Bits, Nibbles, BYTES, and Gulps

Computer textbooks seldom talk about the same terminology that was once discussed in computer classes. Today you may have heard about the BYTE, but not some of the other terms listed below:

Bit: A bit is the smallest piece of computer information. It is like an on/off switch. In binary this would either be a "0" or a "1".

Nibble: A nibble is a group of four bits. At one time there was a computer magazine called "Nibble".

BYTE: A group of eight bits is a BYTE which is typically written in capital letters. This term has persisted and is still commonly used today. There was also a very popular computer magazine called "BYTE".

Gulp: Technically a group of more than one BYTE processed at one time. This term is definitely not around much these days.

Software: Computer Program (Still popular Term)

Firmware: This term refers to the things like cables etc. which are somewhat hard to the touch, but can be bent or manipulated.

Vaporware: This term applied to software that was marketed before it actually was available on the marketplace and some of this type of software never actually made it out to the marketplace.

DIP Switches: These were tiny switches usually located on the back or side of a printer. They had to be in a particular configuration to work with a particular computer. These switches controlled things like "end of line", "line feed", etc. Most printers today control such functions through software.

9 Pin Printers: The number of pins that were used to make the letter or character on "dot matrix" printers. This type of printer is generally not used today. Different numbers of pins were used on different versions of these printers.

Double Strike Mode: Was a way of using a low number of pins on a low pin number dot matrix printer, then micro-spacing a distance from one strike of the pins and then striking the same character or symbol a second time.

Daisy Wheel: A printer that had a print wheel with actual typewriter like characters. Because of the advances in laser and ink jet printers this type of printer is not common today.

Super Disk: A type of storage disk that generally became obsolete with the introduction of thum drives (memory sticks).

Debugging: A term used to describe removing errors from computer programs, but which was originally coined when computer operators had to actually open up computers and clean out real bugs that had gotten into the computers. (Note: usually the bugs were dead when found)

A whole range of computer terminology and equipment has already come and gone. Even the "floppy" disk is history for the most part. We also would talk about BASIC, QBASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, LOGO, and many other computer programming languages. In general these are no longer covered in an Introduction To Computers class. Some of us were around through these past changes. The process is affecting instruction of computer topics in the classroom. Some terms now have little reason to be discussed other than from a historical perspective. You may find it interesting to review some of the development of computers from the days of the Univac or earlier to the present.