The visual effect of impulsive noise arising at the output of an FM demodulator due to a weak signal, slight mistuning of the receiver or interference. The noise appears as randomly-distributed, momentary black and white flecks on the picture.

Sparklies is an official term, as used by British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) and a number of hardware makers including Amstrad and Pace, for interference on analogue satellite television transmissions.

Small glowing dots (not dust, pollen or pollutants) seen through a camera viewfinder during the flash mode which may indicate the presence of spirit energies.