26 of the Digital Society glossary’s terms, each with the part of the syllabus where you first meet it.
The use of AI to detect a human face in an image and identify or verify the person by comparing measurements of their facial features with stored records.
The process of checking whether claims in media are accurate, by tracing them to original sources and comparing them with reliable evidence, often carried out by specialist organisations.
A legal exception in US copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted work without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching and parody.
A community of fans of a particular artist, work, sport or franchise who share their enthusiasm and often create and organise activities together, such as fan art, fan fiction, events and campaigns.
A persistent worry that others are having rewarding experiences that one is missing, which can drive people to keep checking social media to stay connected.
An evaluation criterion that asks whether an intervention is technically, socially and politically possible to carry out and sustain, and what current or emerging barriers stand in its way.
A characteristic of an algorithm: it can actually be carried out with the time, computing power, memory and data available.
A chain of cause and effect in which the output of a system returns as an input and changes the system's later behaviour.
One column of a database table, holding one attribute that every record has, such as a name or a date of birth.
A situation in which personalisation algorithms show people mainly content that matches their existing interests and views, so they encounter fewer different perspectives.
An algorithm that removes items that do not meet given criteria and keeps those that do, such as hiding emails marked as spam or search results above a price limit.
A characteristic of an algorithm: it always stops after a limited number of steps, with a clear end condition, rather than running forever.
Hardware or software that checks network traffic against a set of security rules and blocks traffic that is not permitted, separating a trusted network from untrusted ones.
Software stored permanently in a device's ROM or flash memory that controls its basic functions, such as starting a computer and loading the operating system.
A form of blended learning in which students study new content at home, usually through short videos, and use class time for practice, discussion and support from the teacher.
A diagram that represents an algorithm with standard shapes joined by arrows: ovals for start and end, parallelograms for input and output, rectangles for processes and diamonds for decisions.
The movement of digital data between devices, servers and networks, including across national borders, along physical routes such as cables and through wireless links.
The condition of not having reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and an active, healthy life, whether because food is unavailable or because people cannot afford it.
Using past and present evidence, such as events, patterns and trends, to estimate what is likely to happen in the future, for example by extending trends, consulting experts or building scenarios.
A field in one database table that holds the primary key of a record in another table, creating a link (relationship) between the two tables.
Structured learning in an organised system of schools, colleges and universities that follows a set curriculum, is taught by qualified teachers and leads to recognised qualifications.
A term popularised by Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum in 2016 for the current period of change, in which digital, physical and biological technologies such as AI, robotics and the internet of things merge.
The right to hold opinions and to seek, receive and share information and ideas through any medium without interference from the state, subject only to limits set by law that are necessary to protect the rights or reputations of others, national security, public order, public health or morals.
The ways in which technological, economic and social change, especially automation, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, are transforming what jobs exist, how work is organised, and the security and quality of employment.
A framework used in futures studies that shows the range of possible, plausible, probable and preferable futures widening the further ahead one looks from the present.
The systematic study of possible, probable and preferable futures, using methods such as trend analysis, expert panels and scenarios to help people prepare for and shape what may happen.