Glossary
LAN: A group of computers or other devices dispersed over a relatively limited area and connected by a communications link that enables any device to interact with any other on the network.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor device that emits light when a current is applied.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD): Liquid crystal sealed between two sheets of glass coated with transparent conducting material. The viewingside coating is etched into character forming segments with leads that extend to the edge of the glass. Applying a voltage between the glass sheets alters the brightness of the liquid crystal.
M
main board: See motherboard.
megabyte (MB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 kilobytes. See also kilobyte.
megahertz: A unit of wave frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second. See also hertz.
memory: Typically refers to the computer's main memory, where programs are run and data is temporarily stored and processed.
Memory can be volatile and hold data temporarily, such as RAM, or it can be nonvolatile and hold data permanently, such as ROM. A computer's main memory is RAM. See RAM, ROM.
menu: A software interface that displays a list of options on the screen. Also called a screen.
microprocessor: A hardware component contained in a single integrated circuit that carries out instructions. Also called the central processing unit (CPU), one of the main parts of the computer.
mode: A method of operation, for example, the Shut Down Mode, Standby Mode or the Hibernation Mode.
modem: Derived from modulator/demodulator, a device that converts (modulates) digital data for transmission over telephone lines and then converts modulated data (demodulates) to digital format where received.
monitor: A device that uses rows and columns of pixels to display alphanumeric characters or graphic images. See also CRT.
motherboard: A name sometimes used to refer to the main printed circuit board in processing equipment. It usually contains integrated circuits that perform the processor’s basic functions and provides connectors for adding other boards that perform special functions.
MP3: An audio compression standard that enables
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