Toshiba PPM78U05L01E User Manual

User’s Manual

Glossary-13

PORTÉGÉ M780

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. You 

can boot a computer using a system disk. Also called an operating 
system disk or bootable disk.

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.

Universal Serial Bus: This serial interface lets you communicate with 

several devices connected in a chain to a single port on the 
computer.

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.