Manual

Page 50 of 74IIe
Printed: Tuesday, March 4, 2003 10:40:15 AM
code that defines the representation of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks.
assembly language: A programming language that is very close to the language of electrical
impulses that is the Apple IIe's native tongue. Because assembly language programs require
very little translation, they can be very fast, and are therefore ideal for arcade-style
computer games and other applications in which speed is a factor.
AUX. CONNECTOR: A slot inside the Apple IIe for cards that increase the memory or enhance the
video capabilities of the computer.
back panel: The rear panel of the computer case.
backspace: To move the cursor to the left.
baud: A designation for how fast peripheral devices can send and receive information.
BBS: See bulletin board system.
BASIC: Short for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. The most popular computer
language for personal computers. It's built in to your Apple IIe.
binary: A numbering system where every number is expressed as a combination of zeros and ones.
It's a numbering system perfectly suited to computers because the computer's brain is made up
of switches like light switches that can either be on or off. On is often represented as the
number 1. Off is represented as the number 0.
bit: The smallest item of useful information a computer can handle. Usually represented as a
one or a zero. Eight bits equals one byte.
bits per second: (Abbreviated bps.) A designation for how fast peripherals can send and
receive information.
bps: See bits per second.
boot: Another way to say start up your application program.
bug: An error. The expression comes from the early days of computing when a moth flew into a
room-size computer and caused a breakdown.
bug-ridden: Full of bugs.
bulletin board system: Abbreviated BBS. A computerized version of the bulletin boards
frequently found in grocery stores and laudermats places to leave messages, and to advertise
things you want to buy or sell. One thing you get from a computerized bulletin board that you
can't get from a cork board is free software. See public domain software.
business graphics: Programs that let you analyze numerical information in a visual way.
button: The raised area on top of the mouse that you press when you want to select from a menu
or perform other activities in mouse-based programs.
byte: A sequence of eight bits that represent an instruction, a letter, a number, or a
punctuation mark.
C: A programming language used with the popular UNIX operating system.
CAD: See computer-aided design.