Table of Contents
Advertisement
computer system: A combination of hardware, software, firmware, and
peripheral components assembled to process data into useful
information.
configuration: The specific components in your system (such as the
terminal, printer, and disk drives) and the settings that define how
your system works. You use the HW Setup program to control your
system configuration.
control keys: A key or sequence of keys you enter from the keyboard to
initiate a particular function within a program.
controller: Built-in hardware and software that controls the functions of a
specific internal or peripheral device (e.g. keyboard controller).
co-processor: A circuit built into the processor that is dedicated to
intensive math calculations.
CPS: Characters per second. Typically used to indicate the transmission
speed of a printer.
CPU: Central processing unit. The portion of the computer that interprets
and executes instructions.
CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. A vacuum tube in which beams projected on a
fluorescent screen-producing luminous spots. An example is the
television set.
cursor: A small, blinking rectangle or line that indicates the current
position on the display screen.
D
data: Information that is factual, measurable or statistical that a computer
can process, store, or retrieve.
data bits: A data communications parameter controlling the number of
bits (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.
DC: Direct Current. Electric current that flows in one direction. This type
of power is usually supplied by batteries.
default: The parameter value automatically selected by the system when
you or the program do not provide instructions. Also called a
preset value.
delete: To remove data from a disk or other data storage device.
Synonymous with erase.
device driver: A program that controls communication between a
specific peripheral device and the computer.
dialog box: A window that accepts user input to make system settings or
record other information.
disk drive: The device that randomly accesses information on a disk and
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.
Portégé A100
Glossary
4
Advertisement
Table of Contents
