Notes on PCC reading
May/June 77 - v5n6
Letters
"People's Computers is aimed at beginners and intermediates. Dr Dobbs Journal of Computer Calisthenics and Orthodontia is for heavy hackers -- if you don't know what that means, it's probably not for you. Computer Music Journal is a state-of-the-art publication for specialists or would be specialists in computer music."
So here, PC positioned as pub segmenting interest group by skill level, but also the not-hacker group. So hacker, while often used to describe a certain kind of engagement with a machine (a hacker won't necessarily be expert on deploying a system that works with your work process, but they can design/architect inside box) is also implicitly elevated to a high-skill computer person -- the highest level in the "field." And if you're not at that level, you won't really be part of conversations that will get you talking, thinking at that level.
Letter on human computing survey from Andrew Clement in Vancouver
"I am particularly interested in hearing from people who are working wtih small-scale computers that involve and serve more than just computer people." Implicit here is that to use computers is not necessarily to be a computer person.
Letter from woman who calls out for need for comprehensible manuals, as computing is currently a "man's world" and women don't have the background/experience with electronics, etc. Friend in Detroit Comp Club reported hundred men and 3 or 4 women.
- Response from Don Inman of Dymax is that problem isn't that you're female. It's that you're a beginner, and reports on 10-14 year old kids who use computers for 15 mins and then start program. Kids have no "life experiences males in dealing with electricity..." so "male skills" are not necessary for computer use. He uses quotes, so clearly he doesn't really believe that they are male skills. He also categorizes users into "recreation, education, controlling external devices, etc." Do other create similar typologies?
- Response from Alice Ahlgren
Of the "being a woman does put you in a minority, but it'll change as more women enter" variety. And current state isn't surprising. Men and women both have issues with computers and we need lots more literature.
- Response from Rita Liff
Basically like Unlocking the Clubhouse. Lays it out and calls for a conference, call to action. Observes that girls often take passive observing role in participatory science centers, girls note depicted in roles other than mother, secretary, etc, and that some women do enter these fields. Lawrence Hall of Sci, Cromemco, and Mills cosponsoring conference on these issues. Wow. Incredibly sophisticated, Rita Liff.
Fortran Man
Herr Doktor Debug has a beautiful daughter Parity.
Doktor: "I am leaving Parity here in your care, Ludwig...she is still tired from the journey. We can transmit ourselves back to the village much faster if we travel without Parity."
I think it's more a play on error checking, but not sure.
They run off and Parity doesn't play into story for rest of comic.
They're examining some misbehaving register and a messenger arrives from Junction City but the message arrives without Parity! "I'm afraid we must assume that Parity has fallen into the clutches of Count Algol!!" Gasp!!! says doktor.
next Fortran Man, Parity doesn't appear. In the one after, she's back. Doktor: "I'm not completely alone -- I have my beautiful daughter Parity to keep me company! Have you met?" P: "Greetings, mein Herr! Velcome to Transistoria! Mein father has told me so much abuot you!" She is a P with a boy on a ponytail.
next frame: formal intros completed, they head for the village. Parity silence this and next frame.
F: We need to capture the culprit! P: "I want to help too!"
next: D: "Run home and fetch my bag, parity dear. I have many calls to make." P: "Yes father."
Another Fortran Man
Fman off to fight count algol by himself -- a hero never runs "parallel processing." DD wishes Fortran safety and Parity echoes "Me too! Promise me you'll be careful!"
Lawrence Hall of Science: Women & Math Projects
purpose: stimulating curiousity and interest in mathematics through ands-on experiences. puzzles, games, and computer activities.
survey oof physical and life sci, comp sci, math classes - females only 25% of total students enrolled. Since spr 1974, 350 have taken tuition math for girls but total females enrolled in other Lawrence Hall classes doubled, increasing total female enrollment to 35% of student pop
taught by math, math ed, or comp sci berkeley students that are women
also discuss stereotypes of girls and math, importance of math background
Quark by SLAC scientist
Symmetry is beautiful like the perfect body of a beautiful woman. Man, I'm so unhip that I have to quote this.
The Charm Quark is a short breasty chick in a dress with a wizard hat and a wand.
First computer story - shepherdess intentionally a woman, says bob. "And to this day, when someone is high, we say she is stoned."
