OBI

Open Buying on the Internet, is a standard that creates a flexible framework for B2B solutions. Its goal is to automate a high-volume, low-price transaction between trading partners.

OCR

Optical Character Recognition. Electronic recognition of printed or written text characters. Resulting that a scanned document doesn't need to be retyped.

OCX

An Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) custom control.  It provides functions such as window resizing. Microsoft now calls it an ActiveX Control.

ODBC

Open DataBase Connectivity, a standard database access method. The goal of ODBC is to make it possible to access any data from any application, regardless of which database management system (DBMS) is handling the data.

ODC

On Demand Computing. An enterprise model in which computing resources are made available to the user as needed.

ODI

Open Data-Link Interface, a driver specification that enables different protocols, working at the data-link layer of the OSI model to share the same NIC and NIC driver.

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer.

OFDM

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, an FDM modulation technique for transmitting large amounts of digital data over a radio wave. OFDM works by splitting the radio signal into multiple smaller sub-signals that are then transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk in signal transmissions. 802.11a WLAN technology uses OFDM.
Compare with FHSS and DSSS.

OFX

Open Financial Exchange, a unified specification for the exchange of electronic financial data over the Internet. Using a request-response system of communication, OFX allows a client to connect directly to a financial institution's server.
See FIX.

OLAP

Online Analytical Processing, a category of software tools that provides analysis of data stored in a database. OLAP tools enable users to analyze different dimensions of multidimensional data. For example, it provides time series and trend analysis views.
The chief component of OLAP is the OLAP server, which sits between a client and a database management systems (DBMS). The OLAP server understands how data is organized in the database and has special functions for analyzing the data. There are OLAP servers available for nearly all the major database systems.

OLE

Object Linking and Embedding. OLE is a compound document standard developed by Microsoft Corporation. It enables you to create objects with one application and then link or embed them in a second application. Embedded objects retain their original format and links to the application that created them. Support for OLE is built into the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. A competing compound document standard developed jointly by IBM, Apple Computer, and other computer firms is called OpenDoc.

OLED

Organic light-emitting diode, a display device that sandwiches carbon-based films between two charged electrodes, resulting in light when voltage is applied.

OMG

Object Management Group, is an organisation that has goals to provide a common framework for developing applications using object-oriented programming techniques.  OMG is responsible for the CORBA specification.

On The Fly

Expression meaning 'in real time' - commonly used when a web page is constructed automatically at the time of retrieval by the user, for example by compiling the results of a search engine.

Onion Routing

Onion routing is a technique for anonymous communication over a computer network. In an onion network, messages are encapsulated in layers of encryption, analogous to layers of an onion.

OOG

Object Oriented Graphics. The representation of graphical objects, such as lines, arcs, circles, and rectangles, with mathematical formulas. This method of describing objects enables the system to manipulate the objects more freely. In an object-oriented system, for example, you can overlap objects but still access> them individually, which is difficult in a bit-mapped system. One of the most widely used formats for object-oriented graphics is PostScript. PostScript is a PDL that makes it possible to describe objects and manipulate them in various ways.

OOP

Object-Oriented Programming. A type of programming in which programmers define not only the data type of a data structure, but also the types of operations (functions) that can be applied to the data structure. In this way, the data structure becomes an object that includes both data and functions. In addition, programmers can create relationships between one object and another.

Open Source

Refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge.

OpenDoc

A standard and application programming interface (API) that makes it possible to design independent programs (components) that can work together on a single document. OpenDoc is being developed by a loose alliance of companies, including Apple Computer, IBM, and Lotus. Notably absent from this list is Microsoft, which is pushing an alternative standard and API called Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

Opera

A Web browser.

OPSS

Office for Product Safety and Standards, purpose is to make regulation work, so that it protects people and enables businesses to understand their obligations. It is part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

ORB

Object Request Broker, a compenent in the CORBA programming model that acts as a middleware between clients and servers.

ORM

(1) Object Role Modeling. A conceptual database design methodology that allows the user to express information as an object and explore how it relates to other information objects.

(2) Operational Risk Management. It is an emerging area in risk management. The goal is to control and to mitigate operational risks when there is economic reason to do so.

OS

Operating System

OSD

On Screen Display

OSI

Open System Interconnection, an ISO standard for worldwide communications that defines a networking framework for implementing protocol in seven layers. Control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the application layer in one station, proceeding to the bottom layer, over the channel to the next station and back up the hierarchy. Seven layers are as follows:

7. Application
6. Presentation
5. Session
4. Transport
3. Network
2. Data Link
1. Physical

OSP

Online Service Provider, is an ISP that have their own independant online content, eg AOL, compared to an ISP that simply connect users directly to the Internet.

OSPF

Open Shortest Path First, is a routing propcol developed for IP networks based on the shortest path first or link-state algorithm.  See RFC 1583.

OTP

Open Trading Protocol, is a framework developed by the IETF to provide interoperability for Internet commerce between a buyer and a merchant with no prior relationship.

OUI

Organisationally Unique Identifier. Code assigned by the IEEE to an organisation that makes NICs. This and the manufacturer's unique card code becomes the MAC Address.

Outage

The time when a computer system, telecoms facilities, mains electricity supplies, etc. are unavailable for use due to some failure. Also known as downtime. Planned outages are scheduled in advance. outRages are what happens when they are not.

Output

Result in the form of data, information, display etc from the running of a program etc.

Overflow Error

An error that occurs when the computer attempts to handle a number that is too large for it. Every computer has a well-defined range of values that it can represent. If during execution of a program it arrives at a number outside this range, it will experience an overflow error. Overflow errors are sometimes referred to as overflow conditions.