Glossary Go to a printable version of this page
There may by some terms used in Trends with which you are unfamiliar. Below is a list of the more commonly used terms, listed alphabetically, with their explanations. Should there be any other words that you do not understand, and think should appear in this list, please contact us and let us know which words you would like us to explain. Terms used in the explanation that have their own entry will be in orange. Click on these to see their own explanation.
1-0 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
| TERM | EXPLANATION |
| 1-0 | |
| 1x, 2x (HiFi) | Number of cassette mechanisms on a cassette deck. |
| 16:9 and 4:3 | Television format, showing the ratio between the width and height of the screen. 4:3 is the older "standard" format, and 16:9 is the newer format also known as widescreen. |
| 35mm | Conventional Film format introduced in the 1920s and still used today. |
| Back to top | |
| AF | Autofocus. Camera that focuses the image automatically. |
| APS | Advanced Photo System. Conventional Film format introduced in 1996 as an alternative to 35mm. |
| AR | Auto Reverse. On an audio cassette deck, the facility to play both sides without ejecting and changing the tape. |
| ASA | See ISO |
| ASP or AVP | Average Selling Price; calculated from total sales value divided by the number of items sold. |
| Back to top | |
| Bluetooth | A technology allowing wireless connections between communication devices such as computers and mobile telephones. Compatible devices used within ten metres of each other will communicate using radio technology. |
| Back to top | |
| CES | Consumer Electronics Stores; Stores that predominately sell Consumer Electronics products. |
| Class A, B, etc. | See Energy Class |
| CN | Colour Negative film. Conventional film used to produce negatives that are then printed onto paper. |
| Condenser | Tumble dryer where the vapour from the drying clothes is converted back to water in a condenser unit, and needs no special ventilation or plumbing. |
| Consumer Electronics | Electrical products made for the home, and usually for entertainment purposes. e.g. Televisions, VCR, Audio. |
| Conventional Film | Photographic film used before the introduction of digital imaging. Uses an emulsion that is exposed to light to create an image and then processed to create a positive (slide) or negative that is printed onto paper. |
| CS | Colour slide film that is used for projected images. |
| CSS/IT/OER | Computer Specialist Stores/IT/Office Equipment Retailers. |
| Back to top | |
| DAB | Digital Audio Broadcasting. A digital radio system, offering near CD-quality sound. |
| Disposals | Term used for products that are traditionally rented, as well as sold. Disposals equal sales plus rentals. |
| Double Cavity / Double Oven | An oven with two cavities, both of which are ovens. One may also be a grill. |
| Double Cavity / Single Oven | An oven with two cavities, only one of which is an oven. The other will be a grill. |
| DVD | Digital Video/Versatile Disc. |
| DVD Combi | DVD player and VCR in one unit. |
| DX Coding | A facility on a modern conventional film that automatically sets the film speed (See ISO) on the camera. |
| Back to top | |
| Energy Class | EEC initiative where major appliances are given an energy efficiency rating that is displayed on the machine in-store. A-rated appliances are most efficient, through to G-ratings, which are the least efficient. |
| Exp, Exposures | The number of photographs possible to get onto one still film. |
| Back to top | |
| Film Speed | See ISO. |
| Back to top | |
| GPRS | General Packet Radio Service: A development (2.5 generation) of GSM that offers faster service and "always on" technology for mobile internet use. Used by most networks in the UK. Not to be confused with GPS. |
| GPS | Global Positioning System; Satellite technology used to establish a geographical position. Used in Navigation products and mobile technology. Not to be confused with GPRS. |
| GSM | Global System for Mobile Communications: The second generation (after the first generation, analogue) digital technology originally developed for Europe but which now has a larger proportion of the world market. Allows such features as WAP and SMS. |
| Back to top | |
| HiFi Traditional (Headphones) | "Traditional" headphones with headband and ear pieces that fit over the ears. |
| High Level | Ovens where the grill element is at eye level, rather than just below the hob. |
| HSCSD | High Speed Circuit Switched Data: An enhancement of the GSM service, allowing faster connections, and multimedia communications. Introduced first to the UK by Orange. |
| Back to top | |
| ICE or I.C.E. | In Car Entertainment: Audio and Visual products for use inside a motor vehicle. May also be expanded to include navigation devices. |
| ISO (also ASA) | International Standards Organisation: ISO followed by a number designates a film's sensitivity to light. Formerly known as ASA. The higher the number, the faster the film, and the less light needed to take a photograph, but the worse quality of image. |
| IT or I.T. | As every ten year old will tell you, Information Technology. Or, things relating to computers. |
| IDTV | Integrated Digital TV: A TV that will receive and decode digital TV signals without a separate set top box. |
| Back to top | |
| Java | A computer programming technology. In telecomms, more recent mobile phones have the facility to play games written in the Java language, and the facility to download more games from the internet. |
