Dear all Thanks to all who have responded. I'll reply off-list where appropriate, but I'd like to put out a further call for experiences relating to something in Kimon's message: the practical side of sourcing and working with historic objects for hands-on exhibition. Traditional museums, of course, are oriented to collecting and displaying high-value items in ways that minimise the risk of damage or alteration. Some of the museum professionals I've talked to about exhibitions that feature relatively free access to working disposable items have reported a difficulty that's not really a culture clash -- there is a lot of sympathy for the hands-on ideal -- as a shortage of clear precedent. There's no "industry wisdom", for instance, on acquiring items: those I've spoken to in the UK have tended to source them informally from eBay. I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who has already exhibited along these lines, on the cost and reliability of the machines chosen, rates and causes of attrition (or steps taken to avoid it), and any challenges presented by keeping up a replacement cycle for (supposedly identical) equipment. I'm also particularly struck by Kimon's decision to use custom-designed display applications, which I'm guessing is a targeted response to a familiar problem: users who are newcomers to the machines can't have a meaningfully authentic interaction with authentic period software, because they don't have the investment and the web of background knowledge that were key to the experience. There are some exceptions -- I've seen 80s games and educational software picked up by newcomer audiences, though only a minority work particularly well. Thoughts welcome, as ever. All best James On 20/01/2015 18:06, Kimon Keramidas wrote:
Dear James and Andy et. al.,
It is great to see both of your emails at this point in time as I am in the process of completing an exhibition that deals with a lot of these questions and ideas, and I’ve wanted to share information with the SIGCIS listserv for a while. I work at the Bard Graduate Center, a research institute with graduate programs and exhibition space on the Upper West side of Manhattan that focuses on the study of material culture and design history. I consider myself very interdisciplinary and incorporate almost all of the people Andrew mentioned from the worlds of digital humanities and media studies in my work. As the Director of our Digital Media Lab I’ve been very interested in the intersection between concepts of materiality and the history of computing and the idea of computers as designed objects. I’ve taught courses on interface design from a sociocultural and design history perspective and that has led to the exhibition currently under development.
As I began thinking about this exhibition(which I presented on at SHOT 2014), I thought about how computers are much more dynamic devices than they are usually presented in museums. I wanted to be able to display not just the physical artifacts, but the actual experiences, where possible, of using computing devices. This opened up a lot of interesting questions and possibilities. Where we have ended up is an exhibition comprised almost completely of used computing devices (purchased on eBay) that visitors will be able to physically interact with. No velvet ropes, no glass panes, full contact. We were not able to get all of those devices working fully, settling for tactile interaction, but five core devices that are of particular importance (a Commodore 64, Macintosh, Palm Pilot, iPad, and Microsoft Kinect) will be operational and running custom applications. These applications have been designed and scripted to walk visitors through the particular strengths and innovative affordances of those devices, giving them an experiential idea of why they were important. It will be a different kind of experience for most visitors, but one that I think captures the spirit of using computers in our lives. It also seems that it addresses a lot of the questions James is asking. The objects that will be on display sold tens of thousands if not millions of units making them distinctly banal in a sense, but also representative of the memories that most of us have of personal computers.
The exhibition will be on display from April 2-July 11, and more information can be found here(The Interface Experience: Forty Years of Personal Computing <http://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/gallery-at-bgc/the-interface-experience.html>). I have written an accompanying catalog available through Univ of Chicago Press (http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/I/bo20339620.html) and we are also developing a media-rich app to accompany the in-gallery experience and also as a stand alone web site. It will be available at http://interfaceexperience.org. I hope that many SIGCIS members can make it to the exhibition and look forward to further conversations. BTW if anyone is interested I have included the project checklist:
Cheers Kimon Keramidas
Here is a list of objects in the exhibition:
• Xerox Alto OS • Atari 2600 • Apple II • Visicalc • Osborne 1 • Sinclair ZX81 • Xerox Star 8010 Information System • IBM Personal Computer 5150 • MS DOS • GRiD Compass • Commodore 64 • Minitel 1 Terminal • Radio Shack TRS-80 MODEL 100 • Apple Macintosh Plus • Nintendo Entertainment System • Aldus Pagemaker • Nintendo Game Boy • Apple PowerBook 170 • Apple Newton MessagePad 120 • Sony PlayStation • Netscape Navigator • Wacom ArtPad II • Windows 95 • Palm Pilot Professional • Apple iMac G3 • VeriFone Omni 7000MPD • HP Compaq TC4200 • Nintendo Wii • Amazon Kindle • Apple iPad • Apple Magic Trackpad • Microsoft Xbox 360 with Kinect
