Stone Age

jargon In computer folklore, an ill-defined period from

ENIAC (ca. 1943) to the mid-1950s; the great age of

electromechanical dinosaurs. Sometimes used for the entire

period up to 1960-61 (see Iron Age); however, it is more

descriptive to characterise the latter period in terms of a

"Bronze Age" era of transistor-logic, pre-ferrite corememory machines with drum or CRT mass storage (as opposed

to just mercury delay lines and/or relays).

More generally, the term is used pejoratively for ancient

hardware or software, even by survivors from the Stone Age.

[Jargon File]

(2003-09-27)