|
| Access
provider: |
A company which
connects customers to the Internet. The user normally
connects to the Access providers' computer via a modem
using a dial up connection. |
|
| ACPI
(Advanced Configuration and Power Interface): |
A specification
that enables efficient handling of power comsumption by
desktop and laptop computers. With ACPI, the operating
system can turn off unused peripheral devices such as
CD-ROMs or displays. Users control the time a certain
device will power up or down, and the level of power
consumption targeted by the device when the battery
reaches a certain level of discharge. ACPI also has a
deep-sleep mode that allows an image file to reload
without rebooting the system and launching applications
when the computer is powered. |
|
| Active
Matrix: |
A display panel
that uses one to four transistors that controls each
screen pixel. The active matrix displays are faster,
brighter, and have more of a contrast than the passive
matrix displays. It does however use more battery power
and is often more expensive. The actual technology used
in active matrix displays is called TFT. |
|
| AMPS
(Advanced Mobile Phone Service): |
The original
USA wireless cellular technology developed by Bell
Laboratories, AMPS is based on the theory that higher
capacity may be achieved by creating smaller cells thus
allowing frequency re-use and reduced transmit power.
AMPS operates at 800MHz on two separate channels (one
for transmit and one for receive.) Because it is an
analog technology, like FM radio, it is prone to signal
fading and not well suited for wireless data. |
|
| APM
(Advanced Power Management): |
APM software
component extends the runtime of a battery powered
device by instructing it to power down peripherals and
components when not in use. |
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|
| Bandwidth: |
The maximum
speed at which data can be transmitted between computers
in a network. |
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|
| Battery
Pack: |
A rechargeable
battery used in portable devices such as laptop
computers. The most common substances used in computer
battery packs are nickel cadmium (Nicad), nickel metal
hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Ion (LiIon.) |
|
| Bay: |
Found in a
portable computer, the bay is the opening at the front
of the PC case designed to hold a data storage device
such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM. If you want to reduce
the weight of the computer, you have the option of
leaving the bay empty. Some portables don't have any
bays, and some may have two. |
|
| Bit: |
Short for
Binary Digit, bit is the smallest amount of information
on a machine. A single bit can hold only 1 of 2 values:
0 or 1. More meaningful information is obtained by
combining consecutive bits into larger units. For
example, 8 consecutive bits equal a byte. |
|
| Bitmap: |
Where data is
represented in the form of individual bits which make up
a file. A simple bitmap image is made up of tiny little
parts called pixels. Bitmap files are most commonly used
as graphics or pictures. |
|
| Bus: |
Data is
transmitted to and from the different components of a PC
via a bus. All busses consist of two parts--an address
bus which transfers only information about there the
information should go, and the data bus which transfers
actual data. The size of the bus, known as its width, is
important because it determines how much data can be
transmitted at one time. |
|
| Bus
Mouse: |
A mouse that is
attached to the Bus not via a serial port but through a
special card attached to the motherboard. |
|
| Byte: |
Abbreviation
for a binary term, a unit of storage capable of holding
a single character. On almost all modern computers, a
byte is equal to 8 bits. |
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|
| Cache: |
A small but
very fast memory used to store frequently used data or
instructions. It tries to "guess" what data is
needed next by the processor. The cache can be Level 1
(Primary) which is part of the processor itself and
Level 2 (Secondary) which is mounted on the motherboard
and is slower than Level 1. |
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|
| CardBus: |
The portion of
the PC-Card standard that addresses 32-bit input/output
and has a 100MB second data transfer rate. Cardbus also
supports bus mastering which allows a PC card to
communicate directly with other devices on the bus,
rather than just through the PC. |
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|
| CDMA
(Code-Division Multiple Access): |
Wideband
spectrum technology that spreads multiple telephone
conversations across a wide segment of the broadcast
spectrum.The technology uses unique codes by tagging
call information. It has 10 times the capacity of AMPS
and three times the capacity of TDMA. CDMA supports
caller ID, SMS, and paging. |
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|
| CDPD
(Cellular Digital Packet Data): |
A data
transmission technology that provides wireless IP
digital connectivity from any computing device including
desktop, laptop and handheld computers--without the use
of a cell phone. CDPD uses unused cellular channels to
transmit data in packets at rates up to 19.2 Kbps. |
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|
| CD-ROM
(Compact Disc-Read only memory): |
CD-ROM is a
disk but not a floppy disk. A CD-ROM drive is an
essential part of any laptop since most software is
distributed on CD-ROMs. |
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|
| Clock
Speed: |
The speed at
which a microprocessor synchronizes and regulates its
workflow, measure in megahertz. The higher the clock
speed, the faster the processor can process data. Other
factors such as RAM, hard disk speed, hardware and bus
widths have an effect on its performance. |
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|
| Daisy
Chain: |
When a number
of PCs and/or peripherals are connected to each other in
a series. When devices are daisy-chained to a PC, the
first device is connected to the PC, the second device
is connected to the first, etc. |
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|
| D-AMPS
(Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service): |
A new digital
version of AMPS which provides an increased capacity and
greater range of cellular services. Operates on 800MHz
cellular networks using the TDMA transmission method. |
|
| Data
Packet: |
A piece of a
message transmitted over a packet-switching network.
