Glossary

Canadian tech terms, explained.

Clear definitions of the technical, financial, and policy terms used in Canadian tech.

Entries

ASIC

A chip designed for one narrow task instead of general-purpose computing.

Definition: ASIC stands for application-specific integrated circuit. It is built to do one job extremely well, which usually means better performance, lower power use, and tighter cost control than a general-purpose chip.
Why it matters: ASICs matter when a company needs predictable throughput and economics at scale, especially in AI infrastructure, telecom, and industrial systems.

Aliases

application-specific integrated circuitcustom chip

A modulation scheme built for difficult wireless channels.

Definition: OTFS stands for orthogonal time frequency space. It is a modulation approach designed to spread data across time and frequency so wireless links can stay more resilient in fast-moving or noisy environments.
Why it matters: OTFS matters when satellite, mobility, or remote connectivity stories depend on keeping links stable under movement and interference.

Aliases

orthogonal time frequency space

The basic unit of quantum information.

Definition: A qubit is the quantum equivalent of a classical bit. Unlike a bit, which is either 0 or 1, a qubit can represent a range of states until it is measured.
Why it matters: Qubits determine how far a quantum system has moved beyond theory and into hardware that can support real workloads.

Aliases

quantum bit