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User’s Manual Glossary-9
Glossary
I/O: Input/output. Refers to acceptance and transfer of data to and from a
computer.
I/O devices: Equipment used to communicate with the computer and
transfer data to and from it.
IrDA 1.1: An industry standard that enables cableless infrared serial data
transfer at speeds of up to 4 Mbps.
K
K: Taken from the Greek word kilo, meaning 1000; often used as equivalent
to 1024, or 2 raised to the 10th power. See also byte and kilobyte.
keyboard: An input device containing switches that are activated by
manually pressing marked keys. Each keystroke activates a switch
that transmits a specific code to the computer. For each key, the
transmitted code is, in turn, representative of the (ASCII) character
marked on the key.
kilobyte (KB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 bytes. See also byte
and megabyte.
L
L1 cache: Level one cache. Memory cache built into the processor to help
improve processing speed. See also cache memory, L2 cache.
L2 cache: Memory cache installed on the motherboard to help improve
processing speed. It is slower than L1 cache and faster than main
memory. See also cache memory, L1 cache.
LAN: A group of computers or other devices dispersed over a relatively
limited area and connected by a communications link that enables
any device to interact with any other on the network.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor device that emits light when
a current is applied.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD): Liquid crystal sealed between two sheets of
glass coated with transparent conducting material. The viewing-side
coating is etched into character-forming segments with leads that
extend to the edge of the glass. Applying a voltage between the
glass sheets alters the brightness of the liquid crystal.
M
main board: See motherboard.
megabyte (MB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 kilobytes. See also
kilobyte.
megahertz: A unit of wave frequency that equals 1 million cycles per
second. See also hertz.