Kimon Keramidas, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Director of the Digital Media Lab
On Display April 2 - July 11, 2015 The Interface Experience: Forty Years of Personal Computing <http://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/gallery-at-bgc/the-interface-experience.html>
Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture 38 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 T212 501 3061 F212 501 3065 Ekeramidas@bgc.bard.edu <mailto:keramidas@bgc.bard.edu> W bgc.bard.edu <http://www.bgc.bard.edu/> Wbgc.bard.edu/digital-media-lab <http://www.bgc.bard.edu/research/digital-media-lab.html> Wdml.wikis.bgc.bard.edu <http://dml.wikis.bgc.bard.edu/> Ttwitter.com/BGCDML <http://twitter.com/BGCDML>
BGC Exhibitions: W bgc.bard.edu/gallery <http://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/gallery-at-bgc.html>
*From: *James Sumner <james.sumner@manchester.ac.uk <mailto:james.sumner@manchester.ac.uk>> *To: *members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org> *Date: *January 19, 2015 at 3:10:19 PM EST *Subject: **[SIGCIS-Members] Mass-market historic computers, display and interaction*
Dear all
I've found the various discussions of computer restoration projects and visitor interpretation in recent days very useful. I'd be interested to hear from listmembers on a related question:
For the collection following up on the Science Museum's recent "Interpreting the Information Age" conference, I'm currently working up a short paper on the problem of how to represent, to museum-goers and other general audiences, the history of computing machines which were *not* iconic, one-of-a-kind, or of obvious stand-out physical or technical interest -- in particular, mass-produced boxes and clone designs which were (often drearily) familiar to large user populations in their day, yet will nevertheless mean little to most people today without interpretation. My key question is how to make the machines not only intelligible, but interesting. Much of the answer I want to give revolves around the expected "look at how they were used", but I also want to give some attention to how to keep the nature of the machines in the picture.
In particular, I'd be keen to hear people's experience of providing hands-on access to machines, in ways that are not possible for older, rarer and more valuable survivals (or, indeed, painstakingly engineered and authentic re-creations). There are, of course, quite a few museums and display collections internationally that include working models of representative machines -- I'm interested to hear of people's experiences of the practicalities, and in particular of interaction with audiences who *don't* remember the machines from "first time around". Please drop me an email if you would be happy to discuss.
All best James
On 18/01/2015 17:02, Andrew Russell wrote:
Dag’s email made me think of fascinating work in media archaeology, digital humanities, and related areas by scholars such as Matt Kirschenbaum (see his book _Mechanisms: New Media and the Forensic Imagination_), Lori Emerson (http://mediaarchaeologylab.com/ at CU-Boulder), Andreas Fickers (playing with ‘Experimental Media Archaeology’ at Univ. Luxembourg), and others.
There are some clear differences between these scholars and the types of computer restoration projects mentioned below - for example, Kirschenbaum and Emerson are both in English Departments and link their work to cultural theory in ways that the Science Museum and Computer History Museum do not. But there are also some clear areas of overlapping interest, especially a deep appreciation for machines (and their ‘materiality’) and the value that comes from preserving and working closely with them.
To respond to Dag’s question, I think this is an incredibly valuable area of work. There’s a lot more to say about this -- in part because it is linked to the discussion triggered by Tom Haigh’s recent CACM column on the “tears of Knuth” -- but I’ll restrict myself to two observations for now: - if we broaden the scope of inquiry from “computers” to “media technologies,” we will find many more areas of intersection between museum professionals and academics who identify not strictly as “computer historians” but instead as media historians, media scholars, etc. (scholars such as Mara Mills and Lisa Gitelman come to mind). Jen Light described some of this overlap in her SIGCIS keynote address in Dearborn, and I hope we’ll hear much more about this at future SIGCIS workshops. - I bet that antiquarians, hobbyists, and museum experts working with cars and trains have put a lot of thought into the value of restoration and the extent to which they interact with academics. This is familiar territory for SHOT members, to put it mildly. To put this another way: I wonder if Wolfgang Schivelbusch likes going to railroad museums, and if staff at those museums know about or appreciate his work?
Cheers,
Andy
On Jan 18, 2015, at 10:20 AM, Brian Randell <brian.randell@newcastle.ac.uk <mailto:brian.randell@newcastle.ac.uk>> wrote:
Hi Dag:
Though I wouldn’t call them actual restorations, I think the Science Museum’s construction of Babbage’s No 2 Difference Engine, and the late Tony Sale’s of the Colossus Mk 2, were wonderful examples of what I understand is called “experimental archaeology”, up there with the Chateau de Guedelon (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10440300), and as such of *unquestionable* value.
Cheers
Brian
On 16 Jan 2015, at 19:09, Dag Spicer <dspicer@computerhistory.org <mailto:dspicer@computerhistory.org>> wrote:
New piece today by the BBC on computer restorations, including the Computer History Museum’s IBM 1401 (1959).
