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By Jairo Uparella

In Spanish-land, it is common to hear people talking about the “CPU”, as the box at the
computer where you can find the hard drives, the main board or motherboard,
processor, etc. Well, to start this is not its real name. This cabinet, box or unit is called
CENTRAL SYSTEM UNIT, confused with CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT, or CPU
which is precisely the processor (Pentium, AMD, Celeron, Core Duo or whatever, the
main chip embedded in the motherboard). That is the CPU. Another pagan term is
"BURNER", mediocre word to designate the CDRW, CD or DVD drive that can record.

When the concept of Virtual Reality appeared, many people began to use the term
VIRTUAL to put names to everything that is in the network or computer, to say that you
are online or away (distance).

The term “VIRTUAL”, is a term denoting those things that exist, are identified, produce
effects, aren’t abstract and not tangible. Your image in the mirror is “Virtual” because
you are “Real”.

Initially, this term was used in Computer Science in the context of Multitasking with Pre-
emptive Rights, to designate the area of "apparent" RAM that is used to run programs
because the "real" memory (the chips) was not enough. Then the pages are saved on
hard disk that is certainly what you have heard of “virtual memory” of your computer.

Then “Virtual” term was used to designate the “virtual machines”, in those old machines
(with BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN) which could not afford to run two applications or
programs at once, then, dividing the memory space to run these machines independent
was called “Virtual Machine” for each. Today each MS / DOS that you open is a virtual
machine, while Excel, Word and others share a virtual space where they “run”. (Virtual
Mode 86, the protected mode 286 and following)

The real memory is the chip’s memory, virtual memory is the process of "making
believe" that it have more space for running applications, ie a simulated memory.

Virtual Reality, uses the term abstract “REALITY”, not as meaning, as many people
take it, as a synonym for "FACT" or "TRUTH", but does the fact that something is
REAL in principle, you can touch it, is tangible and as its mission and purpose is to
produce an effect that is not real, it is taken to the Virtual Space, ie the environment or
Third Dimension 3D.

Then you can talk about a “car”, because it is real, and if it is virtual, means that is a 3D
model. You can steer it and learn to drive, but not to say that this is a “Virtual Learning”,
or “Virtual Education”, because the “car” is the virtual thing and “education” must be
REAL

Then the concept of “Virtual Education” is not correct. Virtual Education has damaged
the concept of E-learning, which is the appropriate term. If the teacher put an "E",
believe it is real.
Distance education can be by old mail or telegram, radio, TV or any other means.

If we speak of “virtual universities”, another mistake, because this university must be a

3D Model, so they can not qualify "virtually" as notes, tasks, and above all, the cost is
"real".

"VIRTUAL BANK" has damaged the concept of “online transaction”.

"VIRTUAL" has damaged the term "CYBER" which is correct, but such a term is not
used any longer or in few contexts.

Virtual library, in the context of the Virtual Reality is a model built in third dimension, but
in other contexts it refers to a web page where you can find a PDF, a DOC as a book to
read. This is not "virtual."

Like many others, this was a lexicographic coup given by common people to the
Science of Computers, the science that supposedly is exploring ways to make
information available to users, and now as “VIRTUAL” way. Here are some examples:

VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
VIRTUAL CAMPUS
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
VIRTUAL PROFESSOR
VIRTUAL OFFICE
VIRTUAL MUSEUM
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY
VIRTUAL SCHOOL
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
VIRTUAL STORE
VIRTUAL NETWORK
VIRTUAL CENTER
VIRTUAL GAME
VIRTUAL ENTERPRISE
VIRTUAL WORD
VIRTUAL SUPPORT
VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY
VIRTUAL ART
VIRTUAL TOURISM
VIRTUAL SECRETARY
VIRTUAL NEWSPAPER ...

Change the term VIRTUAL to ONLINE and see the difference.

Now it says that “virtual” is a synonymous with "potential."

Do not believe the "Virtual Encyclopedias", they contradict:

"A more correct term may be a virtual environment for learning, rather than virtual
learning environment. This removes any Ambiguities and identifies that it is the
environment which is virtual and not the learning. The term may also contribute to
virtual confusion, suggesting that the learning is not real or authentic. " WIKIPEDIA
The e-learning, is a distance education system in integrating the use of information
technology and other pedagogical (teaching) for the training and education of users or
students on-line, ie can be understood as a mode of learning within distance education
is defined as e-learning. Use various tools and media like the Internet, intranets, CD-
ROM, multimedia productions (texts, images, audio, video, etc..), Among others.
Literally e-learning is learning with electronic media: teaching led by the technology.
WIKIPEDIA

"Virtual education" refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and

student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course
content through course management applications, multimedia resources, the Internet,
Videoconferencing, etc.. Students receive the content and communicate with the
teacher via the same technologies. [1] Wikipedia

To read More:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3268902/SEMANTICA-PARAFRASIS-Y-OTROS-
PROBLEMAS-DE-LA-INFORMATICA

Please, Any Comment can be send to juparella@yahoo.com I will appreciate it.