IBM 5170 Technical Reference page 407

bootstrap. A technique or device designed to bring itself into a
desired state by means of its own action; for example, a machine
routine whose first few instructions are sufficient to bring the rest
of itself into the computer from an input device.
~
bps. Bits per second.
BSC. Binary synchronous communications.
buffer.
(1)
An area of storage that is temporarily reserved for use
in performing an input/output operation, into which data is read
or from which data is written. Synonymous with I/O area.
(2)
A
portion of storage for temporarily holding input or output data.
bus. One or more conductors used for transmitting signals or
power.
byte.
(1)
A sequence of eight adjacent binary digits that are
operated upon as a unit.
(2) A
binary character operated upon as
a unit.
(3)
The representation of a character.
C. Celsius.
capacitor. An electronic circuit component that stores an electric
charge.
CAS. Column address strobe.
cathode ray tube (CRT). A vacuum tube in which a stream of
electrons is projected onto a fluorescent screen producing a
luminous spot. The location of the spot can be controlled.
~ cathode ray tube display (CRT display).
(1)
A CRT used for
displaying data. For example, the electron beam can be controlled
to form alphanumeric data by use of a dot matrix. (2) The data
display produced by the device as in
(1).
Glossary-5