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The computers my mother worked with (1960s?) only had 6 bits per character. So with 2^6 = 64 different characters, there weren't enough characters to have both
by adrianmsmith 3y ago
The computers my mother worked with (1960s?) only had 6 bits per character. So with 2^6 = 64 different characters, there weren't enough characters to have both upper case (26 chars) and lower case (26 chars) plus all the numbers (10 chars) and symbols etc. you'd need. So they only had upper case.
I think it sort of stuck from there, that computers and commands etc. used upper case.
- amanda99 3y agoThis is specifically about why they chose upper case, instead of lower case, given they could only pick one.
- cwillu 3y agohttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Pearl_Harbor_dispatch.jpg?20080118050413 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Pearl_Ha... Relevant, given computing's roots in military matters.