Toshiba Tecra A7 - Manual (Page 173)

User’s Manual Glossary-5
Glossary
CGA: Color/graphics adapter. A video display protocol defined by the IBM
Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter and its associated circuitry. This
protocol supports two-color 640 × 200 and four-color 320 × 200
graphics, and 16-color 640 × 200 and 320 × 200 text modes.
character: Any letter, number, punctuation mark, or symbol used by the
computer. Also synonymous with byte.
chassis: The frame containing the computer.
chip: A small semiconductor containing computer logic and circuitry for
processing, memory, input/output functions and controlling other
chips.
CMOS: Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. An electronic circuit
fabricated on a silicon wafer that requires very little power.
Integrated circuits implemented in CMOS technology can be tightly
packaged and are highly reliable.
cold start: Starting a computer that is currently off (turning on the power).
COM1, COM2, COM3 and COM4: The names assigned to the serial and
communication ports.
commands: Instructions you enter at the terminal keyboard that direct the
actions of the computer or its peripheral devices.
communications: The means by which a computer transmits and receives
data to and from another computer or device. See parallel interface;
serial interface.
compatibility: 1) The ability of one computer to accept and process data in
the same manner as another computer without modifying the data
or the media upon which it is being transferred.
2) the ability of one device to connect to or communicate with
another system or component.
components: Elements or parts (of a system) which make up the whole
(system).
computer program: A set of instructions written for a computer that enable
it to achieve a desired result.
computer system: A combination of hardware, software, firmware, and
peripheral components assembled to process data into useful
information.
configuration: The specific components in your system (such as the
terminal, printer, and disk drives) and the settings that define how
your system works. You use the Hardware Setup, MaxTime or HW
Setup program to control your system configuration.
control keys: A key or sequence of keys you enter from the keyboard to
initiate a particular function within a program.
controller: Built-in hardware and software that controls the functions of a
specific internal or peripheral device (e.g. keyboard controller).
co-processor: A circuit built into the processor that is dedicated to
intensive math calculations.
CPS: Characters per second. Typically used to indicate the transmission
speed of a printer.
CPU: Central processing unit. The portion of the computer that interprets
and executes instructions.