| Back to top | |
| No current entries | |
| Back to top | |
| Low Level | Ovens where the grill element is just below the hob, rather than at eye level. |
| LS | Lens Shutter; non-SLR cameras, also usually known as Viewfinder cameras or compacts. |
| Back to top | |
| MB; Megabyte | Unit of storage for Computers, memory cards, etc. |
| MDA | Major Domestic Appliances. Appliances used in the home, mainly in the kitchen. e.g. Washing, Refrigeration, Cooking. |
| MM or Mass Merchandisers | High street and Out-of Town multiples, selling a wide range of products. Includes Variety stores, Grocery multiples and Department stores. |
| MAT or M.A.T. | Moving Annual Total; sales in the 52 weeks up to the current or specified period. |
| MFD | Multi Function Devices; Printers that also have functions of a scanner, photocopier, and possibly a fax machine - all in one box. |
| Mixed Fuel | An appliance that is powered by two separate fuels. Usually an electric oven with gas hob, but may be another combination. |
| MMS | Multimedia Messaging Service: is a new and improved format of Short Message Service (SMS). MMS allows compatible cell phone users to exchange multimedia messages on their phones, such as graphical postcards, animations, video clips, maps and business cards. |
| MP3 | A format for compressing audio files, thus making music more suitable for downloading from the internet or emailing. MP3 files can be played on computers, compatible hardware, or on dedicated MP3 players. |
| Back to top | |
| NAF | Non-Autofocus. Camera where the user focuses the image manually, or fixed focus, where the focusing cannot be changed. |
| Back to top | |
| OS; Open OS | Operating System: The software used to run a computer or SOS. Open OS means that the computer is not designed for one particular OS, but could use one of several. |
| Back to top | |
| PDA | Personal Digital Assistant. See SOS. |
| Pixel | Short for Picture Element. On a computer screen or digital camera, the image is made from a number of coloured dots, each being a pixel. The larger the number of pixels in an image, the higher its definition. |
| Porro (Binoculars) | Binoculars use prisms to reflect and correct the image you see. Porro prism binoculars use two prisms in each side, in the traditional zigzag alignment. |
| Back to top | |
| No current entries | |
| Back to top | |
| Roof Prism (Binoculars) | Binoculars use prisms to reflect and correct the image you see. Roof prism binoculars have their prisms in a straight line with the eye pieces, and are smaller and lighter than Porro prism binoculars. |
| Back to top | |
| Sales LC | Sales in Local Currency; some charts produced internationally will not state sales in £, but use the abbreviation LC. Thus for charts on European markets LC will usually mean Euros, for US markets it will mean American Dollars. For UK charts, LC will still mean £sterling. |
| Set Top Box | Machine with the facility to decode digital video signals that are broadcast via satellite or cable, with or without a pay-TV-card. |
| Single Cavity (Oven) | An oven with just a single cavity. This may also act as a grill. |
| SLR | Single Lens Reflex; A type of camera where the viewfinder shows you what the lens sees, rather than through a separate opening. Usually uses interchangeable lenses. |
| Smartphone | A combination mobile telephone and PDA in one unit. |
| SMS | Short Message Service: is the ability to send and receive short alphanumeric messages to and from mobile telephones. Now universally known as Texting. |
| SOS or S.O.S. | Small Organising Solutions; Small hand sized computers, also known as PDAs or Personal Digital Assistants. These include those with a mobile telephone feature, also known as Smartphones. |
| ST AF | Standard Autofocus |
| Stereo Pocket (Headphones) | Headphones that are smaller and lighter than HiFi/Traditional. May have no headband, and in-ear pieces. |
| SUC | Single Use Camera. A conventional film with lens and buttons attached to take photographs. Once used, the whole thing is given to the developer, and is not re-used. In GfK reporting terms, this is classed as a Still Film, and not a Camera. |
| Back to top | |
| TCS | Telecomms Specialists; may be either multiple stores or independents, but both concentrate on telecoms products. |
| TSD | Thousand(s). An abbreviation that appears on some charts. |
| TVR | TV Recorder. A Television with integrated VCR. Excludes TVs with integrated DVD players, etc. |
| Back to top | |
| No current entries | |
| Back to top | |
| Variety Stores | Mainly High Street retailers that sell a wide range of products. Includes such chains as Argos, Index, Boots, Woolworth's etc. Also counted as part of Mass merchandisers. |
| VCR | Video Cassette Recorder. Unit to record TV programmes onto video tape. Either a stand-alone unit, or built into a TVR. |
| Vented | Tumble dryer where the vapour is fed through a hose to be vented into the air, either through a special venting kit or an open window. See also Condenser. |
| Back to top | |
| WAP | Wireless Application protocol: Digital mobile application allowing access to the internet, using stripped down versions of websites. See also GPRS and HSCSD. |
| Widescreen | See 16:9 |
| Back to top | |
| No current entries | |
| Back to top | |
| Year on Year | Sales from the current MAT compared to the equivalent period from the previous year. |
| Back to top | |
| No current entries | |
| Back to top |