn (1994) contends VR will become a major part of university curricula. He cites evidence that VR is especially successful for learning in disadvantaged and physically handicapped students. In June 1994, Apple Corporation unveiled a new desktop computing software option (with a CD-ROM recorder) called QuickTime VR that takes a collection of photographs (e.g., photographs of numerous angles of the inside of a room) and assembles them into motion scenes that resemble more expensive virtual reality generated on super computers. Viacom Inc. sells a QuickTime VR entertainment CD-ROM called "Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive Technical Manual" that provides VR tours of the Starship USS Enterprise. For a review of some initial applications of QuickTime VR in anatomy education see Carlton (1994b). (See also Simulation and VRML.)

Virtual-image file = A set of pointers to the files on your hard disk to be sent to the CD-R drive, rather than a duplicate physical-image of those files. Usually employed for on-the-fly recording. (See also CD-R)

Virtual Private Network (VPN)  =  (See intranet.)

Virus = See Security.

For more about virus risks and email attachment risks, see http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/ecommerce/assurance.htm 

More information can be found on the vendors' security pages:

Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/

Netscape

http://www.netscape.com/products/security/

Qualcomm

http://eudora.qualcomm.com/security.html

Finally, don't forget that some documents do carry viruses. For example, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint all support macro languages that have been used to write viruses. Naturally enough, if you use any of these programs and receive an e-mail message that contains one of these documents as an enclosure, your system may be infected when you open that enclosure. An up-to-date virus checking program will usually catch these viruses before they can attack. Some virus checkers that recognize macro viruses include:

McAfee VirusScan

http://www.mcafee.com/

Symantec AntiVirus

http://www.symantec.com/

Norton AntiVirus

http://www.symantec.com/

Virex

http://www.datawatch.com/virex.shtml

IBM AntiVirus

http://www.av.ibm.com/

Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus

http://www.drsolomon.com/

Visual Basic (VB) = an extension of Microsoft Basic that allows for GUI controls, animations, and drag-and-drop features.   Its main competitors are Borland's Delphi and Sun's Java.  VB is used in many Microsoft products and in numerous applications by third parties.  The main web site for Visual Basic at Microsoft is http://www.microsoft.com/vbasic/ .  Many links are provided at http://www.pcwebopaedia.com/VB.htm .  VBX is a Visual Basic custom control used in may sofrtware components.  VBX components allow developers to more quickly write Visual Basic components.  When used in conjunction with Windows Scripting Host utilities, Visual Basic adds great risks for viruses when using email and web browsing software from Microsoft.  For more discussion of such matters, see ActiveX.

VL-Bus = A local bus standard set by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) that requires direct-to-CPU connections that limit the number of expansion slots in computers. The VL-Bus is faster than EISA and less expensive to manufacture. For a time it was the bus of choice for PCs until the newer PCI bus was introduced by Intel. (See also Bus)

VM-Channel = (See Bus)

voc = (See Sound board)

Voice recognition = (See Speech recognition)

VoIP =Voice over Internet Protocol. A technology for transmitting ordinary telephone calls over the Internet using packetlinked routes. Also called IP telephony.  Voice delivered using the IP. It is a term used in IP TELEPHONY for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the IP. In general, this means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A major advantage of VoIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service.
www.247access.co.za/pap/glossary.html

See Instant Messaging

VPN = (See intranet.)

VR = (See Virtual Reality)

VRAM = Video Random Access Memory chips that determine the performance capacity of video adapter hardware in computers. In particular, they allow for reading and writing of graphics images to take place simultaneously. At the time of this writing, authors of hypermedia are advised to purchase a computer with at least 2Mb of VRAM. (See also RAM)

VRML = an Internet standard for 3-D animations called Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML). By going to most any WWW search engine, it is possible to use a combination of search terms for web sites on this topic. For example, using http://www.altavista.digital.com/ with the search term "VRML" resulted in 80,073 hits on December 22, 1996 and 359,660 hits on September 19, 1997. VRML is designed to be a dynamic extension of the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) standard that became the main component in the invention of the WWW in 1990 by particle physicists. In other words, VRML is intended for the WWW. Secondly, VRML is intended to be somewhat like VR in the ability to immerse participants into simulated 3-D worlds for education and entertainment. Thirdly, VRML can bring animation, audio, and 3-D reality to a MUD-type creation of imagined worlds and avatars in those worlds. However, VRML can also be used in a more mundane commercialization of the technology such as entering a simulation about being inside and operating a product such as a new model of automobile or a kitchen in an apartment complex that is still under construction. My favorite VRML repository is at the San Diego Super Computing Center at http://www.sdsc.edu/vrml/. (See also Virtual Reality)