Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Keypunched Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ’ป
Add to dictionary

keypunched

[หˆkiหpสŒnสงt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

data entry

Keypunched refers to the act of entering data into a computer or a database using a keyboard or a keypunch machine. This term is especially used in the context of early computing systems where data was often input through punched cards. Keypunched data was crucial in the development of modern computer systems and data management practices.

Synonyms

data entry, entered, input, keyed in.

Examples of usage

  • He keypunched the information into the system.
  • The data was keypunched from the survey results.
  • She spent hours keypunching records for the project.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

History of Computing

  • Keypunch machines were widely used in the early 20th century for data entry in census and business applications.
  • Computer programming in the 1960s often involved keypunch cards, which were used to input and store programs.

Cultural Context

  • Keypunching became a symbol of early computing, representing a time when computers were limited to text-based input.
  • The transition from keypunch systems to more intuitive graphical interfaces marked significant growth in computer accessibility.

Technology

  • Modern computers use keyboards for input; however, keypunch technology laid the groundwork for today's data entry methods.
  • Keypunched information could be processed by early computers that scanned the punched holes to read data.

Education

  • Learning to keypunch was a fundamental skill for early computer science students, emphasizing the importance of precise data entry.
  • Keypunching is less common now but historical practices are still taught to highlight the evolution of technology.

Origin of 'keypunched'

Main points about word origin

  • The term 'keypunched' comes from the action of punching holes in cards used in early computers to read data.
  • The word combines 'key,' as in keyboard input, and 'punched,' referring to the process of making holes in material.

The term 'keypunched' originates from the early days of computing, specifically in the context of data entry. Keypunch machines were used from the 1900s to 1970s to input data onto punched cards, which were used in early computing for programming and data processing. Each punch in the card represented different data points. As technology advanced, keyboards became more prevalent, and the term 'keypunching' adapted to describe the process of entering information directly into computers. The transition from keypunch machines to traditional keyboards symbolized a major leap in data processing efficiency. Today, while the use of keypunch machines has mostly become obsolete, the verb 'keypunched' persists in relational data entry contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,359, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.