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operating system — Actions you tell the computer to perform via the desktop are translated by
the operating system into instructions that the computer can understand.
option icon — Icon that appears in a dialogue box. Click on it to toggle (switch) an option on
or off.
palette — Allows you to control the colours used to display different things on the desktop.
parent directory — A parent directory contains subdirectories and files. The files and
subdirectories you see in a directory display are "children" of this parent directory.
peripheral — An item of hardware, e.g. a printer, monitor or modem).
Pinboard — Application that makes use of the blank areas of the desktop. You can drag icons
onto the desktop itself and they will 'stick' there (still in the computer's memory, just
not open on the desktop).
pointer — Arrow displayed on the desktop. It moves when you move the mouse. Use it to
move, change or select items on the desktop.
pop-up menu icon — Icon that appears in a dialogue box. Click on it to display a submenu.
printer — Peripheral which prints files or documents onto paper.
printer definition — Program that converts files into information that your printer can
understand and print.
printer manager — Application that oversees the printing process.
prompt — Signifies that you need to type in a command or supply information (e.g. the *
prompt that appears when you press F12).
quit — To close a file or application, and remove its window from the screen.
radio icon — One of a group of buttons that appears in a dialogue box, only one of which may
be selected at once.
RAM — Random Access Memory – part of the computer information storage system which is
accessible for storing or retrieving information without using discs. Information in
RAM is lost when the computer is switched off.
resources — The means with which your computer runs programs and applications.
Return key — Key on the keyboard that you press to signify the end of an instruction to the
computer (e.g. when you've finished typing in a file name in a writable menu box) or to
start a new line in an Edit file.
Stands for: Reduced Instruction Set Computer Operating System. See also
RISC OS —
operating system.
Glossary
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