plaid screen

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

plaid screen
 n.

   [XEROX PARC] A `special effect' that occurs when certain kinds of
   {memory smash}es overwrite the control blocks or image memory of a
   bit-mapped display. The term "salt and pepper" may refer to a
   different pattern of similar origin. Though the term as coined at PARC
   refers to the result of an error, some of the {X} demos induce
   plaid-screen effects deliberately as a {display hack}.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

plaid screen

   [XEROX PARC] A "special effect" that occurs when certain kinds
   of {memory smash}es overwrite the control blocks or image
   memory of a bit-mapped display.  The term "salt and pepper"
   may refer to a different pattern of similar origin.  Though
   the term as coined at PARC refers to the result of an error,
   some of the {X} demos induce plaid-screen effects deliberately
   as a {display hack}.

   [{Jargon File}]

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