Komkulttaldthe digital club: technology for hobby clubs and communities

An independent reference on technology for clubs and interest communities. It is not the website of a government body or cultural institution and is not connected with the former website on this domain.

Glossary

Glossary of terms

A club organiser quickly picks up a whole new vocabulary: moderation, bitrate, alt text. Here these terms are explained briefly and without jargon, so you can comfortably discuss technical questions with members and helpers.

If you can explain a term to your grandmother in one sentence, it is fine to use it in the club chat.

— Editor's view

How this section works: the definitions are deliberately simplified. For legal questions, check the text of the law or consult a lawyer; for technical ones, see your platform's help pages.

Announcements and communication

Sign-up
Registering in advance for a meeting. It helps you know how many people are coming and reach them if plans change.
Waiting list
A list of people who wanted to sign up after places ran out. If someone cancels, the place is offered to the first person on the list.
Mailing list
Messages the organiser sends to all subscribers at once. Subscribers cannot reply to the whole group.
Moderation
Making sure chat rules are followed: removing spam, giving warnings and, if necessary, removing people who break the rules.
Pinned message
A post that always stays visible at the top of the chat. Good for rules, the schedule and a link to the sign-up form.

Streams and recordings

Live stream
Video transmitted in real time: viewers watch the event while it is happening.
Bitrate
The amount of data transmitted per second. The higher it is, the better the picture, but the faster the internet connection you need.
Latency
The time gap between the event and what the viewer sees. In live streams it is usually a few seconds.
Lavalier microphone
A small microphone clipped to the speaker's clothing. It picks up a clear voice even in an echoey hall.
Backup
An extra copy of files kept in another place in case the main one is lost.

Data and accessibility

Personal data
Any information that can identify a person: name, phone number, email address, photo. In Russia its processing is governed by Federal Law No. 152-FZ; other countries have their own data-protection laws, such as the GDPR in the EU.
Consent
A person's permission to process their data or use their image. It is best obtained in advance and explicitly.
Two-factor authentication
A sign-in method where, in addition to a password, you confirm it is you in a second way, such as a code sent to your phone.
Alt text
A description of an image in words. Screen readers read it aloud, and WCAG 2.1 requires images to have a text alternative.
Contrast
The difference in brightness between text and its background. Under WCAG 2.1 level AA it should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
  • Guides

    Practical guides for club organisers, from announcing a meeting to collecting sign-ups. The article catalogue is here too.

  • Tools

    Types of tools: online forms, shared calendars, group chats, video calls, cloud folders and simple announcement editors.

  • Comparisons

    Chat or mailing list, live stream or recording, cloud or external drive: what suits a club and why.

  • Safety

    Club accounts, member data, photos and video: how not to lose access or let down the people who trust you.

  • Questions

    Answers about this reference, running a club online, and members' photos and data.

Sources

  • Federal Law No. 152-FZ on Personal Data (Russia)
  • W3C — WCAG 2.1

Information on personal data, the use of people's images and accessibility requirements was checked against the texts of the law and guidelines as of the date this page was prepared. Software and services for clubs change quickly, so we describe their features in general terms and do not name specific products.