Glossary
Glossary 4
B4 Paper size measuring 250 by 353 mm.
background job Low-priority job, usually batched, which is executed
automatically as system resources become available.
batch Method by which bodies of data are accumulated and grouped
by kind before processing.
batch processing Allows for repetitive operations to be performed sequentially on
batched data without much involvement of the computer
operator.
baud Measurement of data rate in bits per second. This term is used
to describe information flow between two devices. Unit of data
transmitting/receiving speed is roughly equal to a single bit per
second. Common baud rates are 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800,
and 9600.
binary Numbering system based on 2 rather than 10 and containing
only the symbols 0 and 1. Binary is especially well suited for use
in computers and related devices since information can be
represented with electric pulses (0=off, 1=on). Most computer
calculations are binary.
bit In the binary numbering system, either of the characters 0 or 1.
The bit is the basic unit of information with which a computer
works. It can take the form of a magnetized spot, an electric
pulse, a positive or negative charge, etc. A number of bi ts strung
together represents a character to a computer.
Multipliers are:
1 byte = 8 bits
1 kilobyte (KB) or 1,024 bytes = 8,192 bits
1 megabyte (MB) or 1,048,576 bytes = 8,388,608 bits.
Computer space equivalents are:
1.5 KB = about 1 single-spaced typed page
30 KB = about 20 typed pages
150 KB = about 100 typed pages
bitmap Electronic definition of an image, comprised of a matr ix of picture
elements (pixels or dots), where a bit value of one means that
the picture element is imaged, and a bit value of zero means that
the picture element is not imaged. The number of picture
elements in a square area is a function of the display device
resolution.