BYTE Magazine covers the 2nd west coast computer fair (1978)

Modern Mechanix has uploaded an article from BYTE magazine, covering the second west coast computer fair in 1978, well worth a peek. 

Key points include the new 5 and 1/4 inch "minifloppy" from Apple, pictured above. 

Link via Boingboing

BYTE Magazine covers the 2nd west coast computer fair (1978)

Modern Mechanix has uploaded an article from BYTE magazine, covering the second west coast computer fair in 1978, well worth a peek. 

Key points include the new 5 and 1/4 inch "minifloppy" from Apple, pictured above. 

Link via Boingboing

The Dawn of Modern Computing: NLS and Douglas Engelbart

Douglas Engelbart, the first mouse, and an early chorded keyboard.

Everyone seems to have their own idea of which machine deserves the title of the first "modern" computer.  Some people point toward the first Apple Macintosh, others towards the IBM PC, the Apple Lisa, the Commodore Amiga,  the Xerox Parc, and so forth, and, while each of these machines undoubtedly played a major role in shaping computers as they are today, none of them is really the first modern computer. They all share a common ancestor that pioneered nearly all of the concepts that are associated with modern computers, NLS (oN Line System), a networked computing platform originally implemented in the 1960s.

Some firsts associated with this pioneering system include:

the computer mouse 2-dimensional display editing in-file object addressing, linking hypermedia outline processing flexible view control multiple windows cross-file editing integrated hypermedia email hypermedia publishing (Hypertext and links)  document version control shared-screen teleconferencing

computer-aided meetings formatting directives context-sensitive help distributed client-server architecture uniform command syntax universal "user interface" front-end module multi-tool integration grammar-driven command language interpreter protocols for virtual terminals remote procedure call protocols compilable "Command Meta Language" The Chorded Keyboard

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates made no secret about the number of ideas that they borrowed (or perhaps stole is the appropriate term) from the Xerox Parc, and much has been written on the subject. What seems to be ignored is that nearly every concept that made the Parc (a machine of 1973) so revolutionary has it's roots in a system that existed as early as 1966. In fact, the only truly original feat it can claim is that it was the first machine that was designed to be easy to use and easy to learn to use, rather than simply efficient. Without the strides made by a small team of researchers at SRI, led by Douglas Engelbart, on a system known as NLS (oN Line System), the Xerox Parc, and by extension MacOS, MS Windows, and most other 'modern' software could have never existed.

After the jump, we've got a video of the system in action.

It is tempting to assume that Engelbart and his team are little more than historical footnotes without any real, direct influence on the development of the PC. To make that assumption you would have to ignore the fact that several of his team members went on to work with Xerox to create the PARC. They wanted to make a machine that had all of the high points of the NLS, without it's limitations and steep learning curve. 

The original mouse

Plus, they invented the mouse. They called it a "bug" instead of a "mouse", but they were responsible for it's inception. That alone makes them, and the system that they built, worthy of memory. 

Some of the things that were capable on NLS systems in the 1960s, have only recently become a reality on modern personal computers. Collaborative document editing, for example, was all but completely unheard of until the launch of cloud based office suites such as Google Docs. 

As of 2005 only one NLS machine was left in existence. The Computer History Museum, working in collaboration with Engelbart set out to clone this system for the preservation of the history it represents. There have been no updates from this project since 2007. In the mean time, the only real glimpse we have into how the system worked is a film made of the system operating in 1968. This film demonstrates some truly remarkable firsts. Often referred to as "The Mother of all Demos", the film is included in it's entirety bellow. 

Doug Engelbart 1968 Demonstration on Vimeo.

For more information on Douglas Engelbart and NLS check out some of the following links:

http://dougengelbart.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Engelbart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLS_(computer_system)

http://memoryfailure.net/portfolio/nls.html

http://www.livinginternet.com/w/wi_engelbart.htm

The Dawn of Modern Computing: NLS and Douglas Engelbart

Douglas Engelbart, the first mouse, and an early chorded keyboard.

Everyone seems to have their own idea of which machine deserves the title of the first "modern" computer.  Some people point toward the first Apple Macintosh, others towards the IBM PC, the Apple Lisa, the Commodore Amiga,  the Xerox Parc, and so forth, and, while each of these machines undoubtedly played a major role in shaping computers as they are today, none of them is really the first modern computer. They all share a common ancestor that pioneered nearly all of the concepts that are associated with modern computers, NLS (oN Line System), a networked computing platform originally implemented in the 1960s.

