paper tape

2 definitions found

paper tape - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  paper tape
      n 1: a long narrow strip of paper

paper tape - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  paper tape
  
     <hardware, history> Punched paper tape.  An early
     input/output and storage medium borrowed from telegraph
     and teletype systems.
  
     Data entered at the keyboard of the teletype could be directed
     to a perforator or punch which punched a pattern of holes
     across the width of a paper tape to represent the characters
     typed.  The paper tape could be read by a tape reader feeding
     the computer.  Computer output could be similarly punched onto
     tape and printed off-line.
  
     As well as storage of the program and data, use of paper tape
     enabled batch processing.
  
     The first units had five data hole positions plus a sprocket
     hole (for the driving wheel) across the width of the tape.
     These used commercial telegraph code (ITA2 also known as
     Murray), Baudot code, or proprietary codes such as
     Elliott which were more programmer-friendly.  Later systems
     had eight data holes and used ASCII coding.
  
     (2003-12-02)