Each packet contains the destination address in addition
to the data. Packets are often called datagrams. |
|
| Data
Transfer Rate: |
The speed at
which data is transferred from one device to another.
Data transfer rates are typically expressed in megabits
(a million bits) or megabytes (a million bytes) per
second. |
|
| Databit: |
Refers to the
bits of information in the transmission of e-mails which
contain the content of the message. |
|
| Desktop
Replacement: |
A full featured
laptop that is powerful and has a fast microprocessor, a
large display, full-sized keyboard, and a large hard
drive. Desktop replacements are typically heavier and
larger than the average portable. |
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|
| Dial
Up Connection: |
A temporary
connection between two computers via a telephone line
normally using a modem. This is the most common method
to access the Internet. |
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|
| Digital
Camera: |
A camera that
produces photographs that can be saved as files on your
PC. These cameras do not require processed film. |
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|
| Direct
Cable Connection: |
Used to connect
two devices via the I/O port. The connection is via a
single cable. |
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|
| DMA
(Direct Memory Access): |
A technology
that provides future compatibility with existing
peripherals, such as sound cards. New CardBus
peripherals can support DMA. |
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|
| Docked: |
Portable
computers are "docked" when connected to a
device that adds an ISA or PCI expansion bus (a physical
pathway between devices) to the system. |
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|
| Docking
Station: |
A hardware
device that when inserted into your laptop allows you to
connect desktop peripherals including a printer,
keyboard, mouse and monitor. This gives the user full
functionality and features of desktop PC while still
functioning as a portable device when not connected.
Because there is no single standard for docking
stations, users must buy one specifically designed for
the portable PC they are using. |
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|
| Dongle: |
The dongle
controls access to a particular application and connects
to the parallel port of a PC or the ADB port on a
MacIntosh. |
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|
| DSTN
(Dual-scan Super Twisted Nematic): |
A
laptop-display technology that uses two display layers
to overcome color shifting that occurs with supertwist
displays. It's a less expensive alternative to thin film
transistor and active matrix displays and has a faster
video scan rate than the lower-cost STN design. The
screen pointer is less apt to temporarily disappear when
moved rapidly, plus the screen will scroll more
smoothly. Although the displays are brighter, the
screens tend to look blurry when viewed at an angle. |
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|
| Dual
Band GSM Phones: |
Dual Band
wireless phones are capable of operating on GSM 900 and
1900 networks simultaneously. If your local U.S. service
is GSM 1900, a dual-band phone would allow roaming
almost anywhere in the world. Dual band phones are also
available for operation on European GSM 900 and 1800
networks. |
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|
| Dual
Scan Display: |
A LCD display
used in laptop computers. The screen is refreshed much
quicker than in standard displays and use less power. |
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|
| DVD
(Digital Versatile Disk): |
DVDs can hold
over 4 gigabytes of information, or 18 times more memory
than CD-ROMs. In addition, DVDs can store two layers of
information on both sides. Today's computers are being
built with DVD-ROM drives rather than CD-ROM drives. |
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|
| DVDROM: |
A digital video
disk that can only be read. |
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|
| E-AMPS
(Extended Advanced Mobile Phone Service): |
Current analog
standard that replaced AMPS as the U.S. standard. |
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|
| EPOC: |
An open
operating system developed by Psion Software for mobile,
ROM-based computing devices offering wireless access to
phone and information services. EPOC16, a 16-bit version
of the OS, has been available for several years and is
embedded in many handheld devices. The newer EPOC32
32-bit version supports pre-emptive multitasking and a
pen-based graphical user interface. |
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|
| Expansion
Card: |
A printed
circuit card such as a video card that plugs into an
expansion slot and adds functionality ot the PC. |
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|
| Expansion
Slot: |
Compartments in
a PC into which you can plug expansion cards such as
video or sound cards and connect them to the system bus.
