Plug-board - Revision history

Jnc: Clarify

2025-03-01T00:07:55Z

Clarify

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 1 March 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration, and fast conversion.) They generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration, and fast conversion.) They generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

	The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board; the complete plug-board assembly could be removed as a unit, and replaced with a different one. This allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another one.		The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on where the plug-board mounted; the complete plug-board assembly could be removed as a unit, and replaced with a different one. This allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another one.

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: Wording

2025-02-28T19:48:00Z

Wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:48, 28 February 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration, and fast conversion.) They generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration, and fast conversion.) They generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

	The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board~~, and~~ complete assembly could be removed as a unit, and replaced with a different one. This allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another.		The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board; the complete plug-board assembly could be removed as a unit, and replaced with a different one. This allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another one.

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: Better flow

2025-02-28T06:59:45Z

Better flow

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:59, 28 February 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:
	[[Image:PlugboardBack.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|IBM plug-board (contact side)]]		[[Image:PlugboardBack.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|IBM plug-board (contact side)]]

	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration, and fast conversion.) They generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

	The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The ~~complete assembly could be removed as a unit, and rapidly and easily replaced with a different one; the~~ computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board, ~~which~~ allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be swapped for another. ~~(Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration and fast conversion.)~~		The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board, and complete assembly could be removed as a unit, and replaced with a different one. This allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another.

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: They could be swapped in and out

2025-02-27T18:21:19Z

They could be swapped in and out

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:21, 27 February 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

	The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board~~; this~~ allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be ~~rapidly and easily~~ swapped for another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration and fast conversion.)		The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The complete assembly could be removed as a unit, and rapidly and easily replaced with a different one; the computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board, which allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be swapped for another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration and fast conversion.)

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: Add caveat, IBM manuals

2025-02-27T12:54:40Z

Add caveat, IBM manuals

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:54, 27 February 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

	The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board; this allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily be swapped for another.		The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral\|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board; this allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily swapped for another. (Plug-boards were not intended principally for experimentation, but for configuration and fast conversion.)

	==External links==		==External links==

			* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Training/22-6275-0_Functional_Wiring_Principles.pdf Functional Wiring Principles: IBM punched card data processing equipment] (22-6275-0)
			* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Training/A24-1007-1_IBM_Functional_Wiring_Principles_Feb66.pdf IBM Functional Wiring Principles] (A24-1007-1)
	* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/plugboard.html IBM Control Panels]		* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/plugboard.html IBM Control Panels]

	[[Category: Components]]		[[Category: Components]]

Jnc: Add images

2025-02-27T12:06:51Z

Add images

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 27 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
			[[Image:PlugboardFront.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|IBM plug-board (wire side)]]
			[[Image:PlugboardBack.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|IBM plug-board (contact side)]]

	A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.		A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

Jnc: Another high-priority want

2025-02-27T11:32:23Z

Another high-priority want

New page

A '''plug-board''' was a mechanism which allowed users to easily configure early electro-mechanical [[digital]] [[computing device]]s (typically [[punched card]] equipment) to perform a given desired information-handling task; and, moreover, quickly and easily switch from one configuration to another. It generally consisted of a rectangular slab of non-conducting material such as Bakelite, with a regular array of holes; the holes contained [[pin]]s or [[socket]]s, with [[jumper]] wires connecting them.

The jumpers allowed the connection of the various computational elements within the device ([[counter]]s, [[adder]]s, etc), as well as the [[input]] and [[output]] [[peripheral|devices]], in whatever way was needed to accomplish the desired information-handling goal. The computational elements within the device were all connected to fixed locations on the plug-board; this allowed one plug-board (configured for one particular information-handling task) to be rapidly and easily be swapped for another.

==External links==

* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/plugboard.html IBM Control Panels]

[[Category: Components]]