Who We Are
185 of 191 survey respondents were men! Phyllis finds it notable enough to mention it in the first section "judging by names 97% are men...ok, si females tend to lack proportional representation in many fields. But most computer related areas aren't so biased. Hmmm..." later "What a superbly motley crew! Except, of course, that 185 of 191 are men."
Yet another Fortran Man where Parity does nothing but worry about ppl's health and offer help in her curly-queued form factor.
Computer conferencing article - Johansen, Spangler, Vallee
pictures of woman and woman/man pair using computer in the home, pic of man in the office, pic of handicapped man and woman (all white of course) in home ostensibly conferencing.
savvy: "Psychotherapy may also find uses for the medium: for instance, the altered environment for self-presentation may help in defining self-concept (for example, in relating to persons of the opposite sex or other races)" --predicts turkle
"providing handicapped persons with a channel to the outside world"
PCNET 1979 by Dave Caulkins
has pic of woman jubilant over a cake and man jubilant over some sort of document book thing
a bit of sci fi about use of personal computer net that had just been announced in Palo Alto
Linda manages recipes (as does Mary Henderson apparently) for cake
Jim collects stamps (and the other two members of his club are men too) and works with Tom at Acme Widget Works in sales.
pretty traditional.
jan feb 78 - v6n4
Computer Revolution by Phyllis Cole
Her fantasy of computing in 1980 is one where computer helps manage home lighting, power consumption, child education, and even studying for pilot's licenses (both you and your spouse). Markedly less traditional than Dave Caulkins' scenario. And markedly different from notions of home computing represented in recreational computing people's computing issue later on by bob kahn.
jul aug 78 - v7n1 Bob Kahn's 1st issue
TRS-80 review implied to one reader that reviewer was fallaciously asserting that "only the hardware hobbyist is interested in programming." Bob Kahn responds that he doesn't think Tom was implying that. "Perhaps his distinction between hobbyist and consumer was a little tight, but there is certainly some truth in it."
California's Computer Whiz Kids by Suzanne Rodriguez
"This article brings me a pleasant sense of deja vu... Ah to be a young computer whiz kid again... (sigh). When Dragon Emeritus Albrecht first came to my high school to talk about FORTRAN, these whiz kids were busy being born!" SR if studying journalism and currently working at Zilog with Judy Estrin, who organized competition along with Barbara Koalkin of PARC
women have big roles in competition but women don't seem to participate. all pictured are men. And quite a few asian kids. But rarely do you actually see asian kids in photo spreads. First asian kid I've seen ever in publication actually.
Letter from Kathleen Hardiman Arnold (Commission on Status of Women - SF, CA)
researching homemakers, working women, and 'workwives' and impact of technology on them and their families. how computers (home use) and comp-based equipment will be marketed to the homemaker.
ask phyllis if she ever got in touch with this person
Fortran man - Parity is gone gone gone.
ask phyllis - what was bob kahn like?
Public Access Computers has 3 photos - 2 feature girls and computers, last one has two boys with a computer. Lots of attention to "parity"
sep oct 1978 - v7n2
SOON TO BE RECREATIONAL COMPUTING
black boy on cover of magazine using the computer in a museum
"emphasize the fact that in future issues we intend to focus on computing as a recreational and educational pastime." that letter about hobbyists and consumers was sort of about an identity conflict. this seems to speak to that crystallizing typologies. "intend to address ourselves to the main use of computers in the home -- games, programs and diversions for entertainment and home education...look for more programs and articles on fantasy/adventure games and simulations, more computing problems for you to solve and diversions for you to puzzle over, more on graphics and more on packagagedc micrsystems -- in black & white...and color!"
but this somehow seems mapped onto a male experience of being in the home and what you'd want to do there. what's the alternative? phyllis' articles and proposals.
more typology crystallization
ppl's computers "magazine for beginning and intermediate level computer users..."
dr dobbs journal "significant systems and applications software in the public domain and provides a forum for the personal computing community...THE software source for microcomputers."
sep oct 1978 - dragon is back
marin computer center - mixed race photo, girl and mommy using computers; signified feminism but I'm thinking that subtle understanding of feminist consciousness will no longer be there.
ask phyllis whether any women comp user community ever got built up around people's computers during her two year tenure
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