[SIGCIS-Members] References on computer hobbyists, user periodicals etc.

James Sumner james.sumner at manchester.ac.uk
Thu Jun 10 02:52:05 PDT 2010


Hi Theodore

A well-known piece, but it's worth listing all possible background:

Christina Lindsay, “From the Shadows: Users as Designers, Producers, 
Marketers, Distributors, and Technical Support” in _How Users Matter. 
The Co-Construction of Users and Technologies_, ed. Nelly Oudshoorn and 
Trevor Pinch, Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press 2003, 29-50. Looks at TRS-80 
users.

The theme of hobbyist users, and their developing role as software 
producers and mediators, is taken up by:

Thomas Lean, "'The Making of the Micro': producers, mediators, users and 
the development of popular microcomputing in Britain (1980-1989)", PhD 
thesis: University of Manchester, UK, 2008. Includes material based on 
oral history work with computer club members.

I also like:

Francis Spufford, “Chapter 3: The Universe in a Bottle” in _Backroom 
Boys_, London: Faber 2003 -- this is a popular account, but gives a good 
impression of how easily the work of "bedroom coders" flowed into 
professional development during the boom years of the mid-80s.

Hope this helps!
Best
James

Theodore Lekkas wrote:
> Hello,
> I am looking for references on the history of computer hobbyists, home
> computer user groups, home computer publications.
> Any suggestions from the members of the list would be most welcomed.
> 
> Theodore Lekkas
> Ph.D. Candidate
> University of Athens
> Greece
> 
> _______________________________________________
> This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members




More information about the Members mailing list