What Is Meatware?
When we talk about the human element in computer systems, we're not just about meatware. Meatware is more than that! Meatware is what gets a computer system up and running. It's the hardware, software, and wetware (aka humans) working together to bring you the best of all possible worlds. Meatware takes a lot of different forms: it can be your hand on a mouse or keyboard, it can be a person sitting in front of a computer screen with their headphones on as they type away furiously at their latest project it can even your be mom sending you pictures of her cats so that you don't miss them while she's out on vacation. You're probably familiar with the term "hardware". It's a computer-related term that refers to the physical components of a computer, like the CPU, RAM, hard drive and so on. Did you know that there is also software? Software is programs that run on a computer and allow it to function. Programs like Word or Photoshop are examples of software. Now we come to the third leg of this triad: meatware. Meatware refers to human entities that operate or use a computer for any computing process. Programmers, designers, server administrators and end-users are all types of meatware. The term is conceptually used to define the human side of a computer and reflects the computer's dependence on something much more organic - humans. Meatware is the stuff that makes you work. It's your physical brain, your eyes, your hands and fingers, and even your heart. It's what makes you unique, and it's what makes you a human being. It's also the stuff that allows computers to work, and it's the stuff that will enable us to create technology that interacts with meatware in different ways. For example, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) looks at how humans interact with computers; User Experience Design (UXD) focuses on how users interact with a product; and Biometrics focuses on how machines interact with meatware. All three of these technologies are based around an element of meatware you!
Related Terms by Others
Join Our Newsletter
Get weekly news, engaging articles, and career tips-all free!
By subscribing to our newsletter, you're cool with our terms and conditions and agree to our Privacy Policy.