Glossary

P

parity: 1) The symmetrical relationship between two parameter values (integers) both of which are either on or off; odd or even; 0 or 1.

2)In serial communications, an error detection bit that is added to a group of data bits making the sum of the bits even or odd. Parity can be set to none, odd, or even.

peripheral device: An I/O device that is external to the central processor and/or main memory such as a printer or a mouse.

pixel: A picture element. The smallest dot that can be made on a display or printer. Also called a pel.

plug and play: A capability with Windows that enables the system to automatically recognize connections of external devices and make the necessary configurations in the computer.

port: The electrical connection through which the computer sends and receives data to and from devices or other computers.

prompt: A message the computer provides indicating it is ready for or requires information or an action from you.

R

Random Access Memory (RAM): High speed memory within the computer circuitry that can be read or written to.

restart: Resetting a computer without turning it off (also called "warm boot" or "soft reset"). See also boot.

RJ11: A modular telephone jack.RJ45: A modular LAN jack.

ROM: Read Only Memory: A nonvolatile memory chip manufactured to contain information that controls the computer’s basic operation. You cannot access or change information stored in ROM.

S

SCSI: Small Computer System Interface is an industry standard interface for connection of a variety of peripheral devices.

soft key: Key combinations that emulate keys on the IBM keyboard, change some configuration options, stop program execution, and access the numeric keypad overlay.

stop bit: One or more bits of a byte that follow the transmitted character or group codes in asynchronous serial communications.

system disk: A disk that has been formatted with an operating system. For MS-DOS the operating system is contained in two hidden files and the COMMAND.COM file. You can boot a computer using a system disk. Also called an operating system disk.

User’s Manual

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