Most PC's have from 3 to 8 expansion slots. |
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|
| Extranet: |
Similar to an
Intranet with the added feature to access information
externally by business partners. |
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|
| Fax
Modem: |
A modem that
sends and receives information which is coded in a
special fax format. Information is converted from/to a
graphic image for a standard fax application program. |
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|
| FDD
(Floppy Disk Drive): |
The least
expensive and most widely available storage solution,
FDD has a 1.44 MB maximum capacity. |
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|
| FDMA
(Frequency Division Multiple Access): |
Voice calls are
assigned individual radio frequency channels. Only one
subscriber at a time is assigned to a channel. |
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|
| FIR
(Fast Infrared): |
This infrared
standard from IrDA supports synchronous, wireless
communications at 4Mbps at a distance of up to 1 meter. |
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|
| Flash
Memory: |
This special
type of electronically erasable programmable read-only
memory can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks rather
than one byte at a time. Many computers store their BIOS
on a flash memory chip, called a flash BIOS, for easy
updating. Flash memory is also used in modems to let
modem manufacturers quickly and easily support new
protocols. |
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|
| Flat-panel
display: |
A very thin
display screen used in portable computers. These screens
usually use LCD (liquid crystal display) technologies,
which are backlit to make them more readable even in
bright light. |
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|
| FLEX: |
A popular
one-way paging technology with fully synchronous,
multispeed signaling code optimized for data throughput,
efficiency and flexibility. It is alphanumeric and can
co-exist with POCSAG-based (an alternate) paging
systems. |
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|
| GB
(Gigabyte): |
The most common
way to express the capacity of large volume storage
devices such as hard drives, tape and disk back up
systems. A Gigabyte is equal to 1,024 megabytes. |
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|
| GPS
(Global Positioning System): |
A combination
of 24 well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth
allowing people to pinpoint their geographic locations
based on longitude, latitude and altitude. The system
provides accuracy ranging from 10 to 100 meters. |
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|
| GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications): |
GSM uses narrow
band TDMA, which allows eight simultaneous calls on the
same frequency typically on either the 900MHz or 1800
MHz frequency band. GSM uses a time slot to divide the
signal spectrum among users. It also supports data
communications. |
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|
| Handheld
computer: |
A portable
computer that fits comfortably in one hand allowing the
other hand to operate the device. |
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|
| Handwriting
recognition: |
A technique
used by computer systems to recognize characters and
other symbols written by hand. It is also a category of
software applications that reads words or letters by a
user and attempts to correctly enter the writing as if
it were typed on a keyboard. |
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|
| HDD
(Hard Disk Drive): |
Serves as the
computer's long term memory and as its file cabinet. |
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|
| Hot
Plugging: |
The ability to
add or remove devices on a computer while it's running.
The operating system automatically recognizes the
change. Hot plugging and hot swapping are
interchangeable terms. |
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|
| Hot
Wire: |
The ability to
connect power to peripherals. Technologies capable of
this include PCMCIA, USB and IEEE 1394. |
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|
| HPA
(High Performance Addressing): |
A
passive-matrix LCD display technology that is faster and
higher contrast than regular LCD displays. HPA monitors
are cheaper to make, and popular with laptop makers
looking to build low-cost, high-quality products. |
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|
| iDEN
(Integrated digital enhanced network): |
A proprietary
digital technology developed by Motorola and used
exclusively by Nextel networks. iDEN combines the
features of a cellular wireless telephone network with
the two-way radio capability and message paging
functions of a CB radio or walkie-talkie. |
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|
| IEEE
1394: |
A newer and
faster external bus standard that supports data transfer
rates of up 400 Mbps. A single 1394 port can be used to
connect up to 63 external devices. 1392 supports Plug
and Play, hot plugging and provides power to peripheral
devices. 1394 supports faster data transfer rates and is
more expensive. Products supporting the 1394 standard go
under different names depending on the manufacturer.
