TWAIN
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 (http://www.twain.org/)}.
(2000-02-25)