Glossary of terms for Science On a Sphere

A

Active Adapter
- Non-technical: A cable adapter that has built-in electronics to convert signals between different types of connections, like having a smart translator that actively converts languages.
- Technical: A signal conversion device that contains integrated circuits to actively process and convert video signals between different formats (e.g., DisplayPort to HDMI).

Administration Interface
- Non-technical: A special control panel where authorized users can change settings and configure the kiosk system, like the settings menu on your phone.
- Technical: A privileged user interface that provides access to system configuration parameters, user management, and administrative functions for the kiosk application.

Alignment
- Non-technical: The process of making sure all projector images line up correctly on the sphere surface, like adjusting puzzle pieces to fit together perfectly.
- Technical: Geometric calibration of multiple projectors to create a seamless display surface, involving lens positioning, edge blending, and overlap zone configuration.

Archive
- Non-technical: Storing important but rarely used files in a separate location to save space, like putting old documents in a storage unit.
- Technical: The process of moving infrequently accessed datasets to long-term storage to free up active disk space while maintaining data availability.

B

Boot Drive
- Non-technical: The main hard drive where the computer's operating system is installed, like the engine of a car that makes everything else work.
- Technical: The primary storage device containing the operating system, system files, and boot loader required for computer startup and operation.

Boot Screen
- Non-technical: The first screen you see when starting a computer, showing the computer manufacturer's logo or startup information.
- Technical: The initial display output during system startup, showing BIOS/UEFI information, hardware detection, and operating system loading progress.

Backup Server
- Non-technical: A second computer that can take over if the main computer fails, like having a spare tire in your car.
- Technical: A redundant SOS2 server configured to maintain system operations in case of primary server failure, typically sharing the same configuration and content libraries.

Boot/Booting
- Non-technical: The process of a computer starting up and loading all its programs, like a car warming up before you can drive it.
- Technical: The initialization sequence when a computer powers on, loading the operating system, drivers, and system services into memory.

Black Sections
- Non-technical: Dark or empty areas on visualizations where data should appear, usually indicating missing or corrupted data files.
- Technical: Rendering artifacts in dataset visualizations where expected data is missing, typically caused by incomplete downloads or corrupted dataset files.

C

Cable Swapping
- Non-technical: Switching cables between working and broken equipment to figure out if the problem is with the cable or the device.
- Technical: Diagnostic technique involving interchanging video or data cables between functional and non-functional components to isolate hardware failures.

Configuration
- Non-technical: The way a system is set up and customized to work for your specific needs, like adjusting the settings on your car seat and mirrors.
- Technical: The arrangement of system parameters, settings, and options that define how software or hardware operates in a specific environment.

Crash Prevention
- Non-technical: Steps taken to keep systems from suddenly stopping or breaking down, like regular car maintenance to prevent breakdowns.
- Technical: Proactive measures including system monitoring, resource management, and maintenance procedures to prevent application or system failures.

Command
- Non-technical: A typed instruction you give to a computer, like telling it "show me this file" or "restart this program."
- Technical: A text-based instruction executed in a terminal or command prompt to perform system operations, run programs, or modify configurations.

Command Line
- Non-technical: A way to control your computer by typing commands instead of clicking on icons and menus.
- Technical: A text-based interface for interacting with the operating system, allowing direct execution of system commands and scripts.

Custom Datasets
- Non-technical: Specialized data files created by users for their specific needs, like creating your own slideshow with local weather information. These are Datasets that your site has created specifically for your own uses.
- Technical: User-generated or institution-specific datasets formatted for SOS display, separate from the standard NOAA catalog.

D

DisplayPort
- Non-technical: A type of cable connection that carries video signals from a computer to a display, similar to HDMI but used more in professional settings.
- Technical: A digital display interface standard that transmits video and audio signals, supporting high resolutions and refresh rates with features like multi-stream transport.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
- Non-technical: A type of cable connection that sends video signals from a computer to a display or projector.
- Technical: A video display interface standard that transmits uncompressed digital video signals, available in single-link and dual-link variants.

