Tango01,
The 'root cause' of this terminology issue is, "NO Standardization". Thus, terminology will always be a moving target as long as people are able to "make up their own definitions".
For my own Reference purposes, I use the Dept. of Defense (DOD) Modeling & Simulation and their Military Dictionaries.
That way I can at least keep the wargame related definitions straight within my own head. ;^)
EXAMPLES from the DOD M&S Dictionary:
A. Abstraction:
1. The process of selecting the essential aspects of a simuland to be represented in a model or simulation while ignoring those aspects that are not relevant to the purpose of the model or simulation. The set of elements produced by this process.
2. The act or process of separating the inherent qualities or properties of something from the actual physical object or concept to which they belong.
B. Fidelity:
1. The accuracy of the representation when compared to the real world.
2. The degree to which a model or simulation reproduces the state and behavior of a real-world object or the perception of a real-world object, feature, condition, or chosen standard in a measurable or perceivable manner; a measure of the realism of a model or simulation; faithfulness. Fidelity should generally be described with respect to the measures, standards, or perceptions used in assessing or stating it. See accuracy, sensitivity, precision, resolution, repeatability, validation.
3. The methods, metrics, and descriptions of models or simulations used to compare those models or simulations to their real-world referents or to other simulations in such terms as accuracy, scope, resolution, level of detail, level of abstraction, and repeatability. Fidelity can characterize the representations of a model, a simulation, the data used by a simulation (e.g., input, characteristic or parametric), or an exercise. Each of these fidelity types has different implications for the applications that employ these representations.
C. Game:
A physical or mental competition in which the participants, called players, seek to achieve some objective within a given set of rules.
D. Modeling:
1. The application of a standard, rigorous, structured methodology to create and validate a physical, mathematical, or otherwise logical representation of a system, entity, phenomenon, or process.
E. Simulation:
1. A method for implementing a model over time.
2. A technique for testing, analysis, or training in which real-world systems are used, or where real-world and conceptual systems are reproduced by a model.
3. A method, software framework, or system for implementing one or more models in the proper order to determine how key properties of the original may change over time. See model, representation, computer simulation.
4. An unobtrusive scientific method of inquiry involving experiments with a model rather than with the portion of reality this model represents.
E. Reality:
The quality or state of being actual or true.
F. Validity:
1. The quality of maintained data that is found on an adequate system of classification (e.g., data model) and is rigorous enough to compel acceptance for a specific use.
2. The quality of being inferred, deduced, or calculated correctly enough to suit a specific purpose.
Finally, I'd be more than happy to provide the "TMP Website" with a Reference Copy of this DOD M&S Dictionary, if the 'Editor and Chief Bill' is agreeable.
I definitely think it would help to rain in some of the more creative thinkers out there, who prefer to keep their options open by using "Personal Artistic License" over any legitimate definitions. ;^)
Regards,
James
