Jim Cortada's "Inside IBM"
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" not "floppy"; "pointing Device" not "mouse." And others. I remember being shocked – shocked! when IBM called its OS2 operating system "Warp." So out of place, but the world, and IBM, moved on. Now we see the proliferation of what I consider inappropriate names for software and services that have a serious place in society: Google, Twitch, Slack, Yahoo! When Tom Haigh & I were writing our Third Edition, we had a discussion about whether to include the exclamation point in Yahoo. We left it off. And when I suggested to my office mates at the Smithsonian that we adopt Slack, they thought I was joking. I'm glad we didn't adopt it, regardless of how useful it isd or isn't. Could you imagine President Eisenhower issuing a Tweet? (General Eisenhower once said, in response to a RAND Corporation report, "There will be no software in this man's army!" Where did it all begin? Maybe from a programmer named Tom Pittman, author of Tiny Basic. He called his service "Itty Bitty Computers." This was around 1976 or so. Anyone have better information? Paul Ceruzzi
Where did it all begin? Do you mean, where did the non-serious names begin?
Apple, in 76, and Altair, in 75, both come to mind. Engelbart called it the "mouse" in 1968. RAND had the Johnniac in 1954. Although, there was Edmund Berkeley's "Simon" in 1950. On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 3:11 PM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette"
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" not "floppy"; "pointing Device" not "mouse." And others. I remember being shocked – shocked! when IBM called its OS2 operating system "Warp." So out of place, but the world, and IBM, moved on.
Now we see the proliferation of what I consider inappropriate names for software and services that have a serious place in society: Google, Twitch, Slack, Yahoo! When Tom Haigh & I were writing our Third Edition, we had a discussion about whether to include the exclamation point in Yahoo. We left it off. And when I suggested to my office mates at the Smithsonian that we adopt Slack, they thought I was joking. I'm glad we didn't adopt it, regardless of how useful it isd or isn't. Could you imagine President Eisenhower issuing a Tweet? (General Eisenhower once said, in response to a RAND Corporation report, "There will be no software in this man's army!"
Where did it all begin? Maybe from a programmer named Tom Pittman, author of Tiny Basic. He called his service "Itty Bitty Computers." This was around 1976 or so. Anyone have better information?
Paul Ceruzzi _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://sigcis.org__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9z... , 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 https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis... and you can change your subscription options at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sig...
-- *Evan Koblentz* - Senior Writer, Office of Communications and Marketing - Adjunct Instructor, Ying Wu College of Computing - Advisor, NJIT Lego Club evank@njit.edu <evan.a.koblentz@njit.edu> (973) 596-3065 <9735963065> https://web.njit.edu/~evank/
The use of specialized data processing language actually began in the last quarter of the 19th century with the "office appliances," such as typewriters, adding machines, etc. created by firms that in time also made computers, most notably IBM. Paul just kicked up a huge topic. Unfortunately, I do not feel qualified to take it on. Jim Cortada On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 2:23 PM Koblentz, Evan via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
Where did it all begin? Do you mean, where did the non-serious names begin?
Apple, in 76, and Altair, in 75, both come to mind.
Engelbart called it the "mouse" in 1968.
RAND had the Johnniac in 1954.
Although, there was Edmund Berkeley's "Simon" in 1950.
On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 3:11 PM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" not "floppy"; "pointing Device" not "mouse." And others. I remember being shocked – shocked! when IBM called its OS2 operating system "Warp." So out of place, but the world, and IBM, moved on.
Now we see the proliferation of what I consider inappropriate names for software and services that have a serious place in society: Google, Twitch, Slack, Yahoo! When Tom Haigh & I were writing our Third Edition, we had a discussion about whether to include the exclamation point in Yahoo. We left it off. And when I suggested to my office mates at the Smithsonian that we adopt Slack, they thought I was joking. I'm glad we didn't adopt it, regardless of how useful it isd or isn't. Could you imagine President Eisenhower issuing a Tweet? (General Eisenhower once said, in response to a RAND Corporation report, "There will be no software in this man's army!"
Where did it all begin? Maybe from a programmer named Tom Pittman, author of Tiny Basic. He called his service "Itty Bitty Computers." This was around 1976 or so. Anyone have better information?
Paul Ceruzzi _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://sigcis.org__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9z... , 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 https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis... and you can change your subscription options at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sig...
--
*Evan Koblentz*
- Senior Writer, Office of Communications and Marketing
- Adjunct Instructor, Ying Wu College of Computing
- Advisor, NJIT Lego Club
evank@njit.edu <evan.a.koblentz@njit.edu>
(973) 596-3065 <9735963065>
https://web.njit.edu/~evank/ _______________________________________________ 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
-- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada@umn.edu 608-274-6382
On 21-Feb-24 09:21, Koblentz, Evan via Members wrote:
Where did it all begin? Do you mean, where did the non-serious names begin?
