End user hardware

Terms related to peripheral devices including definitions about keyboards or mice and words and phrases about printers, monitors, digital cameras and scanners.

3D - KIN

3D mouse - A 3D mouse is a pointing and control device specialized for movement in virtual 3D (three-dimensional) environments.
AAUI (Apple attachment unit interface) - An AAUI (Apple attachment unit interface) is the 14- or 15-pin port or connection interface on earlier models of Macintosh computers that allowed it to be connected by a short interface cable (or "transceiver") to an Ethernet cable.
abacus - An abacus is a manual aid to calculating that consists of beads or disks that can be moved up and down on a series of sticks or strings within a usually wooden frame.
ABCD data switch - An ABCD data switch is a small box that lets you hook up to four devices from one PC serial or parallel port on your computer.
access time - Access time is the time from the start of one storage device access to the time when the next access can be started.
add-on - An add-on is either a hardware unit that can be added to a computer to increase its capabilities or a program utility that enhances a primary program.
AMR (Audio/Modem Riser or AMR slot) - AMR (Audio/Modem Riser) is a specification developed by Intel for packaging the analog I/O audio functions of modem circuitry together with a codec chip (which converts back and forth from analog to digital) on a small board that plugs directly into a computer's motherboard.
ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) - ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output), developed by Steinberg, is a cross-platform, multi-channel audio transfer protocol that is being adopted by many of the manufacturers of audio/MIDI sequencing applications.
ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) - ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) is an interface between your computer and attached CD-ROM drives and tape backup drives.
audio - Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to humans.
backup - Backup refers to the copying of physical or virtual files or databases to a secondary location for preservation in case of equipment failure or catastrophe.
barcode printer - A barcode printer is a printer designed to produce barcode labels which can be attached to other objects.
barcode reader (POS scanner, bar code reader, price scanner) - A barcode reader, also called a price scanner or point-of-sale (POS) scanner, is a hand-held or stationary input device used to capture and read information contained in a bar code.
Blu-ray - Blu-ray is an optical disc format designed to display high definition video and store large amounts of data.
bone conduction headphones - Bone conduction headphones -- sometimes called 'bonephones'-- are headphones that transmit sound waves through the bones in a user's skull instead of their ear canal.
brain-computer interface (BCI) - Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a collaboration between a brain and a device that enables signals from the brain to direct some external activity, such as control of a cursor or a prosthetic limb.
burn-in - Burn-in is a test in which a system or component is made to run for an extended period of time to detect problems.
BURN-Proof (Buffer Under Run Error Proof) - BURN-Proof (Buffer Under Run Error Proof) is a technology developed by Sanyo that allows compact disc (CD) recording to automatically stop in the event of an unplanned interruption and then to resume recording.
bus - In a computer or on a network, a bus is a transmission path on which signals are dropped off or picked up at every device attached to the line.
busy lamp field (BLF) - A busy lamp field (BLF) is a light on a VoIP phone -- also known as an IP phone -- that tells end users when another extension within the system is in use by displaying a clear status on the phone's display.
BYOD (bring your own device) - BYOD (bring your own device) is a policy that allows employees in an organization to use their personally owned devices for work-related activities.
camcorder (camera recorder) - A camcorder (camera recorder) is a portable electronic recording device capable of recording live-motion video and audio for later playback.
card (or expansion card , board , or adapter) - A card (or expansion card, board, or adapter) is circuitry designed to provide expanded capability to a computer.
cathode ray tube (CRT) - A cathode ray tube (CRT) is a specialized vacuumtube in which images are produced when an electron beam strikes aphosphorescent surface.
CD-ROM - .
Centronics parallel interface - The Centronics parallel interface is an older and still widely-used standard I/O interface for connecting printers and certain other devices to computers.
channel partner - A channel partner is a person or organization that provides services or sells products on behalf of a software, hardware, networking or cloud services vendor.
Citrix X1 Mouse - The Citrix X1 Mouse is a small Bluetooth device that allows users to navigate Windows virtual desktops and applications on mobile devices.
cold backup (offline backup) - A cold backup, also called an offline backup, is a database backup during which the database is offline and not accessible to update.
coldset Web offset printing (non-heatset) - Coldset Web offset printing (also known as non-heatset) is a Web offset printing process in which ink is allowed to dry naturally through evaporation and absorption.
compact disc (CD) - A compact disc is a portable storage medium that can be used for recording, storing and playing back audio, video and other data in digital form.
