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January 25, 2005
Mythical standards
If I were to pick the most overused term in the IT industry, I believe, it would be standard.
Look a this guy (or should I say: basked case?) over on Slashdot. He's advertising a "new standard keyboard", referring to a keyboard layout that has keys in alphabetical order. He also says that DVORAK is a standard layout - I have seen only one DVORAK keyboard in real life, and I think it's safe to assume that this layout is only standard in the community of computer users with severe Repetitive Strain Injury.
A standard is something that is established over many years and adopted by a majority of the 'market'. 230V, 50 Hz AC, that's a standard (in Europe). Having heating in apartment buildings, that's a standard in much of the Western world. ASCII, that's a standard, too.
OK, enough bitching for today. Got a plane to Berlin to catch.
Posted by dr at January 25, 2005 10:46 AM
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