Computer Architecture Week 2

I'm very impressed with the series "Triumph of the Nerds". Two themes struck me the most in this series so far. First was the fact that these early Silicon Valley pioneers were simply having fun and set out to create computers out of an interest and hobby rather than to simply create enormous personal fortunes. I was immediately struck with something that I do in my classroom called the fish philosophy. It's a little on the cheesy side but I keep it a little more low key for my students. The one part that I was struck with was the "play" part of their philosophy which is that students can learn and achieve while having fun and doing something that doesn't feel like a chore. That's certainly what these early Silicon Valley creators were doing and look at the results. This is a good example that I could share with my students.

The other thing I was struck with was the fact that Microsoft bought the right to DOS for $50,000 ( I think I have that right). The commentary by the narrator was something to the effect of typically the fortunes go to the exploiter of the product and not necessarily the inventor of the product. HMMM. Issues of equity and fairness come to mind when I hear stories like that. I fully realize that Gates had the vision for the product and seized an opportunity. . . still.

Computer Architecture Week 1

Interesting stuff! I like history in general but it seems to be in fields like natural history, US history etc. But computer history I knew very little about. The concept I found most interesting was that the basic design of the computer are really relatively old, going back to Charles Babbage and similar pioneers of his age. I'm struck with a larger question of what causes someone to think "outside the box" like this. I think it's a natural human tendency to just go with what you're given. So what caused him to be so innovative? Clearly the spirit of technological innovation at the mid 19th century had something to do with it, but I'm continually struck with the relevance of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Clearly Babbage by this measure was gifted in the area of Logical mathematical intelligence.

I'm also very interested to learn in week one the process by which computers work. I was simply ignorant of it before. Sure I had some knowledge but lacked clear understanding of just what an operating system is or what the startup process is doing on any given computer. I'm starting to feel that, with this in mind, this would be a better class to have in the beginning of the program.