Acorn A5000, Welcome Manual

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Glossary
peripheral — An item of hardware (e.g. a printer, monitor or modem) connected to your
computer.
Pinboard — Application that makes use of the blank areas of the desktop. You can drag
icons onto the desktop itself and they will 'stick' there (still in the computer's
memory, just not open on the desktop).
pointer — Arrow displayed on the desktop. It moves when you move the mouse. Use it to
move, change or select items on the desktop.
printer — Peripheral which prints files or documents onto paper.
printer driver — Program that converts files into information that your printer can
understand and print.
printer manager — Application that oversees the printing process.
prompt — Signifies that you need to type in a command or supply information (e.g. the
prompt that appears when you press F12).
quit — To close a file or application when you've finished using it, and remove its window
from the screen.
RAM — Random Access Memory – part of the computer information storage system which is
accessible for storing or retrieving information without using discs. Information in
RAM is lost when the computer is switched off.
resources — The means with which your computer runs programs and applications.
Return key — Key on the keyboard that you press to signify the end of an instruction to the
computer (e.g. when you've finished typing in a file name in a writable menu box) or to
start a new line in an Edit file.
RISC OS — Stands for: Reduced Instruction Set Computer Operating System. See also
operating system.
ROM — Read Only Memory – similar to RAM, but ROM doesn't go away when you switch
the computer off. The operating system and several applications and fonts are
permanently present in ROM.
root directory ($) — The top-level directory in a filing system (all other files, subdirectories
etc are contained in it).
save — Keep a permanent copy of a file in its current state (including any changes made
since the last save).
SCART — Type of connector used to connect some types of monitor or TV to the computer.
Gives better picture and sound quality than using an ordinary coaxial aerial cable.
screen mode — Governs the physical appearance of the desktop on your monitor.
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