Acronyms we use everyday in Audio Visual and IT

We use a lot of acronyms in the IT and AV industries, some of which are self-explanatory, but most are just plain confusing. So here are a few you may have heard of:

  • HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface
  • DP - DisplayPort
  • EDID - Extended Display Identification Data
  • HDCP - High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
  • USB - Universal Serial Bus
  • LAN - Local Area Network
  • VGA - Video Graphics Array
  • DVI - Digital Video Interface
  • SCSI - Small Computer System Interface
  • RGBHV - Red Green Blue Horizontal Vertical
  • ATA - Advanced Technology Attachment
  • SATA - Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
  • eSATA - External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
  • PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
  • PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect
  • PCIe - Peripheral Component Interconnect Express
  • IWB - Interactive White Board
  • OSD - On Screen Display
  • KVM - Keyboard Video Mouse
  • 1RU - 1 Rack Unit
  • PDU - Power Distribution Unit
  • LSZH - Low Smoke Zero Halogen
  • RoHS - Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
  • RFID - Radio Frequency Identification
  • ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Fun Fact: Wi-Fi does not mean 'Wireless Fidelity' even though it appears to have been inspired by the common stereo term Hi-Fi which is an acronym for High Fidelity. It is simply slang terminology used when referring to wireless devices or networks.