[Chicago] Good readings on the history of computing

[Lance Hassan]

Remind me to start going to meetings. We can whip out the tab cards and build castles (in the sand...oop sorry, just sort of spilled out)


Thank You,
Lance Hassan
Roy Talman and Associates

From: Chicago [mailto:chicago-bounces+lance=roytalman.com at python.org] On Behalf Of Yarko Tymciurak
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 2:21 PM
To: The Chicago Python Users Group
Subject: Re: [Chicago] Good readings on the history of computing


On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Lance Hassan <lance at roytalman.com<mailto:lance at roytalman.com>> wrote:
Wow Soul of a New Machine...you must be as old as I am :) does anybody else remember Control Data?

... Control Data, and it's involvement in PLATO from the late 60's, to CD's demise was part of my edX talk this month (perhaps too big a part, because it's _such_ a story!).


Thank You,
Lance Hassan
Roy Talman and Associates

From: Chicago [mailto:chicago-bounces+lance<mailto:chicago-bounces%2Blance>=roytalman.com at python.org<mailto:roytalman.com at python.org>] On Behalf Of Leon Chism
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 2:02 PM

To: The Chicago Python Users Group
Cc: maney at two14.net<mailto:maney at two14.net>

Subject: Re: [Chicago] Good readings on the history of computing

Soul of New Machine is a great read, as are Nerds 2.0.1 by Stephen Segaller, Eniac by Scott McCartney (if standing mercury waves for memory storage seems like a good idea) and lastly I'd recommend What the Doormouse Said by John Markoff for a look at the role of the counter culture on Silicon Valley's evolution.

- leon


On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 11:43 AM, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com<mailto:kirby.urner at gmail.com>> wrote:


On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 7:23 PM, Martin Maney <maney at two14.net<mailto:maney at two14.net>> wrote:
On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 08:00:01AM -0700, kirby urner wrote:
> Good computer history and a classic worth collecting (I don't have it):
>
> 'Computer Lib / Dream Machines' by Ted Nelson.
I hope I still have the copy I got back in the seventies - amazingly
weird, fun book.

<< snip >>

 And
Knuth's joyfully contrary "Structured Programming with Goto
Statements"  And much more.

I've never seen Knuth's programming with Goto statements thing.  I've
always thought a hyperlink could be described as a "goto statement"
for humans (and there's not even a return -- just your back button,
which some web pages fight you for).

However, Knuth's four volumes The Art of Computer Programming
does have a fair amount of history, I know from owning Semi-
Numerical Algorithms (stuff on Euclid's Method goes way back).
Plus it's an historic work all by itself.

So, partly inspired by this useful thread (glad it's archived in public,
I'll be going back to get more titles), I finally just bought his full boxed
set of four volumes, 1-4a, woo hoo.

Kirby


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