Comments on: The Handy Uses of a Home Computer (Jan, 1970) http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Lindsay Gorrie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1072344 Lindsay Gorrie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:40:26 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1072344 @Mr Ascii - I had Number 4 hanging in my office. Memories! Wouldn't be allowed these days of course. @Dr DUH and Dick Wexelblat - I started in tech in the mid '70s and I have trouble explaining to the younger set what it was like. You must feel like you are talking to another race! I got to work on electronics, computers, networking, routers and all the other bits that go to make up today's computerised and Internet-connected world before most other people and it involved screwdrivers, soldering irons and magnifying glasses. I didn't get to use tapes (except for teletype machines) but my first computer was programmed by flicking switches and pressing the "Store" button. If I remember correctly my first programme turned on a relay if an input was "on". Eventually. Then came languages (I started with machine language) and the wonder of the flowchart. I still tend to flowchart every major thing I do, even if only in my head. Yes, the feeling at the end of the day (usually around 5AM because we in Australia are out of sync with the rest of the world) was usually a good one. It was all new and exciting. Even going wrong was something to enjoy, because it usually meant that you were closer to the result you wanted. Many mistakes became the basis of future work in unsuspected directions. These days most people doing "exciting" IT stuff are button pushers and board jockeys. Dull. The future possibilities for NEW things are exciting but there is very little chance for everyday people to be involved with their development because of the cost and scale of the tech involved behind the scenes nowadays. @Mr Ascii – I had Number 4 hanging in my office. Memories! Wouldn’t be allowed these days of course.

@Dr DUH and Dick Wexelblat – I started in tech in the mid ’70s and I have trouble explaining to the younger set what it was like. You must feel like you are talking to another race!

I got to work on electronics, computers, networking, routers and all the other bits that go to make up today’s computerised and Internet-connected world before most other people and it involved screwdrivers, soldering irons and magnifying glasses.

I didn’t get to use tapes (except for teletype machines) but my first computer was programmed by flicking switches and pressing the “Store” button. If I remember correctly my first programme turned on a relay if an input was “on”. Eventually.

Then came languages (I started with machine language) and the wonder of the flowchart. I still tend to flowchart every major thing I do, even if only in my head.

Yes, the feeling at the end of the day (usually around 5AM because we in Australia are out of sync with the rest of the world) was usually a good one. It was all new and exciting. Even going wrong was something to enjoy, because it usually meant that you were closer to the result you wanted. Many mistakes became the basis of future work in unsuspected directions.

These days most people doing “exciting” IT stuff are button pushers and board jockeys. Dull. The future possibilities for NEW things are exciting but there is very little chance for everyday people to be involved with their development because of the cost and scale of the tech involved behind the scenes nowadays.

]]> By: Roger http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1064939 Roger Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:15:53 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1064939 Ah, My only good memories from the '70s high school were from my 3 years of computer class. I had to write programs first on paper, flowcharting everything. Then when I was sure I knew what would happen with all the variables I could imagine I could use the teletype "off line" to transfer the program to punch tape (or cards depending on the machine I would be using). Only then could I dial up the main frame and start the minute meter. The program tape would be ran with the duplex turned off (so as not to waste paper having the teletype print out the program as it was sent). When the tape finished, I would type in the word "RUN" then push return linefeed and wait for the response. Sometimes it would only be a number or a few words, other times it would be a graph or geometric pattern. If it matched what I expected, I would be elated and probably act like the nerd kids in the last picture. If not, I would be disapointed and have to go back to the code lines and figure out why it didn't work. I thought that was fun back then. Now I just use Mac and or Windows software and don't jump up and down so much. Ah, My only good memories from the ’70s high school were from my 3 years of computer class.
I had to write programs first on paper, flowcharting everything. Then when I was sure I knew what would happen with all the variables I could imagine I could use the teletype “off line” to transfer the program to punch tape (or cards depending on the machine I would be using). Only then could I dial up the main frame and start the minute meter. The program tape would be ran with the duplex turned off (so as not to waste paper having the teletype print out the program as it was sent). When the tape finished, I would type in the word “RUN” then push return linefeed and wait for the response. Sometimes it would only be a number or a few words, other times it would be a graph or geometric pattern. If it matched what I expected, I would be elated and probably act like the nerd kids in the last picture. If not, I would be disapointed and have to go back to the code lines and figure out why it didn’t work.

I thought that was fun back then. Now I just use Mac and or Windows software and don’t jump up and down so much.

]]> By: Tracy B. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1062283 Tracy B. Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:16:28 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1062283 January 1970? I was a depressed 6th grader in those days; but I do remember that article. The computer stereotype then was a vacuum tape drive......Starting in the 7th grade our class assignments and report cards became computerized, no wonder the school sent me for counseling with a social worker. January 1970? I was a depressed 6th grader in those days; but I do remember that article. The computer stereotype then was a vacuum tape drive……Starting in the 7th grade our class assignments and report cards became computerized, no wonder the school sent me for counseling with a social worker.

