Amazing acronym

Dear Sir,

``I am a senior citizen and a chemical engineer by profession. I am based at Mumbai. At present in Tiruchy, I was very happy to read a column in Business Line's eWorld that helps with fixing glitches in computer usage. I am glad to say the section is very useful for `amateur' computer users to acquire knowledge. I am taking notes of the tips given in the column to tackle problems in the day-to-day use of the computer.

Nowadays, I come across many acronyms, such as CMOS and BIOS, which are not generally explained or known. People like me, who have no formal training in the use of computers, but have picked up the knowledge by usage, are baffled by some of the acronyms. I wonder if it is possible for eWorld to add a section every week explaining these acronyms. The most baffling are the ones being regularly used by ISPs who ask us for information regarding SMPP, POP I.P. NO., etc.. It will be very helpful, if as a policy, all the contributors, who answer queries from readers, are requested to expand acronyms, whenever they are used.

Incidentally, BIOS was the acronym used in the Chemical Industry for reports made by the ``British Intelligence Objectives Sum Committee'' on their interrogation of the Germans at the end of World War II !! It is very interesting that the same acronym is used in a different Industry in a different age.

V.K.P. Ayyar

Dear Mr Ayyar,

Thank you for your very encouraging e-mail. We are glad that you find our columns useful. We did have a column that expanded on acronyms. But since the response from readers to the ``Tip-Off'' column was immense, we decided to focus our energies on that one. Now, since you and a few other readers have evinced interest in the acronyms section, please look forward to our resuming the column soon.

eWorld team.

Please e-mail us at bleditor@thehindu.co.in if you have queries on computer usage or if you find an interesting way of using the computer.