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#
104 key layout
Traditional English layout computer keyboard.
2.4GHz RF Wireless
Long-range, interference-free wireless standard for complex controllers.
27MHz RF Wireless
Short range wireless frequency, best for keyboard and mouse.
32bit or 64bit
Computer processor
3D twist
Rotating joystick which controls rudder function in flight sims. Also called rudder twist.
5.1 Surround sound
Surround sound standard with sub-woofer, one central speaker, two front speakers and two rear speakers.
A
A2DP
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile: Second generation bluetooth standard for high-fidelity wireless transmission of music. Sometimes called Bluetooth 2.0
Advanced Stereo Imaging System (ASIS)
Combines a waveguide-loaded drive unit with a minimised baffle to control diffraction effects at high frequencies. ASIS creates an exceptional sound stage with a precise, clear stereo image.
Afterburner
System used in military jet engines where additional fuel is injected into the jet pipe downstream of the turbine. This fuel is ignited by the hot exhaust gases and greatly increases the thrust of the engine. Sometimes called “reheat”.
Aileron
Hinged control surfaces attached to the rear of the wings of fixed-wing aircraft. The two ailerons are connected so that one goes down when the other goes up: the downgoing aileron increases the lift on its wing while the upgoing aileron reduces the lift on the other wing. This makes the aircraft roll.
Analog stick
An input device for a controller (often a game controller) that is used for two-dimensional input. While a digital joystick relies on single electrical connections for movement (using internal digital electrical contacts for up, down, left and right), an analog stick uses continuous electrical activity running through potentiometers. Sometimes called thumbstick.
AZERTY
Keyboard layout used in France, Belgium and some other countries. It differs from the QWERTY layout as follows:
A and Q are swapped.
Z and W are swapped.
M is moved from the right of N to the right of L (where colon/semicolon is on a US keyboard).
The digits 0 to 9 are on the same keys, but to be typed the shift key must be pressed. The non-shifted keys are used for accented lowercase characters.
Many symbols are in different locations.
B
Bluetooth
Industrial Wireless specification which provides a way to connect and exchange information between electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, etc.
Bus powered
USB device which draws its power from the computer's USB interface.
C
Clutch button
Button on games controller which momentarily stops all buttons and controls having an effect in game while a new profile is selected for instance.
D
D-pad
Short for directional pad. Four direction control found on console gamepads and game controllers, with one button on each point. Most D-pads are digital so only the directions provided on the D-pad buttons can be used, with progressive control in between. Combinations of two directions (up and left, for example) can give diagonal directions.
dpi
Short for Dots Per Inch. As well as a measure of print quality, also used as a measure of mouse sensitivity in terms of the number of steps the mouse will report when it moves one inch. The more steps reported, the more cursor movement, so a mouse sensitivity of 3200 dpi for instance will result in very fast cursor movement onscreen.
E
EAVS™ (Expanded Air Volume System)
Short for Expanded Air Volume System. Patented Saitek invention for audio speaker range where a chamber expands to increase available air volume, boosting bass performance.
Elevator
Control surfaces, usually at the rear of an aircraft, which control the aircraft's pitch and the angle of attack of the wing. An increased angle of attack increases lift and (if no power is added), a slowing of the aircraft. A decreased angle of attack will produce an increase in speed (a dive).
F
Face tracking
Webcam software technology which ensures subject remains in the centre of the image.
First Person Shooter (FPS)
Videogame genre characterized by an on-screen view that simulates the playable character's perspective typically using weapons such as guns. Examples of FPS games include Counter Strike, Call of Duty and Halo.
Flaps
Hinged surfaces on the trailing edge of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft. As flaps are extended the wings have more lift and the stalling speed of the aircraft is reduced for taking off or landing.
Flight sim
Simulator software that tries to replicate the experience of flying an aircraft as closely and realistically as possible. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series is the best known and most popular flight sim – the latest version is FS X.
Force Feedback
Technology which reacts to situations in game software by applying forces, vibrations and/or motions to the user. Force Feedback joysticks communicate the effects of cannons firing, turbulence or air resistance. Force Feedback wheels communicate bumps on the road, crashes etc.
Frames per second
Measure of video quality, for instance in webcams. Refers to the number of still images a video sensor takes per second. The higher the figure, the smoother the moving image.
H
Hat switch
A feature of some joysticks which controls views or allows the user to browse menus etc. Many flight simulators use the hat switch to change player's views while other games sometimes use it as a substitute for the D-pad. Also know as POV (Point-Of-View) switch,
L
Laser-etched key
Process used on Saitek’s Eclipse and Eclipse II keyboards where key characters are etched out of the paint. This allows backlighting to shine through the key and increases key durability.
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a low voltage semiconductor diode that emits light when a current is passed through it. Used for backlighting, showing power on/off etc.
Li-ion battery
Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) - type of rechargeable battery commonly used in electronics with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use.
M
MFD
Multi-Function Display – feature of X52 and X52 Pro Flight control systems displaying information on mode selected, chronograph, and radio stack information from FS X (X52 Pro only)
Mixture (aircraft)
An aircraft’s mixture control sets the amount of fuel added to the intake airflow. At higher altitudes the air pressure - and therefore the oxygen level - declines so the fuel volume must also be reduced to give the correct air/fuel mixture.
Motion detection
Technical feature of webcams which activates the camera when movement is detected.
MS Windows and Office function keys
Keys on a PC keyboard which activate certain functions such as internet favorites, page forward and back etc.
Multimedia hotkeys
Keys on a PC keyboard which activate media player functions such as play, track back, track forward, volume up and down etc.
N
Neodymium
Metal used for audio speaker magnets which is light, extremely powerful for its mass and which causes less magnetic interference.
