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Toshiba Tecra A3X User Manual

Page 185

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User’s Manual

Glossary-8

Glossary

input: The data or instructions you provide to a computer, communication

device or other peripheral device from the keyboard or external or

internal storage devices. The data sent (or output) by the sending

computer is input for the receiving computer.

instruction: Statements or commands that specify how to perform a

particular task.

interface: 1) Hardware and/or software components of a system used

specifically to connect one system or device to another.

2) To physically connect one system or device to another to

exchange information.

3) The point of contact between user, the computer, and the

program, for example, the keyboard or a menu.

interrupt request: A signal that gives a component access to the

processor.

I/O: Input/output. Refers to acceptance and transfer of data to and from a

computer.

I/O devices: Equipment used to communicate with the computer and

transfer data to and from it.

IrDA 1.1: An industry standard that enables cableless infrared serial data

transfer at speeds of up to 4 Mbps.

J

jumper: A small clip or wire that allows you to change the hardware

characteristics by electrically connecting two points of a circuit.

K

K: Taken from the Greek word kilo, meaning 1000; often used as equivalent

to 1024, or 2 raised to the 10th power. See also byte and kilobyte.

KB: See kilobyte.
keyboard: An input device containing switches that are activated by

manually pressing marked keys. Each keystroke activates a switch

that transmits a specific code to the computer. For each key, the

transmitted code is, in turn, representative of the (ASCII) character

marked on the key.

kilobyte (KB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 bytes. See also byte

and megabyte.

L

level 2 cache: See cache.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor device that emits light when

a current is applied.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD): Liquid crystal sealed between two sheets of

glass coated with transparent conducting material. The viewing-side

coating is etched into character forming segments with leads that

extend to the edge of the glass. Applying a voltage between the

glass sheets alters the brightness of the liquid crystal.