TECHNOLOGY 

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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bit mask:
A bit mask is a special value used in combination with bitwise operations to examine or modify specific bits within a data value. These operations may include logical functions such as AND, OR, XOR, NOT, and similar operators that manipulate bits directly.
By applying a mask, programmers can selectively test, set, or clear particular bits in a binary field without affecting the other bits. This technique is widely used in low-level programming and system operations where precise control over binary data is required.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – BIX:
BIX stands for BYTE Information Exchange, an online service originally created by BYTE magazine. The platform provided a place where users could communicate and exchange information related to computer hardware and software.
Later operated by Delphi Internet Services Corporation, BIX offered services such as electronic mail, software downloads, and discussion forums. These forums allowed users to participate in conferences and discussions about technological developments and computing topics.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bits per pixel:
Bits per pixel refers to the number of bits used to represent the color information of a single pixel in a digital image. This measurement determines how many different colors or shades can be displayed for each pixel.
Common values include 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits per pixel, with higher values allowing a broader range of colors and more detailed images. Bits per pixel is also known as color depth or bit depth and plays an important role in the quality of digital graphics.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bit stream:
A bit stream is a sequence of binary digits that represents data being transmitted through a communication channel or stored in digital form. It consists of a continuous flow of bits that together convey information between devices or systems.
In synchronous communication systems, a bit stream is transmitted as an uninterrupted sequence of bits without start and stop markers separating individual characters. Instead, the receiving system identifies the boundaries of characters by maintaining synchronization with the sender’s timing.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bit stuffing:
Bit stuffing is a technique used in data communication where additional bits are inserted into a stream of transmitted data. This method ensures that specific bit patterns used for control purposes do not accidentally appear within the actual data being transmitted.
For example, in communication protocols such as HDLC, SDLC, and X.25, a sequence of six consecutive ones is reserved to mark the beginning or end of a data frame. To prevent this sequence from appearing inside the data itself, the system automatically inserts a zero after every sequence of five ones. The receiving system later removes these inserted bits to restore the original data.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bit twiddler:
Bit twiddler is an informal slang term used to describe a person who is highly enthusiastic about computers, especially someone who enjoys working with low-level programming. Such individuals often prefer programming languages that allow direct manipulation of binary data, such as assembly language.
The term is commonly associated with programmers who enjoy experimenting with hardware operations, optimizing code, or manipulating individual bits within data structures. It is often used in a lighthearted way within programming communities.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – biz. newsgroups:
Biz. newsgroups are discussion forums within the Usenet system that belong to the biz. hierarchy. These groups focus primarily on topics related to business, including commerce, marketing, entrepreneurship, and other professional subjects.
Unlike most other Usenet newsgroups, which generally restrict advertising, biz. newsgroups allow users to post advertisements and promotional material. This feature makes them suitable platforms for discussing business opportunities and sharing marketing-related information.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – BITNET:
BITNET, which stands for Because It’s Time Network, was a wide area network established in 1981 to facilitate communication among universities and research institutions. Operated by the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN), the network connected mainframe computers in North America, Europe, and Japan.
Although BITNET primarily used the IBM Network Job Entry protocol rather than the TCP/IP protocol used by the Internet, it still allowed users to exchange electronic mail with Internet systems. The network also played an important role in the early development of mailing list software, including the widely used Listserv system.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – bit. newsgroups:
Bit. newsgroups refer to a category within the hierarchy of Internet discussion groups that reproduced or mirrored the content of mailing lists originally hosted on the BITNET network. These newsgroups allowed users on the Internet to access and participate in discussions that originated on BITNET mailing lists.
Through this arrangement, messages posted on BITNET mailing lists were automatically distributed to corresponding Internet newsgroups. This integration helped extend discussions beyond BITNET users and allowed wider participation from the global Internet community.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – .biz:
The domain name .biz is a top-level domain introduced to support websites related to businesses and commercial activities. It was one of several new domain extensions approved in the year 2000 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The purpose of this domain was to provide additional naming options for companies and organizations conducting business online. By designating .biz specifically for business use, it helped differentiate commercial websites from those using more general domain extensions.
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