Turing, in his 1946 ACE design, described a stack with the operators BURY and UNBURY, and several whimsical names were used at Bletchley Park (the Newmanry, Heath Robinson and so on). I'm also a bit suspicious that the Booths' HEC was, what the heck, whimsical as well. So, I think non-serious names started at the beginning :-). Brian
Apple, in 76, and Altair, in 75, both come to mind.
Engelbart called it the "mouse" in 1968.
RAND had the Johnniac in 1954.
Although, there was Edmund Berkeley's "Simon" in 1950.
On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 3:11 PM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org <mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> wrote:
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" not "floppy"; "pointing Device" not "mouse." And others. I remember being shocked – shocked! when IBM called its OS2 operating system "Warp." So out of place, but the world, and IBM, moved on.
Now we see the proliferation of what I consider inappropriate names for software and services that have a serious place in society: Google, Twitch, Slack, Yahoo! When Tom Haigh & I were writing our Third Edition, we had a discussion about whether to include the exclamation point in Yahoo. We left it off. And when I suggested to my office mates at the Smithsonian that we adopt Slack, they thought I was joking. I'm glad we didn't adopt it, regardless of how useful it isd or isn't. Could you imagine President Eisenhower issuing a Tweet? (General Eisenhower once said, in response to a RAND Corporation report, "There will be no software in this man's army!"
Where did it all begin? Maybe from a programmer named Tom Pittman, author of Tiny Basic. He called his service "Itty Bitty Computers." This was around 1976 or so. Anyone have better information?
Paul Ceruzzi _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://sigcis.org__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9z... <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://sigcis.org__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9zdkoDLr7wnY3ogzDZIWkry6-XJF6Mpuy5zqr9x6pYjVi9TEWwcj8B7JKak6TNmT1I08ztE$> , the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis... <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9zdkoDLr7wnY3ogzDZIWkry6-XJF6Mpuy5zqr9x6pYjVi9TEWwcj8B7JKak6TNmTwaKMy7c$> and you can change your subscription options at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sig... <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org__;!!DLa72PTfQgg!LPil_tzyvhbg9zdkoDLr7wnY3ogzDZIWkry6-XJF6Mpuy5zqr9x6pYjVi9TEWwcj8B7JKak6TNmT7_oVe_A$>
--
*Evan Koblentz***
- Senior Writer, Office of Communications and Marketing
- Adjunct Instructor, Ying Wu College of Computing
- Advisor, NJIT Lego Club
evank@njit.edu <mailto:evan.a.koblentz@njit.edu>
(973) 596-3065 <tel:9735963065>
https://web.njit.edu/~evank/ <https://web.njit.edu/~evank/>
_______________________________________________ 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
Thanks for the kind comments. I think your discussion about names and languages is more important, not only because some of its silly, but unique nonetheless. I have long that there is a very large body of serious research that needs to be done--and that has yet to be started in any serious way--about the entire vocabulary of computing. IBM published a number of dictionaries of IT terms, and these pubs carried thousands of words, many of which continued to rapidly change in definitions and specifics, many within just 3 to 5 years. I keep hoping that a small groupf English professors would take on this project. Jim On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 2:11 PM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
I finally had a chance to look at the summary of Jim's book from CBI, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always found IBM's control over nomenclature noteworthy: "Electronic Data Processing," not "Computer"; "Diskette" not "floppy"; "pointing Device" not "mouse." And others. I remember being shocked – shocked! when IBM called its OS2 operating system "Warp." So out of place, but the world, and IBM, moved on.
Now we see the proliferation of what I consider inappropriate names for software and services that have a serious place in society: Google, Twitch, Slack, Yahoo! When Tom Haigh & I were writing our Third Edition, we had a discussion about whether to include the exclamation point in Yahoo. We left it off. And when I suggested to my office mates at the Smithsonian that we adopt Slack, they thought I was joking. I'm glad we didn't adopt it, regardless of how useful it isd or isn't. Could you imagine President Eisenhower issuing a Tweet? (General Eisenhower once said, in response to a RAND Corporation report, "There will be no software in this man's army!"
Where did it all begin? Maybe from a programmer named Tom Pittman, author of Tiny Basic. He called his service "Itty Bitty Computers." This was around 1976 or so. Anyone have better information?
Paul Ceruzzi _______________________________________________ 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
-- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada@umn.edu 608-274-6382
participants (4)
-
Brian E Carpenter -
Ceruzzi, Paul -
James Cortada -
Koblentz, Evan