Laptop User Manual

User’s Manual Glossary-13
Glossary
soft key: Key combinations that emulate keys on the IBM keyboard,
change some configuration options, stop program execution, and
access the numeric keypad overlay.
software: The set of programs, procedures and related documentation
associated with a computer system. Specifically refers to computer
programs that direct and control the computer system’s activities.
See also hardware.
stop bit: One or more bits of a byte that follow the transmitted character or
group codes in asynchronous serial communications.
subpixel: Three elements, one red, one green and blue (RGB), that make
up a pixel on the color LCD. The computer sets subpixels
independently, each may emit a different degree of brightness. See
also pixel.
synchronous: Having a constant time interval between successive bits,
characters or events.
system disk: A disk that has been formatted with an operating system. For
MS-DOS the operating system is contained in two hidden files and
the COMMAND.COM file. You can boot a computer using a system
disk. Also called an operating system disk.
T
terminal: A typewriter-like keyboard and CRT display screen connected to
the computer for data input/output.
TFT display: A liquid crystal display (LCD) made from an array of liquid
crystal cells using active-matrix technology with thin film transistor
(TFT) to drive each cell.
Touch Pad: A pointing device integrated into the TOSHIBA computer palm
rest.
TTL: Transistor-transistor logic. A logic circuit design that uses switching
transistors for gates and storage.
U
Universal Serial Bus: This serial interface lets you communicate with
several devices connected in a chain to a single port on the
computer.
V
VGA: Video Graphics Array is an industry standard video adaptor that lets
you run any popular software.
volatile memory: Random access memory (RAM) that stores information
as long as power is supplied to the computer.