Abbreviations what's all this.

[Binman]

Over the last few months read many abbreviated words on the forum that has had me stumped, now another one, IBM what's this suppose to mean, driving me crazy, can we start a list of common abbreviations often used in the posts and what they mean, so I can get some sleep.

 

[richardabeattie]

IBM is from arabic and I think it means "It's up to allah, it doesn't matter, who cares?"

 

[The Old Man]

Especially for us who use English as second language !

 

[PCUK]

International Business Machines. Inventors of the PC.

 

[nemodreams]

Why ask here - ask a search engine ?
This one is quite a long list - but I can't find IBM anywhere on most lists ?



http://www.txtdrop.com/abbreviations.php

 

[Hoolie]

Urban dictionary has several possibilities, depending on context. Of course they're nearly all uncomplimentary!

 

[LadyInBed]

IBM always used to be referred to as 'big blue' in my day, but it had nothing to do with sailing

 

[Steve Clayton]

International Business Machines. Inventors of the PC.

IIRC IBM were only famous for making typewriters

IBM only coined the name "personal computer". The first of these was made in the '50's

 

[richardabeattie]

I knew I knew but here it is from Wiki:

IBM ( Inshallah - Bukra - Malesh ) God Willing- Tomorrow -Never Mind

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

IBM was the reason why the computer that appears in "2001: A Space Odyssey" was named HAL.

 

[macd]

IBM was the reason why the computer that appears in "2001: A Space Odyssey" was named HAL.

Next you'll be telling us you worked at Akdsbgkx Ozqj.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Next you'll be telling us you worked at Akdsbgkx Ozqj.

I'm afraid that I am not authorised to answer anything that has to do with Bletchley Park.

 

[macd]

I'm afraid that I am not authorised to answer anything that has to do with Bletchley Park.

:encouragement:

 

[JumbleDuck]

IBM was the reason why the computer that appears in "2001: A Space Odyssey" was named HAL.

Or, as Arthur C. Clarke himself put it:

As is clearly stated in the novel (Chapter 16), HAL stands for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer. However, about once a week some character spots the fact that HAL is one letter ahead of IBM, and promptly assumes that Stanley and I were taking a crack at the estimable institution ... As it happened, IBM had given us a good deal of help, so we were quite embarrassed by this, and would have changed the name had we spotted the coincidence.

-- From The Lost Worlds of 2001, published in 1972​

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Or, as Arthur C. Clarke himself put it:


-- From The Lost Worlds of 2001, published in 1972

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Incidentally, what does "Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer" mean... in real life?

 

[ex-Gladys]

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Incidentally, what does "Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer" mean... in real life?

Heuristics is the ability of the system to recognise patterns and learn for themselves. Very common in antivirus software, in that the program will recognise characteristics and learn for itself. Algorithms are sets of instructions...

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Thank you, Gladys, for explaining something that sounded like technobabble (to the uninitiated).

 

[LadyInBed]

Or, as Arthur C. Clarke himself put it:

As is clearly stated in the novel (Chapter 16), HAL stands for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer. However, about once a week some character spots the fact that HAL is one letter ahead of IBM, and promptly assumes that Stanley and I were taking a crack at the estimable institution ... As it happened, IBM had given us a good deal of help, so we were quite embarrassed by this, and would have changed the name had we spotted the coincidence.

-- From The Lost Worlds of 2001, published in 1972​

It has also been suggested that Windows NT derived its name from Digital Equipment Corp's operating system called VMS (Virtual Memory System), also one letter ahead.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It has also been suggested that Windows NT derived its name from Digital Equipment Corp's operating system called VMS (Virtual Memory System), also one letter ahead.

And DCL is only one ahead of EDM, which is Electrical Discharge Machining (spark erosion as was) and one behind CBK, which is the Central Bank of Kuwait. Good Lord, this goes deeper than I thought.

 

[ex-Gladys]

It has also been suggested that Windows NT derived its name from Digital Equipment Corp's operating system called VMS (Virtual Memory System), also one letter ahead.

When NT was launched the term "New Technology" was used at the launch event...