]]> By: Carol Bremner http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1062131 Carol Bremner Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:43:49 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1062131 Enjoyed the article, but had to laugh at the comment about being able to spend more time with family now that they have a computer. Not the case in a lot of families today - she says from her computer while hubby is alone watching tv. Enjoyed the article, but had to laugh at the comment about being able to spend more time with family now that they have a computer. Not the case in a lot of families today – she says from her computer while hubby is alone watching tv.

]]> By: Kitty http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1060809 Kitty Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:29:21 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1060809 Son David in the article is now a Doctor of Internal Medicine in PA. Son David in the article is now a Doctor of Internal Medicine in PA.

]]> By: ERRCOMAN http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1056892 ERRCOMAN Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:14:40 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1056892 So much for a "paperless society" So much for a “paperless society”

]]> By: Quizzes http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1054325 Quizzes Mon, 05 May 2008 14:43:03 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1054325 Wow now computers are used to get news, find updates, find jobs, refinance homes, enlarge your genitals, and meet your old classmates. who would have ever expected Wow now computers are used to get news, find updates, find jobs, refinance homes, enlarge your genitals, and meet your old classmates. who would have ever expected

]]> By: Dick Wexelblat http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053234 Dick Wexelblat Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:01:51 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053234 There's something to be said for having been a computer user before words like software were invented and a hacker was someone who used an axe. I wrote my first program in 1959. It's hard to describe the heady feeling we had in those days. We were our own bosses, we had control. The computer always did exactly what we told it to do. (Though I sometimes had a hell of a time figuring out what it was I told the computer to do.) I do remember one amazing event worth mentioning, I suppose. Skipping ahead to 1967 or so. Operating systems had been invented. Compilers were becoming common. I was having trouble with a compiler for an advanced (for then) programming language. It wouldn't work with one specific program and I couldn't figure out why. Who could help? Then I realized: I was the so-called expert. No one in the world knew more about it than I did. It was solve the problem or give up. (I did eventually solve it but it was close. Turned out it was a compiler bug. A variable name of exactly 8 letters, with the binary representation of the 7th letter ending in 1 blew the compiler! I'll never know how I eventually figured it out. There’s something to be said for having been a computer user before words like software were invented and a hacker was someone who used an axe. I wrote my first program in 1959. It’s hard to describe the heady feeling we had in those days. We were our own bosses, we had control. The computer always did exactly what we told it to do. (Though I sometimes had a hell of a time figuring out what it was I told the computer to do.)

I do remember one amazing event worth mentioning, I suppose. Skipping ahead to 1967 or so. Operating systems had been invented. Compilers were becoming common. I was having trouble with a compiler for an advanced (for then) programming language. It wouldn’t work with one specific program and I couldn’t figure out why. Who could help? Then I realized: I was the so-called expert. No one in the world knew more about it than I did. It was solve the problem or give up. (I did eventually solve it but it was close. Turned out it was a compiler bug. A variable name of exactly 8 letters, with the binary representation of the 7th letter ending in 1 blew the compiler! I’ll never know how I eventually figured it out.

]]> By: Dr DUH http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053232 Dr DUH Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:28:16 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053232 Matthew - I ain't dead yet (and am not planning to be in the near future). I programmed my first computer in 1959, was at BBN who invented timesharing, the ARPANET, Virtual Memory, Logo - mostly during my tenure. The PDP-1 played music, the DECscope did the first computer animated film (ball bounce). We had Space War (first real animated Computer game) "Crappy '60's and '70's technology"?? Hey those were that days when this stuff was REAL fun. (Now I just teach Grad students how to use that stuff that was invented back then :) ) - Look what wed did/created/invented with that technology; what's really NEW (other than faster hardware that can do all our stuff faster). Oh, and I use Macs. Matthew – I ain’t dead yet (and am not planning to be in the near future). I programmed my first computer in 1959, was at BBN who invented timesharing, the ARPANET, Virtual Memory, Logo – mostly during my tenure. The PDP-1 played music, the DECscope did the first computer animated film (ball bounce). We had Space War (first real animated Computer game)

“Crappy ’60′s and ’70′s technology”?? Hey those were that days when this stuff was REAL fun. (Now I just teach Grad students how to use that stuff that was invented back then :) ) – Look what wed did/created/invented with that technology; what’s really NEW (other than faster hardware that can do all our stuff faster).

Oh, and I use Macs.

]]> By: taony http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053153 taony Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:08:20 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053153 Badnewsjones: That kid probably ended up one of the developers of Guitar Hero. Badnewsjones: That kid probably ended up one of the developers of Guitar Hero.

]]> By: badnewsjones http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053150 badnewsjones Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:52:16 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053150 What's what that kid playing the guitar in the background of that last page? I guess poor Johnny's awesome solos can't compete with the amazing printing capabilities of the home computer. What’s what that kid playing the guitar in the background of that last page?

I guess poor Johnny’s awesome solos can’t compete with the amazing printing capabilities of the home computer.

