[net.lang] meaning?

rwhw@5941ux.UUCP (06/03/83)

What does the phrase "computer readable" mean?

jak@hou5f.UUCP (06/04/83)

As the poster of the article containing the phrase "computer readable",
I meant an "electronic" rather than "hard copy" form.
That is, something that could be sent to me via electronic mail, uucp , or
on 9 track tape.

Cheers, Jim  ABI Holmdel, NJ  ...!hou5f!jak
to my system.

rcj@burl.UUCP (06/13/83)

The phrase "computer readable" means that a computer can put the
information in question onto one or more of its standard memory
devices with minimal human intervention.  The term is really no
longer simply a function of the material that you are trying to
classify as "computer readable" or "non-computer readable".
It is also a function (these days) of the peripherals available
at the site trying to do the reading.  If you have the proper
optical scanners and software, newspapers are "computer readable" --
all the operator has to do is turn the pages and set the scanner
at the beginning of the page.  On my computer, however, without
the optical scanner, the same document would not be computer
readable -- to get the information into my computer I would have
to type it in by hand.  In general these days, magnetic tape and magnetic
discs are considered computer readable.  Depending on an individual
site's peripherals, one might selectively include paper tape, laser
discs, audio recording media, cleanly legible printed materials, etc.
-- 

The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3814 (Cornet 291)
alias: Curtis Jackson	...![ floyd sb1 mhuxv ]!burl!rcj