liveware
(ˈlaɪvwɛə(r))
[f. live a. + ware n.3, after hardware 1 c.]
People, personnel, as distinct from the inanimate or abstract things they work with; spec. computer personnel.
| 1966 Times 11 Apr. 12/2 The three elements which comprise a working computer system are hardware, the equipment itself; software, the vital programming aids; and the ‘liveware’, or personnel. 1967 H. Coblans in de Reuck & Knight Communication in Science 80 Indexing devices are less crucial than the ‘liveware’—the insight and experience of the men and women who do the indexing. 1978 Computing Europe 16 Mar. 15/4 The 1970s have seen a very expensive commodity—computer liveware—coping with a growing load of maintenance. 1984 Times 28 July 2/7 We were looking after the ‘liveware’—the people. ICL was the leader and supplied hardware. |