TECHNOLOGY 

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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – Asynchronous Protocol Specification:
Asynchronous Protocol Specification refers to a communication standard defined by the X.445 specification within the X series of networking protocols. This specification outlines rules and procedures for asynchronous communication between computer systems, ensuring that devices can exchange information correctly even when they do not share synchronized timing signals. By defining how data should be structured and transmitted in asynchronous environments, the specification supports reliable communication between systems that operate independently of a common clock or timing mechanism.
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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – asynchronous static RAM:
Asynchronous static RAM, often abbreviated as async SRAM, is a type of static random access memory that operates independently of the system clock. Unlike synchronous memory, which coordinates data transfers according to clock signals, asynchronous static RAM responds directly to memory access requests without waiting for clock cycles. This type of memory is commonly used in a computer’s level-two cache, a specialized memory area that stores frequently accessed data to improve processing performance. Although asynchronous static RAM provides faster access than main system memory, it is generally slower than more advanced cache memory technologies such as synchronous burst static RAM or pipeline burst static RAM.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – asynchronous transmission:
Asynchronous transmission is a method of data communication in which information is sent intermittently rather than as a continuous stream. In this form of transmission, data is typically transmitted one character at a time. Each character is framed with special bits that signal its beginning and end so the receiving device can correctly interpret the data. A start bit indicates the beginning of the character, followed by the bits that represent the character itself, sometimes including a parity bit used for error checking, and finally one or more stop bits to mark the end of the character. This method allows communication devices such as modems to exchange data without requiring synchronized timing signals between the sender and receiver.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – ATA:
ATA stands for Advanced Technology Attachment and refers to a standard interface used for connecting storage devices such as hard disk drives to a computer system. The standard was developed by an ANSI working group and describes a method in which the drive controller is integrated directly into the disk drive itself rather than being located on a separate controller card. This design reduces system cost and simplifies communication between the computer and the storage device. The original implementation of ATA became widely known as Integrated Drive Electronics, and later versions of the standard introduced improvements in speed, reliability, and additional features through successive revisions such as ATA-2, ATA-3, and Ultra ATA.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – ATA hard disk drive card:
An ATA hard disk drive card is an expansion card used to control and manage communication between a computer system and an ATA-compatible hard disk drive. These cards provide the interface circuitry required for the computer to send commands and exchange data with the disk drive. In many early computer systems, ATA hard disk drive cards were commonly designed for installation in Industry Standard Architecture expansion slots. The card allowed the computer to support ATA-based storage devices by providing the necessary connections and control signals for the disk drive.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – ATA/IDE hard disk drive:
An ATA or IDE hard disk drive refers to a storage device that incorporates the disk controller electronics directly on the drive unit rather than requiring a separate external controller card. In this design, the controller manages communication between the drive and the computer’s motherboard through the ATA interface. This integration simplifies the hardware design, reduces costs, and makes firmware management easier. The terms ATA and IDE are often used interchangeably to describe this type of disk drive technology, which became a widely adopted standard for personal computer storage devices.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – ATAPI:
ATAPI refers to an interface specification used with computer systems to connect devices such as CD-ROM drives to the ATA storage interface originally designed for hard disk drives. It allows non-hard-disk storage devices to communicate with the system using commands similar to those used by ATA drives. ATAPI was commonly used in systems based on the IBM PC AT architecture to provide access to optical drives and other removable media devices through the same interface used for traditional hard disks, simplifying hardware design and reducing the need for separate controller interfaces.

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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – ATA Specifications (Note Form):


ATA (Also called: IDE)


  • Supports PIO (Programmed Input/Output).
  • Data transfer handled through the CPU.
  • Transfer speeds: 3.3 Mbps, 5.2 Mbps, 8.3 Mbps.
  • Early ATA disk interface standard.




ATA-2 (Also called: Fast ATA, Enhanced IDE / EIDE)


  • Supports faster PIO modes.
  • Introduces DMA (Direct Memory Access) to bypass CPU during transfers.
  • Transfer speeds: 4 Mbps – 16.6 Mbps.
  • Supports LBA (Logical Block Addressing).
  • Allows hard drives larger than 528 MB.




ATA-3


  • Improved revision of ATA-2.
  • Introduces SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology).
  • Provides drive health monitoring and improved reliability.




Ultra-ATA (Also called: ATA-33, DMA-33, Ultra-DMA, UDMA)


  • Supports DMA burst mode data transfers.
  • Faster transfer speed: 33.3 Mbps.
  • Improves overall disk performance and efficiency.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – .asp:
The file extension .asp identifies a web page that uses Active Server Pages technology. Files with this extension contain server-side scripts that are processed on a web server before the resulting content is sent to a user’s web browser. These pages can include embedded scripts that interact with databases, process user input, or dynamically generate HTML content. When a user requests an ASP page, the server executes the script code and sends the final generated page to the browser, allowing websites to create interactive and dynamic web content rather than static pages.


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KembaraXtra-Computer Terms – aspect ratio:
Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image, display, or graphical area. It is typically expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, representing the width compared to the height. For example, an aspect ratio of 2:1 means that the image width is twice its height. Maintaining the correct aspect ratio is important in graphics, video, and computer displays because it ensures that images appear with the correct proportions and are not stretched or distorted when resized, printed, or displayed on different screens.
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