A QUICK REFERENCE
Acronyms & shorthand.
Plain-language definitions of the terms, dimension codes and record labels used across this website.
These definitions describe usage on this website. Assessment profiles, maturity milestones and human decisions remain separate. Historical terminology is identified below.
Technology and organizations
- AIArtificial intelligence
- Computer systems that perform tasks such as recognizing patterns, generating content or supporting decisions.
- AI-techArtificial-intelligence technology
- Shorthand used in the historical technology-domain comparison.
- CNCComputer numerical control
- Computer-controlled operation of machine tools. AI-assisted CNC adds artificial-intelligence support.
- HQHeadquarters
- Global HQ hosts this website and supports independently created and operated Commons.
- IPIntellectual property
- Rights associated with inventions and other creations, including patents, copyright and trade secrets.
- LOILetter of intent
- A statement of intended interest or cooperation. It is not proof of payment or completed commercial activity.
- MedTechMedical technology
- Products, devices, diagnostics or software used in healthcare. Requirements depend on use and claims.
- OTCOver the counter
- A healthcare product supplied without a prescription where permitted. The label does not itself establish permission.
- ROIReturn on investment
- A comparison of investment gains or losses with its cost. The website does not predict returns.
Assessment systems and dimension labels
- TCRLASTechnology Commercialization Readiness Level Assessment System
- An evidence-based framework whose nine maturity milestones are independent of CVA and HSE scores.
- CVACommercial Viability Assessment
- A separate five-dimension profile of market opportunity, advantage, economics, execution and risk.
- HSEHealthcare Evidence Assessment
- The healthcare products-and-services evidence profile used here; it is not a certification.
- CDACommercialization Decision Assessment
- A documented human review of a bounded next commercialization action, separate from launch review.
- MMarket Opportunity
- The CVA dimension examining a meaningful and accessible customer market.
- CCompetitive Advantage
- The CVA dimension examining buyer preference and the durability of an advantage.
- ECommercial Economics
- The CVA dimension examining the economic case for further development.
- XExecution Capability
- The CVA dimension examining accountable people and the ability to deliver the next milestone.
- RRisk Manageability
- The CVA dimension examining identified risks and credible controls. Higher scores mean better-managed risk.
- M/C/E/X/RThe five CVA dimension codes
- Read the five codes separately; they are not a combined maturity level.
- H1Regulatory and legal pathway
- Healthcare evidence about applicable classifications, permissions and legal obligations.
- H2Clinical / service effectiveness and safety evidence
- Healthcare evidence supporting benefits, performance and safety for the intended use.
- H3Payer, purchaser and access
- Healthcare evidence about who pays, who purchases and how users gain access.
- H4Commercial delivery and channels
- Healthcare evidence about delivery routes, channels and operational responsibilities.
- H5Healthcare execution system
- Healthcare evidence about the people, quality systems and capabilities needed to deliver responsibly.
- H1–H5The five HSE dimension codes
- A separate healthcare evidence profile, independent of CVA and the nine-level milestone.
- TCITCRLAS Commercialization Index
- An experimental legacy composite described in historical material. It is not used by the active assessment tools.
- TRLTechnology Readiness Level
- A technical-maturity framework. It is distinct from the commercialization milestones used by TCRLAS.
- I / II / IIIPhase one / two / three
- Roman numerals for Proof of Principle, Proof of Concept and Proof of Commercialization.
- v1.0 / v2.0Version 1.0 / version 2.0
- Document or methodology version labels. Different resources may have different current version numbers.
Assessment states and human decisions
- NENot evaluated
- No assessment has been performed. Milestone controls may say “not assessed.” NE is different from zero.
- N/ANot applicable
- Documented non-applicability, requiring a reviewer, date and rationale where allowed. It is not missing evidence.
- NAN/A in an exported record
- The JSON code for a justified HSE non-applicability entry.
- 0–6Ordinal evidence scores
- Ordered evidence anchors, not probabilities, investment returns or an automatic decision threshold.
- Pre-Level 1No milestone yet demonstrated
- A documented assessment finding, distinct from an unassessed milestone.
- UNDECIDEDNo human decision recorded
- The starting state. It provides no authorization.
- ADVANCEProceed with a bounded next action
- A human commercialization decision requiring evidence, an owner and defined limits. It does not authorize launch.
- IMPROVEAddress a remediable gap
- A human decision to strengthen specified evidence or capabilities.
- PIVOTChange the proposed route
- A human decision to revise the application, market or commercialization approach.
- HOLDWait for specified evidence or conditions
- A human decision to pause the evaluated action.
- STOPDiscontinue the evaluated route
- A human commercialization decision about the defined action.
- GOHuman-entered launch decision
- A documented decision for a defined offering, scope and jurisdiction. The website does not grant permission.
- CONDITIONALBounded conditional decision
- A human decision limited to activities already permitted, with explicit conditions and monitoring.
- NO_GO / NO-GODo not launch in the evaluated scope
- The underscore spelling is the JSON code; the hyphenated spelling appears in explanatory text.
Files and record formats
- JSONJavaScript Object Notation
- A structured text format used to export and import complete assessment records. Files are unencrypted.
- PDFPortable Document Format
- The downloadable document format used for methodology and historical guides.
- MBMegabyte
- A file-size unit. Assessment imports are limited to 1,000,000 bytes.
- YYYY-MM-DDYear-month-day date format
- Four-digit year, two-digit month and two-digit day, for example 2026-10-19.
Other shorthand
- vsVersus
- Used when comparing technologies or approaches.
- techTechnology
- A shortened form used in technology-domain labels.
- labLaboratory
- A setting or service for scientific testing or analysis.
- and/orEither or both
- One item, the other item, or both may apply.