This is a DRAFT
Glossary -- A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

NDLP Glossary - J

Java
Java incorporates a programming language for distributed applications and a machine-independent environment for running those applications. Java was developed at Sun Microsystems. The idea is that if your computer has a Java interpreter (perhaps through installing a WWW browser with Java support), you can run Java applications or "applets" without installing software for each application on your computer. When you link to the Java-based resource across the network, the resource content and the Java program that allows you to view or interact with the content will both be transmitted over the network and the program will be run. This means that resource-providers can use image types or interface features not supported by standard browsers by also providing the appropriate Java applications.

Java is not as well-established, tested, or widely deployed as might be judged from the recent level of media attention. The concept is excellent and has been recognized as a potential solution for supporting new standard file-formats or innovative and specialized interactions over the WWW without having to wait for specialized viewers to be developed for all computing platforms (or develop them). One important factor in how quickly Java will provide the hoped-for benefits for organizations such as LC is how quickly Java interpreters are made available for the computing platforms in common use (such as Windows 3.x and Macintosh) as opposed to Windows 95, Windows NT, and a few versions of UNIX, the only systems for which JAVA support is currently available.

For more information, see:

JFIF
JPEG File Interchange Format. A standard for transmission of an image in JPEG format.

JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. Usually, the term refers to a file format designed by this committee for compressing full-color or grayscale images of natural, real-world scenes (photographs, naturalistic artwork). It does not work as well on line drawings or images of printed text. JPEG is said to be "lossy." After decompression, the image is not identical to the original, but can be indistinguishable when displayed on a typical computer screen. The NDLP uses JPEG primarily for compressing color or grayscale images to provide "reference" versions for viewing online. The JPEG format supports 16 million colors (24 bits per pixel) and variable levels of compression. Some graphical WWW browsers have JPEG capabilities built in; free or inexpensive JPEG viewers are available for all common computer platforms.

Glossary -- A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Intro -- Index -- Feedback

NDLP Glossary - J - This is a DRAFT
(1/18/96)