open
(v) To make an object accessible. Whenever you access a file (that is, you edit a text file or run a program file), the operating system opens the file. Opening a file can be simple or complex depending on the operating system. For example, in a multiprocessing operating system, in which different users can share the same resources, the operating system must decide whether the file can be accessed simultaneously by more than one user, and if so, it must ensure that different users do not try to modify the file’s contents at the same time.
(adj) Accessible. When used to describe designs or architectures, open means public. See under open architecture.
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- open architecture
An architecture whose specifications are public. This includes officially approved standards as well as privately designed architectures whose specifications are made public by the designers. The opposite of open is closed or proprietary. The great advantage of open architectures is that anyone can design add-on products for it. By making an architecture public, however, a […]
- open learning
An approach to learning that gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, at what pace, where, and how they learn. Open learning often includes aspects of e-learning.
- open media
The term used to describe video, audio, and text that can be freely shared on the Internet. Most open media is distributed under Creative Commons or GPL licenses.
- open rate
In e-mail marketing, the open rate is the number of list subscribers who opened the e-mail message. The open rate is a percentage of the total number of e-mails sent.
- open profile
When referring to social networking sites (SNS), the term open profile describes a dynamic user profile that can be openly shared on (or exported to) other SNS where the user is a member. Social networking sites that support open profiles would enable users to update their profile on one site and have those changes reflected […]