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Glossary Terms: A
- AA
- The standard size of the alkaline batteries used in digital cameras.
- AAA
- The standard size of the alkaline batteries used in handheld devices.
- AC adapter
- An alternative power source and battery charger available for many laptop computers and handhelds. It plugs directly into (and draws power from) wall sockets. Some people keep separate AC adapters in locations where they most frequently use their computers or handhelds.
- Academic-year format
- School year calendar, charting either 12 months (August to September) or 16 months (August to December).
- Access control
- Restricts access to selected files, applications, and other resources.
- Acid-free
- Manufactured without chemical pulp that can cause paper to yellow and decay.
- Acoustical panels
- Absorb sound in a cubicle, giving the occupant a greater measure of privacy. By reducing the sound leaving the cubicle, acoustical panels also cut down on office noise and make it easier for employees to concentrate.
- Activity report
- Keeps a record of all faxes sent and received.
- Adjustable armrests
- Allow a chair's arms to move up and down and/or forward and backward to promote proper forearm support and skeletal alignment. This feature helps prevent neck and shoulder aches.
- Adjustable throat depth
- A stapler feature that adjusts the distance from the edge of the paper to the point where the staple is driven into the paper.
- Advanced laptop support
- Includes ClearType support, DualView, power management improvements. So you get as much work done while you are on the road as while you are in the office.
- Amplifiers
- Brings hands–free convenience to your phone. Amplifiers connect headsets to most modular single– or multi–line phones. Most amplifiers offer volume, headset/handset, and mute controls to keep the controls at your fingertips.
- Anti-theft safe
- Offers protection against break–ins using a variety of common entry tools. Most are not fire–resistant.
- Aperture priority
- Allows a camera's aperture (the pupil–like device over the lens) to be manipulated. Making the aperture larger increases the amount of light that passes through to the image – which can brighten and clarify images taken at night or in dark settings. Shrinking the aperture reduces the amount of light exposure on the image and offsets the effect of bright, sunny days.
- AT port
- A five–pin port on an older computer where a keyboard or a mouse can be attached. AT ports are no longer used and have been replaced by PS/2 or USB ports. A PS/2 adapter can be used to attach PS/2 mice or keyboards to a computer with only an AT port.
- Auditing
- A Windows® NT feature that enables the system administrator to monitor printing activities for any user.
- Auto answer
- A setting available for most fax machines, fax modems, and multifunction devices with fax capability. With auto answer, your all–in–one automatically picks up incoming fax calls after a specified number of rings.
- Auto attendant
- A virtual operator that answers incoming calls then gives options to the caller. It directs calls to any station in the system or to local voice mail. This feature can be used as a company directory, to give prerecorded directions, and to announce daily company specials.
- Auto busy redial
- If you dial a number and hear a busy signal, you can activate this feature to automatically redial the number until the call goes through. When the call does go through, your phone will ring to let you know.
- Auto channel
- A feature on cordless phones that automatically searches for the best signal to give you clear reception. Also called "hopping".
- Auto dial/redial
- Fax machine feature that stores frequently used numbers in memory. Redials last number called, an especially desirable feature when the first fax transmission does not go through.
- Auto document feeder
- Device that enables users to copy, fax, or scan multiple pages in a row without having to feed each page by hand.
- Auto paper cutter
- Cuts incoming faxes to the same size as the original. (Only available on thermal fax machines.)
- Auto start/stop
- Function that activates a shredder only when paper is fed through it. This saves on switching the machine on and off, and may reduce maintenance by cutting down on the time the shredder motor has to work.
- Auto-recognition
- If you insert a CD, ZIP, or JAZ disk, or compact flash card, Windows will automatically recognize it and launch the corresponding application. For example, your CDs will begin playing on Windows Media Player for Windows XP.