from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
paper tape
<hardware, history> Punched paper tape. An early
{input/output} and storage medium borrowed from {telegraph}
and {teletype} systems.
Data entered at the keyboard of the teletype could be directed
to a perforator or punch which punched a pattern of holes
across the width of a paper tape to represent the characters
typed. The paper tape could be read by a tape reader feeding
the computer. Computer output could be similarly punched onto
tape and printed off-line.
As well as storage of the program and data, use of paper tape
enabled {batch processing}.
The first units had five data hole positions plus a sprocket
hole (for the driving wheel) across the width of the tape.
These used commercial telegraph code ({ITA2} also known as
{Murray}), {Baudot code}, or proprietary codes such as
{Elliott} which were more programmer-friendly. Later systems
had eight data holes and used {ASCII} coding.
(2003-12-02)