[e2e] Re: evolution of bandwidth as a term

[Kostas Pentikousis]

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003, Cannara wrote:

|Exactly, Nitin.  "digital bandwidth" means what?  The true bandwidth of the
|channel(s) carrying the digital signalling?  The bandwdith of each line in a
|bus x the number of lines?  Bits/bytes per second?  What, indeed?  Using the
<snip>

Looking up "bandwidth" in m-w.com...
One entry found for bandwidth.

Main Entry: band*width
Pronunciation: 'band-"width
Function: noun
Date: circa 1937
1 : a range within a band of wavelengths, frequencies, or
energies; especially : a range of radio frequencies which is
occupied by a modulated carrier wave, which is assigned to a
service, or over which a device can operate
2 : the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications
system <graphics consume more bandwidth than text does>;
especially : the maximum data transfer rate of such a system

And you may want to take a look at
http://www.cnet.com/Resources/Info/Glossary/Terms/baud.html

"Most people use baud to describe modem speeds in bits per
second--but they're wrong. They may say a 9,600-bps modem
transmits at 9,600 baud, but really baud is a measure of how
frequently sound changes on a phone line. Modern modems transmit
more bits with fewer changes in sound, so baud and bps numbers
aren't equal. However, only editors, pedants, and communications
engineers now care about the distinction. But if you run into
members of these groups, use bps instead of baud."

I think that the Language Police should get on the case ASAP.

What about past sins, you ask. Should we get the Ministry of Truth
involved too?

"Somehow you will fail. Something will defeat you. Life will
defeat you." -- George Orwell, 1984


Enjoy,


Kostas
__________________________________________________________________
Kostas Pentikousis                   www.cs.stonybrook.edu/~kostas