| R |
RAM | Acronym for |
| memory” or “working memory.” RAM is the active |
| memory of a printer, into which programs are loaded. |
| This memory can be read from or written to at any time. |
| RAM is also termed “volatile” because whatever |
| information is in RAM is lost when power is turned off or |
| interrupted. |
| See also ROM. |
read | To retrieve data from memory (RAM) or from mass |
| storage (hard disk, floppy diskette, etc.). |
reset | To turn off, deactivate, disable, or return to a previously |
| determined state. |
resolution | A measure expressing the number of component units in |
| a given range used to create an image. In printing, this is |
| expressed as the number of dots per inch (dpi) |
| horizontally and vertically. |
ROM | Acronym for |
| and routines permanently stored in the printer. |
| Information in ROM is not lost when power is turned off. |
| ROM cannot be written |
| See also RAM. |
roman | A type style in which the characters are upright. This |
| sentence is printed in a roman type style. |
| S |
sans serif | A typeface or font in which the characters do not have |
| serifs. This font is sans serif. |
serial communications
The sequential transmission of data, in which each element is transferred in succession.
serial matrix | A type of printing technology used in some impact |
| printers. Data are sent to the printer through either a |
| serial or a parallel interface, but the print head must |
| receive the data serially in order to form each character. |
| The moving print head uses pins to form whole |
| characters one at a time and one after the other. The pins |
| print dots according to programmed matrix patterns. A |
| line matrix printer also forms characters with dots in |
| matrix patterns, but it feeds print data in parallel to many |
| hammers mounted on a rapidly oscillating shuttle. The |
| hammers fire simultaneously to print entire lines at a |
| time. |
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