1394 is primarily used for devices that require large
throughputs such as video cameras. |
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|
| InFLEXion: |
A voice pager
technology used in the transmission and storage of voice
messages. It uses the ReFLEX protocol providing privacy
and guaranteed message delivery with message receipt
acknowledgement. |
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|
| InFLEXion: |
A voice pager
technology used in the transmission and storage of voice
messages. It uses the ReFLEX protocol providing privacy
and guaranteed message delivery with message receipt
acknowledgement. |
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|
| IO
BUS: |
The
input/output bus used to transmit data from the cache
and the RAM to the PC disks. |
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|
| IrDA
(Infrared Data Association): |
A
hardware/software standard which allows your computer to
communicate with other devices via an infrared light.
This transfers data without cables but the devices must
be within several feet of each other and with a clear
line of sight between them to work. |
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|
| Kilobit
(Kbps): |
Unit used to
measure how fast data is transferred between devices on
a network. One kilobit is equal to 1,024 bits. |
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|
| Kilobit
(Kbps): |
Unit used to
measure how fast data is transferred between devices on
a network. One kilobit is equal to 1,024 bits. |
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|
| Kilobyte: |
A kilobyte is a
unit of measure for data storage. One kilobyte is equal
to 1,024 bytes or 8,192 bits. |
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|
| L2
Cache (Level 2 cache): |
A type of
cache, normally external in nature. But some
manufacturers are building internal caches to speed up
computer processing. L2 cache speeds up processing an
average of 25% over an external L2 cache |
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|
| Laptop
Computer: |
A portable
computer small enough to sit on your lap, but larger
than a handheld computer. The term laptop is used
interchangeably with notebook. |
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|
| LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display): |
The technology
used in portable computer video screens that blocks
light rather than emitting it thereby using less power.
These displays use either a passive matrix or an active
matrix display grid, and are typically thinner. |
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|
| LiIon
(Lithium Ion): |
The Lithium Ion
battery is lightweight and does not suffer from memory
effect. It also delivers a higher run time average and
about 80% more power per ounce. Similar to NiMH
technology, LiIon batteries have a life expectancy of
500 charge and discharge cycles. LiIon batteries are
typically used in mid- to high-priced portables. |
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|
| Local
Bus: |
Introduced to
circumvent the delay due to the vast differences in
speeds between the CPU/Memory Bus and the IO Bus. |
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|
| MB
(Megabyte): |
A unit of
measure for data storage. One Megabyte is equal to 1,024
kilobytes, 1,048,576 bytes, or 8.4 million bits. |
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|
| Megabit: |
Refers to one
million bits. Networks are often measured in megabits
per second (Mbps.) |
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|
| Megabyte
(MB): |
When used to
describe data storage, a megabyte is equal to 1,048,576
bytes. |
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|
| Memory: |
Chips that hold
information that the PC needs to use. These chips are
connected directly to the microprocessor. |
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|
| MHz
(Megahertz): |
1 MHz
represents 1 million cycles per second. The speed of
microprocessors, called clock speed, is measured in
megahertz. |
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|
| Microprocessor: |
A computer's
main processing chip, also called the CPU. |
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|
| Modem: |
A modem
converts information from analog to digital and vice
versa. Digital information is represented in a series of
1's and 0's. Analog information varies continuously such
as a sound wave. When you send an e-mail for example,
your modem converts the digital e-mail message to
analog. |
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|
| Monitor
Port: |
A port which
connects an external monitor to a laptop computer. This
port can also be used to connect a portable projector
for presentations. |
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|
| MPEG
(Motion Pictures Experts Group): |
One of the most
widely used video compression standards for PCs, it
allows your computer to display video at 352 x 240
pixels with a rate of up to 30 frames per second. |
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|
| Multifunction
cards: |
A PC card that
incorporates multiple peripherals such as a network
adapter and modem. |
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|
| NAM
(Number Assignment Module): |
A memory device
built into a cellular phone that stores the phone number
and some limited user information. Phones with mulitple
NAMs give the option of registering with more than one
cellular service provider within one or more locations
or markets. |
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|
| N-AMPS
(Narrowband AMPS): |
A system
overlay technology that allows enhanced digital-like
features such as Digital Messaging Service to phones in
analog networks. N-AMPS increases the bandwidth
efficiency and capacity three-fold by using 10KHz
