HAL

1. <computer> HAL 9000, the computer in "2001, A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clark.

"HAL" is "IBM" with each letter changed to the one before. There is an unconfirmed rumour that 9000 is the sum of the various IBM computer numbers that were in service at the time.

[Expansion? URL?]

2. <operating system> Hardware Abstraction Layer.

(09 Nov 1995)