Filter
Top Products
User’s ManualGlossary-10
Glossary
motherboard: A name sometimes used to refer to the main printed circuit board in
processing equipment. It usually contains integrated circuits that perform the
processor’s basic functions and provides connectors for adding other boards
that perform special functions.
N
network: A collection of computers and associated devices that are connected by
communications facilities. A network allows you to share data and peripheral
devices, such as printers, with other users and to exchange electronic mail.
non-system disk: A disk for storing programs and data that cannot be used to
start the computer. Compare system disk.
nonvolatile memory: Memory 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 device.
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
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. Compare serial.
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.