Appendix C

Glossary

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for representing characters, such as numbers, letters, and graphic symbols. An ASCII character occupies one byte of storage. Files transmitted in ASCII code can be used by many different computers, printers, and programs.

Asynchronous

A method of data transmission in which one machine sends data one character at a time to another, without either machine preparing for the transmission.

Backup

An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, kept in case your working copy is damaged or lost.

Bit

A binary digit (0 or 1). The smallest unit of computer storage. The value of a bit represents the presence (1) or absence (0) of an electric charge.

Boot

To load a program or an operating system.

Byte

A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character,

Character

Anything that can print in a single space on the page or the screen. Includes numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and graphic symbols.

CMOS

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method for making silicon chips.

Code

A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also any software program or part of a program.

User’s Guide

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