biocyberneticist, biocybernetician
(s); biocyberneticists, biocyberneticians
(pl) (nouns)
Someone who applies mathematical theory to the communication and control of living organisms: "A biocyberneticist obtains or provides physiological feedback mechanisms and central nervous system controls, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia (the mass of nerve tissue existing outside the central nervous system)."
biocybernetics
(s) (noun)
1. The science of communications and control in animals: "The study of biocybernetics involves physiological feedback of the mechanisms and central nervous system controls and of the interactions between organisms and mechanical or electronic systems."
2. The science of communication and control within a living being; especially, on a molecular basis: "Biocybernetics includes the processes of how communications and controls occur within the bodies of living systems between different parts of the body and of the interactions between organisms and mechanical or electronic systems."
computational cybernetics
(s) (noun)
A science that is concerned with the comparative study of automatic control systems: "Computational cybernetics includes not only mechanical, but biological (living), social and economical systems which involve the computational results of communication theories, signal processing, and information technology."
1. Relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and computer-generated simulations that seem to be real: "The term cyber is an adjective, or prefix, that is usually added at the beginning of words to show their relationships to electronic communication networks and virtual realities."
2. A very modern prefix or a combining form representing computer technology; including mainframe computers, that can deal with large amounts of information very quickly: "There are those who believe that the term cyber is being over used for almost any technology to give it a higher-tech significance; for example, cyberartist, cyberart, cybertalk, cyberfiction, cyberculture, cyber-economy, cyber-activist, cyberpiracy, cybercriminal, cybercinema, and many more words; all of which indicate some form of the use of advanced technology and the internet and, by extension, meaning very modern, as with cyberfashion."
cyberanthropology
(s), cyberanthropologies
(pl) (nouns)
A branch of anthropology that deals with computer systems and the culturally informed interrelationships between human beings and technologies: "Cyberanthropologies are studies that indicate attempts which are being made to come together with the technological aspects of human and other biological organisms, with human society, and with the culturally shaped environment that results from the influences of modern cyber-technologies."
cyberart
(s), cyberarts
(pl) (nouns)
Illustrations using computers or computer visualization methods: "The cyberarts, or cyberart, is produced with computer software and hardware; including an interactive or multimedia presentations."
cyberattack
(s), cyberattacks
(pl) (nouns)
An assault against a computer system or network; especially, forms of digital attacks against businesses and government agencies that are designed to capture sensitive information from insiders' computers: "Global cyberattacks have been identified and reported which have lasted up to five years on a wide range of governments, American corporations, and even United Nations groups."
"Many cyberattack crime groups in Eastern Europe and Asia spy on employee PC's that have access to high profile and confidential data, resulting in credit card fraud, access to bank account information, and other valuable data."
"In some cyberattacks, the culprits are believed to be professional hackers engaged in disrupting an organization's operations for the sheer pleasure of it, or seeking revenge."
—"Global cyberattacks reported" by David Barroza and Keven Drew in the
International Herald Tribune; August 4, 2011; page 6.
Risks for 2012 highlighted by the World Economic Forum include the potential problems stemming from greenhouse gas emissions, cyberattcks, and disruptions in the water supply.
—Compiled from "In divinations and in data, 2012 looks dark"
by Eric Pfanner; International Herald Tribune; January 12, 2012; page 16.
cyberbullying, cyber bullying
(s); cyberbullyings, cyber bullyings
(pl) (nouns)
Using electronic communication to bully (to scare or to harm) a person; usually, by sending messages of an intimidating (causing fear) or threatening (menacing) nature: "Physical and verbal bullying are well known problems in schools and, now, on the internet where cyberbullyings are considered to be hate-filled attacks on people who are using electronic communications; especially the internet."
"Cyberbullying includes e-mail, cell phone, text messages, instant messaging, in blogs, wikis, and social networks; such as, MySpace, YouTube, etc."
"Some kinds of cyberbullying involves threats, embarrassing pictures, slanderous remarks, and stories that are either not true or may even be true."
"Schools are encouraged to adapt bullying prevention programs that include lessons on cyber bullying to ensure that students understand that targeting classmates through negative messaging or images online or through cellular phones is a form of bullying and it will not be tolerated."
cybercafe
(s), cybercafes
(pl) (nouns)
A coffee house that provides patrons with computer terminals for browsing the internet for a fee: "There are cybercafes around the world that provide convenient access to the internet for many people."
"Another feature of the cybercafe is the virtual gathering places on the internet where people communicate using a chat program or by posting messages on a BBS (bulletin board system or bulletin board service)."
A system that allows people to pay for goods and services by transmitting a number from one computer to another computer: "Cybercash is recorded in an electronic account that can be debited when purchases are made over the internet."
"Cybercash is also known as, digital cash, digicash, e-cash, and e-money."
cyberchondria
(s), cyberchondrias
(pl) (nouns)
1. A reference to people who frantically search on the internet for detailed information about their medical problems, real or imagined.
2. A situation in which people surf the net in a frenzy of health anxiety.
3. Etymology:
cyberchondria is a neologism which is derived from the terms
cyber- +
[hypo]chondria (chronic and abnormal anxiety about imaginary symptoms and ailments).
The element -chondria comes from Late Latin hypochondria, "the abdomen", from Greek hypokhondria (neuter plural of hypokhondrios), from hypo-, "under" + khondros, "cartilage" of the breastbone.
It comes from the ancient belief that the viscera of the hypochondria were the seat of melancholy and the sources of the vapors that caused such feelings.
cybercide
(s), cybercides
(pl) (nouns)
The killing of a person’s projected virtual persona or character in cyberspace: "Cybercide may be part of a Virtual Reality Game, an act of vandalism, a multiplayer game, or on an internet chat room."
"A Virtual Reality Game presents cybercides in which there is a hypothetical three-dimensional visual world created by a computer. The user wears special goggles and fiber optic gloves etc., and can enter and move around in this virtual world and interact with objects as if he or she were inside it."
cybercitizen
(s), cybercitizens
(pl) (nouns)
Members of an online internet community or those who use the internet to exercise democratic rights in their communities: "Cybercitizens use the internet as a means of participating in political activities by exchanging views, providing information, voting, etc."
"Some cybercitizens use the internet as a powerful communications medium for social changes and the implication is that internet users, who use and know most about it, have responsibilities to ensure that it is used to improve the system while also fostering free speech and easy access."
cyber-civil disobedience
(s), cyber-civil disobediences
(pl) (nouns)
Disobedience of laws, and suggesting that others do the same, in which the participants use information technology to carry out their actions: "Cyber-civil disobedience or the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, involves the use of computers and/or the internet and is also known as hacktivism."
The conduction of business communication and transactions over networks by using computers: "Cybercommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through internet communications."
"With cybercommerce, a person with a simple internet connection can buy just about anything; including clothing, books, jewelry, stereo equipment; or even purchase insurance, pay telephone bills, and buy food over the internet."
"Banking transactions; such as, transfers from one account to another can be completed online quickly and safely with cybercommerce."