Some firsts associated with this pioneering system include:

the computer mouse 2-dimensional display editing in-file object addressing, linking hypermedia outline processing flexible view control multiple windows cross-file editing integrated hypermedia email hypermedia publishing (Hypertext and links)  document version control shared-screen teleconferencing

computer-aided meetings formatting directives context-sensitive help distributed client-server architecture uniform command syntax universal "user interface" front-end module multi-tool integration grammar-driven command language interpreter protocols for virtual terminals remote procedure call protocols compilable "Command Meta Language" The Chorded Keyboard

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates made no secret about the number of ideas that they borrowed (or perhaps stole is the appropriate term) from the Xerox Parc, and much has been written on the subject. What seems to be ignored is that nearly every concept that made the Parc (a machine of 1973) so revolutionary has it's roots in a system that existed as early as 1966. In fact, the only truly original feat it can claim is that it was the first machine that was designed to be easy to use and easy to learn to use, rather than simply efficient. Without the strides made by a small team of researchers at SRI, led by Douglas Engelbart, on a system known as NLS (oN Line System), the Xerox Parc, and by extension MacOS, MS Windows, and most other 'modern' software could have never existed.

After the jump, we've got a video of the system in action.

Introductions are in order

Photo by Flikr user Shordzi. Licensed CC-BY-SA. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/

Let us forget, for a moment, that the year is 2011. Let us further forget that, in all likelihood, neither I (the author) nor you (the reader) are persons of great consequence, though I concede that it is entirely possible that we are. Let us forget that we may be separated in both space and time by what seem to be insurmountable distances. 

For now, in this moment, let us only remember the things that tie us together. You are here because, weather you believe it or not, you and I have a common bond. We are nerds, geeks, technophiles. Further, we have a particular, peculiar, historical bent to our passions and obsessions. We are here to ensure that the technologies of our past are rediscovered and remembered by the generations of our future. We are comrades, kindred spirits. 

Join us. 

Join us as we explore the technologies of our fathers, and their fathers. Join us as we explore the technologies of our childhoods. Join us as we explore the technologies that never were, the machines that could have been.  Let us explore yesterday's cutting edge, and steal a glimpse into the technologies that the march of progress has deemed obsolete.

Obsolete! 

What a word. What a vile, despicable word. It's a word dreamed up by marketing departments and corporate executives to ensure the ever marching status quo. Let us rally against obsolescence. 

We do not claim to be historians, experts, or teachers. We have no great and noble purpose, beyond illustrating a past that is so quickly forgotten. Think of us as storytellers, as raconteurs. It is my hope that together we may journey through the technologies of our past and achieve an understanding strong enough to shape the technological progress of our future. 

We are here to share our love of technology, typewriters, telegraphs, turntables, oxford commas, and even things that don't start with the letter 't' and have nothing to do with grammar (such as vintage computers, photography, electric cars, cassette tapes, and a plethora of other symbols of geekdom.) 

Prop your feet up and stay a while.

Submissions welcome

Introductions are in order

Photo by Flikr user Shordzi. Licensed CC-BY-SA. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/

Let us forget, for a moment, that the year is 2011. Let us further forget that, in all likelihood, neither I (the author) nor you (the reader) are persons of great consequence, though I concede that it is entirely possible that we are. Let us forget that we may be separated in both space and time by what seem to be insurmountable distances. 

For now, in this moment, let us only remember the things that tie us together. You are here because, weather you believe it or not, you and I have a common bond. We are nerds, geeks, technophiles. Further, we have a particular, peculiar, historical bent to our passions and obsessions. We are here to ensure that the technologies of our past are rediscovered and remembered by the generations of our future. We are comrades, kindred spirits. 

Join us. 

Join us as we explore the technologies of our fathers, and their fathers. Join us as we explore the technologies of our childhoods. Join us as we explore the technologies that never were, the machines that could have been.  Let us explore yesterday's cutting edge, and steal a glimpse into the technologies that the march of progress has deemed obsolete.

Obsolete! 

What a word. What a vile, despicable word. It's a word dreamed up by marketing departments and corporate executives to ensure the ever marching status quo. Let us rally against obsolescence. 

We do not claim to be historians, experts, or teachers. We have no great and noble purpose, beyond illustrating a past that is so quickly forgotten. Think of us as storytellers, as raconteurs. It is my hope that together we may journey through the technologies of our past and achieve an understanding strong enough to shape the technological progress of our future. 

We are here to share our love of technology, typewriters, telegraphs, turntables, oxford commas, and even things that don't start with the letter 't' and have nothing to do with grammar (such as vintage computers, photography, electric cars, cassette tapes, and a plethora of other symbols of geekdom.) 

Prop your feet up and stay a while.

Submissions welcome

All on Paper (old news?)

In a stunning and, if I may say, terribly interesting move College journalists from Florida Atlantic University have produced an entire issue of their newspaper the 'old fashioned' way.

The whole thing has a very Don Drapper/Mad Men feel to it, which is  a Good Thing.

They typed on typewriters, took photos on film (which they developed in house), cut and pasted with scissors and glue, and made plates by hand.

I can't tell if they are crazy or brilliant. I want to try it. (Hit the link for the full story.)

Part one: http://journoterrorist.com/2011/07/26/paperball/
Part two: http://journoterrorist.com/2011/08/02/paperball2/
Read the issue yourself: http://issuu.com/upress/docs/up1234-2 


Be sure to read through the comments for some interesting and useful contributions. (Like this gem, the same thing as it was done 'back in the day.')