Glossary: L

label

Adding descriptive information to cells in a spreadsheet or to a graph based on a spreadsheet to make the results more readable and understandable.

label maker

A word processing feature making it possible to create labels easily with software and a printer.

laptop

A portable computer: small, lightweight, and powered by either batteries or line current.

laser printer

A popular nonimpact printer that creates high-quality output by using a laser beam to create an image on an electrically charged drum.

LCD (liquid crystal display)

A liquid-filled display screen that creates images when electrically charged, used in watches, calculators, and portable computers.

light pen

A handheld input stylus that uses a photocell to transmit signals to a computer screen, first used in CAD applications.

limited domain

A term that describes how various kinds of success in AI have been achieved in relatively small, constrained areas of application.

link

A pointer between nodes in a networked database signifying that they are related in some way.

LISP

A language used primarily by artificial intelligence programmers for general string handling and list processing.

local area network (LAN)

A system of networked computers and other hardware, like printers, that are in relatively close proximity to one another.

log (audit trail)

A record kept automatically by a computer system of all users, times logged on, and transactions for record keeping and security purposes, especially with distributed access to large databases.

logic programming languages

A category of languages like Prolog very similar to symbolic logic, especially applicable to artificial intelligence research and expert systems.

logical comparison operator

One of the common logical operations -- less than, greater than, equal to, not equal to, etc. -- included in most programming languages.

logical error

A bug in a computer program in which the logic is faulty -- for instance, in which instructions are not in proper sequence or the wrong instructions are used.

Logo programming language

An easy-to-use programming language with special graphical features designed for teaching children to do problem solving through an intuitive method. Sometimes Logo is used with a robotic turtle that can be instructed to move around a room with Logo instructions.

loop

A series of program instructions performed repeatedly until a certain condition is satisfied, embodying the structured programming construct of iteration.

Lotus 1-2-3

One of the most popular spreadsheet programs, a successor to VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program.

low-level electromagnetic emissions

Small amounts of radiation emitted by electronic equipment such as computer screens that may be hazardous to the health of people who work with them for many hours.

Luddite riots

Early nineteenth-century revolts by weavers in northern England, when the introduction of weaving machinery into factories led to their being laid off. A famous instance where the introduction of new technology led to unemployment and social unrest.

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