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monitor: An external device that uses rows and columns of pixels to display
alphanumeric characters or graphical images. A cathode ray tube (CRT) is a
common type of monitor.
motherboard: The main printed circuit board in the computer. It contains the processor
chip, memory and other major system components. Sometimes called the
main board.
MPC (Multimedia PC): A specification developed by Tandy and Microsoft for the
minimum platform capable of running multimedia software. PCs carrying the
MPC logo can run any software that also displays the MPC logo.
MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group): Proposed universal standard for the conversion
of analog video images to a digital format. MPEG is a working committee
under the auspices of the International Standards Organization (ISO) that is
attempting to define standards for digital compression/decompression of
motion video/audio for use in computer systems. Its first priority is to develop
methods for encoding video within the 1.5 Mbit/second CD-ROM data rate. As
an evolving standard, MPEG-2 extends MPEG compression and
decompression capabilities.
multimedia: A combination of two or more elements, such as sound, animation and video
in a computer program or presentation. Multimedia programs, which require
huge amounts of storage space, have become very popular with the wide
availability of CD-ROM drives.
multiprocessing: The simultaneous execution of different programs or of different parts of
the same program by two or more CPUs installed in the same computer.
multitasking: A technique in which the computer runs one program for a short time and
then switches to the next program. Because people's sense of time is much
slower than the computer's speed, the programs seem to run simultaneously.
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