TWAIN

graphics, standard An image capture API for MicrosoftWindows 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.

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(2000-02-25)