Ok Ok. Tethering isn’t exactly a web design term but we figure we might as well arm your vocabulary with as much web jargon as possible!

Wikipedia defines tethering as:

Tethering* - The connection of a non-mobile device (e.g. desktop computer), to a mobile device (e.g. cell phone, PDA) for the purpose of wireless internet access by the non-mobile “tethered” device.

In real dialogue

Joe: Man I tethered my blackjack with my laptop and now I’m surfing the portfolio at www.digitalvaliance.com. Those guys sure are creative.

*Wikipedia

Content Management System (CMS) - This is a computer software/system used to manage a bunch of files (content). It allows  you to easily create, manage, edit, and publish your “content” in a consistent manner.

This is very helpful for websites because for the most part, most pages within a site will have the same layout, and so a CMS system can make it very easy to maintain such a site.

Popular CMSs include Joomla, Mambo & PHPNuke.

The drawback with CMSs is that they are not very flexible (or rather, not as flexible as writing/designing a site from the ground up). However with that said, one can achieve a great deal of creativity and flexiblity, within a CMS environment and the open source community for CMS is quite large, so there is always support for instances when you want to push certain CMSs to their limit.

We designed Thisizgame.com using WordPress as the CMS so that it was easy for our client to keep fans updated in a blog centered site, with other pages. We specialize in using Wordpress & Joomla, however we are able to branch into other CMSs and customize them to our clients needs.

Parlez Vous Web Design?

Digital Asset (Asset) n. - This refers to any images, photos, logos or digital files associated with a digital project.

In mock dialogue:

Client: We have the assets. We will be depositing them in your web repository later today.
Digitalvaliance: Our account number is XXX-XXX-XX. We expect the assets to be in PSDs.

In  real dialogue:

Client: The assets for our website have been prepared by our Marketing Department. Please place them on the site as soon as possible.
Digitalvaliance: You got it boss!

We have decided to start a mini series entitled “Parlez-Vous Web Design?” This series will be dedicated to explaining industry jargon when it comes to web applications development and web design.

We saw it fit to induct this series with the definition of “Digitalvaliance” =D

Digitalvaliance (di-ji-Tahl-VAH-lee-ance)

n. The quality or state of being valiantly creative in the digital world; Possesing Digital valor.