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Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

M1-DA DVI
A digital computer cable that allows you to connect your projector to a computer that has Digital Video Interface (DVI). This cable is compatible only with digitally enabled projectors.
MAC
Media Access Control
Magnetic Storage
Any medium that encodes data as variations in magnetic polarity. This medium is generally tape or desk.
Master
The edited and final version of an original film, videotape or audio tape used for broadcast or to make copies. The process of producing master, mother, and stamper videodiscs which are used for replication.
MB
Acronym for megabyte. A megabyte is 1024K, or roughly a million bytes (1,048,076 to be exact [1024 x 1024]).
MBC
Acronym for Monitor Break-out Cable.
MBC Power Connector
Some of Extron's MBC High Resolution cables and buffers require power. For those cables with a miniature power plug attached, connect into the MBC power jack on the interface.
Mbps
Acronym for Megabits per second.
MCGA
Monochrome/Color Graphics Adapter Display.
MDA
Monochrome Display Adapter, Resolution 720 x 350.
Megabyte
1 million, or 1,048,576, bytes or characters. It is also written as MB or Mbyte.
Megahertz (MHz)
1,000,000 Hertz; a unit of frequency. A sample rate unit equal to one million samples per second.
Memory
The location in the computer's main unit that stores information, both permanently (hard disk memory) or temporarily (random-access memory).
Menu
A list of display of available options that can be selected.
Metal halide lamps
Metal halide lamps use a light-producing element that is an arc tube. The arc tube has the same construction and operating principles as the mercury lamp. The color of the metal halide is balanced across the spectrum. By improving the color without the need for a phosphor coating the lamp approaches a point source that will result in better potential for optical control.
MFTA (Multi-Frequency Termination Adapter)
A single termination device with selectable frequencies for different applications.
MHz (as in 8 MHz)
An Acronym for megahertz. This is a unit of measurement and refers to a million cycles per second. Bandwidth is measure in megahertz.
Microsecond (s)
A unit of time equivalent to 0.000001 seconds.
MIDI
Acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
Milli (m)
Acronym for one thousandths. Example: 1 ms = 1/1000 second.
Millisecond (ms)
A unit of time equivalent to 0.001 seconds.
Mini jack
An audio connection interface common on personal cassette/CD players, computers, and InFocus projectors.
MIPS
Million Instructions Per Second - The rate at which a computer executes instructions.
Modeling
An educational process in which a computer-based learning system is used to represent a process. The user can alter values and analyze the results by the changes on the screen.
Modem (Modulate/Demodulate)
A device that puts information on a carrier signal and transmits it over a (phone) network. The same device receives such signals and demodulates, or separates the information from the carrier.
Modular
Consisting of independent units that are part of a total structure or system.
Modulation
A process of moving signal information to other frequencies to allow it to be transmitted. Example: MODEM.
Moir
A pattern resulting from a combination of other patterns. In video, this is usually an undesirable pattern.
Monitor
A computer display. Like the one you're probably looking at right now.
Monitor Break-out Cable
A cable used to view a computer signal on a local monitor or terminal while routing the same signal to a new source, such as a data projector or monitor. An MBC provides three connections in the form of a "Y" cable, a "T" cable or through an enclosure box.
Monochrome Composite Output
Provides a monochrome video output with combined Horizontal and Vertical sync for Composite Video with all the shades of the computer's monochrome, 8, 16, or 64 color display adapter card output signal.
Monochrome Signal
A "signal color" video signal - usually a black and white signal, or sometimes the luminance portion of a composite or component color signal.
Motif
Standard storage format for use with computers.
Motion Mode Interpolation (MMI)
Eliminates scan lines and "jaggies" in Extron's line scan doublers.
Mouse Speed
A loosely defined display response speed that allows for comfortable use of a mouse, typically around 150 ms. A fast moving mouse disappears sometimes with slow displays.
MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group)
A standards committee under the auspices of the International Standards Organization working on algorithm standards that will allow digital compression, storage and transmission of moving image information such as motion video, CD-quality audio and control data at CD-ROM bandwidth. The MPEG algorithm provides inter-frame compression of video images and can have an effective compression rate of 100:1 to 200:1
MRAM (Medium Resolution Analog Module)
Extron's input/output modules used in the Matrix 100 Switcher.
Ms
Acronym for MilliSecond, or 1/1,000 of a second.
MS DOS
Stands for "Microsoft Disk Operating System," the operating system adopted for the IBM-PC and compatibles. See DOS, Operating System.
Multi-Image
Concept of presenting viewer with several images simultaneously, whatever medium.
Multi-Tasking
The running of two or more programs on one computer at the same time.
Multiburst
This signal is commonly used in making system frequency response measurements.
Multimedia
An over-used term relating to an electronic device's ability to produce both visual and audio output. The term is used in relation to InFocus projectors when describing its ability to receive and produce visual and audio data.
Multimedia Platform
An integrated collection of computer and sound and image-based systems that provide access to multiple formats including text, graphics, audio, still images, animation, and motion video.
Multiplexing
The condensing of many signals into a few or one signal that still represents all of them. Demultiplexing is the reconstruction of the individual signals from the one multiplexed signal. An LCD panel performs the demultiplex function, in that it takes video signals that contain whole frames of video data and displays them as individual signals on each imagesel. See also "duty cycle".
Multipoint
Communication configuration in which several terminals or stations are connected. Compare to point-to-point, where communication is between two stations only.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
An industry-standard connection that allows musical instruments and devices to be controlled by computer.
MX
Extron's product designation for a device having a Metal Enclosure and an Internal Power Supply.
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