Re: What do people mean when they say "Functionality"

[Vern Hamberg <hambergv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 01:02 AM 7/29/98 +1000, you wrote:
>I was at meeting a few years ago, and everyone was talking functionality.
>It was "Functionality this" and "Functionality that",  until one brave lady
>(she was a contractor) who did not have to kow tow to any one asked out
>aloud, "Do any of you know the meaning of the word functionality?"
>It was the Emperor's new clothes all over again. Total silence.
>
>Since then over the years I have tended to use the word function and have
>always tried to avoid the F word.
>
>I know our American cousins have now added it to their dictionaries, and
>before long it will be in all others, but I believe it is a word that covers
>a multitude of sins.
>
>Any opinions?
>krisV

A minister I knew once said that if he could not explain something in
simple, common terms, he did not understand the subject. This is too often
the case in a jargon-overloaded world such as computing.

Having said that, I think there may be a use for 'functionality' vis-a-vis
'function', perhaps tp describe the set of 'functions' in something.
'Function, for me, is more singular than collective (you know, like 'sheep'
can be both singular and plural). I may be mistaken here. Of course, our
cousins across the pond say 'England are...' and we say 'England is...'.

Or it may be another example of ignorance trying to sound
impressive—something along the lines of '...doing an analyzation of a
problem...'  :-)

Oh, well...

Vernon Hamberg
Systems Software Programmer
Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
400 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 371-1111 x480


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