NEC PowerMate CT Application programs, Architecture, Archive, Asynchronous cache, AT bus

APM

Advanced Power Management. An API developed by Intel and Microsoft that allows developers to include power management in the BIOS. APM defines a layer between the hardware and the operating system that effectively shields the programmer from hardware details.

application programs

Software designed to perform specific functions or a group of functions, like solving business or mathematical problems. Examples of applications include word processing, communications, or database management.

architecture

A general term for the design and construction of computer systems, particularly hardware, but also operating systems and networks. The circuitry within a chip is called its architecture; for example, Intel architecture can refer to a computer based on the Intel Celeron, Pentium II, or Pentium III chips.

archive

Copying one or more files to a different location for long-term data storage, especially for backup and security purposes. Files can then be added to or deleted from the archive. Also refers to the location where data is stored.

ASIC

Application Specific Integrated Circuit. A chip designed for use on a particular circuit board, or for a very narrow range of use. The digital signal processor chip on a modem is an ASIC.

asynchronous

Refers to operations that do not require the clocks of communicating devices to be coordinated. Instead, the devices send signals to each other indicating readiness to receive or send. Compare synchronous.

asynchronous cache

The slowest, most inexpensive type of secondary SRAM cache, running at speeds of 15 to 20 ns.

ATA

AT Attachment. A standard for connecting hard drives or other devices to an AT bus; synonymous with IDE.

AT bus

The AT bus system with support chips (DMA, PIC, etc) and a 16-bit bus slot. The AT bus is strictly defined by ISA.

audio

Relating to or capable of producing sound. Multimedia computers make extensive use of audio.

AVI

A digital movie format created by Microsoft. AVI is short for “audio/video interleave,” a method of including a digital movie and its accompanying sound in the same file. Files in the AVI format have the .AVI extension.

2 Glossary