channel spacing instead of the 30KHz used by AMPS. There
are a total of 2,496 voice channels in N-AMPS networks. |
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|
| NiCad
(Nickel Cadmium): |
The Nickel
Cadmium battery is quick to charge, last for
approximately 700 charge and discharge cycles, and work
well in extreme temperatures. However, they suffer from
memory effect if not completely discharged each cycle. |
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|
| NiMH
(Nickel Metal Hydride): |
The Nickel
Metal Hydride battery runs almost 75% longer on each
charge than NiCad batteries but only last for about 500
charge cycles. NiMH batteries, however, are resistant to
memory effect. Made from non-toxi materials, NiMH
batteries are also environmentally safe. |
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|
| NMT
(Analog): |
NMT is a
wireless analog service used in Asia and Russia. |
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|
| Notebook
Computer: |
A portable PC
that is about the same size as a sheet of A4 paper,
about 5cm thick, and usually weighs less than six
pounds. Notebook computers use flat-panel screen
technology to achieve the smaller footprints and battery
technology for portability. They offer similar power and
features as a desktop PC, including the same CPUs and
memory or disk drive capacity, but often cost more. |
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|
| PACS
(Personal Access Communications Systems): |
Limited cell
size networks for urban and suburban applications such
as pedestrian venues, commuting routes and indoor campus
use, where user density is high. |
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|
| PalmOS: |
The computer
operating system used with the PalmPilot and Palm series
of handheld digital personal assistants, as well as
other organizers including Handspring and IBM. The
system comes with a number of built-in applications
including dates, address book, to-do list, memo pad and
calculator. In addition, PalmOS interfaces with infrared
devices and TCP/IP. Other operating systems for handheld
devices include Windows CE and EPOC. |
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|
| Palmtop
or palmsize computer: |
A small,
general purpose, programmable, battery-powered computer
capable of handling numbers and text. Also known as a
handheld computer. |
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|
| Parallel: |
Refers to
processes that occur simultaneously. Parallel means that
a device is capable of receiving more than 1 bit at a
time, and several bits in parallel. It is also capable
of sending data in 2 directions simultaneously. Most
modern printers are parallel. |
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|
| Parallel
Port: |
A parallel
interface that connects an external device such as a
printer. On PCs, the parallel port uses a 25-pin
connector and is used to connect printers, other
computers and other devices that require higher
bandwidth. |
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|
| Passive
Matrix: |
A flat-panel
display which uses LCD's aligned on a thin wire grid.
Passive matrix is not as bright as an active matrix
display but is lower in cost and has less battery drain. |
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|
| PC: |
A computer
designed to be used by one person at a time. |
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|
| PC
Card: |
PC cards were
developed to add memory to portable computers and are
the size of a credit card. The card also defines the
physical attributes of portable computer
peripherals.Also known as PCMCIA. |
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|
| PCMCIA: |
A group of more
than 500 companies that sets international standards to
promote interchangeable peripherals among manufacturers.
Also referred to as a PC Card which can be used for
adding modems, miniature disk drives, network adapters,
and other functions to your portable computer. |
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|
| PCS
(Personal Communication Services): |
Sometimes
called digital cellular, PCS uses the 1900 MHz band
rather than the 800MHz used for cellular, and uses
digital technology for transmission and reception. This
higher radio frequency results in less signal breakup,
static and dropped calls.PCS is available for TDMA, CDMA,
GSM/NA1900 and PACs technologies. |
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|
| PDA
(personal digital assistant): |
A pocket-sized
portable computer used for storing names, phone numbers,
addresses, tasks and appointments. Data can be entered
manually using a pen-like stylus, or by downloading data
from the primary computer. They are lightweight,
reliable and easy to use. |
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|
| PDC
(Personal Digital Cellular): |
One of the
world's three main digital wireless standards, ranking
alongside GSM and D-AMPS. All 35 million users are in
Japan. |
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|
| Pen
computer: |
A computer,
usually too small to accommodate a keyboard, that uses
handwriting-recognition technology. Users input data by
writing with an electronic pen (called a stylus) on a
screen or tablet. |
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|
| Peripheral: |
A device which
can be attached to a PC and is controlled by its
processor. Examples include a printer, modem, or
joystick. |
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|
| Peripheral
device: |
Any external
device attached to a computer such as printers, disk
drives, display monitors and keyboards. |
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|
| PIM
(personal information manager): |
A software
application or hardware device that helps users organize
their information such as reminders, lists and dates.
