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Glossary 165
graphics mode — A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical
pixels by z colors. Graphics modes can display an unlimited variety of shapes and
fonts.
GUI — graphical user interface — Software that interacts with the user by means of
menus, windows, and icons. Most programs that operate on the Windows operating
systems are GUIs.
H
hard drive — A drive that reads and writes data on a hard disk. The terms hard drive
and hard disk are often used interchangeably.
heat sink — A metal plate on some processors that helps dissipate heat.
help file — A file that contains descriptive or instructional information about a
product. Some help files are associated with a particular program, such as Help in
Microsoft Word. Other help files function as stand-alone reference sources. Help files
typically have a filename extension of .hlp or .chm.
hibernate mode — A power management mode that saves everything in memory to a
reserved space on the hard drive and then turns off the computer. When you restart
the computer, the memory information that was saved to the hard drive is
automatically restored.
HTML — hypertext markup language — A set of codes inserted into an Internet web
page intended for display on an Internet browser.
HTTP — hypertext transfer protocol — A protocol for exchanging files between
computers connected to the Internet.
Hz — hertz — A unit of frequency measurement that equals 1 cycle per second.
Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz (kHz), megahertz
(MHz), gigahertz (GHz), or terahertz (THz).
I
IC — Industry Canada — The Canadian regulatory body responsible for regulating
emissions from electronic equipment, much as the FCC does in the United States.
IC — integrated circuit — A semiconductor wafer, or chip, on which thousands or
millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer, audio, and
video equipment.
IDE — integrated device electronics — An interface for mass storage devices in which
the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive.
book.book Page 165 Tuesday, July 3, 2007 12:31 PM