Dataset
- Non-technical: A singular data visualization that you can show on your SOS system, for example "Blue Marble" and "Nighttime Lights".
- Technical: An organized collection of data files, typically containing scientific or educational content formatted for display on the SOS system.

Data Recovery
- Non-technical: The process of getting back lost or deleted files from a broken or damaged computer, like finding and rescuing important papers after a flood.
- Technical: Methods and procedures for retrieving lost, corrupted, or inaccessible data from storage devices using specialized software and hardware techniques.

Disk Health Diagnostics
- Non-technical: Tests that check if your computer's hard drive is working properly and likely to fail soon, like a health checkup for your storage device.
- Technical: Automated tests using S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) to assess hard drive condition and predict potential failures.

Dual-Drive Setup
- Non-technical: Using two separate hard drives in one computer - one for the operating system and one for data storage, like having separate filing cabinets for different types of documents.
- Technical: A storage configuration using separate drives for the operating system (boot drive) and user data/applications (shared drive) to improve reliability and data protection.

df -h
- Non-technical: A computer command that shows how much storage space is available on your hard drives, like checking how much room is left in your filing cabinet.
- Technical: A Linux command-line utility that displays disk space usage in human-readable format, showing available, used, and total space for mounted filesystems.

E

Emergency Procedures
- Non-technical: Step-by-step instructions for what to do when something goes seriously wrong with the computer system, like an emergency evacuation plan.
- Technical: Documented protocols for responding to critical system failures, including backup activation, data recovery, and support escalation procedures.

Equipment List
- Non-technical: A detailed list of recommended computer parts and accessories that work best with the SOS system, like a shopping list for compatible components.
- Technical: NOAA's official specification document listing tested and approved hardware components for optimal SOS system performance and compatibility.

Edge Blending
- Non-technical: A technique that makes the borders between different projector images invisible, creating one smooth picture across multiple projectors.
- Technical: The process of seamlessly merging overlapping projector outputs by gradually reducing brightness in overlap zones to eliminate visible seams.

F

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- Non-technical: A method for computers to send files to each other over a network, like emailing a document but for computer programs.
- Technical: A standard network protocol used to transfer files between computers over a TCP/IP network, commonly used for downloading SOS datasets from NOAA servers.

Freezing
- Non-technical: When a computer or program stops responding and won't react to mouse clicks or keyboard presses, like when a video gets stuck on one frame.
- Technical: A system state where an application or operating system becomes unresponsive to user input due to resource conflicts, infinite loops, or hardware issues.

Firewall
- Non-technical: A security system that controls what information can come in and out of your computer network, like a security guard at a building entrance.
- Technical: Network security software/hardware that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

Firewall Configuration
- Non-technical: Setting up your network security to allow the SOS system to download data from NOAA servers while blocking unwanted traffic.
- Technical: Configuring network security rules to permit SOS system access to required NOAA server IP addresses while maintaining network security.

FTP Connection Issues
- Non-technical: Problems connecting to NOAA's file servers to download new data, like having trouble connecting to a website.
- Technical: Network connectivity failures preventing successful FTP connections to NOAA dataset servers, often caused by firewall restrictions or network configuration issues.

G

Graphics Card 
- Non-technical: The part of a computer that creates the images you see on the screen. It helps run videos, games, and anything with visuals more smoothly.
- Technical: A hardware component, also known as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), responsible for rendering images, video, and animations by performing rapid mathematical calculations. It connects to the motherboard and outputs visual data to a display device.

Graphics Card Fan
- Non-technical: A small fan attached to the graphics card that keeps it cool during operation, like a cooling fan for an overheating engine.
- Technical: A cooling component that circulates air over the graphics card's heat sink to dissipate thermal energy generated during GPU operations.

Graphics Card Failure
- Non-technical: When the computer component that handles video and graphics stops working properly, causing display problems or system crashes.
- Technical: Hardware malfunction of the GPU resulting in video output issues, system instability, artifacting, or complete loss of display functionality.

H

Hard Drive
- Non-technical: The computer component that stores all your files, programs, and operating system, like a digital filing cabinet or library.
- Technical: A data storage device using magnetic storage (HDD) or solid-state memory (SSD) to permanently store the operating system, applications, and user data.

