Museum Computers (was Re: Washington D.C. Trip)

From: Jason McBrien <jbmcb_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Thu May 31 12:12:35 2001

I agree, a large percentage of the hands-on exhibits at the history museum
were out of order. I suppose you can't hope for too much with the Government
running things, and not charging admission, which I respect. A connection to
a 360 or 370 would be interesting, tn3270's are a dime a dozen these days. I
think the Boston Computer Museum had a Vax available as a BBS for a while..

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Cheponis" <mac_at_Wireless.Com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: Museum Computers (was Re: Washington D.C. Trip


> Perhaps these so-called "museums" need to visit SF's Exploratorium?
There,
> everything is meant to be "hands-on". This doesn't mean that things don't
> break from time to time, but the percentage of operational exhibits there
> is greater than any other public museum I've seen.
>
> Mind you, I'm not saying people should put an Eniac cabinet out where
> people can slobber over it, but I think it would be cool to be able to
> remote-control these older machines (I dunno, like a 360/50 or something)
> via modern interfaces - safely away from the original equipment, but
> yet behind glass - so you can see the original machine running.
>
> So yeah, Chuck, I agree!
>
> -Mike
>
> On Thu, 31 May 2001, Chuck McManis wrote:
>
> > Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 09:04:39 -0700
> > From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis_at_mcmanis.com>
> > Reply-To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> > To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> > Subject: Museum Computers (was Re: Washington D.C. Trip
> >
> >
> > >The problem with working machines with millions of people tocuhing them
over
> > >the years
> > >is that the machines tend to break. Even the modern display terminals
> > >used for
> > >presentation are
> > >in constant need of repair due to fingers smashing and otherwise folks
that
> > >don't respect the equipment out of common courtesy. Computers don't
hold up
> > >well to abuse. Its a shame but the way that it is.
> > >Eric
> >
> >
> > This is one of the problems I think would be fun to attack if I had a
> > suitable patron. Building I/O devices that could stand up to the kind of
> > abuse that museums get.
> >
> >
>
>
Received on Thu May 31 2001 - 12:12:35 BST