DocAndersen
My first introduction to connection, technology, and computing was the PDP11 at my high school. The PDP11 was a remote terminal connected to a mainframe. In the case of our High School, it was connected to the IBM mainframe at Indiana University. We were allowed around 1 hour per day to upload our program and well wait for the results. Back then if you made a mistake, you could lose two or three days. Plus we had a timeclock, and there was no negotiation. Finally, you also had to be nice to one of three teachers that had the key to the room where the PDP11 was stored. The system was dog slow, and the results from then are less than you get on a cell phone now.
The ghost of technology past must have visited me in my sleep yesterday. I woke up this morning trying to remember what the keyboard on a PDP11 looked like. I did not, hop on eBay and see if I could buy one. Or for that matter buy a goose for a family down the street (I don’t grill goose on the grill or cook it in the oven. They tend to flame on, flame off like the human torch when cooked wrong). The reason I suspect was working through and removing several items from the home network. Over time things tend to gather in our basement, and I am working on getting rid of things. I do wonder, however, if the ghost of technology now will visit me tonight.
Or better the ghost of technology tomorrow the night after.
There are some future state things I will be interested in. The ever-growing impact of the AndroidTV OS. The reality of larger and larger cell phones. We were going smaller a smaller for the longest time, so much so that they even made fun of small phones on TV. Suddenly the screen size increased year after year. Eventually, your phone will incorporate a heads-up display (your glasses) to simulate a 100-inch screen. The actual phone will be integrated into the watch you wear. Oh yeah, and let’s get Tiny Tim a goose!
-
Question of
Do you wish there really was a technology easy button?
-
Yes
-
No
-
-
Question of
Have you ever seen a PDP11?
-
Yes
-
No
-
-
Question of
Have you ever heard of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)?
-
Yes
-
No
-
-
Question of
Bull was a mainframe computer?
-
Yes
-
No
-
-
Question of
Bull was a mainframe computer maker?
-
Yes
-
No
-
Nada, zilch, zero idea of majority of what you talked about. And honestly, didn’t know how the goose fit in in the story ??? haven’t eaten a goose yet. What I do with geese is to quack back and try to chase them hoping, of course, they will not chase me back ?
My father once got too close to a mother goose. Wow it was hilarious watching him run. That goose was mad.
Hahahahaha I know. So I try to annoy them with caution. Kids these days do not know such simple joys.
🙂 Pixies procced with Caution 🙂 that feels like the title of a poem…
Users voted 6 times.
Q: DO YOU WISH THERE REALLY WAS A TECHNOLOGY EASY BUTTON?
Yes (7 votes) – 88%
No (1 votes) – 13%
Q: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PDP11?
Yes (1 votes) – 14%
No (6 votes) – 86%
Q: HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION (DEC)?
Yes (2 votes) – 33%
No (4 votes) – 67%
Q: BULL WAS A MAINFRAME COMPUTER?
Yes (3 votes) – 50%
No (3 votes) – 50%
Q: BULL WAS A MAINFRAME COMPUTER MAKER?
Yes (3 votes) – 50%
No (3 votes) – 50%
I am very sick with these technical expressions. You have to start giving us lessons. As we get out of level 0, we do not know where.
It shoulda like we need to do a class 🙂
I am so technically challenged it is hard to even comment.
I did kind of go off the deep end didn’t I.
the dummy terminals? think they used to be called clamshells…
I remember clamshells, there were also the kiosk connections. Plato, the University of Illinois supercomputer used to have remote terminals in other universities, before the internet.
I actually used Plato, back in the 80s. This was on the west coast, mind you…
I remember learning the Plato system, requesting groups and learning! Well, not learning the way you did in school. Learning about the reality of networks and connections!
I learned a bit about hacking, and eventually got kicked out of the program
They did periodic purges. I was using my dad’s account so I was very careful.
yeah, that’s a solid policy. bet it kept you out of trouble, unlike mine…
It did on the Plato system. I got in trouble on lots of other systems where it was my account.
I don’t do that kind of stuff anymore.
yeah, I follow the rules now because it is a better way of life, but back in the day I wasn’t so considerate…
When i first got out of college I was a school teacher. I knew when the kids were going to do something, catching them well before. Troublemakers make good watchers.
damn skippy! I had that idea before you were even born, tiger…
It was actually quite fun. I remember going to my first meeting as a Union Rep for my school and sitting next to my all-time favorite teacher. He shook my hand and said, “glad you turned out. Wasn’t sure about that happening”
Nice! Certainly he deserved a pleasant surprise for doing a largely thankless task…
I have, out of the 160 give or take students and student-athletes I worked with about 10 that are still in touch with me.
That connection means the world to me!
I don’t go to high school reunions- I stayed in touch with everyone I cared about…
I went to my 20th, but only because we were 40 miles away and it was a fun night out.
All the AV folks hung out at a table. Then the theater folks recognized my wife (she was a senior and very popular with the theater crowd) and all came over and joined us. We had the biggest loudest table!
and the most fun as well, I’d wager
It was!
AV Club back in the day was a blast. We were the ones that got to build the TV studio for the school.
We were the only ones with the key to the computer closet (where the PDP11 was), AV club ruled!
Nice post DocAndersen. The ghost of technology visits everyone. My two cents.
I wish my mobile phone is integrated to my car key. Whenever I carelessly keep my car key somewhere and start searching for it, this thought occurs to me. Why can’t I call and locate my car key through the ring tone?
You actually can, it is called Tile, and does exactly what you are looking for!!!
Honestly, I don’t know anything about what you are talking about besides Android and the development of cellphones.
You had to be a geek to hang out with a PDP11. It was pretty useless overall as a compute platform!
Yep! I thought it was indeed not my group in youth.
Well I was in the AV club as well if that helps.
That explains a lot of things about you and most of your posts, Doc.
Those of us who used to be in AV club are taking over the world 🙂
I have not seen this keyboard yet. I agree that mobile phones are growing and “smart”. I do not know how long I will be able to follow modern technology ?
Everyone has their position of knowledge, there are things I don’t try to remember anymore (the names of plants and so on). Tech is my life!
When I read your post I see that I have to learn a lot dear friend … in the right way, I have no idea what is going on
The reality of compute, phone and other changes is hard to stay in front of.
It’s true, dear friend … even for me when I’m a little older … in the right way, I do not even have the right interest …. it’s important for me to know the basic things
I am sure there is something that you know inside and out!
I’m not really the smartest and most skilled and I never wanted to go to school and learn, dear friend
I am sure you are being modest. You are a very kind person, and since you have said you are retired, and you are still a kind person, that says a lot about you!
Thank you for a nice compliment, my friend … with friendly people I always like to talk … and of course I respect every person
I respect everyone that respects themselves. I do always stay away from people that don’t respect themselves, however. I find it is risky to hang out with those types online.
I vaguely remember my Dad talking about Bull when he worked for IBM but cannot remember the details. Love the photo. 🙂 Beautiful dog.
Bull was a huge mainframe out of france many years ago.