CompactFlash card (CF card) - A CompactFlash card (CF card) is a memory card format developed by SanDisk in 1994 that uses flash memory technology to store data on a very small portable device.
compatibility - Compatibility is the capacity for two systems to work together without having to be altered to do so.
computer worm - A computer worm is a type of malware whose primary function is to self-replicate and infect other computers while remaining active on infected systems.
controller - A controller, in a computing context, is a hardware device or a software program that manages or directs the flow of data between two entities.
CPE device - A CPE device is telecommunications hardware located at the home or business of a customer.
customer churn (customer attrition) - Customer churn, also called customer attrition, is the number of paying customers who fail to become repeat customers.
data availability - Data availability is a term used by computer storage manufacturers and storage service providers to describe how data should be available at a required level of performance in situations ranging from normal through disastrous.
data glove - A data glove is an interactive device, resembling a glove worn on the hand, which facilitates tactile sensing and fine-motion control in robotics and virtual reality.
daughterboard (or daughter board, daughter card, or daughtercard) - A daughterboard (or daughter board, daughter card, or daughtercard) is a circuit board that plugs into and extends the circuitry of another circuit board.
digiboard (or digicard) - Digiboard or digicard is a generic name for a serial port card made by Digi International.
digitization - Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital format.
digitizer tablet (digitizer or graphics tablet) - A digitizer tablet (also known as a digitizer or graphics tablet) is a tool used to convert hand-drawn images into a format suitable for computer processing.
Direct Memory Access (DMA) - Direct Memory Access (DMA) is a capability provided by some computer bus architectures that allows data to be sent directly from an attached device (such as a disk drive) to the memory on the computer's motherboard.
direct-attached storage (DAS) - Direct-attached storage (DAS) is a type of storage that is attached directly to a computer without going through a network.
diskette (floppy disk) - A diskette is a random access, removable data storage medium that can be used with personal computers.
display modes - The term display mode refers to the characteristics of a computer display, in particular the maximum number of colors and the maximum image resolution (in pixels horizontally by pixels vertically).
DLT (digital linear tape) - Before the popular Linear Tape-Open Consortium came into existence, Quantum had its proprietary digital linear tape (DLT) format.
document reader - A document reader is a device that converts an electronic file or printed matter to a form suitable for use by people with visual impairment.
dot pitch - The dot pitch specification for a display monitor tells you how sharp the displayed image can be.
DOT4 - DOT4 is a protocol that allows a device that is part of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) to send and receive multiple data packets simultaneously across a single physical channel to other devices on the MFP.
driver - A driver is a program that interacts with a particular device or special (frequently optional) kind of software.
DVD (digital video disk) - DVD is an optical disc technology with a 4.
DVD-Audio (DVD-A) - DVD-Audio (DVD-A) is a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) format, developed by Panasonic, that is specifically designed to hold audio data, and particularly, high-quality music.
dynamic multi-pathing (DMP) - Dynamic multi-pathing (DMP) is a type of communication path control software application.
electronic paper display (EPD) - An electronic paper display (EPD) is an electrically-charged surface that replicates the look and experience of ink on paper.
EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) - EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) and raw are terms for spool file formats used in printing by the Windows operating system.
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) - EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) is a ranking system that helps purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes.
EPP/ECP (Enhanced Parallel Port/Enhanced Capability Port) - EPP/ECP (Enhanced Parallel Port/Enhanced Capability Port) is a standard signaling method for bi-directional parallel communication between a computer and peripheral devices that offers the potential for much higher rates of data transfer than the original parallel signaling methods.
ESDI (Enhanced Small Device Interface) - ESDI (Enhanced Small Device Interface) is a hardware interface for a computer disk drive based on the ST-506 standard, an early industry and later ANSI standard based on the Seagate disk drive.
external drive enclosure (disk enclosure, disk caddy, drive caddy) - An external drive enclosure is a metal or plastic casing that holds and powers a disk drive.
external storage device - An external storage device, also referred to as auxiliary storage and secondary storage, is a device that contains all the addressable data storage that is not inside a computer's main storage or memory.
