[SIGCIS-Members] "String" [was Re: Origin of "vector" in vector graphics]

[Brian E Carpenter]

Hi,

Here's a start:

"Comit [11], designed in 1957-58, was the fi
rst string-processing language.
...
[11] Victor H. Yngve. Computer Programming with COMIT II. MIT Press,
Cambridge, MA, 1963."

Griswold, Ralph & Hanson, David. (1995), String Processing Languages,Encyclopedia of Computer Science, 3rd ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY, 1993, pp. 1302-1308.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2752636_String_Processing_Languages

The original COMIT paper might have priority:

Mechanical Translation, vol.5, no.1, July 1958; pp. 25-41
A Programming Language for Mechanical Translation
Victor H. Yngve, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
http://www.mt-archive.info/MT-1958-Yngve.pdf

Regards
   Brian Carpenter

On 21-Feb-21 00:29, Joris van Zundert wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm afraid I can't help you with the question on the etymology of vector in computing context. 
> 
> However, your question reminds me of an interrupted odyssey I have yet to finish, which is: what is the etymology of "string" (as a name for the primitive type of a series of characters) in computing context? If anybody has any clues where I should look for the first use in concrete connection to digital computing I would be greatly appreciative.
> 
> Thanks and best regards
> --Joris van Zundert
> 
> 
> On Sat, 20 Feb 2021 at 09:27, Bernard Geoghegan <bernardgeoghegan2010 at u.northwestern.edu <mailto:bernardgeoghegan2010 at u.northwestern.edu>> wrote:
> 
>     Hi SIGCISers,____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Can anyone advise on the origin of the term “vector graphics.”____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Clearly, it literally describes a production of “vectors” on the screen by a concrete line-drawing technology. However, I’m wondering if there were multiple senses in that term initially. Specifically, looking through SAGE documentation from the 1950s and 1960s, esp, accounts of if operator displays, “vector” describes the physical trajectory of planes on the display. As SAGE was also a key source for early graphical interfaces, I’m wondering of the term “vector graphics” had a double connotation, as an analogy between the flight paths and the manner of illustrating graphics. ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     It’s not earth shaking, but it’s etymologically neat-o if one can trace “vector graphics” to multiple connotations at its coinage.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Best, b____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     _______________________________________________
>     This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org <http://sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
> 
> -- 
> Drs. Joris J. van Zundert
> Researcher & Developer in Humanities Computing
> 
> Dept. of Literary Studies
> Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands
> Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
> 
> joris.van.zundert at huygens.knaw.nl <mailto:joris.van.zundert at huygens.knaw.nl>
> @jorisvanzundert
> +31624461051
> 
> https://jorisvanzundert.net/
> https://www.huygens.knaw.nl/vanzundert/?lang=en
> 
> visiting address
> Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185
> 1012 DK  Amsterdam
> The Netherlands
> 
> postal address
> P.O. Box 10855
> 1001 EW  Amsterdam
> The Netherlands
> 
> --
> Jack Sparrow: I thought you were supposed to keep to the code.
> Mr. Gibbs: We figured they were more actual guidelines.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
>