UCIF:  Unified Communications Interoperability Forum.  Established in 2010 with initial members HP, Juniper, Microsoft, Logitech/LifeSize Communications and Polycom, it is a nonprofit organization for the purpose of creating open standards for communications equipment.

UDID:  Stands for Unique Device Identifier.  THIS IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO APPLE DEVICES.  It is a 40 character sequence that is specific to iPods, iPhones, etc, much like a serial number.  It’s used by Apple on iTunes to give you permission to install apps on your devices.  You can find your UDID, using this App.

UDP:  User Datagram Protocol.  Like its cousin TCP, UDP is another protocol that supports network applications that need to transport data between computers.  The difference is that UDP does not the message into packets (“datagrams”) and resequencing at receipt, so it is faster.  Users with small messages will use TFTP (“Trivial File Transfer Protocol), which uses UDP.

UEFI:  BIOS isn’t the only game in town.  Some 30 years after the invention of the first DOS PC, Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (which is expected to come standard with Windows 8) is a faster and newer alternative to BIOS. It is firmware originally introduced by Intel with its itanium chips that introduced new ways of booting an OS that is distinct from the commonly used "MBR boot code" method followed for BIOS systems. [See File System.]  UEFI, which can be booted alone or with BIOS, can reside on a disk or EPROM, and does not include POST (which isn’t really necessary any more since most peripherals have their own Windows device drivers anyway) or initial setup (CPU & memory), which can be handled by other add-on software.  The big advantage is it’s resistance to malware, particularly rootkits, as the UEFI “secure boot” option uses PKI to validate the software before a full boot to Windows can run and cause damage the computer.  And, since there is no MBR, there can be no MBR viruses.  This may create some problems with Linux users, but it appears that they can either turn off UEFI secure boot, or customize it.  This issue is being addressed.

UFS:  Unix File System.  See File System.

UMA:  Unlicensed Mobile Access.  The technology that lets VoIP run on top of conventional GSM cellular service, or SIP, the increasingly popular, non-proprietary standard for Internet-based voice and video calls.

UML:  Unified Modeling Language.  This is a language that is used to write the “blueprint” for computer systems, which has quickly become the de-facto standard for object-oriented software.  It is a language, not a method or procedure.

UMPC:  Refers to a “Ultra Mobile Personal Computer”.  Defined as a computer which has a screen between 5 and 7 inches wide.  Sometimes called a “netbook” Smaller than a laptop, generally with a solid state drive (SSD) and somewhat limited capabilities.  See, for example, the Asus Pceee (basic; under $400); also Fujitsu U810 (tablet, movable screen, 5.5 hrs. battery life; $999). UMPCs usually run Windows; alternatively, Mobile Internet Devices (“MIDs”) run other operating systems, like Linux.  IDC estimates that this market will be worth about $3 billion by 2012; look for use of the Intel Atom Z-520 chip (1.33Ghz,533Mhz front-side bus, 512Kb Level 2 cache) in more of these computers, pushing the envelope for battery life and power. See Laptops.

UMTS:  Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.  A third generation (“3G”) digital mobile telecommunications standard which enables digital mobile phones to function in GSM networks as well as UMTS, permitting reception in areas where UMTS may not yet be available.  UMTS is specifically designed for high-speed data transfer and is “Internet ready” as well as interference tolerant and, because it is based on CDMA and spread spectrun technology, boasts extraordinary voice quality, high data rates and huge network capacity, achieving a maximum data rate of up to 384 kilobits per second, making mobile multimedia applications a reality.

UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS: With UC, multiple modes of business communications are seamlessly integrated.  UC is not a single product, but a collection of elements that include call control and multimodal communications, presence, instant messaging, unified messaging, speech, conferencing, collaboration tools, and business process integration.  UC is sometimes confused with unified messaging, but is actually distinct.  UC refers to both real-time and non-real-time delivery of communications based on the preferred method and location of the recipient.  Unified messaging systems cull messages from several sources (such as email, fax and voice mail), but holds these messages only for retrieval at a later time.  UC allows for an individual to check and retrieve an email or voice mail from any communication device at any time, expanding traditional voice mail services to data communications and video services.

UNITY: The shell (desktop interface) program used by Ubuntu Linux.  See Linux.

UNIX:  A computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs (Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie & Douglas McIlroy) designed to network multiple stations connecting to a central hub or hubs in what is known as “star” topology (incidentally, the same basic structure as the Internet itself).  For a long time Unix was actually the prevalent operating system in use, and is still used widely in scientific and business networks.  Unix has many derivations (freeBSD, openBSD, Slackware, HP-UX, etc.), is a basis for Mac’s OS-X, and was the source from which LINUX was derived.

UPLOAD: The reverse of download.  The transfer of data from a computer (usually a PC or smaller computer) to a larger computer or network.  For example, when you post photos to eBay, you’re uploading them to the site.  Similarly, when you send files across the network, you are uploading them.

UPnP: Used by certain applications to automatically open certain (router) ports for communication over the Internet [as opposed to manually opening those ports through the router software configuration].