Many PIMs also include calendar, scheduling and
calculator functions. |
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|
| Plug
and Play: |
The concept of
adding new components to a PC such as an external modem
without having to manually configure anything. The
operating system automatically configures it for you. |
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|
| POCSAG
(Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group): |
A one-way
paging protocol that supports numeric and text paging at
data rates of 512, 1,200,and 2,400 bits per second. Most
traffic occurs at 1,200 bits per second. |
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|
| Pointing
stick: |
Alternative to
an external mouse and similar to a miniature joystick.
You can use the tip of your finger to move the rough
textured eraser sized pointer in the direction you want
the cursor or arrow to go. |
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|
| Port: |
Part of the PC
that is used for passing data in and out of a computing
device. Normally located in the back of a PC, the port
can be serial or parallel. |
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|
| Port
Replicator: |
Replicates a
portable computer's input/output (I/O) ports including
parallel, serial, comunications, video, mouse and
keyboard, for easy attachment to external non-portable
peripherals such as a printer, monitor or keyboard. The
connecting cables attach to the replicator rather than
the laptop. |
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|
| Portable
computer: |
A computer
small enough to carry. Term is interchangeable with
laptop, notebook, subnotebooks, handhelds, palmtops and
PDAs. |
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|
| Power
management: |
Methods used to
efficiently direct power to different components of a
system. This is particulary important in portable
devices which rely on battery power. The life of a
battery between charges are extended significantly by
powering down components not in use. |
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|
| PPTP
(Point-to-point Tunneling Protocol): |
A technology
for creating Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which use
the public Internet for private connections between
certain nodes of a network. PPTP is used to ensure the
secure transmission of messages from one VPN node to
another. |
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|
| RAM
(Random Access memory): |
Random Access
Memory is a temporary storage area that the processor
uses to execute programs and hold data.Once the RAM
becomes full, informatio has to be removed to make space
for the current task being performed. A PC with limited
RAM will take longer to perform the simplest task
because the information in RAM is being constantly
replaced. RAM requires a constant electric supply to
keep information intact. There are two types of RAM:
Dynamic RAM and Static RAM. Static RAM is faster but
places a heavier drain on power. |
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| ReFLEX: |
A two-way
alphanumeric paging protocol with broadcast speeds of up
to 25.6Kbps for pager receive and 9.6Kbps for pager
response channels. The ReFLEX system allows standard
paging features and also provides short message
communication capability between pagers and various
other e-mail enabled PCs and terminals. |
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| Resume: |
A power
management feature that restores a portable computer
from a power-suspended state to full operation. |
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| RISC
(Reduced Instruction Set Computing): |
Ideal for
handheld computers, RISC microprocessing design
processes a small number of simple instructions very
quickly. Pipelining allows RISC chips to process more
than one instruction at a time. A RISC processor's
memory is stored on the chip itself (Level 1 cache.) L1
cache doesn't conserve memory well and slows down the
processor as a result. |
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| ROM: |
Read Only Media
chips cannot be written to and contain information which
never chanes. When the PC is turned on the information
in the ROM chip is used to test the RAM. ROM does not
require a constant electric supply to keep the
information intact. |
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| Serial: |
Serial data
transfer refers to transmitting one bit at a time. |
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| Serial
Port: |
A port, or
interface, used for serial communication. Only 1 bit is
transferred at at time. It can be used for almost any
time of device including modems, mice and printers. |
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| Sleep
mode: |
A powered-down
mode used by portable computers and peripherals such as
displays and disk drives to conserve battery life. |
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| Smart
battery: |
A type of
battery that uses electronic circuitry to provide its
host device with status power information so the system
can conserve power intelligently. |
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| STN
(Super Twisted Nematic): |
The least
expensive and most basic form of passive-matrix LCD
display. |
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| Stylus: |
The writing
instrument for a handheld computer that accepts
handwritten text or lines as input. The term comes from
the Latin word stilus, or "stake." |