FDISK - WARNING: Use caution when repartitioning a hard disk drive that contains data.
fiber jumper - A fiber jumper, sometimes called a fiber patch cord is a length of fiber cabling fitted with LC, SC, MTRJ or ST connectors at each end.
Fibre Channel - Fibre Channel is a high-speed networking technology primarily used for transmitting data among data centers, computer servers, switches and storage at data rates of up to 128 Gbps.
FireWire - FireWire is Apple Computer's version of a standard, IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, for connecting devices to your personal computer.
flash memory card - Flash storage memory cards use nonvolatile semiconductor memory to store pictures, audio and video data on portable and remote devices.
fps (frames per second) - FPS stand for frames per second, a measurement for how many unique consecutive images a camera can handle each second.
geo-fencing (geofencing) - Geo-fencing is a feature in a software program that uses the global positioning system (GPS) or radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries.
Gorilla Glass - Gorilla Glass is a scratch-resistant and durable glass product from Corning that is used to protect the screens of tablets, smartphone and other mobile devices.
hard copy (printout) - A hard copy (or "hardcopy") is a printed copy of information from a computer.
hard drive shredder - A hard drive shredder is a mechanical device that physically destroys old hard drives in such a way that the data they contain cannot be recovered.
HD upconverter (high-definition upconverter) - An HD (high-definition) upconverter, also known as a digital television (DTV) upconverter, is a device that converts the digital data on a DVD to a format that can be viewed directly on a high-definition television (HDTV) receiver without intermediate conversion to an analog signal.
heat bed - A heat bed is an additional module for a 3D printer that makes the cooling process of 3D printed materials more controlled, for better results.
holographic storage (holostorage) - Holographic storage is computer storage that uses laser beams to store computer-generated data in three dimensions.
HomeRF (home radio frequency) - HomeRF (for home radio frequency) is a home networking standard developed by Proxim Inc.
hot key - A hot key is a key or a combination of keys on a computer keyboard that, when pressed at one time, performs a task (such as starting an application) more quickly than by using a mouse or other input device.
hot swap - A hot swap describes the act of removing components from or plugging them into a computer system while the power remains switched on.
Human Interface Device protocol - Human Interface Device protocol (HID protocol) is a USB protocol for a broad category of user input devices.
HyperTerminal - HyperTerminal is a communications and terminal emulation program that came with the Windows 98 and Windows XP operating systems.
i.LINK - i.LINK is the Sony Corporation implementation of a standard, IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, for connecting devices to your personal computer.
IEEE 1394 - IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, is an electronics standard for connecting devices to your personal computer.
image recognition - Image recognition, in the context of machine vision, is the ability of software to identify objects, places, people, writing and actions in images.
immersive fitness - Immersive fitness is technology enhanced exercise typically including simulated audio/visual experiences and performance metrics.
inductive charging - Inductive charging is a wireless charging method used for charging mid-sized items such as cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs.
InfiniBand - InfiniBand is an architecture and specification for data flow between processors and I/O devices.
inkjet printer - An inkjet printer is a computer peripheral that produces hard copy by spraying ink onto paper.
intelligent device - An intelligent device is any type of equipment, instrument, or machine that has its own computing capability.
interactive whiteboard - An interactive whiteboard, also known as a smartboard, is an interactive display in the format of a whiteboard that reacts to user input either directly or through other devices.
IP camera - An IP camera is a networked digital video camera that transmits data over a Fast Ethernet link.
IT reseller - An IT reseller is an intermediary entity in the distribution channel that purchases software and/or hardware from the manufacturer or some other entity, such as a wholesaler or a distributor, and sells it to consumers.
Java Card - Java Card is an open standard from Sun Microsystems for a smart card development platform.
JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) - JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) is a group of experts that is producing standards for bi-level image coding.
joystick - In computers, a joystick is a cursor control device used in computer games and assistive technology.
jumper - In a computer, a jumper is a pair of prongs that are electrical contact points set into the computer motherboard or an adapter card.
keyboard - On most computers, a keyboard is the primary text input device.
keyboard wedge (KBW) - A keyboard wedge can be either a software program or an inserted hardware device that translates digital signals from a barcode reader or magnetic strip reader (MSR) into keyboard strokes for a computer.
Kindle Fire - Kindle Fire is a low-priced tablet computer from Amazon.

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