assembler language. A computer-oriented language whose
instructions are usually in one-to-one correspondence with
computer instructions.
asynchronous transmission. (1) Transmission in which the time
of
occurrence
of
the start
of
each character,
or
block
of
characters, is arbitrary; once started, the time
of
occurrence of
each
signal representing a bit within a character,
or
block, has the
same relationship
to
significant instants
of
a fixed time frame.
(2)
Transmission in which
each
information character
is
individually transmitted (usually timed by the use
of
start
elements
and
stop elements).
audio frequencies. Frequencies
that
can
be
heard
by
the human
ear
(approximately
15
hertz
to
20,000 hertz).
auxiliary storage. (1) A storage device
that
is
not
main storage.
(2)
Data
storage
other
than
main storage; for example, storage
on
magnetic disk. (3)
Contrast
with main storage.
BASIC. Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code.
basic input/output system (BIOS). The feature
of
the IBM
Personal
Computer
that
provides the level control
of
the major
110
devices, and relieves the programmer from concern about
hardware device characteristics.
baud. (1) A unit
of
signaling speed equal
to
the
number
of
discrete conditions
or
signal events
per
second.
For
example, one
baud
equals one bit per second in a train
of
binary signals,
one-half
dot
cycle per second in Morse code, and
one
3-bit value
per
second in a train
of
signals each
of
which can assume one of
eight different states. (2)
In
asynchronous transmission, the unit
of
modulation rate corresponding to one unit
of
interval
per
second;
that
is, if the duration
of
the unit interval is
20
milliseconds, the modulation rate
is
50
baud.
BCC. Block-check character.
beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code (BASIC). A
programming language with a small repertoire of commands and a
simple syntax, primarily designed for numeric applications.
GIossary-3
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