It is hardly necessary to state that the field of information and communication technology (ICT) is one of meteoric change, and so an updated dictionary is a welcome arrival, even though it is unlikely to remain fully up to date for very long. The Dictionary of ICT was first issued in 1987 (by Peter Collin Publishing as the Dictionary of Information Technology) and now appears in its fully revised fourth edition under the Bloomsbury Publishing imprint. It includes over 8,000 terms covering all aspects of ICT, including personal computers, the internet, programming, networks, graphics, film and broadcasting.
The entries are explained clearly, with phonetic pronunciation for all main entries. Examples are given to show how the words and phrases are used in context and quotations from a range of magazines and journals are employed to show how the words are used in real text. General comments about particular items of interest are given in separate boxes.
Personal computers are now moving rapidly towards becoming entertainment centres, at least in the home, with specially networked AV units starting to become available to provide the interface between the personal computer(s) and television. Users are being encouraged to gather music and film from the internet and network it around their home along with their digital photographs and home videos. Multimedia is everywhere. The Dictionary of ICT reflects that paradigm shift by covering music, graphics, multimedia, desktop publishing, film, video, TV and radio in addition to computers, programming, networks, databases, the internet, and electronics. The emphasis on multimedia is not surprising given that the author, Simon (S.M.H.) Collin, is also the author of the Dictionary of Multimedia, (Peter Collin Publishing, Ltd). The dictionary will be welcomed by the computer user with a bias towards multimedia, but perhaps it is not entirely suited for those with a more business‐oriented requirement, such as accountants. A supplement at the back of the book provides HTML codes, a decimal conversion table and logic function tables (helpful if you need it, but if you really need it you may well have found it elsewhere). More useful would have been a key to the phonetic pronunciation as this is not familiar to everyone.
The tastefully designed cover states “ideal for school and college”. This reviewer considers that the dictionary would be more appropriately positioned at college and university. Whilst sixth formers may appreciate it, the younger pupil may find that the dictionary is pitched at those with a higher level of understanding. The Dictionary of ICT is a clearly printed, handy little volume with a strong multimedia bias. Any purchase decisions relating to suitability may be offset by the very reasonable pricing of £9.99.
