The origin of “log in” (2011)

#1

Post by pguzmang » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 5:40 PM UTC

The origin of “log in” (2011)
designcult.org

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#2

Post by ChuckMcM » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 6:23 PM UTC

That's a fun read. It is true that in time sharing systems the ability to attach an identity to things the mainframe was doing was a direct requirement of the accountants who wanted to distribute the cost of that machine to the users.

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#3

Post by dlhavema » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:03 PM UTC

I liked this, a pretty cool origin of a now common phrase we use. I liken it to the origin of the term Computer, the person who would compute the result of some mathematical function...

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#4

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:14 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#5

Post by jeffbr13 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:25 PM UTC

Like the author, I frequently get hung up on which of "log in", "sign in", or any of their variants is 'more correct' every time I put together software with users.

"Authenticate" might be the most correct verb, although it's not very user friendly?

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#6

Post by jgrahamc » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:27 PM UTC

My father used to use a system (IBM?) that required him to 'track on' and 'track off'. Anyone come across this?

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#7

Post by coldcode » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:45 PM UTC

I seem to remember some movie or TV show where it was "jack in", sort of plugging yourself into a system. Not sure about the opposite version though.

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#8

Post by dredmorbius » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 8:01 PM UTC

coldcode wrote: post #7

I seem to remember some movie or TV show where it was "jack in", sort of plugging yourself into a system. Not sure about the opposite version though.

That's straight out of Neuromancer.

The opposite is a Russian surname.

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#9

Post by lnanek2 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 8:03 PM UTC

Amusing that a techie assumed it was invented for computers and someone came along and corrected him that it was in use long before. Props for the author on acknowledging it with the edit at least, even if he didn't correct his conclusion that it is an unnatural usage.

Re: The origin of “log in” (2011)

#10

Post by sp332 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 8:05 PM UTC

coldcode wrote: post #7

I seem to remember some movie or TV show where it was "jack in", sort of plugging yourself into a system. Not sure about the opposite version though.

Or Andromeda, where you had to physically stick a jack in your head if you wanted to do any serious work with a computer. http://andromeda.wikia.com/wiki/Dataport

And the opposite of "jack in" is "jack out" :p