dreamware

English

Etymology

From dream +‎ -ware.

Pronunciation

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

dreamware (uncountable)

1. (rare) Things dreamed of; fictions or fantasies.
   • 1901, Paulist Fathers, Catholic World:

     No use talking, I'm an unpractical, useless dealer in dreamware; a metaphysician who don't know how to fry an egg...

   • 1994, William Corbett, Philip Guston's late work:

     The painting could serve as a sign over a shop selling dreamware. Legend erases the line between conscious and unconscious.

   • 2008, Skip Moen, Spiritual Restoration:

     So much of our contemporary theological dreamware is about escape. We long for heaven. We fix our eyes on the other world. We want out!

2. (computing, rare) Speculative software or hardware products that may never reach fruition; vapourware.
   • 1989, Visual Resources Association, Bulletin:

     […] the author is surprised to find so few imaging projects actually using CD-ROM. He attributes this to the "wait and see" attitude of potential users who are holding out for new "dreamware" products which do not exist yet.

   • 1989, Information Access Company, Datamation:

     Independently pursuing his interest in metasoftware, Vinci has defined several basic modules and created some actual models of his dreamware.

   • 1999, Jessica Keyes, Internet Management:

     You could create problems for your company if you downplay current products and hype the dreamware that may never become reality.