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30546592
I’d be interested in hearing from SIGCIS members about their perception of the value of doing these kinds of things…
Dag
-- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum Editorial Board, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard Mountain View, CA 94043-1311
Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055
Twitter: @ComputerHistory
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-- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk <mailto:Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk> PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 FAX = +44 191 208 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by 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
This email is relayed from members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by 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
*From: *Elizabeth Petrick <elizabeth.r.petrick@njit.edu <mailto:elizabeth.r.petrick@njit.edu>> *To: *members <members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>> *Date: *January 19, 2015 at 11:49:03 AM EST *Subject: **[SIGCIS-Members] InfoAge Science Center*
Hello everyone,
I wanted to mention about the wonderful visit Lee Vinsel and I had last week to the InfoAge Science Center, courtesy of Evan Koblentz.
Evan gave us a personal tour of the computer collection he runs there. It was great to see (and in many cases, see running) computers that I've only ever read about (Bendix G-15, PDP-8, Altair, Apple Lisa, Osborne).
If you're in the New Jersey area, I highly recommend paying a visit here. I'll be teaching a course on computer history next year and I'm hoping to arrange to bring my students. I think they'll get a lot out of being able to experience these machines in person.
Elizabeth Petrick
Assistant Professor Federated History Department New Jersey Institute of Technology
*From: *Evan Koblentz <evan@snarc.net <mailto:evan@snarc.net>> *To: *members <members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>> *Date: *January 19, 2015 at 8:42:11 PM EST *Subject: **Re: [SIGCIS-Members] InfoAge Science Center*
Thank you Elizabeth! We enjoyed hosting you and Lee and are excited to hopefully show your students too.
On 01/19/2015 11:49 AM, Elizabeth Petrick wrote:
Hello everyone,
I wanted to mention about the wonderful visit Lee Vinsel and I had last week to the InfoAge Science Center, courtesy of Evan Koblentz.
Evan gave us a personal tour of the computer collection he runs there. It was great to see (and in many cases, see running) computers that I've only ever read about (Bendix G-15, PDP-8, Altair, Apple Lisa, Osborne).
If you're in the New Jersey area, I highly recommend paying a visit here. I'll be teaching a course on computer history next year and I'm hoping to arrange to bring my students. I think they'll get a lot out of being able to experience these machines in person.
Elizabeth Petrick
Assistant Professor Federated History Department New Jersey Institute of Technology
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed frommembers@sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are athttp://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options athttp://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members
*From: *Evan Koblentz <evan@snarc.net <mailto:evan@snarc.net>> *To: *Sigcis <members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>> *Date: *January 19, 2015 at 8:47:21 PM EST *Subject: **[SIGCIS-Members] Wes Clark @ VCF East*
SIGCIS'rs,
...Previously announced that Ted Nelson and Bob Frankston will keynote the Vintage Computer Festival East this spring. Now we are very pleased to announce a third major speech there: Wes Clark.
Thus the latest statistics for VCF East: - Sixteen technical classes (Friday) - Three keynotes (Saturday/Sunday) - Twenty-one exhibits (thirty-plus expected -- Saturday/Sunday)
Full details are at http://www.vintage.org/2015/east.
We know that some of you respect the artifacts of computer history. As stated in recent discussions on this list, we in MARCH / InfoAge Science Center take a "pro-restoration" stance toward them.
So: Come to VCF East. Leave your necktie and sportjacket at home. Get your hands dirty with some hardware and code.
*From: *Melanie Swalwell <melanie.swalwell@flinders.edu.au <mailto:melanie.swalwell@flinders.edu.au>> *To: *James Sumner <james.sumner@manchester.ac.uk <mailto:james.sumner@manchester.ac.uk>>, "members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>" <members@sigcis.org <mailto:members@sigcis.org>> *Date: *January 20, 2015 at 1:54:51 AM EST *Subject: **Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Mass-market historic computers, display and interaction*
Dear James,
There was a conference in 2013 at the London Science Museum devoted to the question of "Making the history of computing relevant". A colleague, Helen Stuckey, gave a paper on behalf of some of the Play It Again team which I lead. This project is focused on the history and preservation needs of 1980s microcomputer games from Australia and New Zealand, so pretty much the mass market machines you are talking about. In considering the question of how to present the history of 80s micro games we have emphasised the role of popular memory, and -- through a web interface that we call the Popular Memory Archive -- asked the public to share their memories of particular games and computing generally. User reflections (and uploads) on what these computers mean and meant to them are often very animated and frequently much more entertaining than, say, museum didactics. We have a nice emerging collection of photos of computers in domestic interiors, also, dotted throughout the various parts of the site, with several at http://playitagainproject.org/contribute We see the fact that these machines weren't unique but mass produced and familiar to many as a plus, rather than a negative -- it means that many people remember them and can share their memories.
The papers from the London conference were published by Springer/IFIP so I can't just put it online (another version is published in the ACM Digital Library at http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2513570 which may be more accessible to those with library access). I'm also happy to make a copy of our paper available to anyone who's interested individually -- just email me off list.
Regards,
Melanie
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