networked protocols

1
networked protocols

• 12.04.06

2
recap

• last time focus on how the development of a
  symbolic language and technical devices could
  separate logical systems from hardware, leading
  to the potential for the commodification,
  exchange, and ownership of ideas.
• But this has also led to the ability to create
  and exchange content outside of capitalist
  networks of mediation.
• The history of digital technology development
  involves the tension between these two positions.

3
from external to personal control

• development of minicomputers
• development of techniques and devices to allow
  personal control of machine
• hobbyist culture beginning of intellectual
  property issues

4
the mother of all demos1968, Fall Joint
Computer ConferenceSan Francisco

• Doug Engelbart, Stanford Research Inst.

5
the mother of all demos

• Engelbart helps introduce
• mouse
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• windowing
• information space
• networked environment

6
Xerox PARC

• Alto (1974)
• first self-contained computer not marketed
  commercially
• Xerox PARC further develops mouse, windowing, GUI

7
Personal Computing Altair 8800 (1975)

• developed by Ed Roberts, MITS
• hobbyist creation
• Intel 8080 processor
• BASIC by Micro-Soft

8
MITS

• Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems
  (electronics co. founded by Ed Roberts in 1968)
• one of a number of companies developing micro
  computers for hobbyist
• Altair promoted by Popular Electronics
• sponsored conventions/fairs for users

9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
Altair 8800b

• this version contains an 8 floppy disk drive
• more Altair at http//www.virtualaltair.com/

12
Counter-culture Computing

• Ted Nelsons Computer Lib magazine (1974)

13
Computer Cultural Conventions

• Conventions where the hobbyist and developing
  corporate cultures could intermingle
• capitalist and gift economies

14
(No Transcript)
15
hobbyist market gift economy

• Homebrew Computer Club
• founded 1975, Menlo Park CA
• hobbyist group
• ethics of sharing
• tried to set (open) standards
• Richard Stallman (MIT)
• Free Software Movement
• later, GNU

16
Apple I II

• I 1976
• II 1977
• (original version Apple II plus more successful)

17
IBM PC

• introduced in 1981
• IBM had long resisted personal market
• added legitimacy to personal market
• Microsoft OS

18
Macintosh

• Introduced 1984
• why 1984 wont be like 1984
• IBM was the Big Brother then