Glossary 5
P
page
A type of message transmission in which a message is sent or received via modem to a
paging device from a computer (with paging communications software) or telephone.
parallel interface
Interface that communicates eight bits at a time.
parallel printer
A printer with a parallel interface.
parameter
A characteristic of a device or system.
password
A string of characters that the user must enter before the system allows access or system
privileges.
PCMCIA
A credit card sized peripheral interface standard for portable devices. Types of PCMCIA
cards currently offered by major vendors include fax/modems, LAN, storage cards, and
wireless communications devices.
peripheral
Input or output device not under direct computer control. A printer is a peripheral device.
pixels
Picture elements. Tiny dots that make up a screen image.
port
Provides the means for an interface between the microprocessor and external devices. A
cable connector is usually plugged into the port to attach the device to the computer.
processor
In a computer, a functional unit that interprets and executes instructions.
prompt
A special symbol indicating the beginning of an input line. Also a message that appears on
the screen indicating that the user must take a certain action.
Q
QWERTY
The QWERTY keyboard, designed in the 1800s for mechanical typewriters, refers to the
first six keys (QWERTY) on the top row of letters on the standard keyboard.
R
RAM
Random Access Memory. A storage device into which data is entered and from which data
is retrieved in a nonsequential manner.
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