🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1990Aug3...@bert.llnl.gov> how...@bert.llnl.gov (Louis Howell) writes:
>While I strongly approve of the idea, I found the Computer Museum
>in Boston to be a bit dull.  All of the displays were set up and
>labeled for computer-illiterates.
>
   [stuff deleted]
>
>I realize that trying to keep a vacuum tube monster operating is
>far beyond the budget and capabilities of any museum.  But I
>think they could make some good displays with things like working
>papertape readers, hands-on elementary logic circuits, timelines,
>and exhibits designed to show just how far computing capabilities
>have come since the early days.  Instead of letting the kids play
>games they could run on a Nintendo, why not let them type a few
>of their own punched cards?  Use a slide rule?  Run an "assembly
>language" program? (I'm thinking something like Core Wars, here.)
>Wire a simple plug board?  Talk to a Lisp interpreter?  Run a
>10-line Fortran 66 program?  (Remember, most visitors have never
>seen any programming language except BASIC, but I assume that
>many or most have used PC's.)  Debug an adaptive mesh Godunov
>scheme written in Intercal?  (Maybe this is a little unrealistic.)
>

Some other stuff I'd like to see in a computer museum: Fractal
demos, let then navigate through Mandelbrot's set. Or have then
play the prisonner's dilemma against the computer. Show how secret
messages work.

The exposition should encourage interaction. A computer is but a tool;
who would go see an exposition of crewdrivers?

Also because it is a tool, it will interest the general public only
if they see how it contributes to other fields (mathematics, graphic arts,
metereology, medecine, psychology, and I could go on for pages).

You don't need much computing power for most displays so AppleIIs would
do fine. But most importantly, the machines will be of little interest
if we don't keep the software that goes with it.

>Well, enough babbling.  It just seems a pity to me that they took
>a great idea and then dumbed it down far enough to insult the
>intelligence of even a PC-literate.
>

I haven't seen the museum, so I'll hold back my comments.

>Louis Howell
>
>#include <std.disclaimer>

Disclamer: Universite de Montreal is not responsible for my delirium.
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Philippe Hebrais                    heb...@IRO.UMontreal.CA
                                    ph...@MirkWood.CAM.ORG
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