Hardware Diagnostics
- Non-technical: Tests that check if computer components are working properly, like taking your car to a mechanic for a checkup.
- Technical: Systematic testing procedures to identify malfunctioning hardware components using built-in diagnostic tools and external testing equipment.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
- Non-technical: A type of cable that carries both video and audio signals from one device to another, commonly used with TVs and monitors.
- Technical: A digital interface standard that transmits uncompressed video and compressed/uncompressed audio data between compatible devices.

Hot Swap
- Non-technical: The ability to replace or switch to backup equipment while the system is still running, like changing drivers in a relay race without stopping. SOS2 is the default name for this system. 
- Technical: The capability to replace or switch hardware components or systems without powering down the entire infrastructure.

Historical Earth Science Data
- Non-technical: Past scientific information about weather, climate, and Earth conditions stored as datasets for educational display.
- Technical: Archived scientific datasets containing historical environmental, meteorological, and geophysical data formatted for SOS visualization.

I

IP Address
- Non-technical: A unique number assigned to each device on a network, like a street address for your computer.
- Technical: A numerical identifier assigned to network devices using Internet Protocol, typically in IPv4 format (e.g., 192.168.1.100).

IP Allowlist
- Non-technical: A list of approved server addresses that your network security will allow connections to, like a VIP list for your firewall.
- Technical: A firewall configuration list containing approved IP addresses that are permitted to establish network connections through security barriers.

Incomplete Downloads
- Non-technical: When files don't finish downloading completely, leaving you with partial or broken data files.
- Technical: Dataset transfer failures resulting in partially downloaded files that cannot be properly processed or displayed by the SOS system.

Institutional Firewall
- Non-technical: Your organization's network security system that may block the SOS system from accessing NOAA's data servers.
- Technical: Enterprise-level network security infrastructure that may restrict access to external servers required for SOS dataset updates.

K

Kiosk
- Non-technical: A standalone computer terminal designed for public use, like the self-service machines at airports or fast-food restaurants. The SOS Kiosk is usually placed near your sphere's installation and used to control what Dataset is currently being shown on the sphere.
- Technical: A specialized computer interface running in a restricted environment, typically providing limited functionality for specific user interactions with the SOS system.

Kiosk Customization
- Non-technical: Changing what options and content appear on the kiosk interface to match your specific needs, like customizing a menu at a restaurant.
- Technical: The process of modifying kiosk interface elements, available datasets, and display options to meet site-specific requirements and user preferences.

L

LED Status Indicators
- Non-technical: Small colored lights on equipment that show if everything is working properly - green usually means good, red usually means problem.
- Technical: Light-emitting diodes that provide visual status information about device operational states, connection status, and error conditions.

Log File
- Non-technical: A computer file that keeps a record of what happened, like a diary that tracks all activities and problems.
- Technical: A text file that records system events, errors, and operational information for troubleshooting and monitoring purposes.

lftpNomads.sh
- Non-technical: A script that automatically downloads real-time weather data from NOAA servers to keep your SOS system current.
- Technical: An automated shell script that manages FTP downloads of real-time meteorological datasets from NOAA's servers.

lftp_playlist.sh
- Non-technical: A script that downloads static datasets and playlists from NOAA servers, usually running automatically on Monday nights.
- Technical: An automated shell script that manages FTP downloads of static datasets and playlist configurations from NOAA servers.

Lock Files
- Non-technical: Special files that prevent multiple copies of the same program from running at once, like a "do not disturb" sign for computer processes.
- Technical: System files that prevent concurrent execution of processes, ensuring only one instance of a script or application runs at a time.

M

Mount
- Non-technical: The bracket or stand that holds a projector in place, like a picture frame holds a picture.
- Technical: Mechanical hardware system that securely positions and supports projection equipment, often including adjustment mechanisms for precise alignment.

Missing Datasets
- Non-technical: When expected data files are not available on your system, like missing pages from a book.
- Technical: Dataset files that are not present in the expected directory structure, typically due to download failures or storage issues.

Monthly Updates
- Non-technical: Regular releases of new datasets and system improvements that happen once a month, like getting a monthly magazine subscription.
- Technical: Scheduled releases of new static datasets, system patches, and feature updates distributed monthly by the SOS team.

