black box vs material

black box

noun
  • A theoretical construct or device with known input and output characteristics but unknown method of operation. 

  • A flight recorder; the brightly colored cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders in an aircraft designed to aid in determining the cause of an accident. 

  • A device used in phreaking that prevents the calling party from being billed for the call placed. 

  • A type of theater characterized by a lack of decoration or complex mechanisms. 

  • Any similar device on motor vehicles, such as rail event recorders and ship trip recorders. 

verb
  • To focus on the inputs and outputs without worrying about the internal complexity. 

material

noun
  • Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something. 

  • All of a player's pieces and pawns on the chessboard. 

  • Related data of various kinds, especially if collected as the basis for a document or book. 

  • The substance that something is made or composed of. 

  • Text written for a specific purpose. 

  • A sample or specimens for study. 

  • Cloth to be made into a garment. Fabric. 

  • An element of a design language associated with a certain style of rendering on the display. 

  • A person, or people collectively, who are qualified for a certain position or activity. 

adj
  • Significant. 

  • Having to do with matter; consisting of matter. 

  • Worldly, as opposed to spiritual. 

How often have the words black box and material occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )