Zenith Z-150 User Manual page 210

Glossary
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Glossary
Synchronous - To be controlled by and synchronized with equally
spaced timing signals. See "Asynchronous."
Syntax - The rules governing the use of a language.
System - An assembly of components into a whole. A computer system
is made up of the computer plus one or more peripherals.
Table - A collection of data into a form suitable for easy reference.
Task - A job, usually performed by following a specific set of instructions
to solve a problem.
Telecommunications - The transmission and/or reception of signals by
wire, radio, light beam, telephone, or any other electronic means.
Tenninal - An inpuVoutput device, usually consisting of a keyboard
and a display screen. A terminal also may consist of a printer and a
keyboard; this is referred to as a "printing terminal." Either type may
include a modem (either the acoustic-coupled type or the direct-connect
type) for remote operation. Some (usually older models) also may include
a paper tape punch and reader.
Thennal printer - A "hard copy" device that works by forming printed
"characters" with tiny heated elements against heat sensitive paper. The
print quality from such printers is (usually) less than that produced by
most electric typewriters and requires (usually) special paper.
Time share - The process of accomplishing two or more tasks at (appar­
ently) the same time. The computer will process one task at a time, but
only a small portion, before switching to the next Because a computer
can process a great amount of data in a very short time, the switching
between tasks is usually transparent to human observation except when
many tasks are executed at the same time.
Track - The portion of a disk that one read/write head passes over
while in a stationary position. Track density is measured in TPI (fracks
Per Inch .
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