Digit Al's favourite words
Learn some fun new words and what they mean with Digit Al. The pink words in the glossary are from Digit Al’s special dictionary so you won’t have heard of these before!
Analogue TV signal
The broadcast signal which has been delivering the current four or five TV channels to your television and recorder through the aerial. These signals are transmitted in waves.
Aerial
An electrical item that sends or receives radio or television signals.
Broadcasting
The word for what happens when companies that make TV or radio, make signals that send TV programmes to people’s televisions and recorders.
Anazapper
The specially powered device that Digit Al uses to keep track of the countdown to switchover.
Digital signal
The new kind of TV signal that the UK is switching over to. It will deliver more channels, more programmes, and may be able to give you a better picture and sound. These signals are transmitted in binary code.
Digital box
Everybody will need to make sure they are ready for the digital switchover by getting either one of these or a TV with one inside it. It turns digital signals into sound and pictures.
Doobiwotsit
An alternative name for your TV remote control when you can’t remember its proper name.
Digital TV switchover
The UK’s old television broadcast signal (known as “analogue”) is being switched off and replaced with a “digital” signal. Any TV set that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes.
Journalist
A writer of newspapers or magazines.
Internet
The worldwide computer system that lets people share information using their computers, from different places all over the world.
Radio
An electrical item that receives digital or analogue radio signals and changes them into sound.
Presenter
Someone who introduces the different parts of a TV or radio programme. They can also be known as a broadcaster.
Spagcable
The cables behind the TV should always be kept tidy. If they are in a tangle they are said to be in a ‘spagcable’.
Satellite dish
A satellite dish is a round electrical item that receives television signals and sends them to a TV or recorder. It is usually hung on the side of the house or flat.
Time capsule
A container for holding historical items to be hidden or buried and discovered in the future..
Television
An electrical item that receives digital or analogue signals and changes them into sound and pictures.
Wavehoggers
People who are very slow in switching over to Digital TV.
TV channels
A television station and its programmes. Examples of TV channels are BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five.