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Programming

COBOL Celebrates 50 Years 277

Posted by CmdrTaco from the cobol-is-for-old-people dept.
oranghutan writes "The language used to power most of the world's ATMs, COBOL, is turning 50. It also runs about 75 per cent of the world's business applications, so COBOL should be celebrated for making it to half a century. In cricketing terms, that's a good knock. The author says: 'COBOL's fate was decided during a meeting of the Short Range Committee, the organization responsible for submitting the first version of the language in 1959. The meeting was convened after a meeting at the Pentagon first laid down the guidelines for the language. Half a century later, Micro Focus published research which showed people still use COBOL at least 10 times throughout the course of an average working day in Australia. Only 18 per cent of those surveyed, however, had ever actually heard of COBOL.'"

Comment Missing option (Score 1) 396

by josh61980 (#28702549) Attached to: My toy collection is ...
First odd define "toy". Several years ago I stopped buying plastic figures of people on cartoons. However I did start buying portable electronics. n810, Acer aspire, GPS, pocket watch with a penergram on it... . The missing option is I swear to go all the plastic figures are my girlfriends not mine. She has displays with Breyer Horses, D&D minies and dragons.
XBox (Games)

Microsoft Trying To Patent a 'Magic Wand' 157

Posted by CmdrTaco from the also-patenting-bag-of-holding dept.
theodp writes "Newly-disclosed USPTO documents show that Microsoft is seeking patent protection for a 'Magic Wand,' a device with various gizmos and sensors that can manipulate and interact with its environment, including video and holographic images, while using biometrics to connect with the user. 'Even the most pragmatic individual,' explains Microsoft, 'would have trouble arguing against the merits or utility of, say, a magic wand that actually worked to control or communicate with objects or components in an associated nearby environment.' No doubt. The inventors include CXO/CTO J Allard, and Sr. Researcher Andy Wilson."

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