UPS:  Uninterruptible Power Supply.  This is a power supply (essentially a “battery”) which provides continuous, reliable power during a loss of input power for a period of time.  The length of time and amount of power depends on the specifications of the power supply itself, usually expressed in “joules” (sensitivity) and “clamp time” (speed of reaction).  Often the power supply has surge suppression built in to some or all of the power outlets so that, in addition to battery backup, they can address a wide variety of electrical-related issues such as short-term voltage sags (“undervoltage”), long-term periods of undervoltage, short-term voltage spikes (“overvoltage”), noisy power sources, etc.  In addition, some UPSs have Master/Controlled outlets, which can be enabled to automatically turn off items plugged in to it when not drawing current (such as printers), to save electricity.  Primary considerations for UPSs are capacity (the maximum amount of power a UPS can handle) and runtime (the length of time it will continue providing backup power in the event of an outage). 

In server rooms of larger systems, additional considerations (such as IGBT (insulate-gate bipolar transistors) abd DSP (digital signal processors), both of which provide for true online “double conversion” (which converts AC power to DC and then back to AC) must be considered).  They go further than simple residential “line interactive” appliances to online and standby models used in larger installations.   In addition, the UPS may have software which shuts down the open computer programs and saves any unsaved data, prior to the expiration of the battery power itself.  UPSs are claimed to be more effective than surge protectors for protection against lightning, power surges, brownouts, blackouts, voltage fluctuations, power spikes and line noise, because the battery offers additional protection, in addition to keeping the computer running.  But see the discussion about printers and UPSs in TIPS.  See also, flywheels.

UPSTREAM: Applies to the speed of an internet connection when uploading a file from your computer to another computer over your internet connection.  These speeds are typically lower than downstream transfers over the same network.

URL:  “Uniform Resource Locator”.  Means an Internet “address”.  This is a string of characters to identify a page of information on the internet.  The URL is divided into two parts:  The first part identifies the protocol to use to visit the site.  The normal protocol is “http://” which means “hypertext transfer protocol”, which identifies the majority of the World Wide Web (“www”) pages written in HTML or Hypertext Markup Language.  The second part of the URL specifies either the domain using English characters (i.e. “thecomputercoach.net or ebay.com) or numbers known as the IP (“Internet Protocol”) address (e.g. 123.456.789.000 - always up to 4 sets of up to three digits separated by points).  Most sites have both a numbered IP address and a domain address.

USB:  Universal Serial Bus (see BUS, above), a common (serial) port on a computer into which are plugged (up to 127) peripheral devices (drives, printers, keyboards, mice, modems, etc.) Some new Dell computers no longer use PS/2 ports to connect keyboards and mice, only USB ports.  Comes in 2 speeds, USB 1 & 2 [See SPEED, above].  USB 3.0 (dubbed “Superspeed”) is about ready for commercial release; you’ll probably see devices starting to use this technology in late 2010.  For more about USB 3, click HERE. For devices requiring limited power, the USB port provides about 5 volts of power (which is also sufficiet to short out a device or board as well if you’re not careful.  The 127 number comes from the fact that there is a 7-bit address field and, in reality, you wouldn’t be able to daisy-chain 127 devices together anyway.  Really want to know more about the USB standard, click HERE.  And there’s also Wireless USB, not greatly used, which certifies wireless products that can be used with wireless hubs and the like. Click HERE for a photo of the connectors (For USB 1 & 2).    The inventor?  Remember the summer 2009 Intel commercial where co-inventor of the USB Ajay Bhatt (actually an actor, Ajay was far too busy, says Intel) is treated like a superstar?  At least we know one of the co-inventors.  The universal USB symbol looks like this:   The symbol, created at the time of the USB 1.0 spec, was drawn to resemble Neptune’s Trident (the Dreizack), with the triangle, circle and square at its tips signifying the different types of peripherals that could be attached using the standard.

U.S. CYBERCOMMAND: See, CYBERCOM.

USER ERROR:  It’s not the hardware or the software, either.  It’s the way the operator is using the computer.  Some adjustment must be made to correct the problem. 

UTIL:  My very own acronym.  It means You Touched It Last. Very often, computer repair techs get a callback after servicing computers, sometimes concerning some unrelated computer or a peripheral on or off the network, that has mysteriously developed problems.  Usually, the client’s explanation is that you touched the system last, therefore any problems which occur for a short period thereafter must be your fault.  And, usually, you have to fix the problem free of charge as a warranty item if you want to keep that client’s business.

UTILITY:  A software application which performs a special function for an operating system or its files.  For example, ScanDisk is a Windows utility which checks the hard disk drive for errors.  Anti-virus and firewall programs are also types of utilities.  Essentially, utilities effect the performance of the operating system, not the application programs themselves.

UTP:  Unshielded Twisted Pair cabling, meaning cables that consist of pairs of unshielded copper wire twisted together.  This is the most common type of wiring used for telephone and computers.  UTP is less expensive to manufacture because it is unshielded, and it achieves its shielding by being twisted together in pairs.  For more discussion, see Ethernet.

UUENCODE: See, ASCII.

UWB:  UltraWideBand.  This is a low-power, high-speed wireless technology that transmits large amounts of data, such as digital files, over a wide spectrum of bandwidth for a short distance.  The technology is most often compared to Bluetooth, but the advantages are that is uses speeds of up to 480Mpbs at distances as much as 3 meters and 110Mpbs at 10 meters, UWB’s performance rate is estimated at 100 times the speed of Bluetooth and twice that of Wi-Fi and, because it uses a larger chunk of bandwidth than either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it yields much less multipath interference and can carry signals through typical wireless obstacles, such as doors and walls.

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