Atari 400 Basic Reference Manual page 96

HardW"are:
Increment:
Initialize:
Input:
Interactive:
Interface:
IOCB
I/0:
K:
KeyW"ord:
Language:
Memory:
Menu:
Microcomputer:
Monitor:
Null String:
OS:
Output:
Parallel:
Peripheral:
The physical apparatus and electronics that make up a computer.
Increase in value (usually) by adding one. Used a lot for counting (as
in counting the number of repetitions through a loop).
Set to an initial or starting value. In Atari BASIC, all non-array
variables are initialized to zero when the command RUN is given. Ar-
ray and string elements are not initialized.
Information transfer to the computer. Output is information transfer
away from the computer. In this manual, input and output are
always in relation to the computer.
A system that responds quickly to the user, usually within a second
or two. All personal computer systems are interactive.
The electronics used to allow two devices to communicate.
Input/Output Control Block. A block of data in RAM that tells the
Operating System the information it needs to know for an I/0 opera-
tion.
Short for input/output, I/0 devices include the keyboard, TV
monitor, program recorder, printer, and disk drives.
Stands for "kilo" meaning "times
1000".
Thus 1 KByte is (approx-
imately)
1000
bytes. (Actually
1024
bytes.) Also, the device type code
for the Keyboard.
A word that has meaning as an instruction or command in a com-
puter language, and thus must not be used as a variable name or at
the beginning of a variable name.
A set of conventions specifying how to tell a computer what to do.
The part of a computer (usually RAM or ROM) that stores data or in-
formation.
A list of options from which the user may choose.
A computer based on a microprocessor chip; in Atari's case, the 6502.
The television receiver used to display computer output.
A string consisting of no characters what ever.
Abbreviation for Operating System. This is actually a collection of
programs to aid the user in controlling the computer. Pronounced
"oh ess".
See
1/0.
Two or more things happening simultaneously. A parallel interface,
for example, controls a number of distinct electrical signals at the
same time. Opposite of serial.
An I/0 device. See
1/0.
Appendix G-3