Without cheating

[Crazy Dave]

How many of you knew what these were as soon as you saw them?

[ThomCat]

1. Fortran Punch Cards?

[MrScorpio]

2. They're punch cards

I know, because I used them a long time ago

[Crazy Dave]

4. I knew what they were but wouldn't know how to use them

I wonder how much secret/classified data and information is stored away in boxes somewhere that people wouldn't or couldn't know what to do with it if they found it.

Good info. at:
http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/cards/history.html

[MrScorpio]

8. Probably not as much as you think

Especially since migration from older systems to newer ones required an accurate transfer of data.

Once the migration occured, the cards became obsolete.

And in the intervening year, the data became outdated.

I wouldn't worry about it too much

[Jokerman]

3. Ancient artifacts of my first programing class?

Those definitely were NOT the good old days.

[1gobluedem]

5. Punch cards

Used 'em to register for grad school in 1983.

[calico1]

6. Raising hand.

They are punch cards.

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Me!

But, I'm a ridiculous nerd... :P

[RevCheesehead]

9. They used to come with the electric bill.

They're also compatable with Allen Digital Organs. I had a friend who used to "borrow" the punchcard and try out the new sound. If he liked it, he'd make a copy to use on Sundays. :)

[Crazy Dave]

10. I used to make Christmas reefs out of them in grade school

That's as far as my expertise goes with them :hi:

[eyesroll]

11. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate this card. n/t

[reyd reid reed]

12. I remember punch cards...

Remember these?



What's really scary is that I used to know how to use 'em.

[CBGLuthier]

13. Hell, I used to punch the damn things

They lasted a little longer in the microfilm industry where a modified form was used that mounted a frame of 35mm on the right side.

I learned to not only operate a keypunch machine but before that used a manual machine where you had to push levers in the correct combinations to make each set of punches.

So, yeah, I know Hollerith cards when I see them.

[BigMcLargehuge]

14. I did

[LSK]

15. punch cards for programs in old computers

I dont know if its a good thing that I know?

[Taverner]

16. Me - punch cards

But I have an edge - born and raised in silicon valley. I remembered the engineer's kids would have stacks of these to play with.