Term: telemetry

Telemetry is a technical, generic term for remote tracking data.

The term is perhaps most commonly associated with spacecraft. Data is more or less continually being transmitted back to earth reporting on the craft’s position, condition, and activities. This data is referred to as telemetry.

In the computer world, the same term can apply to any data being used to remotely monitor the condition or activities of a computer. Regardless of the level of detail – from minor and anonymous error reports to deeply detailed activity logs – data sent back from computers to a central location for purposes of reporting or monitoring is also referred to as telemetry.