Internet Terms-M

Macintosh computer a popular home computer introduced in 1984 by Apple. The Mac was the first computer to utilize a graphical user interface (GUI). This operating system uses icons, graphics, pop-up windows and a mouse for easy navigation through its applications. The introduction of the Mac marked the birth of the point and click generation of home computers.

macro a key, name, or symbol that represents and initiates a command sequence.
For example, for the sake of streamlining repetitive functions, some programs allow you to set your computer to enter your name, address, or any other frequently used phrase or character string, by pressing a particular series of keys.
The selected item is then inserted to the chosen location.

macro virus a computer virus that is found programmed as a macro, and embedded into a file document. The virus is designed to execute when the document is opened. Today, most viruses are macro viruses. A user can protect his computer by installing and periodically updating antivirus software.

mail bomb an email containing a large file or files designed to jam an ISPs server and/or the recipient’s mail program. Once a bomb is opened, depending on the size of the file it contains, it can take hours to load. With many ISPs, a user’s penalty for mail bombing is discontinuation of service.

mailbox a directory maintained in an ISP’s server that stores email until a user downloads it. Email may be saved in both the ISPs server or in the users computer.

maillist in most modern email programs, the addresses of the people a user sends messages to are stored and called a maillist making it an electronic address M 80 book. With this feature a user can also send the same message to everyone on the list with a simple mouse click.

mail filter a program allowing the user to sort email according to its subject or heading.

mainframe computer a large, stationary computer that requires space in an air conditioned room. Such machines are able to store massive amounts of data, support many users simultaneously, and run a wide variety of applications all at one time. Before home computers became available in the early 1980s, mainframes were the only computers. They were used by governments worldwide and large corporations. IBM and Unisys are the leading manufacturers of mainframe computers.

Majordomo a free UNIX mailing list program that allows a user to deliver mass email (called opt-in mail) to users who have requested particular information.

MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface) a Microsoft email management system that allows different email applications to work in harmony and distribute mail.

margin the space surrounding a body of text in a word processing document. A user can easily set the margins for documents before each use or use the default settings of the application.

marquee usually a line of scrolling text created with Dynamic HTML and Java applets displayed on a Web page. Some Web browsers will not support scrolling text.

mask in graphics, drawing, and paint programs the term takes on different meanings.
In a draw program it means to partially obscure the view of an image by hiding it behind a hole or opening. In a paint program it is the isolation of an area so it cannot accept other images.

maximize in Macintosh and Windows operating systems, as well as many software programs, a button found in the upper right hand corner of the screen (in most cases, but not always) that, when the user places the mouse cursor on it and clicks, it enlarges the current window to fit the entire screen.

MB abbreviation for megabyte.

MBps when written with an uppercase B, short for megabytes per second.

mbps when written with a lowercase b, short for megabits per second.

MBONE a virtual network that is layered on top of portions of the physical Internet to support routing of IP multicast packets because that function has not yet been integrated into many production routers. The network is composed of islands that can directly support IP multicast, such as multicast LANs like Ethernet, linked by virtual point-to-point links called “tunnels.” The tunnel endpoints are typically workstation-class machines having operating system support for IP multicast and running the “mrouted” multicast routing daemon.

McAfee VirusScan a popular software program designed to provide complete desk top protection with an array of scanning features that keep a computer system clean, and virus-free. Using the latest technology, VirusScan detects 100 percent of viruses including those found on floppy disks, Internet downloads, email attachments, Intranets, shared files, CD-ROM and online services (even inside the most popular compressed file types).

MDI (Multiple Document Interface) a Windows interface program allowing programmers to write applications with many windows, with each application having a main window and a varying number of child windows. The child windows are shown inside of the main window. MDI is rapidly being replaced by a newer application program interface (API) called Single Interface Document (SDI).

MDRAM (Multibank Dynamic Random-Access Memory) memory technology developed by MoSys Inc. that uses 32 KB banks of DRAM, each having its own input/output port feeding a common internal bus. The technology allows for faster reading and writing of data.

media 1. elements of data storage such as magnetic tape, floppy, zip and jaz disks, and CD-ROMs. 2. a manner of making computer information available to the user such as, sound and video. 3. a method of mass communication such as radio, television and the World Wide Web.

MediaCast a division of Who and How Entertainment Network, MediaCast is a company that uses broadcast technology to deliver live and archival musical events over the World Wide Web.

MediaCast Figure M.01. maximize button minimize maximize & restore close 82 mega the metric prefix meaning X 1,000,000.

megabit 1000 kilobits. (Actually 1024 kilobits).

megabyte (MB) a thousand kilobytes or a million bytes. (Actually 1,048,576 bytes).

megahertz (MHz) a million cycles or hertz per second. A computer’s microprocessor, the clock speed, or the chip speed, until recently has been measured in megahertz. However, personal computers are now available with microprocessors that run at speeds measured in gigahertz.

meltdown the overloading of a computer network that, in some instances causes a noticeable slowing of the transmission of information, and in the worst case, causes the network to crash.

memory data storage space inside a computer. Memory usually refers to data stored using a chip or chips, while the term storage refers to data maintained on disks or tape. All computers are equipped with what is known as physical memory, called the main memory or Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM is the same as physical memory. In the recent past, the standard memory capacity for an off-the-shelf Personal Computer was anywhere from 16 to 32 megabytes of RAM. Today, many stock computers come equipped with 64 to 128 megabytes of RAM and often more.

memory leak a glitch that causes a program to use more and more memory until it finally causes a crash of the system.

menu a list of choices or commands a computer has available on a screen. The menu options may be accessed by pointing the mouse cursor over the desired command and left clicking. Usually this will prompt a list of choices to appear.
From here, the user clicks of one of the items to execute the particular command.

menu bar similar to a toolbar except the options or commands appear as a horizontal line of words including File, Edit, View, etc. at the top of a computer screen rather than icons or symbols.

merge to combine information from one file with information of another file in a manner that maintains the inherent order (often alphabetical or numerical) of each.

message box the same as an alert box, a small dialog box appearing on a computer screen that notifies the user of a changing condition with the application. For mega 83 example, a message box might appear telling the user that the program is running low on memory and suggest closing down other applications to free up resources. The message box will disappear only after the user acknowledges the message by clicking on one of the options offered.

meta a prefix used in computer science meaning “relating to” or “based on.” For example, a metadirectory would be a directory relating to, or about directories.

More simply put, a directory of directories.

meta tag HTML information describing a Web page or document. In addition to information about the enterprise that created the page, important keywords are written as meta tags, which are designed to be found when a search engine seeks these words entered by a user. The clever use of meta tags used to associate keywords to a Website can significantly increase traffic to the site. To take a look at HTML code and meta tags while online, click on “View” in the menu bar in Microsoft Explorer, then select “Source” and click again. Or simply take a look at the example below: <title>GSP - Gold Standard Press</title> <meta name=”keywords” content=”web marketing strategies, web marketing tools”> <meta name=”description” content=”Internet InfoScavenger is a monthly newsletter publication devoted to helping busy professionals market their products and services on the Web.”> </head> MHz see Megahertz.

micro a common term in computing meaning: 1. a microprocessor. 2. a computer.
3. something extremely small.

microcomputer a computer in which the central processing unit (CPU) is the microprocessor. Home computers are microcomputers and are generally used by one person at a time.

microprocessor a silicon chip, or integrated circuit that contains a computer’s central processing unit (CPU). The microprocessor, (or simply processor), is considered the computer’s brain. Microprocessors are responsible for the way computers calculate, analyze and organize data. When evaluating a personal computer for home use, the speed which the microprocessor operates is among the most, if not the most important of considerations. The speed of the processor is measured in megahertz. see CPU.

Microsoft Corporation the world’s leading software company, started in 1975 by Paul Allen and Bill Gates when they developed operating software for the Altair, a home computer used mainly by hobbyists. The software pioneers were approached in 1981 to design an operating system for the IBM Personal Computer, and history was made with the introduction of Microsoft DOS. Today Microsoft develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a wide range of software products for a multitude of computing devices. In a widely publicized antitrust lawsuit, the US Justice Department has ruled that the corporation is a monopoly and has ordered a breakup of the company. Microsoft has vowed to fight the ruling stating that to divide would hurt the company, the consumers that rely on their products, and the US economy. Many await the final disposition of the case.

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) pronounced middy, a standard for the way electronic musical instruments interact. When a computer is equipped to play MIDI files it simply means there is a MIDI-capable sound card inside the machine. Most cards are able to play two types of sound: digital audio and MIDI. Though digital audio is a more pure method of sound reproduction, it requires a great deal of memory. MIDI files are more easily compressed and require significantly less memory. MIDI files are easily downloaded from the Internet. Often, when you hear music playing on a Website, it’s a MIDI.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) a standard for attaching files other than text to email. Such files include graphics, audio, spreadsheets, charts, graphs, and faxes. Modern email programs allow for both the sending and receiving of MIME.

minimize in Macintosh and Windows operating systems, as well as many software programs, a button found in the upper right hand corner of the screen (in most cases, but not always) that, when the user places the mouse cursor on it and clicks, it decreases the size of the current window so the window is no longer visible on the computer screen.

MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second) a somewhat dated way of measuring the speed of a computer determined by how many instructions the machine can process per second.

mirror technically speaking, an exact copy of something. However, there are two relevant definitions important with regard to computers. 1. to invert an image so its “mirror” reflection is present along with the original. 2. the duplication of Web pages on more than one Web server. This is done to relieve the high demand on the server of a popular Website.

MMX (multimedia extensions) an Intel microchip technology, which is a step beyond the Pentium Processor, designed to accommodate multimedia and communications functions such as animation, video and audio.

mode the operational state of a piece of computer hardware or software. For example, if a Windows user thought she was about to experience a hard disk malfunction, (in many cases the computer would actually tell the user that hard disk failure was eminent) she would open Windows in the safety mode and be sure to backup all important files before having a technician examine the machine.

modem a device that allows for communications between computers via a telephone line, coaxial cable, or fiber optics by transferring digital data. The transfer rate of the information is measured in bits per second (bps). Modems may be connected to computers internally, or externally. Wireless modems are available for portable computers and work much like cellular telephones.

 minimize button minimize maximize & restore close 86 moderated mailing list a collection of email recipients who receive messages before they are sent to subscribers.

module an individual component of either computer hardware or a software program.
In either case, modules are linked together in order to function.

moiré an undesirable graphical pattern resulting from poor monitor or printer resolution.

monitor (display monitor) a television like device that converts computer information into graphical images and text.

monochrome monitor a monitor that displays a single color against a background resulting in the monitor actually displaying two colors.

Moore’s Law a prediction made in 1965 by Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, stating the number of transistors occupying a square inch of integrated circuit material had doubled each year since the invention of the integrated circuit and that the multiplication of circuitry would continue. For the most part, the observation held true until the late 1970s when the time span of a year increased to about 18 months. Over time, Moore’s Law has erroneously been associated with the notion that microprocessor speeds would double each year.

morph short for metamorphosis, meaning the gradual, yet complete changing of an image to one that is totally different.

Mosaic a multimedia Web browser distributed freely (there are versions available for sale as well) by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) used for the viewing of HTML and other documents on the World Wide Web. Mosaic was widely responsible for the initial popularity of the Internet in the early 1990s.

motherboard the main circuit board of a computer which provides connections for all other peripherals such as the BIOS, serial ports and expansion slots. The motherboard houses the microprocessor and memory.

Motorola Inc. a leading manufacturer of microchips, providing integrated communications solutions, embedded electronic solutions including Software-enhanced wireless telephone, two-way radio, messaging and satellite communications products and systems, as well as networking and Internet-access products for consumers, network operators, and commercial, government and industrial customers. Until the early 1990s, Motorola provided all of the microprocessors used in Apple Macintosh computers.

mouse a popular computer input device, vaguely shaped like a real mouse, that allows the user to select commands displayed on a monitor and easily initiate those commands by clicking the device. A mouse is used by moving it around a small field on a physical desktop (often a mousepad). Moving the mouse positions a pointer, or mouse cursor on the monitor. When the cursor is in position, (placed over a command button, or hyperlink) the mouse is clicked to initiate the command. The mouse was developed by Douglas Engelbart and Xerox Corporation in the 1970s, adopted by Apple soon after, and utilized with huge success by Microsoft with the introduction of Windows in the early 1990s.
The mouse is a vital component of the graphical user interface. The plural of mouse is mice and they are available in cordless models.

mouse potato a slang term adapted from couch potato to describe an enthusiastic, perhaps obsessed, computer user.

Mozilla the original name for the Web browser, Netscape Navigator.

MP3 (MPEG Third Layer) a standard for the compression of audio files allowing for high compression ratios without a loss in sound quality. The compression of the audio signal can be likened to an encrypting of sorts. A special player is required to listen to MP3.

MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) a standard for playing digital video and sound on a computer. MPEG is a file format using high compression. MPEG files are found on DVDs, CD-ROMs and Websites.

MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) the operating system first developed for the IBM Personal Computer and compatibles in 1981 by Microsoft. Windows 95, 98 and 2000 each include a version of DOS.

MSNBC a co-venture of Microsoft and NBC focusing on the Internet, cable, and broadcast media.

 MSNBC MUD (Multi User Domain or Multi User Dimension or Multi User Dungeon) a realtime, interactive virtual community where the inhabitants assume identities using avatars. Initially, MUDs were almost exclusively devoted to role playing activities, today, however, the term is also synonymous with chat rooms.

MultiCast to broadcast an audio or video message over a network using special software such as Real Audio.

multimedia the use of a computer to display integrated text, graphics, animation and sound. As computers become more sophisticated and less expensive, the potential for use in multimedia presentations such as movies and interactive education increases.

multitasking the ability for a computer to run more than one application or task at one time. Technically speaking, a computer’s microprocessor executes only one task at a time. However, the CPU quickly alternates operational functions among open programs to give the appearance of simultaneous operation. For example, a user might finish work on a document and print it. While it is printing, she can begin work on another document using a word processing program, play a game, or navigate the World Wide Web.

My Computer in Windows, a folder, often represented by a computer icon on the desktop, that contains the system’s disk drivers, control panel, printers, and dial-up-networking connections.

MUD software distributed on the Internet that the user agrees to pay a small fee to use. The name nagware comes from the periodic appearance (usually before or after each session) of a pop-up message reminding the user he has not yet registered. see shareware.