We've got 5 definitions for FOSDIC »
What does FOSDIC stand for?
What does FOSDIC mean? This page is about the various possible meanings of the acronym, abbreviation, shorthand or slang term: FOSDIC.
Filter by:
Sort by:PopularityAlphabeticallyCategory
Term | Definition | Rating |
---|---|---|
FOSDIC | Film Optical Scanning Device For Input To Computers | |
FOSDIC | Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computer | |
FOSDIC | Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computers Governmental » NASA -- and more... | |
FOSDIC | Film Optical Sensing Device Input To Computer | |
FOSDIC | Film Optical Sensing Devices For Input To Computer |
What does FOSDIC mean?
- FOSDIC
- FOSDIC (Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computers) is a family of optical scanners for converting data on microfilm to computer-readable magnetic tape. FOSDIC was designed and built by the United States National Bureau of Standards for use by the United States Census Bureau and other government agencies. Although the Census Bureau entered the computer age with the introduction of UNIVAC I in 1951, its data processing speed was hampered by the continued reliance upon punched cards. Transferring questionnaire data to punch cards that UNIVAC "read" and stored on magnetic tape was a time-consuming process that remained relatively unchanged since the late nineteenth century. To take advantage of UNIVAC's speed, National Bureau of Standards scientists and Census Bureau engineers began development of FOSDIC. Completed in 1954, the first generation of FOSDIC read the position of pencil-filled circles on questionnaires and translated the responses to computer code stored on magnetic computer tape. The Census Bureau first used FOSDIC to process a decennial census in 1960. Enumerators transferred data collected on questionnaires to a "FOSDIC-readable schedule" on which questionnaire responses were recorded as pencilled-in circles. At the Census Bureau, technicians used extremely sensitive photography equipment to convert these forms into microfilm. In 1970 and later censuses, all questionnaires were FOSDIC readable, eliminating the need to have enumerators transfer data from questionnaires to FOSDIC schedules. The shaded circles appeared as light dots on the microfilm. When the microfilm passed through the Census Bureau's new fleet of FOSDIC III machines (FOSDIC II had been designed for the Weather Bureau), they read the placement of the bright marks on the microfilm and translated them into computer code. The Census Bureau used updated versions of FOSDIC for the 1970, 1980, and 1990 censuses. FOSDIC proved so successful that it was not replaced until the introduction of optical character recognition for Census 2000.
Still can't find the acronym definition you were looking for? Use our Power Search technology to look for more unique definitions from across the web!
Citation
Use the citation options below to add these abbreviations to your bibliography.
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"FOSDIC." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Dec. 2024. <https://www.abbreviations.com/FOSDIC>.
Discuss these FOSDIC abbreviations with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In