296 Glossary

O

online — Available through the computer. Online may refer to

 

 

information being read from your own computer’s hard disk, such

 

as online documentation or online Help, or to information coming

 

from another company on a company network or the Internet.

 

operating system — A set of programs that controls how the computer

 

works. Examples of operating systems are the Windows® XP Tablet

P

PC Edition and Windows® XP Home operating systems.
palette — See color palette.

 

 

parallel — Processes that occur simultaneously. In communications, it

 

means the transmission of more than one bit of information at a

 

time. On your computer, the parallel port provides a parallel

 

communications interface between the computer and an appropriate

 

device. Most modern printers are parallel. Compare serial.

 

password — A unique string of characters entered by a user to verify his

 

or her identity to the computer or the network.

 

PC Card — A credit-card-sized expansion card designed to increase the

 

capabilities of notebook computers. PC Cards provide functions

 

such as modem, fax/modem, hard disk drive, network adapter,

 

sound card, or SCSI adapter.

 

peripheral — Any device, such as a printer or joystick, that is attached

 

to the computer and controlled by the computer’s CPU.

 

pixel — Short for “picture element.” The smallest dot that can be

 

produced on a screen or printer.

 

Plug and Play — Generally, refers to the computer’s ability to

 

automatically configure itself to work with peripheral devices.

 

When capitalized, refers to a standard that, when followed by a

 

device manufacturer, allows a PC to configure itself automatically to

 

work with the device.

 

pointing device — Any device, such as the TouchPad or a mouse, that

 

enables you to move the cursor on the screen.

 

port — A socket on the computer where you plug in a cable for

 

connection to a network or a peripheral device.

 

processor — See central processing unit (CPU).