Making the Computer Personal: Making the Computer Personal: Reconstructing Domesticity for the Reconstructing Domesticity for the Information Age Information Age Thomas Haigh Thomas Haigh University of Wisconsin- -Milwaukee Milwaukee University of Wisconsin SHOT, Amsterdam, October 2004 SHOT, Amsterdam, October 2004
Theme of Paper Theme of Paper � How did people � How did people decide they needed a decide they needed a computer in their computer in their home? home? � Cultural work of � Cultural work of reconstruction reconstruction � Looked at another � Looked at another way way � What kind of a home � What kind of a home would need a would need a computer? computer?
1: Getting Personal 1: Getting Personal
Home Computer Concept Home Computer Concept � Predates microprocessor � Predates microprocessor � Originates as � Originates as “ “home home terminal” ” concept concept terminal � Solution looking for a � Solution looking for a problem problem � “ � “If she can only cook as If she can only cook as well as Honeywell can well as Honeywell can compute…” …” compute � � 1969 minicomputer in drag 1969 minicomputer in drag � sold in Neiman Marcus � sold in Neiman Marcus catalog catalog � around $10,000 � around $10,000
The First Microcomputers The First Microcomputers � MITS Altair � MITS Altair � Launched 1975 � Launched 1975 � Supplied in kit � Supplied in kit form form � Limited use � Limited use � But � But expandable… … expandable
Initial Constituency Initial Constituency � People who � People who � Knew how to � Knew how to solder solder � Understood � Understood electronics electronics � Wanted to play � Wanted to play with a computer with a computer � Served by Byte � Served by Byte magazine magazine � 88,000 � 88,000 circulation by circulation by spring 1977 spring 1977
Selling to Enthusiasts Selling to Enthusiasts
Before & After Before & After
Attempted Attempted Domestication Domestication � “The Noval 760… appears in its natural setting: unfolded in a living room, office, or den. The console… folds into the desk… so that the Noval 760 blends into the décor as a desk- like woodtone piece of furniture.”
Pot Plants are Common Motif Pot Plants are Common Motif
Tokenism I: The Rainbow Alliance Tokenism I: The Rainbow Alliance “People from People from “ every walk of every walk of life are life are adding iCOM iCOM adding Floppy Disks Floppy Disks to their to their microcomput microcomput ers…” …” ers
Tokenism II: The Babe Tokenism II: The Babe “combines the combines the “ 8080A CPU with a 8080A CPU with a front panel front panel featuring ultra- - featuring ultra convenient octal convenient octal keyboard and keyboard and digital LED digital LED readout” ” readout
Pre- -assembled Machines assembled Machines Pre � Follow by around � Follow by around 1977 1977 � Apple II � Apple II � Radio Shack TRS 80 � Radio Shack TRS 80 � Commodore Pet � Commodore Pet
2: Buying and Selling 2: Buying and Selling the Home Computer the Home Computer
Home Computer Hardware Home Computer Hardware � Separate species, � Separate species, existed existed � from about 1978 to 1990 � from about 1978 to 1990 � Much cheaper than � Much cheaper than “business business” ” PCs PCs “ � Sold in large numbers � Sold in large numbers � Better sound and � Better sound and graphics graphics � Fewer peripheral options � Fewer peripheral options � Connect to domestic � Connect to domestic TV TV � Often used with � Often used with standard cassette player standard cassette player rather than disks rather than disks
Home Computer Sales Home Computer Sales � Sold in department and discount stores � Sold in department and discount stores � By 1983 � By 1983 � Several models under $100 � Several models under $100 � Around 5 million units sold annually in US � Around 5 million units sold annually in US Commodore 64 sells 30 million worldwide, 1982-early 1990s
Celebrity Endorsements Celebrity Endorsements � Isaac Asimov � Isaac Asimov for Radio for Radio Shack Shack � Science Fiction � Science Fiction writer writer � Familiar yet � Familiar yet Futuristic Futuristic � “ � “It It’ ’s like having s like having the cosmos at the cosmos at your fingertips.” ” your fingertips.
