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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

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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

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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

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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

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End of WorkS Digest *******************

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