Glossary

ROM: read only memory

RTC: real time clock

SCSI: small computer system interface

TFT: thin-film transistor

USB: Universal Serial Bus

VESA: Video Electronic Standards Association

VGA: video graphics array

WXGA: wide extended graphics array

A

adaptor: A device that provides an interface between two dissimilar electronic devices. For example, the AC adaptor modifies the power from a wall outlet for use by the computer. This term also refers to the add-in circuit cards that control external devices, such as video monitors and magnetic tape devices.

application: A group of programs that together are used for a specific task such as accounting, financial planning, spreadsheets, word processing and games.

B

BIOS: Basic Input Output System. The firmware that controls data flow within the computer. See also firmware.

bit: Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by the computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte. See also byte.

boot: Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer. The program reads instructions from a storage device into the computer’s memory.

bps: Bits per second. Typically used to describe the data transmission speed of a modem.

buffer: The portion of the computer’s memory where data is temporarily stored. Buffers often compensate for differences in the rate of flow from one device to another.

bus: An interface for transmission of signals, data or electric power.

byte: The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits treated as a single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within the system.

User’s Manual

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