blinkenlights
nounEtymology Pseudo-Germanism from blink and lights; see the Wikipedia article for history.
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Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Plural normally, Slang The flashing lights on an electronic device such as a modem, router, or network hub (originally the front-panel lights on old computers).
- The back of the NIRT truck was crowded with consoles and flashing panels of blinkenlights, battered laptops plastered with security inventory stickers...2007, Charles Stross, The Merchants' War:
- I am talking about — of course — LED blinkenlights, the usually-blue glowing pimples that pepper routers, speakers, computers and even USB hubs.2011 June 6, Charlie Sorrel, “LightDims: Tiny Sunglasses for Blinkenlights”, in WIRED, archived from the original on 08 Jun 2011:
1 more example
- Through a friend at hswaw [Warsaw Hackerspace], I have obtained a launchpad mini while working on this project (thanks drozdziak1!). ar jokingly suggested that I should velcro it to the [computer's] case and use it as blinklichter, and.. that was too good of an idea not to.2023 August 27, sdomi, “Building a luggable computer (for absolutely no reason)”, in sdomi's webpage (weblog), archived from the original on 03 Sep 2023: