Toshiba Equium P300 - Manual (Page 188)

User’s Manual Glossary-8
Glossary
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.
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 drive (FDD): An electromechanical device that reads and
writes to floppy diskettes.
floppy diskette: A removable disk that stores magnetically encoded data.
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.
G
gigabyte (GB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 megabytes. See also
megabyte.
graphics: Drawings, pictures, or other images, such as charts or graphs,
to present information.