,monfio(r)/ [14] a video monitor that can synchronize a range of video devices to a common time-base
multi-tasking /Junin 'ta:slag/ [2] used of computers capable of running more than one program at the same time, although on most only one program has control and is executing at any given moment
multi-user imAlti,ju:za(r)/ [1,10] describing computer systems which allow access by more than one user simultaneously
NCR /,en si: 'a:/ [2] National Cash Register, now a computer company
network inetw3±/ [1,6] a system which connects up a number of computers and communications devices to enable messages and data to be passed between those devices
network-compatible /,netw3:k kom'pwtobl/ [5] describing software that can be run on a network with shared files rather than as a stand alone piece of PC software
network traffic /'netw3:k,trwfik/ [6] the data transmitted around a network node /noud/ either a point in a network where communications lines are
interconnected, or where a workstation or a mainframe computer is attached notation /nou'tegn/ a system of symbols notebook /'noutbuk/ [2] see portable computer
numeric /,nju:'mertk/ adj [1] describing data which only contains numbers
object module rad3ekt,mudjuol/ [4] see object program
object-oriented /,obd3ekt '3:rientid/ [4] describing a computer architecture in which all processes, files, I/O operations, etc., are represented as objects (i.e. data structures in memory that may be manipulated by hardware and software). The IBM System 38 is an example of an object-oriented architecture system.
object program /' obd3ekt,prougrwm/
[4] the result of converting source code
into machine code using a compiler OCR /,au si: 'a:/ [8] optical character
recognition: a process in which a machine scans, recognizes, and encodes
information printed or typed in alphanumeric characters
octal /' uktol/ [B] arithmetic to the base 8 off-line /,uflam/ describing any part of a computer system which operates independently of the central processing unit
online, on-line /,Dn'lain/ [3] used of computer services that are accessed from a terminal interactively
online service Lonlatn 'S3: ViS/ [3]
a public database or bulletin board which can be accessed over a computer or telephone network
operating environment /' uporeMD in,vatoronmant/ [5] the hardware and operating system being used
operating system ropore►tio,sistom/ [1,2] the set of programs that jointly control the system resources and the processes using those resources on a computer
operator / oporetto(r)/ 1 [C] someone responsible for running a computer (usually a mainframe) 2 [4] see relational operator
optical character reader roptikol 'kEerokto(r),ri:do(r)/ [K] a device which scans, recognizes, and encodes
information printed or typed in alphanumeric characters
OS /,ou 'es/ [2] operating system
OS/2 /,au es 'tu:/ [4] an operating system for IBM PCs
outliner fautlaino(r)/ [5] a writing aid to enable the structure of a document to be worked out in advance and used as a guide when writing the detailed document
output /output/ J-1 [1] the result of performing arithmetic and logical operations on data. It can be displayed on screen or transmitted by the computer.
output /,aut'put/ v transmit processed data to a physical medium such as a printer or disk drive
output device /' autput di,vais/ [1] a device which transmits or displays
processed data, e.g. a printer, disk drive, or VDU screen
output port /' autput,po:t/ [1] the socket into which an output device may be plugged
package frowlod3/ [4] see software package
paint software ipeint,suftweo(r)/ [5] software that allows the user to create graphics images using techniques that emulate painting and drawing
PAL /px1/ [1 4] the European standard for television and video systems requiring a vertical refresh rate of 50kHz
palmtop /pa:mtnp/ [8] see portable computer
parallel fpwrolel/ 1 [1] describing the transfer of data across the interface by having one connection per bit of a data word, e.g. for 8 bits there would be 8 connections in parallel. The control signals are also carried on individual connections in parallel. See serial and bit. 2 [12] describing computers with more than one central processing unit which work in parallel to solve a problem simultaneously parameter /po'rwmffo(r)/ [4] information which is passed to a program subroutine parse /pa:z/ v [6] analyse the syntax of an input string
PASCAL /pws'kw1/ [4] a programming language designed as a tool to assist the teaching of programming as a systematic discipline
password /pa:sw3:d/ [7] a method of security in which the user has to enter a unique character string before gaining access to a computer system
PC /,pi: 'si:/ personal computer
PDP II /,pi: di: pi: 'tu:/ a DEC minicomputer pen-based computer /,pen beast kom'pjuffo(r)/ [2,8] a computer which uses a pointing device like a pen as an input device
performance /po'fo:mons/ [10] the speed of a computer or computer system peripheral /po'nforol/ [1] an input or output device attached to a computer peripheral bus /po'nforal,bAs/ [1]
the communications link to which peripherals are attached
physical record /fizikol 'reko:d/ [10]
the collection of data transferred as a unit
pirate /patorat/ v [7] use software that has
been copied in breach of copyright
pixel ipilcsal/ [2] an individual dot on a computer screen. The computer controls the colour and brightness of each pixel.
