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).

mode

A method of operation; for example, the NEC 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 lets you play back MPEG files.

multimedia

Integrated forms of media such as sound, text, graphics, and video.

N

nonvolatile memory

Storage media that retains its data when system power is turned off. Nonvolatile memory in the Versa is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip which is backed up by an internal battery. The backup battery preserves the clock/calendar data and system configuration parameters stored in CMOS. See volatile memory.

O

operating system

Set of programs that manage the overall operation of the computer.

overwrite

Storing information at a location where information is already stored, thus destroying the original information.

6 Glossary

Page 138
Image 138
NEC Versa Series manual Microprocessor, Modem, Multimedia, Nonvolatile memory, Operating system, Overwrite