Top 10 Technology Terms to Know for 2008 (1)

Unified communications

·         A communications system, usually used by businesses, that encompasses a broad range of technologies and applications that have been designed, sold and supported as a single communications platform or as one entity.

·         Unified communications system generally enables companies to use integrated data, video and voice in one supported product.

Mash up

·         The term mash-up refers to a breed of Web-based applications created by hackers and programmers to mix at least two services from disparate, and even competing, Web sites.

·         A mash-up, for example, could overlay traffic data from one source on the Internet over maps from Yahoo, Microsoft, Google or any content provider. This capability to mix and match data and applications from multiple sources into one dynamic entity is considered by many to represent the promise of the Web service standard.

·         The term mash-up comes from the hip-hop music practice of mixing two or more songs.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

·         SaaS is a software delivery method that provides access to software and its functions remotely as a Web-based service.

·         SaaS allows organizations to access business functionality at a cost typically less than paying for licensed applications since SaaS pricing is based on a monthly fee. Also, because the software is hosted remotely, users don't need to invest in additional hardware.

·         SaaS removes the need for organizations to handle the installation, set-up and often daily upkeep and maintenance.

·         Software as a Service may also be referred to as simply hosted applications or software-on-demand.

Social networking site/service

·         Abbreviated as SNS a social networking site is the phrase used to describe any Web site that enables you to create public profiles within that Web site and form relationships with other users of the same Web site who access their profile.

·         "Social networking sites" can be used to describe community-based Web sites, online discussions forums, chat rooms and other social spaces online.

·         Social networking services are designed to build upon interactions to create communities of people online, and provide the required software to do this.

·         People use social networking sites for a huge number of personal reasons. Some may want an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, some may use it for business or job finding, others may use it for dating or just to find like-minded individuals online.