What's in an Acronym ?  

                                                                                        By J.F. Pink

The rapid advance of Computers and communications (Internet), has sharply increased the specialization of engineers in specific fields. The result has been an explosion of shortened terms for repeated subject-names in articles describing these fields. To the public and even engineers these shortened terms - Acronyms - are not familiar and interpretation of them would enhance understanding by readers of the literature. To help remedy this situation, members of the Savannah Section of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) have prepared a glossary of a number of these acronyms. It is intended to maintain these lists in the future with updates from time to time.  For convenient use, it is suggested that any or all of the following lists be printed and kept handy as a reference. Please select the acronyms and definitions from one of the following four tables according to the fields of specialization you desire:

When using acronyms for  first time in any document it is a good practice to spell it out. Clarity is, above all, the primary objective in any communications ... for if we are not understood, it doesn't matter how fast we communicate.

Your cooperation in reporting errors or even differences of opinion is very much appreciated. This list will become more precise through usage. Use of this information is at the sole risk of the user, and neither IEEE-Savannah, nor the authors shall be held liable for any damages direct or indirect that may result from its use. Please send suggestions, corrections and comments via email to sec.savannah@ieee.org 

It is always a good idea to check several sources before using any term or acronym. 
Click here for the IEEE Computer Society's listing of common terms in electrical and computer engineering.

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