APPENDIX I
GLOSSARY
A
ABORT— Procedure for terminating a program when a
mistake, malfunction, or error occurs.
Ada— A high-level programming language designed
by the Department of Defense.
ADDRESSING— Locating a required piece of data by
specific techniques.
ARITHMETIC-LOGIC UNIT— The part of the cpu
that contains the logic capability and performs all
the arithmetic functions (addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division).
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE— The capability of
a machine to perform human-like intelligence
functions, such as learning, adapting, reasoning,
and self-correction.
ASSEMBLER— A computer program that translates
assembly language programs into machine
language (object) programs.
B
BASIC (Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code)— A high-level, general-
purpose programming language used primarily on
microcomputers.
BIT MAPPING— A data structure that describes a bit
image being held in computer storage.
BUBBLE MEMORY— Method by which information
is stored as magnetized dots (bubbles) that rest on a
thin film of semiconductor material.
C
— An object-oriented version of the C
programming language.
CACHE MEMORY— A faster memory in which parts
of the information in the main (slower) memory or
disk are copied.
CARRIER PACKAGE— The portion of the
microprocessor chip that plugs into the
motherboard.
CERTIFIER— The piece of equipment that is used to
certify magnetic tape and check for errors.
C O B O L ( C O m m o n B u s i n e s s O r i e n t ed
Language)— A high-level programming language
designed for business-type applications.
COMPILER— A program that translates a source
program written in a high-level programming
language into machine language.
CONTROL MEMORY— RAM consisting of
addressable storage registers, primarily used in
mini- and mainframe computers.
D
DEGAUSSER— Device used to erase information
from magnetically recorded media, such as a floppy
disk or magnetic tape.
DIAGNOSTIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES—
Indicator lights used to help isolate a hardware
failure.
DIAGNOSTIC ROUTINE— Routine designed to
locate a malfunction in the central processing unit
or a peripheral device.
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM— A computer system
designed to operate as a communications network
with al1 its terminals linked to a remotely located
central processing unit.
DUPLEX— Pertaining to a communications system or
equipment capable of transmission in both
directions.
E
EXTERNAL DIAGNOSTICS— Diagnostics that can
be run from a peripheral device.
F
FILE FRAGMENTATION— Files that are split into
many noncontiguous areas on the disk.
FINITE— To have limits, an end, or a last number.
C++
AI-1
