Toshiba T1100 PLUS User Manual page 177

GLOSSARY
B
backup: A duplicate copy of files on a floppy disk kept as a spare in
case the original is destroyed.
(baud rate):
baud
chronous communication devices such as printers, terminals and
MODEMs. In standard usage, one baud is equivalent to one bit per
second. It is named for Emil Baudot, a pioneer in printing telegraphy.
binary: The base two number system composed of zeros or ones (on
or off), used by most digital computers. The farthest right 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, a binary number 101 has a value of 5 (see
ASCII).
bit: A contraction of BInary digiT, the basic unit of information used
by the computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits equal one byte (see
byte ) .
board: A systematic arrangement of electronic components, such as
chips, attached to a board for performing some function or for
increasing current capabilities of the system. A board is typically
plugged into the computer on the motherboard.
boot: Shor t for 'bootstrap.' A bootstrap program allows a computer
to be placed in a desired state by means of its own actions. For
example, the computer is readied for use by a bootstrap program that
issues a few instructions sufficient to bring the rest of the program
into the computer.
buffer: The portion of the computer 's memory where data is tempo­
rarily stored. A buffer is temporary memory, in that the computer
'forgets' everything in the buffer when the power is turned off. See
RAM .
byte: The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits
treated as single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within the
system.
GLOSSARY/2
Rate of character transmission speed over asyn­
,... .
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