N

Network Connectivity
- Non-technical: Whether devices can communicate with each other over a network, like whether your phone can connect to WiFi.
- Technical: The ability of network devices to establish and maintain communication links for data transmission.

Notifications
- Non-technical: Messages that pop up on your computer screen to tell you about updates, problems, or things that need your attention, like text message alerts on your phone.
- Technical: System-generated alerts displayed to inform users about status changes, available updates, errors, or required actions within the operating system or applications.

NOAA
- Non-technical: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a U.S. government agency that studies weather, oceans, and climate.
- Technical: The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, oceanographic research, and the development of the Science On a Sphere system.

Network Configuration
- Non-technical: How your computer network is set up to connect to the internet and other systems, like the settings on your home WiFi router.
- Technical: The arrangement of network parameters, routing rules, and connectivity settings that define how systems communicate over the network.

O

Offline Backup
- Non-technical: A copy of your important files stored on a separate device that's not connected to the internet or main computer, like keeping photocopies in a safe deposit box.
- Technical: Data backup stored on disconnected media or systems, providing protection against network-based threats, system failures, and online data corruption.

OS (Operating System)
- Non-technical: The main software that controls your computer and lets other programs run, like the foundation of a house that everything else is built on.
- Technical: System software that manages computer hardware and software resources, providing common services for computer programs and user interface functionality.

Outdated Data
- Non-technical: Old data that should have been updated with newer information, like reading yesterday's weather forecast.
- Technical: Dataset content that has not been refreshed with current data due to update failures or synchronization issues.

P

Ping
- Non-technical: A simple test to see if your computer can reach another device on the network, like calling someone to see if they answer.
- Technical: A network diagnostic utility that tests connectivity to a remote host by sending ICMP echo request packets and measuring response time.

Passive Adapter
- Non-technical: A simple cable adapter that just connects different types of plugs without any electronics inside, like a basic connector piece.
- Technical: A signal conversion device that provides physical connection between different connector types without active signal processing or amplification.

Performance Optimization
- Non-technical: Making changes to improve how fast and efficiently your computer runs, like tuning up a car engine for better performance.
- Technical: Systematic improvements to system configuration, resource allocation, and hardware utilization to maximize operational efficiency and response times.

Playlist
- Non-technical: A list of datasets or content that plays in a specific order on the SOS system, like a music playlist but for scientific data.
- Technical: A curated sequence of datasets programmed to display automatically in a predetermined order during SOS presentations or demonstrations. These are located at /home/sos/sosrc and /home/sosdemo/sosrc.

Power Events
- Non-technical: Unexpected changes in electrical power like outages, surges, or brownouts that can damage or disrupt computer equipment.
- Technical: Electrical disturbances including power outages, voltage fluctuations, surges, or brownouts that can affect system stability and hardware integrity.

Process Hanging
- Non-technical: When a computer program gets stuck and stops working properly but doesn't close completely, like a frozen application.
- Technical: A system state where a running process becomes unresponsive and fails to complete its tasks, often requiring manual termination.

ps -ef | grep
- Non-technical: A computer command that shows you which programs are currently running and lets you search for specific ones.
- Technical: A Linux command that displays all running processes and filters the output to show only processes matching a specified pattern.

R

RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Non-technical: The computer's temporary working memory where it keeps information it's currently using, like your desk workspace where you spread out papers you're working on.
- Technical: Volatile memory that temporarily stores data and program instructions for rapid access by the CPU during system operation.

RAM Seating
- Non-technical: Making sure the memory chips are properly plugged into their slots on the motherboard, like ensuring puzzle pieces are fully pressed into place.
- Technical: The process of ensuring RAM modules are correctly inserted and fully seated in their DIMM slots on the motherboard for proper electrical connection.

Recovery Mode
- Non-technical: A special startup mode that loads only basic functions to help fix problems when the computer won't start normally, like a safe mode for repairs.
- Technical: A minimal boot environment that loads essential system components only, allowing for system repair, troubleshooting, and recovery operations.

