344 ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications UML Unified Modeling Language WPAN Wireless Personal Area Network 5 The architecture terminology 5.1 Architecture The term architecture is over‐used in the context of ICTs and has been applied to aspects ranging from the structure of information to the delivery of technology, and even the technical management of an ICT solution [14; 15]. The term architecture is so wide ranging that all of these uses may indeed be valid. It may be worthwhile to draw on a familiar use for the term – the structuring of physical forms such as buildings. Architecture is defined as: formation or construction as or as if as the result of a conscious act; a unifying or coherent form or structure; the art or science of building [14; 15]. The key components of this definition concern something with a defined structure. The architecture of a building, for instance, is based on solid and coherent reasoning. The architect, the undertaker of the architecture, is charged with considering a wide range of aspects in the development of the architecture including, the client's will, site's requirements, legal and financial constraints, technology limitations, the building's users, and a host of other considerations that do not immediately appear to be directly related to the formation of the building. In essence, the architect is the conduit, through which all of the factors flow in realizing the final structure of the building. This relation between alternative stakeholders' perspectives and influencing forces, impacts the architecture formulation via a shared vision (as depicted in Figure 1). Figure 1 – Forces that impact architecture formulation Architecture (and Shared Vision) Technological constraints Client needs External and Internal constraints