Liveware was used in the computer industry as early as 1966 to refer to computer users, often in humorous contexts, by analogy with
hardware and
software.
It is a slang term used to denote people using (attached to) computers, and is based on the need for a human, or liveware, to operate the system using hardware and software. Other words meaning the same or similar to liveware include
wetware,
meatware
Real life is a phrase used originally in literature to distinguish between the real world and fictional, virtual or idealized worlds, and in acting to distinguish between actors and the characters they portray. It has become a popular term on the ...
and jellyware. Meatware and jellyware are most often used by internal customer support personnel as slang terms when referencing human operating errors.
The term liveware is found in the
''Culture'' novels by
Iain M. Banks. A Culture Ship is named "Liveware Problem".
References
{{Reflist
Computer jargon