KAI’S POWER TOOLS

Often abbreviated to KPT are a set of application programming interface (API)  plugins created by Kai Krause that were designed for use with Adobe Photoshop and Corel Photo=Paint. 

KPT  plug-in filters greatly extend the capabilities of image-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. From realistic to artistic to surprising, it offers a new – and extremely fast – range of image transformations and effects, so you can create impressive effects that would ordinarily be impossible or too time-consuming to create from scratch.

KILOBYTE

Computers and storage mechanisms (CD-ROMs, hard drives, USB flash drives, DVD-ROMs, etc.) need to hold much larger values than what a byte can hold (0-255). Thus, the terms kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, and terabyte were created to represent such large amounts of information.
The definition of a kilobyte is 1,024 bytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 bytes.
A megabyte is 1,024 kilobytes. A gigabyte is 1,024 megabytes. A terabyte is 1,024 gigabytes

KBPS (KILOBITS PER SECOND)

In telecommunications, bit rate or data transfer rate is the average number of bits,  characters, or blocks per unit time passing between equipment in a data transmission system. This is typically measured in multiples of the units bit per second or byte per second.

‘k’ vs ‘Ki’     -    ‘k’ and ‘Ki’ stand for ‘kilo‘ and kibi respectively. They are prefixes to units where ‘k’ stands for 1,000 and ‘Ki’ stands for 1,024, because ‘Ki’ comes from its use in computing where 2¹⁰ = 1,024. Unfortunately, ‘K’ is often incorrectly used instead of ‘Ki’. Furthermore, the broad public not being necessarily aware of this subtle difference, usually uses ‘Kbps’ and ‘Kibps’ indiscriminately, creating confusion. Whenever ‘Kibps’ is used, it is usually accurate.

‘b’ vs ‘B’  -  ‘b’ stands for ‘bit’ and ‘B’ stands for ‘byte’, where one byte refers to 8 bits. This can lead to confusion, as when a “1 Mega” connection is advertised, it usually means 1 Mibit/s (mebibit per second) or 1.049 Mbit/s (megabit per second), meaning the maximum achievable download speed is actually about 128 KiB/s (kibibyte per second) or 131 kB/s (kilobyte per second).

KERBEROS

Kerberos is the name of a computer network authentication protocol, which allows individuals communicating over a non-secure network to prove their identity to one another in a secure manner.  Kerberos builds on symmetric key cryptography and requires a trusted third party. Extensions to Kerberos can provide for the use of public-key cryptography during certain phases of authentication.

LAPTOP

A laptop computer or simply laptop (also notebook computer, notebook and notepad) is a small mobile computer. Laptops usually run on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter that charges the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself even in the event of a power failure. This very powerful main battery should not be confused with smaller 3 volt cell battery that is built in nearly every computer. This small battery is intended to run the real-time clock and backup memory during the time the computer is not powered on and/or is not connected to the external power.

Laptops contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions, but are miniaturised and optimised for mobile use and efficient power consumption. Laptops usually have liquid crystal displays and most of them use different memory modules for their random access memory (RAM). In addition to a built-in keyboard, they may utilise a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external keyboard or mouse can be attached.

LOWSRC ATTRIBUTE

The lowsrc attribute is used in an <img src> tag in order to provide the browser with a much smaller, much faster loading, lower resolution graphic than the primary graphic specified in the <img src> tag.  

The reason for this is to decrease the amount of time it takes for a page to load sufficiently for someone to use it. If one is on a slow link, a page with several large graphic files may take several minutes to load. If those graphic files are accompanied by a lowsrc image, the browser will first load the lowsrc images and display them. These should be simplified pictures, either with a lower resolution, fewer colors (black and white, with no greys, works well for photograps), or some other concession to image quality that results in a physically smaller file. After the lowsrc images and the rest of the page is loaded, the browser will then go back and load the primary graphics over the top of the lowsrc graphics.

This dramatically decreases the amount of time it takes to load a page that uses a lot of graphics. It also gives the viewer an idea of what the final image(s) are going to look like, allowing that person to determine if it is worth their time to wait for the primary image to load.

LAB MODE

In Photoshop, the Lab mode consists of three color channels. The first channel is Lightness (L). The Lightness component, also called luminance, can range from 0 to 100. A Lightness value of 0 equals black and a value of 100 equals white. The higher the value, the more vivid the color. The other two channels, a and b, represent color ranges. The a channel contains colors ranging from green to red and the b channel contains colors ranging from blue to yellow.When working in Lab mode you’re provided with a wide range of color values to choose from. The Lab color model actually includes all of the colors that you can create in both RGB and CMYK modes.
Working in Lab mode is just as fast as working in RGB mode Photoshop has only three channels to work with when processing information, but working with CMYK images can be much slower. Remember even though you’re working in CMYK mode, your monitor is RGB so Photoshop is converting these values continuously.Because Lab mode is device-independent, you can use it to edit any image and your colors won’t undergo major tonal changes when converted to CMYK for final output. This is one reason many of the high-end users prefer to work in Lab mode.LASSO TOOL Photoshop’s Lasso tool is a selection tool that makes it easy to select objects in your images by clicking and dragging around them.

