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controller: Built-in hardware and software that controls the functions of a
co-processor: A circuit built into the processor that is dedicated to
CPS: Characters Per Second. Typically used to indicate the transmission
CPU: Central Processing Unit. The portion of the computer that interprets
CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. A vacuum tube in which beams projected on a
cursor: A small, blinking rectangle or line that indicates the current
D
data: Information that is factual, measurable or statistical that a computer
data bits: A data communications parameter controlling the number of bits
DC: Direct Current. Electric current that flows in one direction. This type of
default: The parameter value automatically selected by the system when
delete: To remove data from a disk or other data storage device.
device driver: A program that controls communication between a specific
dialog box: A window that accepts user input to make system settings or
Digital Audio: An audio compression standard that enables high-quality
disk drive: The device that randomly accesses information on a disk and
disk storage: Storing data on magnetic disk. Data is arranged on
User's Manual
specific internal or peripheral device (e.g. keyboard controller).
intensive math calculations.
speed of a printer.
and executes instructions.
fluorescent screen-producing luminous spots. An example is the
television set.
position on the display screen.
can process, store, or retrieve.
(binary digits) used to make up a byte. If data bits = 7 the computer
can generate 128 unique characters. If data bits = 8 the computer
can generate 256 unique characters.
power is usually supplied by batteries.
you or the program do not provide instructions. Also called a preset
value.
Synonymous with erase.
peripheral device and the computer. The CONFIG.SYS file contains
device drivers that MS-DOS loads when you turn the computer on.
record other information.
transmission and real-time playback of sound files.
copies it to the computer's memory. It also writes data from memory
to the disk. To accomplish these tasks, the unit physically rotates
the disk at high speed past a read-write head.
concentric tracks much like a phonograph record.
Glossary
Glossary-6
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