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Subject:Re: Article on origins of computer terminology? From:Robert Bononno <bononno -at- ACF2 -dot- NYU -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 29 Oct 1993 23:02:24 -0400
Liora,
I read the book when it came out and thought it was a hoot, but serious
too. I noticed several errors, however, in Barry's short international
glossary of computer terms (primarily the French stuff), although I don't
consider that a serious flaw.
It was nice the way he gave a semi-serious etymology of computer jargon
with a bit of gossip and history thrown in. The mix-and-match stuff was
fun and seems to fit the reality of computer advertising mania.
Robert Bononno
bononno -at- acf2 -dot- nyu -dot- edu
On Thu, 28 Oct 1993, Liora Alschuler wrote:
> Steven,
> You might like the book "Technobabble" by John A. Barry MIT Press, 1991. (pap
er
> back 1993.)
> He starts:
> "This paper-based, productized bookware module ..." the point being that if
> you understand that, you understand technobabble. The book is serious and
> funny and quite well research with good insight into the language we must
> use to describe these machines, how it came into being, and why it is the
> way it is.
> I'd like to know if anyone else has read it and what their reactions are.
