Saturday, February 7, 2015

meaning - toggle in -- what does this phrasal verb mean?


Example with a context (Java: A Beginner's Guide, 6th Edition by Herbert Schildt):



OOP is a powerful way to approach the job of programming. Programming methodologies have changed dramatically since the invention of the computer, primarily to accommodate the increasing complexity of programs. For example, when computers were first invented, programming was done by toggling in the binary machine instructions using the computer's front panel.



I don't think I comprehend that part well enough. To toggle something basically means to switch it back and forth between two different states. But here, I'm really at a loss as to how I should interpret the action of toggling in this context. Plus, the preposition in also throws me off a little bit.



Answer



Here's an example of the type of computer this is probably talking about:



Altair 680 computer


Altair 8800 computer


As you can see, the computer inputs are a series of toggle switches.


So, while we now "type in" information, at that point, you'd have to "toggle in" information.


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