Re: definitions please: ubiquitous vs pervasive

["Jason W. Tice" <jait -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Hmmm...

Merriam Webster dictionary at http://www.m-w.com defines them as:
Ubiquitous: existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly 
encountered
Pervasive: having become diffused throughout every part of

And yet, to me, I read "ubiquitous" as being "accepted without question due 
to constant use."  The use of windows as a metaphor in on-screen UI 
applications has become ubiquitous.

I read "pervasive" as a being similar, but without the blind acceptance 
that "ubiquitous" has.  Mouse-controlled applications are pervasive across 
Windows platforms.   In addition, "pervasive" has a slightly negative 
overtone for me, as the subject described using "pervasive" might have 
reached the same level of diffusion (as the subject described using 
"ubiquitous") without necessarily having achieved the same level of acceptance.

Oh. and hi!  I'm new to the list.


At 06:04 AM 21/05/2002, you wrote: