On Tue, 6 Oct 1998, Allison J Parent wrote:
> < > So would it be possible to come up with a group sanctioned list of
> < > definitions for:
> Pick up a dictionary and use it! These words have a definition that works
> if used concisely.
(-: Sorry, but then we would have to go with Jeff Salzman's definitions. :-)
My 10 year old OED (Oxford English Dictionary) says:
Computer Also -or. [f. Compute v. + -er.] One who computes; a
calculator, reckoner. spec. a person employed to make calculations in an
observatory, in surveying, etc.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. vi vi 289 The Clenders of these computers.
1704 ....
I've heard that some newer editions of the OED have added some of the
more modern usages.
> an industry that in my lifetime went from the early commercial vacuum
> tube machines to the 64bit CPU chip running some thousands of times
> faster.
And with software that has grown to compensate for the speed of the
hardware and keep the usefulness of the system where it was.
Nevertheless, it WOULD help if we agreed on basic definitions of our
fundamental terminology.
--
Fred Cisin cisin_at_xenosoft.com
XenoSoft http://www.xenosoft.com
2210 Sixth St. (510) 644-9366
Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
Received on Tue Oct 06 1998 - 14:37:42 BST