Trivia
HardWhich Of These Computer Terms Was Originally Literal?

Answer: Patching
It’s entertaining to think about many of the computer terms we use coming from literal origins. What if we called it “booting” the computer because people used to start the machines with a swift kick from their boot-clad feet? Sadly, the majority of them are figurative in meaning.
In the case of software patching, however, the origins were quite literal. Early reprogrammable computers were programmed using punch tape where the command instructions were actual holes punched into the paper stock. If you made an error or introduced a bug into the code, you would have to review the physical tape and then carefully cover over the erroneous holes with paper “patch” tape.
In light of that, perhaps in an alternate history we’d have ended up calling the process of code repair “Scotching” (after a brand name of tape) or “masking” (after a type of tape) instead of patching.
Trivia
HardWhich Of These Office Supplies Was Invented Decades Before It Saw Practical Use?
Trivia
HardWhich Astronomer Is Currently En Route To The Planet He Discovered?
Trivia
HardBlade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, And Minority Report Are All Based On Works By?
Trivia
HardWhat Is The Most Expensive Video Game In The World?
Trivia
HardThe “Wishbone” Found In Holiday Turkeys Is The Birds’?
Trivia
EasyUntil 2011, Social Security Numbers Could Be Used To Determine A Person’s?
Trivia
HardThe First U.S. Company To Trademark Their Service Uniforms Was?
Trivia
HardThe Largest Living Turtle Species Is The?
Trivia
EasyThe Direction Of Clock Hand Movement Was Determined By?
Trivia
EasyMovie Trailers Are Called Such Because They Were Originally?