Noise-cancelling
Technology used in headphones which generates the opposite sound wave to interference, thus cancelling out unwanted noise. This means audio can be heard much more clearly at lower volumes.
Non-contact technology
Used in joysticks to ensure smooth, free travel and minimise part wear. Typically uses hall effect sensors where magnets are fixed to the shaft of the joystick (one for each axis) and pass through the hall effect sensor. This causes a change in the magnetic field which changes voltage and, through the CPU this is translated into a movement control.
O
Optical sensor
Technology used in a computer mouse where a red light-emitting diode (LED) bounces light off the surface under the mouse back onto a complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. This is then translated through the CPU into mouse movement.
Optical sensors mean mice are able to work on almost any surface without a mouse pad. Laser-based optical mice can detect even more surface details compared to LED technology meaning they can work on even more surfaces.
P
Peak power
Peak Power or Peak Maximum Power Output (PMPO) is short for peak power or maximum power output from an amplifier. Peak power is only reached for short periods of time during bursts of loud sound.
Pitch
An aircraft’s propeller pitch or angle is adjusted to maintain an optimal angle of attack (maximum lift to drag ratio) on the propeller blades as aircraft speed varies. This can be automatically adjusted or, in the case of smaller aircraft, manually adjusted. The range of pitch can vary from feathered, ie, blades parallel to the direction of movement, when gliding for example, to reverse which some larger aircraft use to brake when landing or to manoeuvre on the ground.
POV
Point-Of-View switch - see hat switch
PTFE
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer which finds numerous applications. PTFE has an extremely low coefficient of friction and is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. Also as feet on the underside of computer mice to reduce resistance.
Q
QWERTY
The most common modern-day keyboard layout on English-language computer and typewriter keyboards. It takes its name from the first six letters seen in the keyboard's top first row of letters.
QWERTZ
Widely used computer and typewriter keyboard layout that is mostly used in German-speaking regions. The name comes from the first six letters at the top left of the keyboard: Q, W, E, R, T, and Z.
R
RMS
Measurement of audio power. RMS (root mean square) power represents the average sustained power put out by an amplifier. RMS is the power rating used when depicting the power output of amplifier and receivers. An amp with RMS power of 200 watts may have peak power of 500 watts.
Real Time Strategy
Real-time strategy (RTS) is a games genre which takes place in real time, where players gather or trade resources, build bases, develop technologies, create civilizations or direct wars etc.
Role-Playing
A role-playing game (RPG) is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters and create or follow stories.
Rudder
Control surface used to change direction of an aircraft. Moving the rudder the right causes the aircraft to swing to the right and vice versa. Moving the rudder also causes one wing to move forward faster than the other and increases lift, causing a roll effect.
Rudder twist
Rotating joystick which controls rudder function in flight sims. Also called 3D twist.
Rumble technology
Immersion© patented technology used in gamepads which responds to actions in game to increase realism. Software causes electric motors to rotate asymmetric weights which makes the pad vibrate.
S
Saitek Office Software
A version of Saitek’s programming software which loads pre-configure profiles to customize the controls of Saitek office mice.
Scroll wheel
Wheel, generally in the front centre of a computer mouse and normally located between the left and right mouse buttons. Used to scroll through documents or windows and sometimes activates a third mouse button when pressed.
Shift button
Button on controller which, when pressed, activates the second function of the controller’s buttons or axes, effectively doubling the number of possible controls.
Single spring gimbal mechanism
Base of joystick where the shaft of the stick is pivoted with movement resistance produced by a spring between the top of the base plate and the bottom of the stick. When the stick is moved, the spring is compressed and the resistance increases.
Speedglide® system
Technology used on Saitek’s GM3200 mouse. Adjustable weights fine-tune mouse momentum and interchangeable PTFE feet of differing sizes vary surface friction.
SRS TruSurround® XT technology
Sound Retrieval System (SRS) technology – mostly used in audio headphones - creates a 3D soundfield using only two speakers. SRS creates a more spacious sense of ambience and can make individual instruments stand out within an audio mix.
SST
Saitek Smart Technology software. Software which works with Saitek’s programmable controllers to program keyboard or mouse controls to the buttons or axes of a games controller. Sets of controls are saved as game-specific or scenario-specific profiles which can be loaded before or during games to change command sets. SST means games controllers can have an almost limitless number of functions.
T
Teflon
DuPont brand name for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). See PTFE above.
Throttle quadrant
Controller unit for Flight Sims with axis levers which can be programmed to control throttle, flaps, propeller pitch, engine mixture or any other aircraft feature with a range of movement.
Toggle switches
Game controller switches which operate both upwards and downwards to swicth two separate functions.
Torque display
Feature of Saitek racing wheels where a series of LEDs light up to show the level of force feedback.
Touch-sensitive
Also know as capacitance sensing. Electrical resistance of screen or electronic device casing changes when touched because the finger changes the material’s capacitance. When measured across two axes this is translated into movement. Used to control scroll functions in Saitek’s Obsidian mouse.
Trackball
Pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axes. Commonly used on laptop computers before the invention of touchpad control.
U
USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to connect computer devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, joysticks, gamepads etc. Can also be used to power low-consumption devices without the need for an external power supply. The USB 1.1 standard can transfer data at up to 12 Mbps (megabits per second) and the later USB 2.0 standards at 480 Mbps.
USB Hub
Device which connects multiple USB devices to a computer. Can draw power through the USB connection to the computer or, where connecting several high power devices, have a separate power supply.
V
VGA
Video Graphics Array. Graphical standard for PC graphics hardware of 640×480 resolution
VoIP
Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol). Refers to the routing of voice conversations over the Internet or through any other IP-based network.
Y
Yoke
Control like a wheel, used in most fixed-wing aircraft, which is turned left or right to control ailerons or pushed forwards or pulled backwards to control elevator.
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