PL/I /,pi: el 'wnn/ [4] programming language I. A programming language developed by the US IBM users' group, implementing the best features of COBOL, FORTRAN, and ALGOL.
platform /pIxtfo:m/ [1 4] a generic term for different types of computer system (e.g. PC, Mac, workstation, etc.)
plotter /pluto(r)/ [K] an output device for translating information from a computer into pictorial or graphical form on paper or a similar medium
plug-(and-play) compatibility /,plug and kompueto,bilatt/ [1 4] the ability to
connect one manufacturer's hardware directly to another manufacturer's hardware
port /po:t/ [1] a connection point that allows I/O devices to be connected to the internal bus of a microprocessor
portable /po:tobl/ [4] describing programs which can run on a variety of hardware or under a variety of operating systems
portable (computer) /,po:tobl kom'pjuffo(r)/ 1 [2] the generic term for any microcomputer that is designed to be carried around 2 [2] the largest type of computer designed to be carried around. It must be connected to the mains electricity supply. Other smaller types include laptops, notebooks, clipboards, and palmtops (or personal organizers). These have an internal power source.
primary memory /,praimori 'memori/ [1] see internal memory
printer /iInnta(r)/ [1] an output device which changes output data into printed form
printout /'printaut/ the printed pages which are output from a computer print-to-tape device /,print to 'teip di,vais/ [1 4] a device which allows computer-generated images to be
recorded to video for play-back on a TV monitor
processing fprousesiD/ [1] the
performing of arithmetic or logical operations on information which has been input to a computer
processor /prouseso(r)/ [1] see CPU program /prougrm/ [1] a list of instructions which are used by the computer to perform the user's requirements
programmer /prougrwma(r)/ [4] someone who writers computer programs programming /prougrwm.u3/ [4] the act of writing a computer program programming language /prougr✓m113 J✓i3gwid3/ [4] a notation for the precise description of computer programs proprietary /pra'praiotri/ [8] describing a protocol or standard developed and owned by a particular manufacturer
protocol /proutoknl/ [3] an agreement that covers the procedures used to
exchange information between cooperating entities
PTT /,pi: ti: 'ti:/ [3] Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone Administration, the national government communications organization of many countries
public database /,pAblik 'dettobets/ [1] a database which is accessible over a public network
query /'kwiari/ [6] a request for
information from a database
radiation screen /reidi' elf n,skri:n/ [8]
a screen placed in front of a VDU to protect a user from possibly harmful radiation from the screen
RAM /rwm/ [1] random-access memory: this is memory which can be read and written to. The basic element is a single cell capable of storing one bit of information. Each cell has a unique address in memory and so can be accessed in random order.
raw data /,ro: 'delta/ [2] data which has not been interpreted
real-time program /'real taim,praugrwm/ [2] a program that interacts with the users in such a way that the timing of the interaction is significant. This is usually because the input corresponds to some movement in the physical world and the output has to relate to the same movement.
record /' reko:d/ [10] a collection of data handled together in movements to and from storage. Files held in storage are frequently treated as sequences of records.
refresh rate /raref,rest/ [14] see vertical refresh rate
register /' red3ista(r)/ [1] a group of devices that are used to store information within a computer for high-speed access. Some registers may be used as counters.
relational operator /ri,leilanl 'apareita(r)/ [4] a symbol representing an operation that compares two values and returns a truth value. Operators include `greater than...', 'equal to...', and 'less than...'.
