Glossary 153
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)—A standard for
connecting musical instruments, synthesizers, and computers. The
MIDI standard provides a way of translating music into a form
computers can use, and vice versa.
motherboard—The computer’s main circuit board that contains the
processor, memory, and other primary components.
MS-DOS prompt—See system prompt.
multi-function drive—A DVD drive that can read and write to CD and
DVD med ia.
multimedia—A combination of two or more media, such as sound,
animation, and video in a computer application or presentation.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface—See MIDI.
Nnetwork—A collection of computers and associated devices that are
connected by communications facilities. A network allows you to
share data and peripheral devices, such as printers, with other users
and to exchange electronic mail.
non-interlaced—A method of refreshing a computer screen, in which
each pixel of every line is refreshed as the electron beam scans
across and down the screen. Compare interlaced.
non-system disk—A disk for storing applications and data that cannot
be used to start the computer. Compare system disk.
Oonline—Available through the computer. Online may refer to
information being read from your own computer’s internal storage
drive, such as online documentation or online Help, or to
information coming from another company on a company network
or the Internet.
operating system—A set of programs that controls how the computer
works. Examples of operating systems are the Windows Vista®,
Windows® 7, and Windows 8 operating systems.
optical disc drive—A drive which reads plastic coated discs on which
information is recorded digitally, and uses a laser to read data,
music, or videos.