Toshiba Satellite P500 User Manual page 194

A
adaptor: A device that provides a compatible connection between two
alphanumeric: Keyboard characters including letters, numbers and other
alternating current (AC): Electric current that reverses its direction of flow
analog signal: A signal whose characteristics such as amplitude and
application: A group of programs that together are used for a specific task
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII code is
B
backup: A copy of a file, usually on a removable disk, kept in case the
binary: The base two number system composed of zeros and ones (off or
BIOS: Basic Input/Output System. The firmware that controls data flow
bit: Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by the
Bluetooth: A short-range radio technology designed to simplify wireless
board: A circuit board. An internal card containing electronic components,
boot: Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer.
boot disk: See system disk.
User's Manual
units. For example, the computer's internal display adapter receives
information from the software and translates it into images on the
screen. An adapter can take a number of forms, from a
microprocessor to a simple connector: An intelligent adapter (one
that is capable of doing some processing) may also be called a
controller.
symbols, such as punctuation marks or mathematical symbols.
at regular intervals.
frequency vary in proportion to (are an analog of) the value to be
transmitted. Voice communications are analog signals.
such as accounting, financial planning, spreadsheets, word
processing and games.
a set of 256 binary codes that represent the most commonly used
letters, numbers, and symbols.
original file is lost or damaged.
on), used by most digital computers. The right-most digit of a binary
number has a value of 1, the next a value of 2, then 4, 8, 16, and so
on. For example, the binary number 101 has a value of 5. See also
ASCII.
within the computer. See also firmware.
computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte. See also
byte.
communication among computers, communication devices and the
Internet.
called chips, which perform a specific function or increase the
capabilities of the system.
The program reads instructions from a storage device into the
computer's memory.
Glossary
Glossary-3