Apple II - Page 164

Aux.. CONNECTOR: A slot inside lhe Apple lie
for Clrds
that increase the memory or enhance the
video capabilities of the computer.
back panel: The rear surface of the computer
ClSC. The power swilch, power conneaor, and
peripheral device conneclOrs are on the back
panel.
backspace: To move the OJfSOr to the !efL In
some programs, backspacing er:ase.s the character
the cursor moves over.
backup: A copy of a di~ or a file. Make backup
copies of important disks and files, just in case an
original is lost, stolen, or damaged. If you can,
make backups of your prognms, too. (Some
programs cannot be copied.)
BASIC: Acronym for Beginners AJI-purpose
Symbolic
Instruction Code. A popular. high-level
programming language. Apple Computer oITers
IWO versions for Apple U systems: Applesofl
BASIC (built inlO firmware) and Integer BASIC (on
disk).
baud, The rate at which a computer or a
penpheral device can scnd and receive cUla; the
number of signal elements per second. Often, b.J1
not always, equivalent to bits per seamd
80s, See bulletin board ~~'Slem.
binary S)'Slem: A numbering sySlCm in which
every number is expressed a.s a combination of
zeros and ones. On is often represented as the
number I, offas O.
bit: Contraction of binary digll. The smallest
item
of information a computer can handle.
Usually represented
as a 1 or a o. In the Apple II
family of computers, eight biLS equal one byte.
biLS per second (bps): A measurement of how fast
a peripheral device can send and receive
information
146 Glossary
block: A unit of disk storage. On Apple II systems,
a
block has a 512-byte apacily. The CATALOG
comma.nd reports disk and file sizes in blocks.
board: See main logic board
boot: See start up.
bps: See bilS per second
brightness knob: The knob on a video display
device thai controls
how bright a display is.
bug.:
An error in software or hardware. The term
reportedly
comes from lhe early days of
computing when an itinerant moth new into a
room-size computer and caused a breakdown.
bulletin board system (BOS): A computerized
version
of the ordinary bulletin boards on which
people post messages, announcements, and
advertisements. Many computerized bulletin
boards olTer free software.
bum in: To run a progr:;am for hours in a new
computer for lhc purpose of detecting nawed
components. Many dealers bum in compulers
before buyers uke delivery of !heir new systems
business gr.Iphlcs: Programs that present
numerical
information in graphic form, like a PIC
chart or a bar graph.
button.: see IDOUSe button.
byte: A unit of information consisting of a fixed
number or bits. On Apple II systems, one byte
consists
of eight bits. One byte can represent an
instruction, a letter, a number, a punctuation
mark, or OIher charaCler. See also bit.
C: A programming language popular among
professional progl'3mmers, especially those
writing software designed to run under the UNIX~M
operating system.
CAD:
Sec computer-aided design.