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`Fully updatédwth .thg’ Hate
`technologies, _ terms and a
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`AIX
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`lso allows for stor-
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`xture maps in sys-
`for large amounts
`uns at 66 MHz—
`upport data transfer
`[local buS.
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`'
`0f IPdpagkitguthen-
`stan ar .
`thentication infor-
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`data, which allowS
`t allowed. See also
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`:5 audio files in the
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`; and Silicon Graph-
`
`Sed 011 Apple and
`2F stores waveform
`also waveform.
`
`Instant Messenger.
`'ovided for free by
`, instant messages
`using the AIM SOfi'
`5mg AIM EXPIESS'
`1g1ng. Compare
`Messenger.
`,
`,
`ion introduced by
`:ss network and
`._ cardfiqgipped
`of an AirPort base
`the IEEE 802.11
`lustry standard and
`:d equipment.
`ther and decrypt
`etworks. AirSnort
`
`)llects packets of
`1a, AirSnort is able
`the transmission.
`aws in the Wired
`
`Fee also password
`
`[arm n. A visual or auditory signal from a computer
`
`'
`ing the user to an error or a hazardous situation.
`
`:2. See load balancing.
`.
`.
`_
`‘
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`'e'r't rt. 1. In many operatmg systems With GUIs (graphi-
`
`user interfaces), an audible or visual alarm that signals
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`fror or represents a warning of some sort. See also
`
`
`ox. 2. In programming, an asynchronous notifica—
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`sent by one thread to another. The alert interrupts the
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`I "plant thread at defined points in its execution and
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`rises it to execute an asynchronous procedure call. See
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`' synchronous procedure call, thread (definition I).
`
`rt box it. An on—screen box in a GUI (graphical user
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`{apiece} that is used to deliver a message or warning.
`
`are dialog box.
`
`rter service a. A service used by the server and other
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`art" es to notify selected users and computers of adminis-
`vs alerts that occur on a computer. The Alerter service
`
`qmres the Messenger service. See also administrative
`"Hens-Messenger service, service.
`
`
`IOL n. Acronym for Algorithmic Language. The first
`tructured procedural programming language, developed
`
`the Late 19505 and once widely used in Europe.
`o'iithm n. A finite sequence of steps for solving a logi-
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`or mathematical problem or performing a task.
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`.
`_
`_
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`orithmlc language It. A programming language, such
`
`Ada, Basic, C, or Pascal, that uses algorithms for prob,
`Solving.
`
`-
`.: _
`.
`
`lgonthmlc Language n. See ALGOL.
`
`has n. 1. An alternative label for some object, such as a
`
`1e or data collection. 2. A name used to direct e-mail
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`":essages to a person or group of people on a network.
`
`false signal that results from the digitization of an
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`g audio sample.
`
`5mg 7:. In computer graphics, the jagged appearance
`
`ifcurves or diagonal lines on a display screen, which is
`
`
`sed by low Screen resolution. See the illustration.
`
`
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`
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`_
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`'
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`.
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`.‘I.:-.‘3_' [allocation 1 fl
`
`eral pointers address the same chunk of storage, the pro-
`gram may free the storage using one of the pointers but
`then attempt to use another one (an alias), which would no
`longer be pointing to the desired data. This bug is avoid-
`able by the use of allocation strategies that never use more
`than one copy of a pointer to allocated core memory, or by
`the use of higher-level languages, such as LISP, which
`employ a garbage collection feature. Also called: stale
`pointer bug. See also alias, dynamic allocation, garbage
`collection.
`
`align vb. 1.1m an application such as a word processor, to
`position lines of type relative to some point, such as the
`page margin. The most common types of alignment are
`left— and right-aligned and centered. See the illustration.
`2. To adjust some device to position it within specified tol-
`erances, such as the readlwrite head relative to a track on a
`disk. 3.1a data handling, to store multiple—byte data units
`so that the respective bytes fall in corresponding locations
`of memory.
`‘
`
`Left
`.
`aligned
`to the
`left
`edge
`
`
`
`Right
`aligned
`to the
`right;
`
`edge
`
`Center
`centered
`arounda
`midpoint
`
`Decimal
`' ,999
`10;;99
`1003999
`105.999
`
`'
`
`Align.
`
`alignment n. The arrangement of objects in fixed or pre-
`determined positions, rows, or columns. For example, the
`Macintosh Finder can do automatic alignment of icons in
`a folder or on the desktop.
`
`Allegro n. Ported to a number of operating systems, Alle-
`gro is a freeware library of functions for use in program-
`ming computer games and graphics programs. It is written
`for the DIGPP compiler in a mixture of C and assembly
`language. The most recent release version is 4.0.0. See
`also assembly language, DJGPP.
`
`allocate vb. To reserve a resource, such as sufficient
`memory, for use by a program. Compare deallocate.
