More often referred to as a Matrix.. I can't think of how to describe this very well..
you kind of just have to see it and use it to "get it", at least I had to.
The matrix table on a camera is a set of controls for color adjustment. today you would aim your
camera at a DSC Chroma Du Monde chart (see www.dsclabs.com) and basically alter the matrix
for various representations of colors. The chart has colors that represent the six vectors on a
vectorscope presented in a easy format so that you can reference a color on the chart by looking
at the scope and see a visual representation of colors. Man, this is hard.
Matrix is often used to set colorimetry on a camera for various looks.
The settings on a typical Matrix 1 might resemble something like this:
You may have a variable range of +/- 31 levels of adjustment for each matrix point.
To make a change between the colors of red and green (first matrix r-g) you would
+/- on the camera to make the change. Does this make any sense at all?
It's actually a bit more complicated than this,
but this should be a good start to encourage others to comment.