]]> By: Richard Brown http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053145 Richard Brown Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:15:59 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053145 I don't remember being so excited over a TTY printout as those kids in the last picture... Thanks for the memories, sometimes I forget how far we've come in such a short time. I don’t remember being so excited over a TTY printout as those kids in the last picture… Thanks for the memories, sometimes I forget how far we’ve come in such a short time.

]]> By: OOkie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053144 OOkie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:13:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053144 When I was a kid I took a course on microcomputers at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. I got to use a "timeshare" computer during that course. It was the forerunner of the internet in many ways. I didn't know it was available to people outside of government and universities. Cool. When I was a kid I took a course on microcomputers at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. I got to use a “timeshare” computer during that course. It was the forerunner of the internet in many ways. I didn’t know it was available to people outside of government and universities. Cool.

]]> By: Casandro http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053123 Casandro Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:12:26 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053123 What I wonder is if they pay per "hour beeing logged in" or "hour of CPU". If it's per CPU then it's actually rather cheap as, even back then, common tasks only used the computer for tiny amounts of time. Of course today you can build your own personal computer by using cheap microcontrollers. What I wonder is if they pay per “hour beeing logged in” or “hour of CPU”. If it’s per CPU then it’s actually rather cheap as, even back then, common tasks only used the computer for tiny amounts of time.

Of course today you can build your own personal computer by using cheap microcontrollers.

]]> By: Joe Max http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053108 Joe Max Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:39:45 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053108 I was in 10th grade in 1970, and my school had exactly the same computer set-up as this family: teletype terminal with punched-paper tape reader/writer, telephone cradle modem, and a link to a General Electric mainframe computer at Duke University. I could write programs in BASIC-II (an IBM interpreter - the "II" didn't mean "2" it meant "Interim Improvement"). I remember this article when it came out! (I remember the snow monkey cover too.) I showed it to my mom to explain to her what I was doing after school so late. Thanks for the nostalgia! I was in 10th grade in 1970, and my school had exactly the same computer set-up as this family: teletype terminal with punched-paper tape reader/writer, telephone cradle modem, and a link to a General Electric mainframe computer at Duke University. I could write programs in BASIC-II (an IBM interpreter – the “II” didn’t mean “2″ it meant “Interim Improvement”). I remember this article when it came out! (I remember the snow monkey cover too.) I showed it to my mom to explain to her what I was doing after school so late.

Thanks for the nostalgia!

]]> By: Myles http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053097 Myles Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:39:13 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053097 This story reminds me of how once we all had or new shiny home computers the question finally occurred - "Okay what do we do with these?" This story reminds me of how once we all had or new shiny home computers the question finally occurred – “Okay what do we do with these?”

]]> By: Blurgle http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053094 Blurgle Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:08:54 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053094 So he and the boys play games and have fun with it while she makes shopping and recipe lists. This is one of those days that I thank the appropriate deity for my being born in 1964, not 1944. So he and the boys play games and have fun with it while she makes shopping and recipe lists.

This is one of those days that I thank the appropriate deity for my being born in 1964, not 1944.

]]> By: Mr Ascii http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053090 Mr Ascii Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:12:02 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053090 @Al Bear: As a veteran of 1977 computing (Sol 20), I can assure you that there was computer porn back then. Check out the "Naked Ladies" section of http://chris.com/ascii/ (NSFW if you squint) for examples. Some of those are more modern, but I fondly remember numbers 4, 5 and 7 hanging in various computer rooms. @Al Bear:
As a veteran of 1977 computing (Sol 20), I can assure you that there was computer porn back then. Check out the “Naked Ladies” section of http://chris.com/ascii/ (NSFW if you squint) for examples. Some of those are more modern, but I fondly remember numbers 4, 5 and 7 hanging in various computer rooms.

]]> By: Matthew http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053085 Matthew Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:21:50 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053085 Hurrah, he's still going strong (or was three years ago) http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1362&wit_id=3965 I like that - it always slightly depresses me when computer pioneers die, knowing that they only had crappy 1960s and 1970s technology to play with. Hurrah, he’s still going strong (or was three years ago)

http://judiciary.senate.gov/te.....it_id=3965

I like that – it always slightly depresses me when computer pioneers die, knowing that they only had crappy 1960s and 1970s technology to play with.

]]> By: Ben Blok http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053075 Ben Blok Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:25:16 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053075 It is indeed the perfect paperless office ;) It is indeed the perfect paperless office ;)

]]> By: Casandro http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053067 Casandro Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:34:17 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053067 I like the last picture. I like the last picture.

]]> By: Al Bear http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-1053065 Al Bear Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:58:35 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/14/the-handy-uses-of-a-home-computer/#comment-1053065 <i>The Handy Uses of a Home Computer</i> What? no looking at porn? ;) And oh yes, I use mine all the time to plan dinner menus. I have my dinner menus planned until the year 3145 The Handy Uses of a Home Computer

What? no looking at porn? ;)

And oh yes, I use mine all the time to plan dinner menus. I have my dinner menus planned until the year 3145

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