Bury Me Face Down, 9-edge First
Question: The phrase “face down, 9-edge first” refers to…?
- Insertion of memory cards into a VAX 11/780
- Orientation of punch cards for insertion into a card reader
- A series of moves used to unscramble a Rubik’s Cube
- A standard graph theory representation for Token Ring networks
Answer: Orientation of punch cards for insertion into a card reader.
Hollerith (”IBM”) cards had two long edges, referred to as the “9 edge” and “12 edge”, after the punches nearest these edges. Standard card readers read the “9 edge” first, and needed the cards inserted face down for correct reading.
Add comment March 15th, 2006