<graphics, standard> An image capture API for Microsoft
Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems. The
standard was first released in 1992, and is currently ratified
at version 1.9 as of January 2000. TWAIN is typically used as
an interface between image processing software and a
scanner or digital camera.
The word TWAIN is from Kipling's "The Ballad of East and West"
- "...and never the twain shall meet...", reflecting the
difficulty, at the time, of connecting scanners and personal
computers. It was up-cased to TWAIN to make it more
distinctive. This led people to believe it was an acronym,
and then to a contest to come up with an expansion. None were
selected, but the entry "Technology Without An Interesting
Name" continues to haunt the standard.
Home.
(2000-02-25)
Nearby terms:
TV « tv « tw « TWAIN » tweak » tweening » tweeter
