Glossary

E

echo: To send back a reflection of the transmitted data to the sending device. You can display the information on the screen, or output it to the printer, or both. When a computer receives back data it transmitted to a CRT (or other peripheral device) and then transmits the data to printer, the printer is said to echo the CRT.

enable: To turn on a computer option. See also disable.erase: See delete.

escape: 1) A code (ASCII code 27), signaling the computer that what follows are commands; used with peripheral devices such as printers and modems.

2) A means of aborting the task currently in progress.

escape guard time: A time before and after an escape code is sent to the modem which distinguishes between escapes that are part of the transmitted data, and escapes that are intended as a command to the modem.

execute: To interpret and execute an instruction.

F

fast infrared: An industry standard that enables cableless infrared serial data transfer at speeds of up to 4 Mbps.

file: A collection of related information; a file can contain data, programs, or both.

fingerprint sensor: The fingerprint sensor compares and analyzes the unique characteristics in a fingerprint.

firmware: A set of instructions built into the hardware which controls and directs a microprocessor’s activities.

flash memory: Non-volatile memory that can be written to as well as read. Information in flash memory remains whether or not the computer is receiving power. This type of memory is used to retain your fingerprint data. See also memory. Compare RAM and ROM.

floppy diskette: A removable disk that stores magnetically encoded data.

floppy diskette drive (FDD): An electromechanical device that reads and writes to floppy diskettes.

folder: An icon in Windows used to store documents or other folders.

format: The process of readying a blank disk for its first use. Formatting establishes the structure of the disk that the operating system expects before it writes files or programs onto the disk.

function keys: The keys labeled F1 through F12 that tell the computer to perform certain functions.

User’s Manual

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