Aucbvax.2924
fa.works
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!works
Thu Sep 3 08:39:50 1981
WorkS Digest V1 #13
>From DUFFEY@MIT-AI Thu Sep 3 08:31:51 1981
WorkS Digest Thu, 3 Sep 1981 Volume 1 : Issue 12
Today's Topics:
Query - Mesa availability, A book on Workstations,
Call for People - NCC '82 Personal Workstations track
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 (Thursday) 0753-EDT
From: DREIFU at WHARTON-10 (Henry Dreifus)
Subject: Mesa shall be released (?)
I have heard from two sources that Mesa - the programming
language for the Xerox Star, among other Xerox products,
will be released, and available for programmers to use.
Just how much and exactly when Mesa is coming out are two
interesting questions at this time.
Hank
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 (Thursday) 0816-EDT
From: DREIFU at WHARTON-10 (Henry Dreifus)
Subject: Workstations -- a book ?
Personal Workstations Mailing list;
to all participants:
Computer Science Press of California is interested in making
WorkS a book. Sections on all the different personal computers,
and interesting areas such as local networks will probably be
addressed.
Please send me your comments in this matter. I would like to
use most of the information contained here already in WorkS,
as well as continue to put together more topics and 'chapters'
through continued input.
The way in which I foresee the book becoming a reality is by
having everyone who has expertise in an area write the appro-
priate chapter. I am still in the idea-cogitating stages of
this -- your input shall be most valuable.
If interested in helping, let me know!
Henry Dreifus
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 (Thursday) 0821-EDT
From: DREIFU at WHARTON-10 (Henry Dreifus)
Subject: WorkS in NCC'82 works.
This is a version of a message that Bob Frankston of SoftArts
sent to the Works users who are interested in getting NCC-82's
personal workstations track running and up and off the ground.
People are needed to help organize this thing, and do it right.
If you are at all interested in any aspect of what is below, or
have some ideas you think are important for the NCC please send
them along to Bob Frankston [Frankston.SoftArts@MIT-MULTICS].
Hank
--------------------------------------------------
1. What is personal computing.
This should cover some of the history of personal computing
(it is not a new idea) as well as the current explosion in
popularity and availability. A subtopic is "what is
programming". Traditionally it has been languages such as
Fortran and COBOL. What is it now?
2. Local Networks, Workstations
These are both popular topics these days.
3. Education/Social Implications
Issues beyond traditional CAI. Learning with and about
computers. What are the effects in the US society, in
other, possibly "less well developed" societies. What
are the myths such as "computers for kitchen recipies"
vs "computers are impossible for people to ever learn to
use". Society also affects computers. As the computation
becomes more accessible, more people will be programming
and affecting the machines.
4. Global Networks
This is actually a combination of the previous two --
what is the implementation of and the implications of
communicating computers. The emphasis is on the use of
such a capability be individuals as a means of access
and communication. Cable TV and information services
are both relevant to this as is electronic mail.
5. Software Environments/Operating Systems.
This covers both traditional operating systems work
as well as special machines for Lisp and Smalltalk.
Also relevant are tools, standards and protocols, and
languages. The emphasis is on the particular issues
for personal computing (this sometimes means small
computing, but not necessarily).
6. Hardware
The emphasis would be on developments that make the
computation more accessible for personal computing.
7. Applications.
There is not necessarily a strong distinction between
systems work and applications. Applications may include
individual ways of exploiting computers for personal use
or use of computers in environments such as homes and
offices. For example, workstations are both applications
and environments for applications.
8. Graphics
As it applies to personal computing.
9. Peripherals and I/O.
How is access to personal computing provided, how can such
systems interact with their users and their environment.
These are, of course tentative. Suggestions are stil welcome.
If you know of other people who would be interested in helping
or people you know of who you hink I should contact, please
send me a note (nccpc82.SoftArts at MIT-Multics).
Thanks.
Bob Frankston
------------------------------
End of WorkS Digest
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