Stone Age
<jargon> In computer folklore, an ill-defined period from ENIAC (ca.
1943) to the mid-1950s; the great age of electromechanical dinosaurs. Sometimes
used for the entire period up to 1960-61 (see Iron Age); however, it is more
descriptive to characterise the latter period in terms of a "Bronze Age" era of
transistor-logic, pre-ferrite core memory machines with drum or CRT mass storage
(as opposed to just mercury delay lines and/or relays).
More generally, the term is used pejoratively for ancient hardware or software,
even by survivors from the Stone Age.
[Jargon File]
(2003-09-27)
Nearby terms:
STOIC « stomp on « STONE « Stone Age » stone
knives and bearskins » Stoneman » stop bit
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