Open Source Web Browser

The user interfaces of web browsers are called "chrome". Is the name inspired by William Gibson books?

Gibson(Neuromancer) uses the word "chrome" as an adjective to describe furniture, computers etc., One of his short story collections is ever called "Burning Chrome". Some say Gibson inspired the Internet and the Matrix Trilogy. Just wondering if the use of "chrome" to describe the user interface of Web browsers is a dedication to Gibson.

Public Comments

1. Well he most likely described it as chrome, when it's actually chrome plated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating. Chrome is short for the chemical Chromium which is a metal, steel looking element.
2. "Chrome" is usually used to mean something that looks pretty, without adding any functionality to a product. It's an abbreviation for "chromium", which is a shiny metal used in plating. Its use in computer terms predates Gibson's books.