punchcard
Perforated data sheet
A punchcard is a stiff paper card that stores data as patterns of holes punched in specific positions.
Machines read the presence or absence of holes to process information.
Punchcards were essential to early computing and data processing, from census tabulation to programming mainframes.
Though obsolete for computing, the term persists in references to outdated technology: That system is straight out of the punchcard era.
Also spelled as two words: punch card.
Device perforating data cards
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- COBOLElderly business-oriented programming language
- batch processingRunning queued jobs automatically
- data processingSystematic manipulation of information
UNIVAC · IBM · tabulating · Hollerith · sorter · collator · interpreter · input
Punched-out paper bits
- perforationHole punched through something
- round holeOpening with curved edges
- cardstockRigid paper material
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
punching · die-cut · aperture · slot · hanging chad · notch · grid · pattern
Official population count
- tabulatorOne who tallies
- nineteenth centuryYears 1801-1900
- mechanizationConverting to machine operation
- Industrial RevolutionEra of mechanized production
textile industry · weaving · IBM · record-keeping · timekeeping · Social Security · voting · ballot
One who works machinery
- data entryRecording information digitally
- typing poolCentralized secretarial workforce
- clericalOf office duties
- officeProfessional work location
bureaucracy · payroll · inventory · billing · time clock · shift work
Old and outdated
- relicPreserved ancient object
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- deprecatedFormally advised against using
vintage · retro · museum piece · legacy system · phaseout · microfilm · magnetic tape · floppy disk
keypunch
Device perforating data cards
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- COBOLElderly business-oriented programming language
- batch processingRunning queued jobs automatically
data processing · UNIVAC · IBM · tabulating · Hollerith · sorter · collator · interpreter · input · output
chad
Punched-out paper bits
- perforationHole punched through something
- round holeOpening with curved edges
- cardstockRigid paper material
alignment · punching · die-cut · aperture · slot · hanging chad · notch · grid · pattern · precision
census
Official population count
- tabulatorOne who tallies
- nineteenth centuryYears 1801-1900
- mechanizationConverting to machine operation
Industrial Revolution · textile industry · weaving · IBM · record-keeping · timekeeping · Social Security · voting · ballot · census bureau
operator
One who works machinery
- data entryRecording information digitally
- typing poolCentralized secretarial workforce
- clericalOf office duties
office · bureaucracy · payroll · inventory · billing · time clock · shift work
antiquated
Old and outdated
- relicPreserved ancient object
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- supersededReplaced by something newer
deprecated · vintage · retro · museum piece · legacy system · phaseout · microfilm · magnetic tape · floppy disk · paper tape
- voting equipmentballot box, optical scanner, tabulator, vote counter, booth
punchcardsolid-state drive
Flash-based persistent storage
flash memory · cloud storage · SSD · neural interface · magnetic tape
punchcardtouchscreen
Input-sensitive display panel
keyboard · mouse · gesture control · command line · graphical user interface
punchcardtouchscreen
Input-sensitive display panel
gesture control · voice command · brain-computer interface · virtual keyboard · haptic feedback
card, punch, postcard, cardboard, punched, puncher, punchers