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Glossary-10
monitor
monitor: A device that uses rows and
columns of pixels to display alphanu-
meric characters or graphic images.
See CRT.
motherboard: A name sometimes
used to refer to the main printed circuit
board in processing equipment. It usu-
ally contains integrated circuits that
perform the processor’s basic func-
tions and provides connectors for add-
ing other boards that perform special
functions. Sometimes called a main
board.
MPEG: Moving picture coding expert
group is an industry standard architec-
ture for compression of video signals.
N
non-system disk: A formatted diskette
(floppy disk) you can use to store pro-
grams and data but you cannot use to
start the computer. See system disk.
nonvolatile memory: Memory, usu-
ally read-only (ROM), that is capable
of permanently storing information.
Turning the computer’s power off does
not alter data stored in nonvolatile
memory.
numeric keypad overlay: A feature
that allows you to use certain keys on
the keyboard to perform numeric entry,
or to control cursor and page move-
ment.
O
OCR: Optical Character Recognition
(reader). A technique or device that
uses laser or visible light to identify
characters and input them into a stor-
age device.
OCR wand: A device that reads, using
an optical device, hand written or
machine printed symbols into a com-
puter. See also OCR.
on-line state: A functional state of a
peripheral device when it is ready to
receive or transmit data.
operating system: A group of pro-
grams that controls the basic operation
of a computer. Operating system func-
tions include interpreting programs,
creating data files, and controlling the
transmission and receipt (input/output)
of data to and from memory and
peripheral devices.
output: The results of a computer
operation. Output commonly indicates
data 1) printed on paper, 2) displayed
at a terminal, 3) sent through the serial
port of internal modem, or 4) stored on
some magnetic media.
P
parallel: Refers to two or more pro-
cesses or events that can occur simul-
taneously, and without interfering with
each other. See also serial.
parallel interface: Refers to a type of
information exchange that transmits
information one byte (8 bits) at a time.
See also serial interface.