Toshiba Satellite A60 - Page 226

Glossary-7
G
LOSSARY
execute: To interpret and execute an
instruction.
Extended Capability Port: An industry
standard that provides a data buffer,
switchable forward and reverse data
transmission, and run length encoding
(RLE) support.
F
fast infrared: An industry standard that
enables cableless infrared serial data
transfer at speeds of up to 4 Mbps.
file: A collection of related information;
a file can contain data, programs, or
both.
firmware: A set of instructions built
into the hardware which controls and
directs a microprocessor’s activities.
fixed disk: See hard disk.
floppy disk: See diskette.
floppy disk drive (FDD): See diskette
drive.
Fn-esse: A TOSHIBA utility that lets
you assign functions to hotkeys.
format: The process of readying a blank
disk for its first use. Formatting estab-
lishes the structure of the disk that the
operating system expects before it writes
files or programs onto the disk.
folder: An icon in Windows used to
store documents or other folders.
function keys: The keys labeled F1
through F12 that tell the computer to
perform certain functions.
G
gigabyte (GB): A unit of data storage
equal to 1024 megabytes. See also
megabyte.
GND: Ground. An RS-232C signal used
in the exchange of data between a
computer and serial device.
graphics: The use of drawings,
pictures, or other images, such as charts
or graphs, to present information.
H
hard disk: A non-removable disk
usually referred to as drive C. Also
called fixed disk.
hard disk drive (HDD): An electrome-
chanical device that reads and writes a
hard disk. See also hard disk.
hardware: The physical electronic and
mechanical components of a computer
system: typically, the computer itself,
external disk drives, etc. See also
software and firmware.
hertz: A unit of wave frequency that
equals one cycle per second.
hexadecimal: The base 16 numbering
system composed of the digits 0
through 9 and the letters A, B, C, D, E,
and F.
host computer: The computer that
controls, regulates, and transmits
information to a device or another
computer.
host computer