Glossary 7
microprocessor
A semiconductor central processing unit that is the principal component of
a microcomputer. Usually contained on a single chip that includes an
arithmetic logic unit, control logic, and control-memory unit.
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A standard serial bus, digital interface
designed to connect electronic musical devices. MIDI has no innate sound
of its own.
MIR
Medium Infrared, an infrared technology that sends data at 1.152
Mbit/second (1,152,000 bits per second).
MMX
A set of 57 multimedia instructions built into Intel's newest
microprocessors. MMX-enabled microprocessors can handle many
common multimedia operations, such as digital signal processing (DSP),
that are normally handled by a separate sound or video card. However, only
software especially written to call MMX instructions — MMX-enabled
software —can take advantage of the MMX instruction set.
mode
A method of operation; for example, the Versa operates in either normal or
power-saving modes.
modem
MOdulator-DEModulator. A device that links computers over a telephone
line.
MPEG
The MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) standard is used to encode
motion images. The MPEG player program in Windows for Workgroups
and Windows 95 applications lets you play back MPEG files.
multimedia
Computer technology that integrates different forms of media such as
sound, text, graphics, and video.
