Glossary

Letter: G

GB (gigabyte)

1024 megabytes, commonly rounded down to one billion bytes. Click here for more information about the gigabyte.

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)

A method for transmitting data over a GSM network, most often used to give internet access to GSM mobile phones. GPRS is generally billed by the kilobyte transferred, and generally runs at a speed of approximately 15-30 kilobits per second.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A global navigation system which enables, through the use of orbiting satellites, a GPS receiver to find out its location, speed, the direction of its travel, and time. GPS is particularly useful to the visually impaired as it allows users to know their location at all times when outdoors. Click here for more information about GPS.

GPS receiver

A piece of hardware that may  be built into a mobile device or may stand alone, and which is able to receive signals from GPS satellites and send that information to a device so that the receiver’s location can be plotted on a map.

Grade 1 Braille

The less advanced form of literary Braille. For example, in English, there are no contractions or shortforms in grade 1 Braille.

Grade 2 Braille

The more advanced form of Braille. For example, in English, grade 2 Braille uses contractions such that td means “today”, tn means “tonight”, and tm means “tomorrow”, for example.

Graphic

An image in a software interface which, when clicked on, performs an action. Screen readers cannot interpret graphics as to their meaning, they can only identify their presence and type, and the labeling of them as to their meaning must be done by a human being. Generally, labeling is done by Code Factory, but, in some Code Factory screen readers, users can label graphics if they wish to do so.

Green button (Symbian)

The button on Symbian phones which tells the phone to make a call send a message, and has several other functions. It is also known as the Dial or call or send button.

Grid / grid view

A software control which arranges a list of options or items as a grid consisting of more than one row and more than one column (e.g., a 3x4 grid means there are three rows and four columns). These can generally be navigated with the arrow keys and the item under the cursor can be manipulated as with any other item of its type.

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications)

The world’s standard for digital cellular communications using narrowband Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) for voice and Short Message Service. TDMA works by dividing a radio frequency into time slots and then allocating slots to multiple calls. In this way, a single frequency can support multiple, simultaneous data channels. Note that GSM phones are not compatible with CDMA service providers, and CDMA phones are not compatible with GSM service providers. Click here for more information about GSM.