Toshiba M500 User Manual page 210

Glossary
I
icon: A small graphic image displayed on the screen or in the indicator panel. In
Windows, an icon represents an object that the user can manipulate.
input: The data or instructions you provide to a computer, communication device
or other peripheral device from the keyboard or external or internal storage
devices. The data sent (or output) by the sending computer is input for the
receiving computer.
instruction: Statements or commands that specify how to perform a particular
task.
interface: 1) Hardware and/or software components of a system used specifically
to connect one system or device to another.
2) To physically connect one system or device to another to exchange
information.
3) The point of contact between user, the computer, and the program, for
example, the keyboard or a menu. interrupt request: A signal that gives a
component access to the processor.
I/O: Input/output. Refers to acceptance and transfer of data to and from a
computer.
I/O devices: Equipment used to communicate with the computer and transfer
data to and from it.
K
K: Taken from the Greek word kilo, meaning 1000; often used as equivalent to
1024, or 2 raised to the 10th power. See also byte and kilobyte.
keyboard: An input device containing switches that are activated by manually
pressing marked keys. Each keystroke activates a switch that transmits a
specific code to the computer. For each key, the transmitted code is, in turn,
representative of the (ASCII) character marked on the key.
kilobyte (KB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 bytes. See also byte and
megabyte.
L
L1 cache: Level one cache. Memory cache built into the processor to help
improve processing speed. See also cache memory, L2 cache.
L2 cache: Memory cache installed on the motherboard to help improve
processing speed. It is slower than L1 cache and faster than main memory.
See also cache memory, L1 cache.
LAN: A group of computers or other devices dispersed over a relatively limited
area and connected by a communications link that enables any device to
interact with any other on the network.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor device that emits light when a
current is applied.
Glossary-12 User 's Manual