Toshiba Satellite Pro 4300 User Manual - Page 214

commands: Instructions you enter at the terminal keyboard that direct the actions of the computer or its peripheral devices. communications: The means by which a computer transmits and receives data to and from another computer or device. See parallel interface; serial interface. compatibility: 1) The ability of one computer to accept and process data in the same manner as another computer without modifying the data or the media upon which it is being transferred. 2) the ability of one device to connect to or communicate with another system or component. components: Elements or parts (of a system) which make up the whole (system). computer program: A set of instructions written for a computer that enable it to achieve a desired result. computer system: A combination of hardware, software, firmware, and peripheral components assembled to process data into useful information. configuration: The specific components in your system (such as the terminal, printer, and disk drives) and the settings that define how your system works. You use the Hardware Setup or TSETUP program to control your system configuration. control keys: A key or sequence of keys you enter from the keyboard to initiate a particular function within a program. controller: Built-in hardware and software that controls the functions of a specific internal or peripheral device (e.g. keyboard controller). CPS: Characters Per Second. Typically used to indicate the transmission speed of a printer. CPU: Central Processing Unit. The portion of the computer that interprets and executes instructions. CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. A vacuum tube in which beams projected on a fluorescent screen-producing luminous spots. An example is the television set. cursor: A small, blinking rectangle or line that indicates the current position on the display screen. Glossary 4 User's Manual