The New Xerox and an Old Book

Apparently, one of my favorite search engines is becoming synonymous with the word “search.” Recently when I was facing a technical problem accessing my email account on another person’s computer, he stated, “Let me Google it!” Expecting him actually to go to Google, I observed that he used another search engine. I am sure Google does not mind this, as they are also part of a joint ad with an automobile manufacturer in which the ad tells interested viewers to “Google…” I am surprised we do not go around saying “Microsoft it” when suggesting the use of a computer. We probably owe a lot to the Mac crowd for preventing that.

I spent a little time today browsing through Computers and Reading Instruction, a 1993 publication by Leo D. Geoffrion and Olga P. Geoffion. It was a text for one of the graduate reading courses I was taking at the time. In the resource section are numerous references for reading programs for Apple II, TRS-80, Commodore and even Atari. We have sure come a long way but try getting an obscure audio part at Radio Shack. At the time they sold the TRS-80, the staff also knew audio and could get you the adaptor you needed and it was probably in stock. They also had a thick print catalog you could keep. I don’t think they even offer a PDF catalog today. (Marketers: Think about that!)

There was a cute story in the book explaining how the computers at the time of publication ran a program. It is given through a child’s perspective.

Well, what happens…this is the mouth (pointing to the cassette recorder)

and the computer eats the program off the tape. Then it goes through here

(the cassette cable) like a straw, to the computer’s stomach. Here’s its face

(the CRT screen) like a big eye, and you can look in and see what’s in the

Stomach….Then when you say RUN, the computer’s got the energy to run

‘cause it ate the program. If you don’t load the program, it can’t run ‘cause there’s no energy to….You know what else computers eat? Potato chips. I hear there’s lots of chips in these things.

The story comes from an article by M.M. Humphrey in Creative Computing Vol. 8, No. 4 (1982) entitled “All the scientists in the world smushed into one: What kids think about computers.”

What's Next?

What will I do when the music's over? There always seems to be another 45 on the stack! I have one more assignment to complete for another course and I believe I am done with coursework for summer. When that assignment is completed, I will probably bake some bread and make some creme brulee. Next week I am scheduled for jury duty. On Friday I am going to Sweden for a week so I probably will get excused from a trial if I get selected. The trip to Sweden has become more exciting with today's news about plots to blow up aircraft. It may very well be the safest time to travel. The rest of summer you will most likely find me under the dogwood tree with coffee or ice tea and one of those books I started reading in another era. Feel free to drop by! I'll be glad to fill a glass of ice tea for you and set up a lawn chair...You might want to bring your own book.
I guess I should be thinking about the GRE and matriculating since I need to do that before taking more courses.

Lessons Learned

May 26 was the last time that I submitted an entry and now it is August 9 and the course is in its closing minutes. Did I learn anything? At this point in my life, I should not attempt to do all that I attempted this summer. Taking three courses in addition to my normal summer volunteer activities did not allow me to do my best. I regret this because I feel I have much more that I could have contributed to the classes. Although I did not respond to most postings I did read many of them and believe that I am a part of a very knowlegable and wise group of students. In looking at some blogs, I note that some are close to completing the master's program and I congratulate you. When this semester is over, I will have completed fifteen credits. (I started in the Spring semester although I have over thirty credits in the reading program from the 80's) I am going to finish this time but I think I will get off the fast track. NJCU is an outstanding university and whenever I talk about the online experience, I always share how challenging the coursework from NJCU is. Not just because I personally am overloaded but because it pushes us to think and beyond that apply it.
I think the coursework from Introduction to Authoring Tools will be helpful as I would very much enjoy designing and implementing an online course in the future (not too soon) I will keep the text handy as a reference manual.