Toshiba A50 user manual Glossary-10 User’s Manual

Glossary

N

non-system disk: A formatted floppy disk you can use to store programs and data but you cannot use to start the computer. See system disk.

nonvolatile memory: Memory, usually read-only (ROM), that is capable of permanently storing information. Turning the computer’s power off does not alter data stored in nonvolatile memory.

numeric keypad overlay: A feature that allows you to use certain keys on the keyboard to perform numeric entry, or to control cursor and page movement.

O

OCR: Optical Character Recognition (reader). A technique or device that uses laser or visible light to identify characters and input them into a storage device.

online state: A functional state of a peripheral device when it is ready to receive or transmit data.

operating system: A group of programs that controls the basic operation of a computer. Operating system functions include interpreting programs, creating data files, and controlling the transmission and receipt (input/output) of data to and from memory and peripheral devices.

output: The results of a computer operation. Output commonly indicates data.

1)printed on paper, 2) displayed at a terminal, 3) sent through the serial port of internal modem, or 4) stored on some magnetic media.

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.

password: A unique string of characters used to identify a specific user. The computer provides various levels of password protection such as user, supervisor and eject.

pel: The smallest area of the display that can be addressed by software. Equal in size to a pixel or group of pixels. See pixel.

peripheral component interconnect: An industry standard 32-bit bus.

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.

Glossary-10 User’s Manual