Textbook – Inventing Personal Computing

Quote on page 64: “…it will examine to what extent ‘personal computing’…was simply the result of a natural outcome of advances in semiconductor technology, or whether it was the result of a conscious effort by a group of actors to effect a social transformation in computing.”

As you read this paper, determine what evidence is presented that supports either proposition.

1. Stewart Brand watched a group at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab playing a game called Spacewar. Why was this extraordinary at the time?

2. What is the difference between batch processing and interactive processing?

3. What “illusion” is the author referring to when discussing the PDP-10 computer?

4. Why does the author think that this illusion was important?

5. What effect(s) did the introduction of personal calculators have on the direction of computing technology?

6. What is a “programmable” calculator?

7. What does “time-sharing” mean?

8. Who were the first users of programmable calculators?

9. How did users of programmable calculators get help?

10. Why were calculator chips unsuitable for general purpose computing?

11. What is a microprocessor?

12. On page 69, the author states, “By early 1974, there were two converging forces at work.” What were these forces? What were they converging to?

13. What are the two kinds of software that were required in order for personal computers to gain a foothold?

14. Why was Kemeney’s scheme at Dartmouth College so important?

15. What was the impact of electronics hobbyists on personal computing?

16. Why did the Altair kit have far greater success than previous kits?

17. What effect did the Altair have on software development?

18. Which commercial microcomputers were introduced in 1977?

19. What was the commercial impact of microcomputers on large computer companies?

20. To what extent was personal computing the result of a natural outcome of advances in semiconductor technology, or the result of a conscious effort by a group of actors to effect a social transformation in computing?