daisy wheel printer: A type of printer that produces professional-looking, letter-quality documents.

data: Information, especially raw or unprocessed information.

data base applicatation: A type of application that helps you keep track of lists of information. It makes it easy to recall, update, and cross-reference information.

data bits: The form in which the computer sends and receives information—as a string of bits.

data disk: A disk that contains your work—letters, budgets, pictures, and so on.

DCD: Stands for Data Carrier Detect. A handshake signal used to regulate the flow of data between the computer and a peripheral device.

default: A preset response to a question in an application. The response is used by default unless you supply an alternative.

Delete: A key that you can press (in some applications) to erase the character to the left of the cursor.

desk accessory: A mini-application that you can use without leaving your main application.

device: See peripheral device.

digital signal: A signal that is sent and received in discrete intervals. Compare analog signal.

digitizer: A peripheral device that takes a photo and converts the image into a form that the computer can process, save on a disk, display on the screen, or print.

direct-connect modem: A modem that you plug directly into a phone jack. The advantage of a direct-connect modem over an acoustic-coupler modem is that the phone signals don't have to travel through the handset, so there's less distortion. See also acoustic-coupler modem.

directory: A list of all the files on a disk. Sometimes called a catalog. See also subdirectory.

disk: A circular plastic object coated with iron oxide. You can buy applications prerecorded on disks, and you save your work on blank disks. Disks come in different sizes for use with different types of disk drives. See 5.25-inch disk, 3.5-inch disk, and hard disk.

disk drive: A device that loads information from a disk into the memory of the computer and saves information from the memory of the computer onto a disk.

disk drive controller card: A circuit board that provides a connection between the Apple IIGS and one or two disk drives.

disk drive light: A light that comes on when your disk drive is loading from or storing on a disk. Sometimes called an in-use light. When the light is off, it's safe to put disks in or take disks out. When the light is on, don't remove the disk inside.

disk operating system: See operating system.

display: A general term to describe what you see on your screen when you're using a computer.

document: Information you create with a computer program. It could be a memo, a picture, a budget. Also called a file.

DOS 3.2: Stands for Disk Operating System. An early Apple II operating system; 3.2 is the version number.

Glossary

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