Right-to-Left Language Support
- Non-technical: Special settings needed for languages that are written from right to left (like Arabic or Hebrew) instead of left to right like English.
- Technical: Text rendering and user interface modifications required to properly display languages with right-to-left reading direction, including text alignment and layout adjustments.

Reboot
- Non-technical: Completely shutting down and restarting a computer, like turning a device off and on again to fix problems.
- Technical: The process of shutting down and restarting an operating system, clearing memory and reinitializing all system processes and drivers.

Real-Time Datasets
- Non-technical: Data that shows current conditions and updates automatically throughout the day, like a live weather map. For example, "Real-Time Clouds".
- Technical: Continuously updated datasets that reflect current environmental conditions, typically refreshed hourly or more frequently from NOAA sources.

Real-Time Visualizations
- Non-technical: Moving images that show current weather or environmental conditions as they happen, like a live satellite view of storms.
- Technical: Dynamic visual representations of current environmental data that update automatically as new real-time datasets are received.

Regular Maintenance
- Non-technical: Routine tasks performed to keep the system running smoothly, like regular oil changes for your car.
- Technical: Scheduled maintenance procedures including system monitoring, updates, cleaning, and preventive measures to ensure optimal system performance.

Routine Checks
- Non-technical: Regular inspections to make sure everything is working properly, like checking your car's tire pressure monthly.
- Technical: Scheduled verification procedures to confirm system functionality, data currency, and operational status.

S

Signal Path
- Non-technical: The route that video information travels from the computer to the projector, like the path water takes through pipes.
- Technical: The complete transmission route for video/audio signals from source to destination, including all intermediate components and connections.

SOS (Science On a Sphere)
- Non-technical: A specialized display system that projects images onto a sphere to show things like weather patterns or planetary data.
- Technical: NOAA's spherical projection system using multiple projectors to display geospatial and scientific datasets on a suspended sphere.

Settings Backup
- Non-technical: A saved copy of your customized settings that you can use to restore your preferences if something goes wrong, like having a photo of your important documents.
- Technical: A duplicate copy of configuration files and user preferences stored separately from the active system to enable recovery from configuration corruption or loss.

Settings.txt
- Non-technical: A text file that stores all the custom settings and preferences for the kiosk system, like a recipe that tells the computer how you want things set up.
- Technical: A configuration file containing kiosk application parameters, network settings, and user preferences in a structured text format.

Soft Restart
- Non-technical: Closing and reopening a program without restarting the entire computer, like closing and reopening an app on your phone.
- Technical: Terminating and restarting an application process while keeping the operating system and other processes running.

System Failure
- Non-technical: When a computer system stops working completely and needs to be fixed or reinstalled, like when a car breaks down and needs major repairs.
- Technical: A complete breakdown of system functionality requiring hardware replacement, operating system reinstallation, or major software recovery procedures.

System Notifications
- Non-technical: Messages from the computer's operating system telling you about updates, problems, or things that need attention.
- Technical: Operating system-generated alerts regarding security updates, system status changes, hardware events, or required administrative actions.

Server Termination
- Non-technical: When the main computer program unexpectedly stops running or crashes, like a TV show suddenly going off the air.
- Technical: The unexpected shutdown or crash of server processes, typically due to software errors, resource exhaustion, or system instability.

Shutdown Procedures
- Non-technical: The proper steps to safely turn off a computer so that no data is lost and no damage occurs, like following closing procedures at a business.
- Technical: Systematic process for safely terminating all running processes, saving data, and powering down system components to prevent data corruption and hardware damage.

Site-backup.sos1
- Non-technical: A special folder where the SOS system automatically saves copies of your important files and settings as a safety backup.
- Technical: The default backup directory location containing automated backups of system configurations, custom datasets, and user preferences for the SOS installation.

Site-custom
- Non-technical: A folder containing your personalized datasets, settings, and content that you've added to the SOS system for your specific location.
- Technical: Directory structure containing institution-specific datasets, custom configurations, and locally-created content separate from the standard SOS installation, that lives under /shared/sos/media/site-custom/.

S.M.A.R.T. Data
- Non-technical: Information that hard drives collect about their own health and performance, like a fitness tracker for your storage device.
- Technical: Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology data that provides predictive indicators of hard drive health and potential failure conditions.

