Search the Lexicon - Multimedia & Creative Technology

127.0.0.1

127.0.0.1 is the standard IPv4 loopback address used by operating systems to route network traffic back to the same machine. Traffic sent to this address stays inside the local network stack and never goes out over a physical network interface. Developers use it to run and test web and mobile services locally, since it isolates the server to the host machine unless explicitly configured otherwise.

Web devops networks

5G

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology and delivers higher data rates, much lower latency, and greater capacity than previous generations. Key technical features include reduced round‑trip times (latency), network slicing (virtual networks tailored to use cases), and the use of edge computing and higher frequency bands (such as mmWave) for increased throughput. For students in 3D, Audio/Video, Maker and Web, 5G makes real‑time delivery and collaboration of heavy 3D assets, low‑latency audio/video production, controlling IoT devices and robots, and web apps using WebRTC/edge services far more reliable and scalable.

Web 3D Audio/Video Maker

ABS

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a tough, heat-resistant thermoplastic polymer commonly used for functional and industrial parts. For makers and 3D-printers it is valued for its mechanical strength and the ability to be post-processed (for example, acetone vapor smoothing), but it shrinks more on cooling and requires higher printing temperatures, which makes printing more challenging. In practical maker-spaces (like a fablab) ABS is often used rarely because it is prone to warping, generally needs a heated bed and enclosure, and produces fumes that require ventilation.

Maker 3d-printing

AI agent

An AI agent is an autonomous software or system component that perceives its environment, makes decisions, and takes actions to achieve goals. An agent typically combines a model or learning mechanism with sensors (inputs/observations) and actuators (output/actions) — the underlying AI model(s) are only one part of the whole. AI agents can be reactive, deliberative, learning-based, or part of multi-agent systems, and appear as chatbots, virtual assistants, game NPCs, or autonomous robots/drones.

Web 3D

API

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a collection of definitions and protocols that lets different software applications communicate. It acts as an intermediary that sends requests from one application to another and returns the response. APIs make it possible to use functionality from other services without knowing their internal workings.

Web programming backend

AR (Augmented Reality)

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information—such as images, text, or 3D models—on the real world. Unlike VR, AR does not replace reality; it enhances it. AR is often experienced via smartphones, tablets, or dedicated AR glasses.

3D design hardware

ARPANET

ARPANET was the early experimental packet-switched computer network created by DARPA in the late 1960s and is considered the predecessor of the Internet. It introduced ideas such as packet switching, network protocols, and shared resource access that later evolved into TCP/IP and modern network services. For students in 3D, Audio/Video, Maker and Web fields, ARPANET is relevant because it laid the groundwork for reliable digital asset transfer, remote collaboration, distributed compute (e.g., render farms), and the protocols underpinning streaming, firmware updates and web communication.

Web 3D Audio/Video Maker

ARQ

ARQ stands for Automatic Repeat reQuest and is a mechanism for requesting retransmission of lost or corrupted data. It is used across different network layers: at the network access/link layer (for example in wireless standards like 802.11) and at higher layers (for example TCP at the transport layer) to ensure reliability. For students in Audio/Video, Maker, and Web, ARQ is important because it affects how media and file data are reliably delivered — in some real-time A/V use cases ARQ can introduce latency, in maker/embedded contexts ARQ is used on serial or radio links to recover packets, and on the web retransmission is implemented by protocols (TCP/HTTP or application-level ARQ for custom transports).

Web Audio/Video Maker

Agentic coding

Agentic coding is an approach in which software components are designed as autonomous agents that perceive their environment, pursue goals, and interact with other agents. These agents make local decisions based on their internal state and rules, which can lead to emergent system-level behaviors. The paradigm is common in game development, simulations, multi-agent systems and AI, and is used to model independent actors such as NPCs, robots or simulated entities.

Web 3D

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the field of computer science that develops systems and algorithms capable of performing tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as recognition, reasoning, and decision-making. In a technology context, AI covers techniques like machine learning and deep learning, where models learn patterns from data to make predictions or classifications. AI applications range from search and recommendation systems in web and mobile apps to real-time image and audio processing in 3D/XR projects and post-production.

Web 3D Audio/Video Business Maker

Astro

Astro is a modern JavaScript framework focused on building fast, content-driven websites. It uses a component-based approach with .astro files and follows the 'islands' or 'partial hydration' pattern: by default little to no JavaScript is shipped to the browser unless you explicitly hydrate interactive components. Astro is framework-agnostic—allowing you to use React, Vue, Svelte and other components inside an Astro project—and it supports both static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR).

Web frontend

Async/Await

Async/await is modern JavaScript syntax for handling asynchronous operations in a more readable, synchronous-looking way. Functions marked with async automatically return Promises, and the await keyword pauses execution until a Promise resolves. This eliminates deeply nested callback functions (callback hell) and makes asynchronous code much easier to write, read, and debug.

Web javascript