paper tape

paper tape

noun Computers.
a narrow strip of paper in which holes are punched in designated patterns to represent characters: formerly in common use as an input/output medium.
Also called punched tape, punch tape.


Origin:
1885–90, for earlier sense
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Paper tape is always a great word to know.
So is control panel. Does it mean:
program instructions that must be translated by a compiler, interpreter, or assembler into object code before execution
the portion of a computer console that contains manual controls for regulating computer operations
Collins
World English Dictionary
paper tape
 
n
US equivalent: perforated tape a strip of paper for recording information in the form of rows of either six or eight holes, some or all of which are punched to produce a combination used as a discrete code symbol, formerly used in computers, telex machines, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

paper tape definition

hardware, history
Punched paper tape. An early input/output and storage medium borrowed from telegraph and teletype systems.
Data entered at the keyboard of the teletype could be directed to a perforator or punch which punched a pattern of holes across the width of a paper tape to represent the characters typed. The paper tape could be read by a tape reader feeding the computer. Computer output could be similarly punched onto tape and printed off-line.
As well as storage of the program and data, use of paper tape enabled batch processing.
The first units had five data hole positions plus a sprocket hole (for the driving wheel) across the width of the tape. These used commercial telegraph code (ITA2 also known as Murray), Baudot code, or proprietary codes such as Elliott which were more programmer-friendly. Later systems had eight data holes and used ASCII coding.
(2003-12-02)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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