GWBASIC User's Manual

GW-BASIC User's Guide
representing storage locations are converted to numerical storage locations; symbolic operation
codes are converted to numeric operation codes.
asynchronous
1. Not having a regular time or clocked relationship. See synchronous.
2. A type of computer operation in which a new instruction is initiated when the former
instruction is completed. Thus, there is no regular time schedule, or clock, with respect to
instruction sequence. The current instruction must be complete before the next is begun,
regardless of the length of time the current instruction takes.
asynchronous communication
A way of transmitting data serially from one device to another, in which each transmitted
character is preceded by a start bit and followed by a stop bit. This is also called start/stop
transmission.
back-up
1. A second copy of data on a diskette or other medium, ensuring recovery from loss or
destruction of the original media.
2. On-site or remote equipment available to complete an operation in the event of primary
equipment failure.
BASIC
Acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. BASIC is a computer
programming language developed at Dartmouth College as an instructional tool in teaching
fundamental programming concepts. This language has since gained wide acceptance as a timesharing
language and is considered one of the easiest programming languages to learn.
batch processing
A method of operating a computer so that a single program or set of related programs must be
completed before the next type of program is begun.
baud
A unit of measurement of data processing speed. The speed in bauds is the number of signal
elements per second. Since a signal element can represent more than one bit, baud is not
synonymous with bits-per-second. Typical baud rates are 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, and 9600.
binary
1. A characteristic or property involving a choice or condition in which there are two
possibilities.
2. A numbering system which uses 2 as its base instead of 10 as in the decimal system. The
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