tabulator
Spreadsheet column arranger
A tabulator is a device or function that arranges data into columns or tables.
The term originally referred to a key on typewriters that advanced the carriage to preset positions for aligned columns.
In computing, the tab key retains this function, inserting whitespace or moving between fields.
Early IBM tabulators were machines that processed punched cards, ancestors of modern computers.
Mechanical arithmetic device
- keypunchDevice perforating data cards
- HollerithPunch card computing inventor
- punch cardData storage via perforations
- mechanicalOperated by machinery
register · keys · lever · arithmetic · totaling · subtotaling · bookkeeping · ledger
Tabular data organizer
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- columnsUpright structural shafts
- rowsSide-by-side sequences
- tablesFlat-topped furniture pieces
fields · records · sorting · indexing · formatting · alignment · cells · headers
Official population count
- 1890Late nineteenth-century date
- IBMMultinational technology corporation
- punched cardsHole-encoded data rectangles
- sortingArranging into sequence
counting · electromechanical · statistical · population · enumeration · government · bureaus · automation
Formally registering a choice
- ballotsVoting forms
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- electorateEligible voting body
election · democracy · turnout · electoral · constituency · suffrage · tallying · canvassing
adding machine
Mechanical arithmetic device
- keypunchDevice perforating data cards
- HollerithPunch card computing inventor
- punch cardData storage via perforations
mechanical · register · keys · lever · arithmetic · totaling · subtotaling · bookkeeping · ledger · accounting
spreadsheet
Tabular data organizer
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- columnsUpright structural shafts
- rowsSide-by-side sequences
tables · fields · records · sorting · indexing · formatting · alignment · cells · headers · CSV
census
Official population count
- 1890Late nineteenth-century date
- IBMMultinational technology corporation
- punched cardsHole-encoded data rectangles
sorting · counting · electromechanical · statistical · population · enumeration · government · bureaus · automation · data processing
voting
Formally registering a choice
electorate · election · democracy · turnout · electoral · constituency · suffrage · tallying · canvassing · enumeration
- vintage officetypewriter, adding machine, mimeograph, dictaphone, Rolodex
- calculating machinescalculator, adding machine, difference engine, abacus, desk calculator
- poll workerspoll worker, election judge, ballot counter, vote counter, registrar
- Typewriterstypewriter, carriage, platen, typebar, ink ribbon
- voting technologyvoting machine, electronic voting, e-voting, optical scanner, vote counter
- voting equipmentballot box, optical scanner, vote counter, booth, poll book
tabulatorscrambler
Device that jumbles signals
disorganizer · prose writer · narrator · randomizer · narrative
- vote tabulationCounting electoral choices
tabulate, tabulation, tabulating, tabulated, tabulates, tabulations, tabulators