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Welcome to the interactive glossay at Inside Computers. This glossary allows members of Inside Computers to post new definitions, allowing for collective information sharing.
If there is some acronym that most people might not know, or a special computer term which others would most likely want to know, go ahead and add it.
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| R | Radiosity :
The raytracing in 3D rendering that happens after the first surface contact.
Rambus (RDRAM) :
Dynamic memory which is made to operate at higher frequencies than normal DRAM by using 16-bit wide buses instead of 64-bit.
Random Access :
The ability to access data in a non-linear way. This uses some sort of addressing to locate data rather then knowing the data's linear order. All random access information has to be broken up into fixed sizes for that reason.
Random Access Time :
The time it takes to locate and retrieve data from a random access source.
Raster Based Images :
All images which are not vector based. These images are based on pixels which are arranged in a rectangular grid pattern. Unlike vector based images, raster based images cannot be resized without a loss in quality.
Rasterization :
This is the final step in the 3D pipeline where pixels are drawn and placed into the frame buffer.
Raytrace :
A technic in 3D rendering where lines of light are calculated, and their intersection points with surfaces are recorded. So, if a green light was next to a wall, the wall would be green where the light rays intersect it, brightest near the light, and fading out into the distances away from the light. Some raytracing effects are able to calculate more than one intersection because the light reflection off of a surface is further calculated. This will create effects such as having an unlit room with a window being light all over. This is currently too complex to render in real time for any, non-super computer/professional workstation.
Realtime :
The term to describe what can be processed fast enough to make it operate on the same time scale as real time does.
Reduced Instruction Set Computing :
The idea of increasing processor speed by removing anything that would create a performance hit. This meant creating all processor instructions very basic and only one clock cycle in length. Complex instructions from CISC computing were done by performing multiple basic instructions in series. RISC chips are arguably the faster of the two architectures because they usually have more registers which can allow more pieces of data to be operated on at a time by the processor.
Refresh Rate :
The number of times per second the image on screen is redrawn. Measured in Hz, and can range anywhere from 60Hz up to 120Hz for most monitors. The higher the refresh rate, the less flicker effect will be created. Every time the screen is refreshed, the image is taken from the frame buffer.
Register :
A small storage unit in a processor that stores the values which are currently being processed. Registers can be 16, 32, or 64-bit wide depending on what type of data they are made to store. Data must be stored in registers for the processor to be able to perform calculations on them.
Registry :
The two files used by Windows for storing all of the software settings.
Redundant Array Of Independent Disks (RAID) :
A collection of hard disk drives which are used collectively for faster performance and/or fault tolerance. There are different modes of RAID, like modes 0, 1, 0+1, and 5. These indicate that data stripping, duplication or parity calculations are being used. RAID was originally used exclusivity with SCSI, but new controllers for IDE are also capable of this functionality. This is for the most part only used in a server/workstation environment.
REM (Remark) :
A commonly used word used in some programming languages, like DOS, batch and INF files, to create single line comments. A (;) semi-colon is also often used to mark out data lines.
Rendering :
The general term for the 3D pipeline. This is where textures, lighting, shadows and rasterization are done. All rendering is done on the video accelerator.
Research And Design (R&D) :
The basic foundation of technology.
Resolution :
The measurement of the number of pixels in the X and Y axis. Most resolutions use a 4:3 ratio for width to height. The higher the resolution, the more defined the picture. Resolution is independent to screen size.
Rollover :
When an image changes on a web page when the user places the cursor overtop of it.
Root :
The first directory on a storage medium such as a hard drive. And example of the root directory is C:
The supreme user which has full access to system resources. This is usually the administrator, and can only exist with secure OS such as Unix or WindowsNT.
Router :
A device which is used on a network to relay and amplify information packets. Routers receive packets and send them to their destinations, eliminating the need for a direct link to the destination computer from the source. All network traffic, including all Internet traffic, goes through multiple routers on its path to its target.
Routine :
See function.
Runtime :
The time in which a program is currently running.
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