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User’s Manual Glossary-8
Glossary
format: The process of readying a blank disk for its first use. Formatting
establishes the structure of the disk that the operating system
expects before it writes files or programs onto the disk.
function keys: The keys labeled F1 through F9 that tell the computer to
perform certain functions.
G
gigabyte (GB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 megabytes. See also
megabyte.
graphics: Drawings, pictures, or other images, such as charts or graphs, to
present information.
H
hard disk drive (HDD): An electromechanical device that reads and writes
a hard disk. See also hard disk.
hard disk: A storage device composed of a rigid platter or platters that can
be magnetically coded with data. Hard disks hold much more
information than diskettes and are used for long-term storage of
programs and data. The primary (or only) hard disk in a computer is
usually fixed, but some computers have secondary hard disks that
are removable. By default, the hard disk is referred to as drive C.
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.
host computer: The computer that controls, regulates, and transmits
information to a device or another computer.
hot key: The computer’s feature in which certain keys in combination with
the extended function key, FN, can be used to set system
parameters, such as speaker volume.
I
I/O devices: Equipment used to communicate with the computer and
transfer data to and from it.
I/O: Input/output. Refers to acceptance and transfer of data to and from a
computer.
IrDA 1.1: An industry standard that enables cableless infrared serial data
transfer at speeds of up to 4 Mbps.
i.LINK (IEEE1394): This port enables high-speed data transfer directly
from external devices such as digital video cameras.
icon: A small graphic image displayed on the screen or in the indicator
panel. In Windows, an icon represents an object that the user can
manipulate.