`
`allocation n. In operating systems, the process of reserv-
`ing memory for use by a program.
`
`:tive Executive. A
`developed and
`:stations and PCs.
`
`aslng. The lower resolution of the image on the right
`eals the aliasing efect.
`
`Hitting bug in. A class of subtle programming errors that
`till arise in code that performs dynamic allocation. If sev-
`
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`surfaces. Because the markings permit an electric current
`to flow, a set of conductive brushes that ride on the surface
`of the conductive wheels can detect these conductive
`markings. The electronics in the mouse translate these
`electrical movement signals into mouse-movement infor—
`mation that can be used by the computer. See also mouse,
`trackball. Compare optical mouse, optomechanical
`mouse.
`mechatronies n. A term derived from the words mechan-
`ical and electronics to describe a field of engineering that
`applies mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering
`concepts to product design and manufacture. A relatively
`new discipline, mechatronics is applicable to products in
`fields as diverse as medicine, robotics, manufacturing, and
`consumer electronics.
`'
`media n. The physical material, such as paper, disk, and
`tape, used for storing computer-based information. Media
`is plural; medium is singular.
`Media Access Control n. See MAC.
`Media Control Interface n. See MC1(definition 1).
`-media conversion n. Transferring data from one sto
`medium to another—“for example, from disk to tape.
`media eraser n. A device that removes or obliterates data
`from a storage medium on a wholesale basis, usually by
`writing meaningless data (such as zeros) over it. See also
`bulk eraser.
`media filter n. 1. A device used with local area networks
`(LANs) as an adapter between two different types of
`media. For example, an RJ—45 connector might be used
`between coaxial cable and unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
`ar in function to transceivers.
`cables. Media filters are simil
`As with many components to LAN5, manufacturers often
`choose different names for similar products, so a LAN
`media filters are required
`expert is needed to decide which
`for a particular LAN. See also coaxial cable, connector
`(definition 1), LAN, transceiver, UTP. 2. A device added
`to data networks to filter out ele‘etronic noise from the
`environment. For example, a media filter might be added
`a1 cabling to prevent
`to an Ethernet network based on coaxi
`data loss from interference by nearby electronic equip—
`ment. See also coaxial cable, Ethernet (definition 1).
`e of audio or
`media stream n. A continuous sequent:
`audio-and-video through a network.
`g to the middle part of a range
`mediumi adj. Of or relatin
`of possible values.
`
`; .mechatronic's
`
`'-
`
`"1 " -'
`
`
`
`
`
`medium2 n. A substance in which signals can be tram
`mitted, such as a wire or fiber-optic cable. See media '
`medium model n. A memory model of the Intel 30x86
`processor farmly, The medium model allows only 64 kil
`bytes for data but generally up to 1 megabyte for code S3-
`
`or
`
`also memory model.
`medium-scale integration n. A concentration of circuit
`elements in the hundreds on a single chip. Acronym .. M5!
`See also integrated circuit.
`
` ' Melissa's
`
`rage
`
`'defizi.99"r"tifja:tween
`
`'\wstwnrmemam..
`
`
`meg it. See megabyte.
`mega- prefix One million (105). In computing, which is
`based on the binary (base-2) numbering system, mega- has
`a literal value of 1,048,576, which is the power of 2 (210}
`closest to one million. Abbreviation: M.
`megabit 7:. Usually 1,048,576 hits (22“); sometimes inlet-
`prcted as 1 million bits. Abbreviation: Mb, Mbit.
`e n. Usually 1,048,576 bytes (22“); sometimes
`megabyt
`interpreted as 1 million bytes. Abbreviation: MB.
`megacycte n. A term for 1 million cycles—usually used
`to mean 1 million cycles per second. Abbreviation: MC
`See also megahertz.
`
`megaflops it. See MFLOPS.
`megahertz n. A measure of frequency equivalent to l
`million cycles per second. Abbreviation: Nil-la.
`megapel display n. See megapixel display.
`megapixel adj. A reference to image resolution of one
`million pixels or more. The term is used in reference to
`devices such as digital cameras, scanners, and computer
`monitors and display adapters.
`ay capable of dis,
`megapixel display n. A video displ
`playing at least 1 million pixels. For example, a video dis-
`play with a screen size of 1024 horizontal pixels and 1024
`vertical pixels is a megapixel display. Also
`called: megapel display.
`I
`Melissa n. A macro virus that affects Word files in
`Microsoft Office 97 and Office 2000 and first appeared in
`the spring of 1999. Melissa is delivered asan attachment to
`' an e-mail with the subject line “An Important Message
`From <aser name>,“ a message beginning “Here is that
`document you asked for. . .,” or both. When the attachment
`is opened, the virus propagates (if Microsoft Outlook is
`inatalled) by sendingitselfto the first 50 e-mail addresses in
`On the infected machine.
`the user’s Outlook address book.
`
`
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