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Subject:RE: Can software have human attributes? From:"walden miller" <wmiller -at- vidiom -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 26 Jul 2001 14:48:35 -0600
Emily writes:
>>>>>>
Just wanted to point out that very often software developers use commands in
their software that correspond to "human" activities.
So, for example, there is a C-language statement, probably also in C++,
called: wait();
Which means that the program literally DOES wait. I'm certain there are
many other examples of this.
>>>>>
Agreed.
While this borders on other topics in the past, operating system software is
full of human references: children, siblings, parents, grandparents, etc.
Let alone the method for getting rid of them: killing the parents, children,
etc. Now to the less palatable network terms: master/slave, client/server.
Then there is the mundane marketing: family of software tools (makes me want
to call up Bill and call him dad).
Then there is the actual work environment. My computer is named flipper.
We also have nipper (came from RCA). The first place I worked was filled
with hobbits and dwarves (bilbo, frodo, balin, etc.). One of my favorite
networking manuals used two computers as an example of a master/slave
relationship and named the computers Mick and Keith.
I think the ban on anthropomorphizing software and computers should stop
when someone wants to ascribe gender. The computer... He or She does
something. But I think we all could lighten up about thinking about
ascribing agency to a computer.
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