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This discussion came up recently around here. The designer of some new functionality in our system replaced "master/slave" with "parent/child." No objections so far have come to my attention. That said, if master/slave is suitable for your audience, use that phrase.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 2:17 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Replacing "master" and "slave" terminology
There really is no other unambiguous set of terms to
describe a system in which one unit has full control
of the other. Any substitute terms will introduce a
level of ambiguity, for example, does a "primary" unit
control a "secondary," or is the "secondary" a backup
to the "primary?"
There is a reason why some terms have been around
as long as they have.
Gene Kim-Eng
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Mulholland" <kemulholland -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:00 PM
Subject: Replacing "master" and "slave" terminology
> When two similar things - circuits, devices,
> mechanisms - are set up so that one controls the
> other, it's often called a "master-slave"
> relationship. For example, cars' brake systems have
> master cylinders and slave cylinders.
>
> I've been on the geeky end of technical communication
> for a long time, so I'm accustomed to this
> terminology.
> That doesn't necessarily mean I should use it, though;
> frankly, it makes me a little queasy.
>
> Today as I walked an engineer through an edit session
> on an application note that he's been writing, he
> volunteered that although he had referred to elements
> of his equipment setup as the "master" and "slave"
> units, he was uncomfortable with those words. He asked
> me what would be a better way to express the
> relationship.
>
> Here's the setup:
> MagicBox A and MagicBox B both communicate with
> BigDumbBox.
> The two MagicBoxes are identical. Their physical
> placement is at the discretion of the person who
> installs them. They might not even both be in the same
> room.
> BigDumbBox shouldn't be able to tell that there are
> two MagicBoxes.
> To keep BigDumbBox happy, MagicBox A controls MagicBox
> B and makes it look like all communication is between
> BigDumbBox and MagicBox A.
>
> What would you call the unit that controls the other
> one? What would you call the one that is under control
> of the first one?
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
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