Author Topic: Word suggestion: lossless  (Read 1042 times)

jancsika

  • Paronomaniac
  • ******
  • Posts: 312
    • View Profile
Word suggestion: lossless
« on: August 01, 2020, 03:37:27 PM »
"Lossless" (and its opposite, "lossy ") qualify data compression algorithms where the original data can be faithfully recovered, or is irretrievably lost, respectively (.mp3 files are "lossy" and .wav files are "lossless" for example).

Yes, they are technical terms but they have been around for quite a while and would be good candidates for "rare words", at least.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2020, 04:16:39 PM by jancsika »

mkenuk

  • Eulexic
  • ***
  • Posts: 2671
  • Life? Don't talk to me about life.
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2020, 05:04:05 PM »
I'm far from being an IT buff, but even I have heard of FLAC (Free lossless audio codec).

Mind, I'm not saying I know what it means.

les303

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • Never give up just keep on trying
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2020, 05:36:47 PM »
Huh ?


yelnats

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 750
    • View Profile
    • Burke Rd billabong reserve & Friends of Herring Island
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2020, 04:55:44 PM »
I tried "lossy" without success.

les303

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • Never give up just keep on trying
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2020, 05:02:19 PM »
Gidday Stan, how are you coping with the lock down.
Difficult to belief or understand when i heard on the radio the other day that when authorities door knocked on the homes of people who were supposed to be in isolation something like 1 in 4 were not at home?

les303

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • Never give up just keep on trying
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2020, 05:04:07 PM »
any clues on my technical problems

whisky

  • Lexicomane
  • ***
  • Posts: 134
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2020, 07:14:39 PM »
Huh ?

A brief explanation, from an older Electrical Engineer.

We always try and squeeze more data down a link.

There are 2 approaches.
Providers ( Like Telstra ) may use one or both.

1
Coding.
It is possible to have a logical coder at the transmitter end, and a logical decoder at the  receiver end.
A CO(der) + DEC(oder) is often referred to as a codec.
Using a codec, it is possible to stuff more information down a link than plain vanilla transmission can achieve.

2
Electronics.
By deploying some smart electronics at the transmitter end, and (usually) even smarter electronics at the receiver end, it is possible to stuff even more data down a link.

By using both techniques concurrently, an even greater amount of data can be stuffed down a link.

This stuff was really important in the past, when limited capability links, like copper telephone lines prevailed.
In this modern era, with optic fibres and such like, it is less important.

More ?
« Last Edit: August 04, 2020, 07:16:28 PM by whisky »

les303

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • Never give up just keep on trying
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2020, 07:28:57 PM »
Thanks for that explanation Michael but i'm still ' stuffed "

whisky

  • Lexicomane
  • ***
  • Posts: 134
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2020, 07:45:35 PM »
Hi Les,

OK.

Would you like to ask a question?
Or would you just like to let it go through to the 'keeper?

I have been known known to say, you don't need to know the details of how a car engine works, to be able to drive.
Equally you don't really need to know a lot of techy stuff to derive benefit from computers and the internet.

It is cold, wet and windy here in Melbourne.
So I am happy stay dry and warm inside the house, and natter.

Cheers
Michael

les303

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • Never give up just keep on trying
    • View Profile
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2020, 01:33:34 PM »
Definitely through to the keeper, thanks Michael

Alan W

  • Administrator
  • Eulexic
  • *****
  • Posts: 4961
  • Melbourne, Australia
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2020, 01:20:11 PM »
Lossless is in lots of dictionaries these days, and it's used often enough in reviews of cameras, sound systems, etc. For instance a review of a bluetooth speaker on msn.com a few days ago said:

Quote
It even uses the aptX codec for a smoother audio experience and lossless wireless sound.

Lossless will be accepted as a rare word from now on.

Oddly its opposite lossy has always been allowed in Chi. Before its use in relation to data transfer, lossy was used in connection with power transmission, but then so was lossless. In addition, lossless has an obsolete non-technical use, meaning without loss. The OED reports that Milton wrote of "Miraculous and losselesse victories" in 1642.
Alan Walker
Creator of Lexigame websites

yelnats

  • Cryptoverbalist
  • *
  • Posts: 750
    • View Profile
    • Burke Rd billabong reserve & Friends of Herring Island
Re: Word suggestion: lossless
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2020, 10:13:07 PM »
Quote
This stuff was really important in the past, when limited capability links, like copper telephone lines prevailed.
In this modern era, with optic fibres and such like, it is less important.

Lucky we had Tony Abbott to save us from the modern era, so we still appreciate lossy transmission.