Toshiba PPM78U05L01E User Manual

User’s Manual

Glossary-9

PORTÉGÉ M780

instruction: Statements or commands that specify how to perform a 

particular task.

interface: 1) Hardware and/or software components of a system used 

specifically to connect one system or device to another. 
2) To physically connect one system or device to another to 
exchange information. 
3) The point of contact between user, the computer, and the 
program, for example, the keyboard or a menu.

interrupt request: A signal that gives a component access to the 

processor.

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.

jumper: A small clip or wire that allows you to change the hardware 

characteristics by electrically connecting two points of a circuit.

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.

KB: See 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.

level 2 cache: See cache memory.

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.