Software Updater
- Non-technical: A built-in program that automatically finds and installs updates for your operating system and programs, like automatic updates on your phone.
- Technical: Ubuntu's package management application that identifies, downloads, and installs available system updates, security patches, and software upgrades.

SOS2
- Non-technical: The name typically given to the backup SOS computer system that can take over if the main system fails.
- Technical: The designation for the secondary SOS server configured as a hot-swap backup system for maintaining operational continuity.

SSH (Secure Shell)
- Non-technical: A way to remotely control another computer over the internet using secure, encrypted connections, like remote control for computers.
- Technical: A cryptographic network protocol that provides secure remote access and command execution on networked systems through encrypted connections.

SSD (Solid State Drive)
- Non-technical: A type of storage device with no moving parts that's faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives, like upgrading from a record player to a CD player.
- Technical: A storage device using NAND flash memory that provides faster data access, lower power consumption, and greater reliability compared to traditional mechanical hard drives.

System Instability
- Non-technical: When a computer becomes unreliable, crashing, freezing, or behaving unpredictably, like a car that randomly stalls or won't start.
- Technical: A condition where system operations become unreliable, characterized by frequent crashes, unexpected behavior, and degraded performance due to hardware or software issues.

System Lag
- Non-technical: When a computer responds slowly to your commands, like having a delayed reaction time during a conversation.
- Technical: Delayed system response to user input or commands, typically caused by resource constraints, hardware issues, or inefficient software processes.

System Logs
- Non-technical: Files that record what happens on your computer, including errors and important events, like a detailed diary of computer activities.
- Technical: Automated records of system events, errors, and operational information stored in structured files for troubleshooting and monitoring purposes.

System Monitor
- Non-technical: A program that shows you how much of your computer's resources (memory, processing power) are being used, like a dashboard in your car.
- Technical: A system utility that displays real-time information about CPU usage, memory consumption, disk activity, and network utilization for performance monitoring.

System Resources
- Non-technical: The computer's available power, memory, and processing capability, like how much energy and space your computer has to do work.
- Technical: Hardware and software components including CPU processing power, RAM memory, disk space, and network bandwidth available for system operations.

Subnet
- Non-technical: A section of a larger network, like a neighborhood within a city.
- Technical: A logical subdivision of an IP network that groups related devices and manages network traffic efficiently.

Static Datasets
- Non-technical: Datasets that are not "Real-Time", and don't frequently get updated. They are provided by the SOS team, and often show a fixed time frame of data. An example would be "Blue Marble".
- Technical: Fixed datasets that are not updated often rather than in real-time, containing historical or reference data.

SOS Network
- Non-technical: A community of SOS system users who share updates, news, and information about the system.
- Technical: The official communication network for SOS installations, providing system updates, dataset announcements, and technical support information.

SOS Stream Control Log
- Non-technical: A file that records what the SOS system is doing and any problems it encounters, like a detailed activity log.
- Technical: The primary log file /home/sos/sos_stream_control.log that records SOS system operations, errors, and diagnostic information.

Support Resources
- Non-technical: People and documentation available to help when you have problems with the SOS system.
- Technical: Technical assistance channels including documentation, troubleshooting guides, and direct support contact methods.

Specialized Research Data
- Non-technical: Custom scientific datasets created for specific research projects or educational purposes.
- Technical: Domain-specific datasets formatted for SOS display, typically containing specialized scientific or research data not available in the standard catalog.

Script Issues
- Non-technical: Problems with automated programs that download and manage data, like when an automatic process gets stuck or fails.
- Technical: Failures in automated shell scripts responsible for dataset downloads, updates, or system maintenance operations.

Storage Management
- Non-technical: Organizing and maintaining the space where your files are stored, like cleaning out your garage periodically.
- Technical: Systematic administration of disk space allocation, including cleanup of obsolete files and optimization of storage utilization.

T

Terminal
- Non-technical: A program where you can type commands directly to control your computer, like having a conversation with your computer through text.
- Technical: A command-line interface application that provides access to the operating system's shell for executing commands and scripts.

