Meanwhile, over at chat.openai.com… I told it:
The CoCo is the nickname for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer. Can you come up with something that “COCO” stands for, that would be related?
– Me, to ChatGPT
It responded with some interesting suggestions…
Interesting question! The CoCo is indeed a nickname for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer, a line of home computers developed and sold by Tandy Corporation from 1980 to 1991¹. It was based on the Motorola 6809E processor and used the MC6847 Video Display Generator (VDG) chip¹³. It was also compatible with Microsoft BASIC and OS-9 operating system¹.
Some possible things that COCO could stand for, related to this computer, are:
- Color Operating Computer Organization: A name for a group of enthusiasts or hobbyists who use or collect CoCo computers.
- Colorful Objects with Computational Outputs: A description of the graphical capabilities of the CoCo, which could display up to 16 colors on screen⁴.
- Commonly Observed Computerized Oracle: A humorous way of referring to the CoCo as a source of information or entertainment for its users.
- Cooperative Online Colorful Operations: A term for multiplayer games or applications that could run on the CoCo using its serial port or modem⁴.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/16/2023
– chat.openai.com
(1) TRS-80 Color Computer – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Color_Computer Accessed 3/16/2023.
(2) TRS-80 Color Computer – CoCopedia – The Tandy/Radio Shack Color …. https://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/TRS-80_Color_Computer Accessed 3/16/2023.
(3) Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer. https://oldcomputers.net/coco.html Accessed 3/16/2023.
(4) trs 80 computer products for sale | eBay. https://www.ebay.com/b/trs-80-computer/bn_7024741177 Accessed 3/16/2023.
And, there was more…
– chat.openai.com
- Colorful Output with Creative Options: A way of highlighting the CoCo’s versatility and potential for different types of programs and projects.
- Computerized Optical Colorful Oscilloscope: A reference to the CoCo’s ability to display graphics and sound using its VDG chip and 6-bit DAC.
- Compact Original Colorful Object: A simple description of the CoCo’s physical appearance and design.
There are only some many words beginning with C or O that make sense for this topic, but it might be fun to keep asking it until we find the ultimate backronym.
Until then…