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| Subnotebook
computer: |
A portable
computer that is slightly lighter and smaller than a
regular laptop computer. These devices typically have
smaller keyboards and screens but provide similar
functionality. |
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| Suspend: |
A power
management feature that turns off a portable computer
but saves its current working state. |
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| SVGA
(Super Video Graphics Array): |
The current
standard for color depth and video graphics screen
resolution. |
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| TACS
(Total Access Communications Systems): |
The original
analog network system launched in 1985 by Vodafone. Used
in the U.K., China, Asia, Japan, and Italy, TACS is also
called ETACS, ITACS, IETACS, NTACS, and JTACS. It
operates using the FDMA transmission method. |
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| TDMA
(Time Division Multiple Access): |
Voice
transmission technology that allows multiple users (8 or
more) to share a channel by taking turns transmitting
short bursts of voice. It divides radio frequencies into
time slots, then allocates slots to multiple calls to
support simultaneous data channels. TDMA is used by the
GSM digital cellular system and supports advanced
calling systems and paging. |
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| TFT
(Thin Film Transfer): |
The most common
type of active matrix laptop display. |
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| Touchpad: |
A touch
sensitive pad on a laptop that causes a corresponding
movement of your cursor or arrow. Often an alternative
to an external mouse. |
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| Ultraportable: |
A portable
computer that has a full sized keyboard and screen.
Lighter and thinner than most laptops. |
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| URL
(Uniform Resource Locator): |
Another way of
referring the an Internet address of a file. |
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| USB
(Universal Serial Bus): |
Used for
connecting peripherals to a PC (up to 127) off of a
single port with the devices in a daisy chain. USB
supports plug and play installation and hot plugging as
well as data transfers rates of 12Mbps. USB is expected
to replace serial and parallel ports. |
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| Voice
recognition: |
Special
software that recognizes spoken words which allows users
to dictate text or control the system. Some systems
require users to say each word slowly and distinctly
(called discrete speech) while more sophisticated
systems allow users to speak naturally (called
continuous speech.) |
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| VRAM
(Video Random Access Memory): |
This is a form
of high speed dynamic RAM for use with video cards. |
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|
| WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol): |
An open and
global specification for wireless data communications.
WAP allows users to access information instantly and
securely using a handheld wireless device such as a
mobile phone, pager, smart phone or communicator over
the Internet. WAP supports most wireless network
technologies and is supported by portable computing
operating systems. |
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| Windows
CE: |
A version of
the Windows operating system designed by Microsoft for
portable devices. |
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| XGA
(Extended Graphics Array): |
A more advanced
version of SVGA, XGA has a higher color depth and
resolution. |
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| XHTML
(Extensible Hypertext Markup Language): |
A hybrid
between HTML and XML specifically designed for Net
device displays. |
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| Xmodem: |
A file transfer
protocol for modems, which sends data from an Internet
host to a PC. The data is sent without acknowledgement
from the computer receiving the data. |
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| Ymodem: |
A file transfer
protocol for modems, which sends data from an Internet
host to a PC. The data is sent without acknowledgement
from the computer receiving the data. Supersedes Xmodem. |
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| Zmodem: |
A file transfer
protocol for modems, which sends data from an Internet
host to a PC. The data is sent without acknowledgement
from the computer receiving the data. Supersedes Ymodem. |
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| Zoomed
video: |
A PC card
standard that lets a computer run its operating system
or application software directly from a PC card. |
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| Zoomed
video port: |
Allows
specially designed PC cards to send signals directly to
the computer's video adapter bypassing the system
processor and data bus.This allows full screen video to
run at full speed freeing up the processor for other
tasks. |
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|
| <Fn>
key: |
Special
function key found on portable computers that changes
the functions of the F-keys. Pressing the FN key in
combination with a function key can control functions
like sound volume, mode, and screen brightness. |
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|