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Database Forum / Oracle / Oracle Server / December 2005trivia: origin of names for UPPER() and LOWER()
it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases 'upper case' and 'lower case' so, trivia question: what's the derivation (etymology, if you will) of the terms 'upper case' and 'lower case' from which these functions get their name? ++ mcs | it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the | names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] | | ++ mcs I think it comes from the typewriter. When you have to type a capital letter you press the shift button which elevates the carriage. So, small letters were typed when carriage is in lower position and capital letters when it is in upper position. (Sorry if the technical words are not the correct ones) Regards Michel Cadot >| it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the >| names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Regards >Michel Cadot Actually it was from typesetting days: From: http://www.bellevuelinux.org/lower_case.html The terms lower case and upper case originated from the way that type (i.e., individual letters that were cast from special metal alloys for use in printing) was stored in the days of hand typesetting. The type was sorted by letter and kept in specially designed wooden or metal cases, with separate cases for capital and small letters. Usually the two cases were placed one above the other on a rack on the typesetter's desk, with the case containing the capital letters (i.e., the upper case) positioned above that containing the small letters (i.e., the lower case). hth PS: ( Is there anything you can't find with a Google search ;-) ) >>| it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the >>| names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > PS: > ( Is there anything you can't find with a Google search ;-) ) I once had a client that required a BATES number on every sales order, so we made sure we included BATES_NO in the database design. Then we asked what the BATES number represents, we were told it was from the Bates 'kerchunker' gizmo that stamps the number on the incoming paperwork. I've sinced learned that this quaint terminology is actually a bit more widespread; from 'http://www.techpathways.com/uploads/BatesNumbering.pdf' "Note: The term "Bates Number" comes from the Bates Manufacturing Co. which was incorporated on September 13, 1890 in New York State. The Bates Manufacturing Co. manufactured and sold automatic hand-held numbering machines. The company was bought by Edison Phonograph Works (Thomas Edison's company) in 1892." And most of us (at least on this side of the pond) still dial the phone, don't we? ++ mcs > >>| it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the > >>| names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > ++ mcs Even more trivial. Edison didn't invent the phone, but he designed and produced the first duplex telephone (hear and speak at the same time). > "Mark C. Stock" <mcstockX@Xenquery .com> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > Edison didn't invent the phone, but he designed and produced the first > duplex telephone (hear and speak at the same time). BTW -- the accent was on the word 'dial' ++ mcs > > "Mark C. Stock" <mcstockX@Xenquery .com> wrote in message > >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > ++ mcs Oh, I caught that. There are places where young people have never even seen a rotary dial phone. > There are places where young people have never even seen > a rotary dial phone. Which is why the phrase 'dial tone' is fast becoming an anachronsim. Does anyone have any others ? >Which is why the phrase 'dial tone' is fast becoming an anachronsim. >Does anyone have any others ? Structured Query Language seems to do a lot more than querying these days. And with a structure like in the manual, I'm amazed it doesn't just fall right over. :-) "Turning off" things: they aren't really off in the sense of not using electricity. This applies to virtually anything with a power supply these days. In fact, note where the button says power or just has an icon, rather than off and on. Can't find the link, but in the US the power usage of things that aren't really off is something like a billion Kw/year. Because you might turn on the TV and be in a real hurry to watch it. Cell phones are replacing "Hello, how are you" with "Hello, where are you?" Those stupid pauses computer dialers have before the salespeople start talking make me say "Start talking!" instead. Which was the original suggestion by Bell (or someone), I believe. CTRL-C as a break. Working 9 to 5 as something to be desired. <ESC> to change modes. Metadata, unique and separate from data. The US constitution and it's amendments. Special language for CB radios. Hot Rod (though to be fair, there is a backlash to the original meaning now). Slot cars. Flexies (a sled on wheels). Crazed computers destroying themselves, the ship, the building, the city, the universe. Ironically, as the concept becomes passe, the reality comes to pass. Channel Z. Cable http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051227/news_lz1c27remote.html Free (as in beer) software. usenet jg  Signature@home.com is bogus. Now I'll never get anything done. >> There are places where young people have never even seen >> a rotary dial phone. > > Which is why the phrase 'dial tone' is fast becoming an anachronsim. Does > anyone have any others ? i'm still going to the icebox for cold stuff, but i listen to my lps on my mp3 player. quadrophonic is dead, but what about the 5-channel stuff? quintophonic? ++ mcs More anachronisms: Telephone "ringing" or "ring tone" Re-boot from the days of a "bootstrap program". USB disc Floppy disc (try bending a 3½ inch "floppy" disc) Return key from "carriage return" on a typewriter Print Screen key Still on all known PC keyboards. Table Why are they called tables and not arrays? Upgrade Usually a breach of the trade descriptions act > Return key from "carriage return" on a typewriter I still say "Return key," sometimes to confused looks as I'm explaining how to do something to a user... and the keyboards only have "Enter" keys. jg Signature@home.com is bogus. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405496/ >> Return key from "carriage return" on a typewriter > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > jg ... and the symbol on the enter key is the 'return' symbol should also add 'tab stop' to the list, and did we forget to mention 'shift' (from actually shifting the carriage up so the top image on the typewriter impact key would strike the ribbon instead of the lower image) for that matter, doesn't 'enter' fail from dump terminal days? or am i thinking submit? what was on that red key, anyway? and who remembers why the QWERTY layout was invented? ++ mcs >and who remembers why the QWERTY layout was invented? Ooh, Ooh, I do, I do! To make the typists as slow as possible! (actually a myth, see http://home.earthlink.net/~dcrehr/whyqwert.html ) I have a portable fold-up typewriter from the late 40's or early 50's down in my basement somewheres, if I didn't sell it at the swap meet (can't remember). jg -- @home.com is bogus. http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2005/12/ipod-giveaway-7-steve-jobs#co mments > >and who remembers why the QWERTY layout was invented? > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > @home.com is bogus. > http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2005/12/ipod-giveaway-7-steve-jobs#co mments good reference... i remember hearing a hybrid of the reason: 'to avoid clashes by slowing down typists' -- so sounds like it was more like 'to avoid clashes that slowed down typists' the article unearthed another gem -- the daisy wheel. now here's real trivia... how many decibels was the average daisy wheel printer capable of reaching? ++ mcs >> There are places where young people have never even seen >> a rotary dial phone. > > Which is why the phrase 'dial tone' is fast becoming an anachronsim. > Does anyone have any others ? To the OP (++ mcs): perhaps MAJUSCULE() and MINUSCULE() would have been slightly more portable function names? ;-) To the follow-on question on anachronisms, here are three (3): * Disc Jockey (also: DeeJay, DJ) -- one who plays music which is pre-recorded onto discs for the entertainment of others * Boob tube -- American and Canadian slang refering to cathode ray tubes, not the British meaning ;-) and I don't even know what the Australians think it means... * "Burning out" a light bulb -- do the newer "curly-fry" fluorescent bulbs ("Last 10 times longer! Bulb using only 18 watts! Uses 70% Less Energy! Contains Mercury! Costs $1 USD at local store, but only if you go to the back room!) actually have anything like a filament to burn out? And, not an anachronism: Why does one burn MP3's onto an audio CD, but the inverse is to rip an audio CD into MP3's? Couldn't it have been "un-burn" or "de-rip" instead? -Mark Bole ... > To the OP (++ mcs): perhaps MAJUSCULE() and MINUSCULE() would have been > slightly more portable function names? ;-) great scrabble word! thanks! ++ mcs |
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