[from mathematics] Mutually independent; well separated; sometimes,
irrelevant to. Used in a generalization of its mathematical meaning
to describe sets of primitives or capabilities that, like a vector
basis in geometry, span the entire `capability space' of the system
and are in some sense non-overlapping or mutually independent. For
example, in architectures such as the {PDP-11} or {VAX} where all or
nearly all registers can be used interchangeably in any role with
respect to any instruction, the register set is said to be
orthogonal. Or, in logic, the set of operators not and or is
orthogonal, but the set nand, or, and not is not (because any one of
these can be expressed in terms of the others). Also used in comments
on human discourse: "This may be orthogonal to the discussion,
but...."
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {gang bang}]