Glossary of jargon

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 26

Glossary of jargon

Hand shaking.— When two devices are transferring data, the receiver indicates that it is ready for data, and the transmitter that it has data ready, by sending appropriate signals to each other. This process is called hand shaking.

Hard copy.— Information printed on paper, rather than displayed on a screen. Hard disk.— A disk in which the recording surface is one of more rigid (not floppy) < platters coated with magnetic material. Hardware.— Any part of a computer system which exists physically, and can be touched (see software). Head.— The part of a disk drive which actually reads and writes data — like the recording and playback heads in a tape recorder.

High level language.— A programming language which is akin to a type of formal English, with an addition of mathematical notation. Cannot be executed directly by a computer, but is translated (see compiler, interpreter). Home.— Usually the top left corner of the screen; sometimes the beginning of a line. Hung.— A computer is hung when it appears to be doing nothing, but doesn’t respond to commands. Usually it is doing something, but something undesirable.

I/O.— Input-output. IC.— See integrated circuit. Increment.— To increase. Initialise.— To make ready for use. Input.— Either data fed into a computer, or to feed a computer. Integrated (software).— Software which handles more than one application, intended to be in such a way that data can easily be exchanged between the applications. Integrated circuit.— An electronic circuit made as a single piece, rather than being made up of separate components joined together. Interactive.— Responding immediately (or more or less immediately) to a user’s requests. Interface.— The electronics which enables two other pieces of electronics to communicate. Now used loosely to describe the way in which a computer program communicates with its user.

Interpreter.— A program which translates between a high-level language machine instructions a little at a time, then executes these few machine instructions before translating the next high-level instructions. Interrupt.— A signal sent to a computer to indicate that something must be handled “right now.” This may indicate for example that data is available to be read. Iterate.— Jargon for repeat.— JOßDAN DE LEETE