ADOMD Active Data Objects Multidimensional Library
.NET Object model available as a free download from MSDN. Version 8 can be used by applications to access an XML for Analysis 1.1 compliant data provider. This library is used to communicate with SQL Servers Analysis Services
Agent
Software agent used to perform tasks on behalf of its user. As defined by the author, agents possess one or more of the following characteristics: function independently, able to communicate, reactive to their environment, personalized, able to learn.
AI Artificial Intelligence
Term used to describe machines that can think and reason like an intelligent human. The many different branches of AI include, but are not limited to, artificial life, data mining, genetic programming, machine learning, natural language processing, neural networks, robotics, speech processing, and software agents.
Alignment
In Microsoft's Speech Server SDK, the process by which words in the transcription element are matched to the words in the wave file. Alignments are formed automatically when a wave file is imported or recorded using the prompt editor.
Analysis Services
Product available with Microsoft SQL Server that can be used to create multidimensional databases and perform data-mining functions.
API Application Programming Interface
Set of functions exposed so that other developers can access the functionality within an application. API's are commonly supplied for operating systems and other system-level programs.
ASP Active Server Pages
Web pages compiled on-the-fly by the Web server that hosts them. In addition to HTML, they can contain embedded JavaScript, VBScript, or PerlScript code used to generate HTML dynamically.
Avalon
Code name for the presentation subsystem that is part of the next Microsoft operating system (code name Longhorn).
