extended RAM
The area of RAM above the first megabyte of memory in the system available for enhancing system performance.
F
FIR
Fast Infrared, an infrared technology that sends data at 4.0 Mbit/second (4 million bits per second).
FM synthesis
A technique for synthesizing sound that uses a combination of modulated sine waves to produce different waveforms.
function key
The set of keys on the keyboard (usually F1 through F12) that let you get help and error message information or quickly select frequently used commands.
H
hard disk
A rigid magnetic storage device that provides fast access to stored data.
hardware
The electrical and mechanical parts from which a computer is made.
hertz
(Hz) A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.
hot key
Combination of two or three keys that you press simultaneously for a particular function.
I
input/output
(I/O) The process of transferring data between the computer and external devices.
IDE
Intelligent Drive Electronics. A hard disk drive type that has controller electronics built into the drive and delivers high throughput.