TeamViewer
- Non-technical: Software that allows a support person to remotely control your computer over the internet to help fix problems, like letting a technician operate your computer from far away.
- Technical: Remote access software that enables screen sharing and remote control capabilities for technical support and system administration purposes.

Temperature Monitoring
- Non-technical: Keeping track of how hot computer components get during operation to prevent overheating damage, like monitoring engine temperature in a car.
- Technical: Continuous measurement of thermal conditions in system components using sensors and software tools to prevent thermal damage and maintain optimal performance.

Touch Shadows
- Non-technical: Visual feedback on a touchscreen that shows where you've touched, but the touch doesn't actually work - like pressing a button that lights up but doesn't do anything.
- Technical: Interface elements that respond visually to touch input but fail to execute the associated commands due to system unresponsiveness or software errors.

Timeout
- Non-technical: When a connection or download takes too long and the system gives up trying, like hanging up a phone call that won't connect.
- Technical: A predetermined time limit after which a network connection or operation is automatically terminated due to lack of response.

U

Ubuntu
- Non-technical: A type of computer operating system (like Windows or Mac OS) that's free and based on Linux.
- Technical: A Debian-based Linux distribution widely used for servers and desktops, known for its user-friendliness and regular update cycle.

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
- Non-technical: A specific version of the Ubuntu operating system with long-term support, meaning it receives security updates for many years.
- Technical: A Long Term Support release of Ubuntu Linux that provides extended security updates and stability for enterprise and server environments.

Unidirectional Cables
- Non-technical: Cables that only work when connected in one specific direction, like a one-way street for data signals.
- Technical: Video or data cables that transmit signals in only one direction, requiring correct orientation for proper signal transmission between devices.

Unresponsive
- Non-technical: When a program or computer doesn't react to your clicks, touches, or keyboard presses, like when a remote control stops working.
- Technical: A system state where applications or interfaces fail to process user input or respond to interaction events due to software errors or resource constraints.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
- Non-technical: A backup battery system that keeps computers running during power outages, like having a flashlight during a blackout.
- Technical: A power protection device that provides emergency power and surge protection when the main power source fails.

Username/Password
- Non-technical: Your login credentials - the name and secret code you use to access a computer system, like a key to enter a locked room.
- Technical: Authentication credentials consisting of a user identifier and corresponding secret passphrase used to verify user identity and grant system access.

Update Failures
- Non-technical: When the system can't successfully download or install new data or software updates, like when an app won't update on your phone.
- Technical: Systematic failures in the dataset download or software update process, typically caused by network issues, insufficient storage, or server connectivity problems.

V

Video Ports
- Non-technical: Connection points on a computer or graphics card where you plug in cables to send video signals to displays or projectors.
- Technical: Physical interfaces on graphics hardware designed for connecting video output cables to external displays, monitors, or projection systems.

Visual Artifacts
- Non-technical: Visual problems in the image like flickering, strange colors, or distorted shapes that shouldn't be there.
- Technical: Unwanted visual distortions in displayed content caused by hardware issues, signal problems, or processing errors.

Visualization Quality
- Non-technical: How clear, smooth, and accurate the images look on the SOS sphere display.
- Technical: The overall display quality of rendered datasets, including resolution, color accuracy, frame rate, and absence of visual artifacts.

W

Windows Key
- Non-technical: A special key on your keyboard (usually with the Windows logo) that opens the start menu and provides shortcuts to system functions.
- Technical: A modifier key on PC keyboards that activates Windows-specific shortcuts and provides access to system functions and the Start menu.

Windows Update
- Non-technical: A system that automatically downloads and installs improvements and security fixes for your Windows computer, like getting automatic updates for your phone apps.
- Technical: Microsoft's service that delivers operating system patches, security updates, driver updates, and feature enhancements to Windows computers.

X

Xorg.log
- Non-technical: A file that keeps track of what the graphics system is doing and any problems it encounters.
- Technical: The log file for the X Window System server that records graphics subsystem events, errors, and configuration information located at /var/log/.

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This glossary covers terms found in the SOS projector system, kiosk, hardware documentation, and troubleshooting guides. For additional technical support, contact [e-mail].