Test Your Knowledge of DSPs
Which of the following is not an accepted meaning of DSP? For example, DSP is a recognized abbreviation for the Delaware State Police. It is not short for Dental School Professor.
Which of the following is not an accepted meaning of DSP? For example, DSP is a recognized abbreviation for the Delaware State Police. It is not short for Dental School Professor.
A. Digital Signal Processor. DSPs are specially designed microprocessors that speed up the processing of real-time information. Often they process digital signals that have been converted from analog using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The output can then be converted back to analog form using a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In AV, a DSP might be useful for Digital Sound Processing (DSP), whether that means processing surround sound or enhancing audio acoustics (see “Sound Counsel,” page 46).
B. Directory System Protocol. This DSP is one of a series of protocols described in the X.500 computer networking standards. X.500 was developed by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector to support the requirements of X.400 electronic mail exchange and name lookup. The DSP controls the interaction between two or more Directory System Agents, and between a Directory User Agent and a Directory System Agent. This is done in such a way that an end user can access information in the directory without needing to know the exact location of that specific piece of information.
C. Desmoplakin. Also known as DSP, desmoplakin is a human gene. Desmoplakin is an obligate component of functional desmosomes that anchors intermediate filaments to desmosomal plaques (desmosomes are intercellular junctions that tightly link adjacent cells). The N-terminus of desmoplakin is required for localization to the desmosome and interacts with the N-terminal region of plakophilin 1 and plakoglobin. The C-terminus of desmoplakin binds with intermediate filaments. In the mid-region of desmoplakin, a coiled-coiled rod domain is responsible for homodimerization. Mutations in this gene are the cause of several cardiomyopathies and keratodermas as well as the autoimmune disease paraneoplastic pemphigus.
D. Defense Support Program. DSP is a program of the U.S. Air Force that operates reconnaissance satellites for the nation’s Satellite Early Warning System. DSP satellites, which are operated by the Air Force Space Command, detect missile or spacecraft launches and nuclear explosions using sensors that detect the infrared emissions from these intense sources of heat. DSP replaced the space-based infrared Missile Defense Alarm System (MiDAS) in 1966. It will soon be replaced by the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites. The last DSP satellite launched last November.
E. Dynamic Sound Protocol. In audio processing, DSP describes a low-level communications handoff between different but complementary signal processors. When multiple audio processors are used in an application, DSP is often required to ensure the processors can translate each other’s instruction sets. Today, DSP functions much like the Extensible Markup Language (XML), a universal translator for computer applications. The two, however, are derived from completely dissimilar software code.
Answer: E (however, if you’ve written a Dynamic Sound Protocol, we’d love to hear about it)
