| A | B |
|---|
| keyboarding | Touch typing using a computer keyboard |
| alphanumeric keys | On a computer keyboard, the keys that include the letters of the alphabet, numerals, and commonly used symbols |
| QWERTY | A standard keyboard arrangement; refers to the first six letters on the top row of letters in the alphanumeric keyboard |
| modifier keys | Keyboard keys that are used in conjunction with other keys to execute a command. The IBM-PC keyboard includes Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys; the Macintosh keyboard also has the Command and Option keys |
| numeric keypad | The part of a keyboard that looks and works like a calculator keypad, with 10 digits and mathematical operators |
| function keys | The part of the keyboard that can be used to quickly activate commands, designated F1, F2, adn so on |
| cursor-movement keys | On a computer keyboard, the keys that direct the movement of the on-screen cursor or insertion point, including the up, down, left, and right arrows, and the Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys |
| cursor | A graphic symbol on screen that indicates where the next keystroke or command will appear when entered.Representations include a blinking veritcal line or underline, a box, and arrow, and an I-beam pointer. Also called the insetion point |
| insetion point | A graphic symbol on screen that indicates where the next keystroke or command will appear when entered.Representations include a blinking veritcal line or underline, a box, and arrow, and an I-beam pointer. Also called the cursor |
| keyboard controller | A chip within the keyboard or the computer that receives the keystoke and generates the scan code |
| keyboard buffer | A part of memory that receives and stores the scan codes from the keyboard controller until the program can accept them |
| scan code | A code - generated by the keyboard controller - that tells the keyboard buffer which key has been pressed |
| interrupt request | A signal sent by the operating system to the CPU, requesting processing time for a specific task |
| repeat rate | A keyboard setting that determines how long an alphanumeric key must be held down until the character will be repeated and how rapidly the character is typed |
| pointing device | A device that enables the user to freely move an on-screen pointer and to select text, menu options, icons, and other on-screen objects. Two popular types of pointing devices are mice and trackballs |
| pointer | An on-screen object, usually an arrow, used to select text; access menus; move files; and interact with programs, files, or data represented graphically on the screen |
| clicking | Selecting an object or command on the computer screen (for example, from a menu, toolbar, or dialog box) by pointing to the object and pressing and releasing the primary mouse button once |
| double-clicking | Selecting an object or activating a command on the screen by pointing to an object (such as an icon) and pressing and releasing the mouse button twice in quick succession |
| dragging | Moving an object on the screen by pointing to the object, pressing the primary mouse button, and holding down the button while dragging the object to a new location |
| drag-and-drop editing | Moving text or graphics from one part of the document to another by selcting the desired information, pressing and holding down the primary mouse button, dragging the selection to a new location, and releasing the mouse button. |
| right-clicking | When using a two-button mouse, too use the right mouse button to select an object or command on the screen |
| trackpad | A stationary pointing device that the user operates by moving a finger across a small, touch-sensitive surface. Trackpads are often built into portable computers. Also called a touchpad |
| integrated pointing device | A pointing device built into the computer's keyboard, consisting of a small joystick positioned near the middle of the keyboard, typically between the g and h keys. The joystick is controlled with either forefinger. Two buttons that perform the same function as mouse buttons are just beneath the spacebar and are pressed with the thumb. Also called a TrackPoint |
| TrackPoint | A pointing device built into the computer's keyboard, consisting of a small joystick positioned near the middle of the keyboard, typically between the g and h keys. The joystick is controlled with either forefinger. Two buttons that perform the same function as mouse buttons are just beneath the spacebar and are pressed with the thumb. Also called the integrated pointing device |
