The Computer Expert's Glossary

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The ITS Connection Online Newsletter
Bug An elusive creature living in a program that makes it incorrect. The activity of "debugging," or removing bugs from a program, ends when people get tired of doing it, not when the bugs are removed.
Design What you regret not doing later on.
Hardware The parts of a computer system that can be kicked.
Information Center A room staffed by professional computer people whose job it is to tell you why you cannot have the information you require.
Meeting An assembly of computer experts coming together to decide what person or department not represented in the room must solve the problem.
Minicomputer A computer that can be afforded on the budget of a mid-level manager.
On-line The idea that a human being should always be accessible to a computer.
Performance A statement of the speed at which a computer system works. Or rather, might work under certain circumstances. Or was rumored to be working a month ago.
Quality control Assuring that the quality of a product does not get out of hand and add to the cost of its manufacture or design.
Regression analysis Mathematical techniques for trying to understand why things are getting worse.
Strategy A long-range plan whose merit cannot be evaluated until sometime
after those creating it have left the
organization.

August 2004

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