B (b ..)

  • Backup Diskette
    • Duplicate copy of program or data diskette.
  • Backup Tape Cartridge Unit
    • see magnetic tape streamer
  • Bandwidth:
    • The bit-per-second transmission capability of a channel
  • Bar Code:
    • A Code consisting of vertical zebra-striped marks printed on cans, boxes, and other containers, read with a bar-code reader.
  • Barcode reader (as computer input)
    • An input device consisting of photoelectric scanner enabling pre-coded data in the form of bar stripes to be read into the computer.
  • Base address
    • The first address in a series of addresses in memory.
  • Baseband
    • A network that transmits signals as a direct-current pulse.
  • BASIC
    • Beginners All purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
    • A computer programming language designed to be simple to use.
  • Basic Components of a Computer System
    • Data, Software, Hardware, People, Procedures.
  • Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
    • service programs enabling the computer to interpret characters from the keyboard or to another peripherals (disk, monitor). See also System Software
  • Batch Processing:
    • Processing performed all at once on data that has been collected over several days
  • Baud Rate
    • A measure of transmission speed. (Speed of Communications). Bits per second a more accurate measure, and is gradually superceeding the Baud rate.
  • BBS
    • See Bulletin Board.
  • BCD
    • See Binary Coded Decimal
  • Beginners All purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
    • see BASIC
  • Bidirectional:
    • Characteristic of printer, in which print element moves first to the right on one line, then to the left on the following line.
  • Binary Coded Decimal (BCD)
    • A 6-bit coding scheme.
  • Binary System:
    • A numbering system in which all the numbers consist of only two digits - 0 and 1.
  • Biometrics:
    • Science of measuring individual body characteristics. Some security systems use biometric machines that can recognise a person's fingerprints, signature, eye patterns or voice.
  • BIOS
    • see Basic Input Output System
  • Bit (Binary Digit):
    • A 0 or 1 in the binary system.
  • Bits Per Second
    • Speed of Communications.
  • Blackout (power)
    • Any breaks in power of greater than 2.5 secs
  • Block
    • A portion of text that is marked before being processed further.
  • Block (of records)
    • Group of records on magnetic tape.
  • Block Move
    • The process of moving a unit of text that has been marked (blocked).
  • BMP (BitMaP)
    • A graphics file format devised by Microsoft to boost sales of hard disks.
  • Boldface
    • Printing consisting of extra dark lettering.
  • Boot ROM
    • A read-only chip allowing a workstation to communicate with a diskless file server.
  • Bootstrap Loader
    • starts the computer when turned on and loads programs (such as the Operating System) into primary storage. See also System Software
  • bps
    • see Bits per second. Speed of Communications.

[Rev 26/06/00] © 1997 - 2000 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.