---
title: "Computer Terms"
type: "article"
slug: "computer-terms"
url: "http://localhost/article/computer-terms/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/computer-terms.md"
published_at: "2026-11-07T10:44:48+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-07T10:44:48+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "The following computer terms appeared in ZX Computing (Feb/Mar '85, page 40). The author is Jim Lock of Surry, Great Britain. Larry Chavarie sent a copy of the list to TS Horizons and we picked out our favorites. Array - what you shout when your program works first time. Artificial intelligence - what you think…"
publication: "T-S Horizons"
publication_r:
  id: 10247
  title: "T-S Horizons"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/t-s-horizons/"
issue: "18"
issues_articles:
  - id: 26861
    title: "T-S Horizons n18"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/t-s-horizons-n18/"
pages: "30"
pubdate: "April 1986"
archive_link: false
volumeissue: "vn18"
---

# Computer Terms

The following computer terms appeared in [ZX Computing](http://localhost/periodical/zx-computing/) (Feb/Mar ’85, page 40). The author is Jim Lock of Surry, Great Britain. [Larry Chavarie](http://localhost/indiv/larry-chavarie/) sent a copy of the list to TS Horizons and we picked out our favorites.

Array – what you shout when your program works first time.

Artificial intelligence – what you think your com- puter has and it thinks you have.

BASIC – a standard language most suitable for newcomers to computing as it uses simple words and instructions such as ABS, OPEN #, LPRINT, USR, DEF FN and CHR$.

Computer tape – used to attach a Sinclair RAMpack to a ZX81.

Cursor key – what you often do when you accidentally move your laser base in the wrong direction.

DIM – how you feel when you see programs written by you seven year old daughter.

FOR…NEXT – short extract from conjuror’s patter, “For my Next trick”.

IF…THEN – conditional statement, as in “IF you try to copy this program THEN your computer will explode.”

LEN and VAL – the married couple who live around the corner.

Listing – what your computer is doing to one side, having lost one of it’s rubber feet.

Microdrive – car-racing arcade game for your computer.

NOT – used to tie two STRINGs together.

RAMpack – device you plug in to the back of your computer so that it can unplug itself whilst you are typing in the last line of a very long program.

REM – put at the beginning of a line to REMind you to remember it and the computer ignore it.

Screwdriver – instrument for invalidating guarantees.

Sound chip – good golf shot.

STRING – used to attach a Sinclair RAMpack to a ZX81.

Uncopiable cassette – blank cassette.