The Lasso tool is most commonly used for two tasks:

• Selecting specific parts of an image: The Lasso tool lets you create selections by hand, which means that you can make precise selections that target specific parts of an image. For instance, if you’re working with an image of a tree and you want to select just one specific branch on the tree, the Lasso tool could help you make that selection quickly and accurately. Other selection tools, such as the Rectangular Marquee tool, would not enable you to select among the nooks and crannies of the various branches. Though the Lasso tool works particularly well with odd-shaped elements, such as tree branches, it can work just as well in selecting more conventionally shaped objects.
• Creating odd shapes: The Lasso tool also makes it possible to create shapes of your own design. Though tools such as the Rectangular Marquee tool and the Elliptical Marquee tool make it easy to create rectangles and ellipses, the Lasso tool lets you create any shape you need by hand. If you’re using Photoshop CS2 or later, you’d likely use the Polygonal Lasso tool to create shapes rather than the standard Lasso tool.

LAYER MASK

Layer masks are special layers in Photoshop that are only 8 bits deep and represent the alpha channel  of an image layer. The main difference between channel and layer masks is that the layer mask represents the alpha channel of the layer it is linked to, whereas channel masks represent selections and exist independently of any particular layer.

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LAN - LOCAL AREA NETWORK

A LAN supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home. A LAN is useful for sharing resources like files, printers, games or other applications. A LAN in turn often connects to other LANs, and to the Internet or other Wide Area Networks (WAN).  WAN’s connect multiple smaller networks, such as local area networks (LANs) or metro area networks (MANs).  The world’s most popular WAN is the Internet.

LCD (LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY)

A LCD is a thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It is often utilised in battery-powered electronic devices because it uses very small amounts of electric power.

Below is the LCD display on the iPhone.   When I grow up I’m going to buy one of these! 

LED (LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE)

Light emitting diodes can be found in many devices. Among other things, they form the numbers on digital clocks, transmit information from remote controls, light up watches and tell you when your appliances are turned on. Collected together, they can form images on a jumbo television screen (below) or illuminate a traffice light.

LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don’t have a filament that will burn out, and they don’t get especially hot. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, and they last just as long as a standard transistor.

    1 or 1 million tiny bulbs !        

LMS (LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)

A Learning Management System is a set of software tools designed to manage user learning interventions. LMS’s go far beyond conventional training records management and reporting. The value-add for LMSs is the extensive range of complementary functionality they offer. Learner self-service (e.g. self-registration on instructor-led training), training workflow (e.g. user notification, manager approval, waitlist management), the provision of on-line learning and assessment, management of continous professional education (CPE), collaborative learning (e.g. application sharing, discussion threads), and training resource management, are some of the additional dimensions to leading Learning Management Systems.

Most LMSs are web-based to facilitate “anytime, any place, any pace” access to learning content and administration. LMSs are favoured by regulated industries (e.g. financial services and biopharma) where compliance training is essential.

LMSs are based on a variety of development platforms, from Java EE based architectures to Microsoft . NET, and usually employ the use of a robust database back-end. While most systems are commercially developed and frequently have non-free software licences or restrict access to their source code, free and open-source models do exist. Other than the most simple, basic functionality, LMS’s cater to, and focus on, different educational, administrative, and deployment requirements. Open source and web-based LMS software solutions are increasingly important.

LITHIUM ION

Lithium-ion batteries are a type of rehargeable battery in which a lithium ion moves between the anode and cathode. The lithium ion moves from the anode to the cathode during discharge and from the cathode to the anode when charging.

Lithium ion batteries are commonly used in consumer electronics. They are currently one of the most popular types of battery for portable electronics, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use. In addition to uses for consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries are growing in popularity for defense, automotive, and aerospace applications due to their high energy density. However certain kinds of mistreatment may cause Li-ion batteries to explode.

LOSSY COMPRESSION

Lossless and lossy compression are terms that describe whether or not, in the compression of a file, all original data can be recovered when the file is uncompressed. With lossless compression, every single bit of data that was originally in the file remains after the file is uncompressed. All of the information is completely restored. This is generally the technique of choice for text or spreadsheet files, where losing words or financial data could pose a problem. The Graphics Interchange File (GIF) is an image format used on the Web that provides lossless compression.

On the other hand, lossy compression reduces a file by permanently eliminating certain information, especially redundant information. When the file is uncompressed, only a part of the original information is still there (although the user may not notice it). Lossy compression is generally used for video and sound, where a certain amount of information loss will not be detected by most users. The JPEG image file, commonly used for photographs and other complex still images on the Web, is an image that has lossy compression. Using JPEG compression, the creator can decide how much loss to introduce and make a trade-off between file size and image quality.