| Real-Time Engineering Environment |
(RTEE). Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools from Westmount.
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| real-time operating system |
(RTOS). An operating system that works in a real-time computing environment.
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| real-time simulation |
Simulation of events in the time frame in which they would naturally happen; for example, aircraft flight simulation is used to train pilots. See simulation.
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| RealAudio |
Software which makes it possible to play radio and sound files over the Internet. RealAudio client software can be downloaded for free, and is used as a plug-in with web browsers like Netscape, Mosaic, and Internet Explorer. RealAudio server software is available for many platforms. Talk, music, and live radio can be heard using RealAudio.
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| reassembly |
The restoration of a fragmented IP packet into its previous form after sending it over a network.
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| reboot |
A warm boot, or a boot after the computer has not been turned off for long.
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| rec |
Top-level newsgroup category for a recreational newsgroup.
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| receive only terminal |
RO terminal. A terminal that has printing capability only, and does not have a keyboard.
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| receiver |
A device that receives a signal.
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| Recommended Standard |
(RS). One of a set of standards from the Electronics Industries Association for hardware devices and their interfaces. RS-232 is a well-known standard for transmitting serial data by wire.
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| Recommended Standard-232 |
(RS-232). An Electronics Industries Association standard asynchronous serial line which is used commonly for modems, computer terminals, and serial printers. RS-232 uses a 25-pin or 9-pin connector. The standard designates the purpose for each of the 25 or 9 lines, including lines for sending and receiving data, ground connections, and control lines. However, often not all of the lines are used. Some connections use only three: one for data in each direction, and one for a ground. Data sent over RS-232 is a stream of bits at a constant speed. Each character is preceded by a start bit and followed by one or two stop bits; a positive voltage is transmitted for a 0 bit, a negative voltage for a 1. RS-232 is normally used for short distances; the maximum distance with high-quality cable would be several hundred feet. The standard is now officially called EIA-232D, but RS-232 is the name in common use.
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| record |
In a database, a group of fields that make up one complete entry. A record about a customer might contain fields for name, address, telephone, etc. A group of records makes up a file.
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| record head |
A device that records signals onto a magnetic tape.
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| record layout |
The way a record is formatted, including placement, order, type, and size of fields, checkboxes, and other features.
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| record separator |
(RS). A character used to identify a logical boundary between adjacent records. Often it is ASCII character 30: Control^ .
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| recordable drive |
A drive that reads CD-ROMs and audio CDs, and can record on CD-ROMs.
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| recover |
To bring back a file that accidentally got deleted. There are programs designed to help recover files, such as Norton Utilities. The best idea is to have a backup copy.
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| rectifier |
A device that converts alternating current into direct current.
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| recursive |
Referring back to itself. See recursive.
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| recycle bin |
On a Windows desktop, the recycle bin is like a trash basket where unneeded files can be thrown away. Dragging a file into the recycle bin removes it from its former place on the computer, and emptying the recyle bin deletes all the files in the bin.
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| Reduced Instruction Set Computer Operati |
(RISC OS). A RISC-based operating system developed by Acorn Computer for the Archimedes personal computers. The system has a graphical user interface and command line interpreter, and supports cooperative multitasking.
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| Reduced Instruction Set Computing |
(RISC). A microprocessor design which is intended to make operations run faster by processing a few simple instructions rather than many complex ones. CISC (complex instruction set computing) processors do more of the processing of complex operations within the CPU than RISC processors, which require certain operations to be performed by the software before the data gets to the CPU. The operating system must be set up for RISC, and the applications used must be compiled specifically for RISC architecture, otherwise the RISC processor must emulate a CISC processor, and the benefits of RISC are lost. Examples of computers with RISC architecture are the IBM RISC Sytem/6000, the PowerPC, and the PowerMac.
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| Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks |
(RAID) Originally "Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks". The use of two or more disk drives instead of one disk, which provides better disk performance, error recovery, and fault tolerance, and includes interleaved storage techniques and mirroring of important data. This approach was developed by a research project at the University of California, Berkeley.
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| reformat |
To reinitialize a hard or floppy disk, which erases all the data on it.
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| refresh rate |
The maximum number of frames per second that a computer monitor can display, expressed in hertz. Each frame begins with the electron gun at the upper left corner of the screen. An electron beam is scanned horizontally across the screen, making one line; it moves down slightly to make the next line, and continues until it reaches the bottom. The electron gun returns to the upper left corner to begin the next frame. Too low a refresh rate causes a flickering screen which is hard on the eyes.
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