GLOSSARY
Look up definitions for rugged and industrial computer terminology.
WORD OF THE DAY
OEM
- Original Equipment Manufacturer. There is more than one definition of this term, depending on the industry, background or social circle. This is the one that we use: A company that brings in several components from other sources in order to manufacture a product. Original in this case means “new and different” or “not a copy”. Our customers typically are OEMs. They make a brand new product from several different components, including the computers and displays that we provide them.
- Another common definition of OEM indicates an arrangement whereby the vendor of a computer or computer component will brand and/or otherwise customize their product for the purchasing party. For instance, New Era Electronics may provide a computer to “Company A”. Company A does not want their end customers to see where their components come from and wants to establish brand awareness. So New Era Electronics could make an OEM branded computer with Company A’s logo on it.
All Definitions
Expansion Card
A circuit board that can be connected to a computer motherboard in order to add functionality to a computer.
Embedded
Embedded has 2 meanings that we are concerned with in the computer world.
- Integrated or made to be integrated into a larger device
- Adheres to what is called an “embedded lifecycle”. This means that the manufacturer will continue to make the product anywhere from 5-15 years. In contrast to average consumer electronics which can go obsolete within 6 months.
Electronics
Devices that operate using electricity that passes through components such as microchips, transistors, etc. Radios and computers are examples of electronics.