12 Aug
2012
12 Aug
'12
11:19 a.m.
While punch cards have been around for a long time, they were never ubiquitous. Why should
someone alive now, using a punchcard for the first time, be any different from someone in
1950 using punchcards for the first time?
The old machines are far enough removed from modern experience that they aren't very
comparable to the average person.
--------
Paul Anderson -- VE3HOP
On 2012-08-12, at 1:57 PM, TeoZ <teoz at neo.rr.com> wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Anderson" <wackyvorlon at
me.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: To all with interest in preservation
That's a good question. While computers are
ubiquitous, machines like the 7090 are, if anything, even rarer than they were back then.
They are very different beasts from what we use today, or will use 20 years from now. Same
goes for punch cards.
I'm inclined to believe that the experience of writing a program, punching the cards,
and running it will be just as magical.
Why would you think somebody who was not around during the time of punch cards would find
that method of input magical? Do you think some kid who programs a huge GPS controlled
harvester out in the huge farms would think hooking up a plow to an ox is magical? Most
people go to museums and thank GOD they don't have to do things like they did back in
the old days and look forward to new ways of doing things that will cut down the time and
energy they need to expend (or better yet just let a machine do it all), that to them is
magical.