Bill Cosby for Texas Instruments Bill Cosby for Texas Instruments
William William Shatner for for Shatner Commodore Commodore
Like a Kid Like a Kid � Show the Alan � Show the Alan Alda Alda video video
3: Using a Home 3: Using a Home Computer Computer
But What Is It For? But What Is It For? ‘It It’ ’s an interesting machine, but what do you actually use it s an interesting machine, but what do you actually use it ‘ for?’ ’ That That’ ’s one of the most frustrating questions asked of s one of the most frustrating questions asked of for? personal computer owners. It’ ’s also often the most difficult s also often the most difficult personal computer owners. It to answer. to answer. The Commodore 64, Getting the Most From it. (1983) The Commodore 64, Getting the Most From it. (1983) “It comes with its own BASIC language that It comes with its own BASIC language that’ ’s built in and s built in and “ uses plain simple English…” …” uses plain simple English Alan Alda Alda, , Like a Kid Like a Kid , 1982. , 1982. Alan
Programming Programming � BASIC language built into � BASIC language built into almost all home almost all home computers computers � turn them on, there it is � turn them on, there it is � Instruction manuals teach � Instruction manuals teach programming programming � presented as way to get � presented as way to get value out of purchase value out of purchase � The ONLY thing you can � The ONLY thing you can do out of the box do out of the box
Programming for Everyone Programming for Everyone The TI Home Computer was designed to be used for extensive personal programming. The built-in BASIC language makes the TI99/4 a valuable desktop tool… a great way to teach your children about computers.
Computer Advice Books Computer Advice Books � Mostly follow format of � Mostly follow format of manual manual � Introduction � Introduction � Physical set up � Physical set up � How to program � How to program � 60% or so of total � 60% or so of total � Reference tables � Reference tables
Program Listings Program Listings � Many books consist � Many books consist ONLY of programs to ONLY of programs to type in… …. . type in � This one includes � This one includes � Nutrition Pack � Nutrition Pack � Family Budget � Family Budget Comptroller Comptroller � Studying State � Studying State Capitals Capitals � Your Math Teacher � Your Math Teacher
Domestic Domestic Automation Automation Simple Programming: You write your control programs in BASIC or Assembler language. • Literal translation of industrial applications.
Limited Range of Applications Limited Range of Applications � Same topics appear repeatedly in early � Same topics appear repeatedly in early (1977- -1982) programs 1982) programs (1977 � Type � Type- -in from magazines in from magazines � Printed in books � Printed in books � Sold on cassette � Sold on cassette � Used in computer advertisements � Used in computer advertisements � Few seem particularly compelling � Few seem particularly compelling � Reflect shared assumptions about home and � Reflect shared assumptions about home and computer’ ’s place in it s place in it computer
Gender Roles Gender Roles
Centerpiece of the nuclear family Centerpiece of the nuclear family
The Magic The Magic Machine Machine “Mum laughed, Mum laughed, “ and said the and said the magic machine magic machine can start by can start by cooking cooking dinner… …. .” ” dinner Byte Press, 1979 Byte Press, 1979
Husband Husband � Masculine � Masculine � Tax preparation � Tax preparation � Financial calculations � Financial calculations � Checkbook balancing � Checkbook balancing
Wife Wife � Feminine � Feminine � Recipe databases � Recipe databases � Calorie counting � Calorie counting � Knitting � Knitting � Biorhythms � Biorhythms � This book included � This book included programs for programs for � “ � “Shopping Shopping” ” � “ � “Pantry Inventory Pantry Inventory” ” � “ � “Recipe Recipe” ” � “ � “Chore reminder Chore reminder” ”
Children Children � Educational � Educational applications applications � Maths � Maths drill drill � Geography quiz, etc. � Geography quiz, etc. � Programming � Programming
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